Buddha-nature is one of the most profound elements of Buddha's Mahayana teachings - the primordially pure and innately perfect nature of all sentient beings. But only through this precious human existence do we have the necessary conditions and qualities to be able to actualise this innate Buddha-hood. Walking along a path based on the profound and precious teachings and practice-instructions of the historical Buddha and the following highly realised Masters of 2500 years old unbroken lineages, gives us the chance to live a life of genuine meaning, depth and true joy.
M A S T E R S
Our Teacher, Tara Choying Wangmo (previously known as Tara Choying Lhamo) is a genuine Yogini, who has dedicated her whole life solely to the Buddhist practice-path for attaining full awakening, and is perceived by some great Masters of Drikung Kagyu and other lineages as Drikung Khandro.
In 1992, at the young age of just twenty, Khandroma moved to Nepal in order to live, study and practise under the direct guidance and care of her first Master, honourable Drubpon Sonam Jorphel Rinpoche, who kindly transmitted and thoroughly trained Khandroma in all the aspects of the ancient traditional life-long retreat path.
Some years later also the sublime Masters H.E. Garchen Rinpoche and H.H. Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche became Khandroma's personal Gurus, mainly enhancing and refining her meditation experiences and Mahamudra realisation through various supreme wisdom-methods and several one-to-one transmissions.
During an obstacle in 2008 the highly realised Dakini Khachod Tsering Palmo expanded and enriched Khandroma's so far rather male, strict traditional and mainly monastic approach with a female, more wild, vast, and out of the norm expression, thereby clearing Khandroma's obstacle and becoming an important spiritual elder to Khandroma.
Until 2019 Khandroma spent around twenty-one years in strict solitary retreats as well as open retreats in many holy places of Nepal, India and Tibet , interwoven with numerous pilgrimages - in the same traditional ways as her Masters and their Masters did.
Having achieved the fruits of realisation from her pure motivation, vast aspiration and one-pointed practice, and after many years of expressed wishes by her supreme Masters H.H. Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche and H.E. Garchen Rinpoche, as well as repeated requests from a few Buddhist followers, in 2016 Khandroma finally began to occasionally teach in different countries.
Yet, after an almost fatal accident during her last personal winter-retreat in Lapchi 2018/19, Khandroma stopped public teachings again and re-entered into another extended period of personal retreat - but this time in the form of a wandering hermit, with 2025 being the 7th year. While leading this homeless wandering retreat-life between the West and the East, Khandroma also guides a few personal students.
In 2023 H.H. Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche then entrusted Khandroma with the title of "Lopon" (Buddhist Master), emphasising his wish for Khandroma to continue to teach for the benefit of all beings.
Khandroma attained highest levels of realisation and all the qualities of a genuine Vajrayana Master. The noble heart of the sublime practice-lineage of Mahamudra shines through in everything she says and does...always aimed at pointing out the nature of mind and of all illusory inner and outer appearances. Living free of the slightest interest in the eight worldly dharmas, being around Khandroma means truly experiencing genuine, raw Dharma without a hint of compartmentalisation or holding back. Such a master - who has spent so many years in traditional retreats and serving her gurus, while also having the experience and understanding of what it means to be a modern human being - is extremely rare and precious in this world.
V I S I O N
Khandroma is considering to start publicly teaching again in the course of 2025/26.
The long-term vision and heart-wish is to set up a permanent retreat place for a small circle of truly devoted students, who sincerely wish to dedicate their lives full-heartedly towards sublime awakening and do not shy away from difficulties on the path, including when the deluded, illusory "I" feels hurt, knowing it is unavoidable for genuine awakening.
To accomplish that vision also very devoted and genuine sponsors are needed, who understand the profound importance of the rarely pursued long term retreat-path and therefore wish to offer financial or practical support to make this vision a reality for the benefit of all beings.
As the scriptures say, supporting someone to do retreat creates the same virtue and merit as doing retreat oneself.
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English audio and video from Q&A teachings in Australia 2017 and Denmark 2018:
Videoclip of Lapchi and teachings of H.E. Garchen Rinpoche during his, as well as H.H. Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche's 2007 pilgrimage and retreat in Lapchi, including a short clip of an interview with Khandroma who was also there in retreat, having been invited by His Holiness to come along: