Khyentse Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded by the revered Bhutanese lama, filmmaker, and author Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche, announced that it has awarded the 2024 Khyentse Foundation Fellowship to the spiritual director of Chagdud Gonpa Brasil, Uruguay, and Chile, Chagdud Khadro.
The Khyentse Foundation Fellowship is the highest honor among the foundation’s four annual awards for individuals. The foundation gives out four awards each year: Academic Excellence in Buddhist Studies; Prize for Outstanding Translation; Award for Outstanding PhD Dissertation in Buddhist Studies, Europe and Asia; and the Khyentse Foundation Fellowship.
“The spiritual director of Chagdud Gonpa Brasil, Uruguay, and Chile and a Khyentse Foundation advisor, Chagdud Khadro works tirelessly for the benefit of beings,” Khyentse Foundation noted in an announcement shared with BDG. “In recognition of her contributions and commitment to the Buddhadharma, Khyentse Foundation has awarded Khadro the 2024 Khyentse Fellowship.”
Khyentse Foundation was founded by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche in 2001 with the aim of promoting the Buddha’s teaching and supporting all traditions of Buddhist study and practice. The foundation’s activities include major text preservation and translation projects, support for monastic colleges in Asia, a worldwide scholarship and awards program, development of Buddhist studies at major universities, training and development for Buddhist teachers, and developing new modes of Dharma-inspired education for children.
Responding to the news of the fellowship award during a pilgrimage to the scared mountain Wutai Shan in China, Khyentse Foundation quoted Khadro as saying: “I was stunned, then overwhelmed, thinking of the blessings of my teachers, especially Chagdud Rinpoche [1930–2002], and the support of the sangha that have made possible any accomplishment at all. I spent the afternoon praying that I can honor the intention of the fellowship. It is so auspicious that this news arrived in a place permeated with the compassion and wisdom of Manjushri. For me Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche is Manjushri, which gives me confidence and faith.”
The Khyentse Fellowship was established in 2011 to recognize individuals who have devoted their lives and careers to preserving, promoting, and upholding the Buddhadharma. The fellowship comes with a US$30,000 award to support the recipient’s continued activities. Past recipients include Alak Zenkar Rinpoche (Tudeng Nima Rinpoche), Prof. Peter Skilling, Prof. Ven. Dhammajoti, John Canti and Wulston Fletcher, and Prof. Gao Mingdao.
Originally from the United States, Khadro, who celebrated her 79th birthday in January, is based at Khadro Ling, the Tibetan-style temple that she and Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche established in Brazil. Since Rinpoche’s passing in 2002, Khadro, as the spiritual director of Chagdud Gonpa’s activities in South America, has been responsible for upholding the spiritual lineages he transmitted, authorizing invitations to visiting teachers, and for organizing ceremonies, teachings, and retreats in collaboration with Chagdud Gonpa’s other lamas and instructors.
“Most recently, imparting the Dharma to children has become very dear to Khadro’s heart, and a Dharma camp for children and teenagers is taking place at Khadro Ling for the third time this January,” Khyentse Foundation explained. “Khadro plans to offer a portion of the KF grant to the young sangha, for them to discuss and plan how to use it for the benefit of other young people.”
Khadro has overseen several Dharma construction projects since 2002, including Guru Rinpoche’s Pure Land Zangdok Palri (Glorious Copper-Colored Mountain) and a mandala of the 21 Taras at Khadro Ling. Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche consecrated Zangdok Palri, the outcome of a concerted collaboration between lamas, sangha volunteers, and artists, in 2008.
“We at Khyentse Foundation are honored to offer our highest award to Chagdud Khadro,” Khyentse Foundation quoted Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche as saying. “Companion to the formidable Chagdud Rinpoche, practitioner, and student of many sublime masters, including Chagdud Rinpoche himself, Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, and Dudjom Rinpoche, Chagdud Khadro now displays the qualities of both a gifted teacher and a fine leader with the ability to inspire others. Her emergence, and that of beings like her, is a great comfort as it allows us to hope that Buddhism, and particularly Vajrayana, will continue to survive in this swiftly changing world. May Chagdud Khadro’s life be long, may her Dharma activities continue to proliferate, and may all her wishes be fulfilled.” (Khyentse Foundation)
Born in Bhutan in 1961, Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche is the son of Thinley Norbu Rinpoche and was a close student of the Nyingma master Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche (1910–91). He is recognized as the third incarnation of the 19th century Tibetan terton Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo (1820–1892), founder of the Khyentse lineage, and the immediate incarnation of Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö (1893–1959).
In addition to Siddhartha’s Intent, Rinpoche’s projects include: Khyentse Foundation, established in 2001 to promote the Buddha’s teaching and support all traditions of Buddhist study and practice; 84000, a non-profit global initiative to translate the words of the Buddha and make them available to all; Lotus Outreach, which directs a range of projects to ensure the education, health, and safety of vulnerable women and children in the developing world; and Lhomon Society, which promotes sustainable development in Bhutan through education.
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Khyentse Foundation
Khyentse Foundation (Facebook)
Grants & Scholarships (Khyentse Foundation)
The 2024 Khyentse Fellowship Awarded to Chagdud Khadro (Khyentse Foundation)
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