Thaye Dorje, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa
Chief Patron of KIBI, His Holiness teaches that lasting peace - both within ourselves and in the world - grows from nurturing our Inner Wealth, cherishing non-material values, and dedicating ourselves to education and the cultivation of knowledge.
From Tibet to the World: The Life of Thaye Dorje, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa
From his childhood in Tibet to his travels as a global Buddhist leader, His Holiness Thaye Dorje bridges East and West, combining traditional wisdom with contemporary engagement. His life story spans traditional texts and modern platforms, reflecting his ability to make age-old teachings accessible and relevant today.
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As a world Buddhist master, Karmapa Thaye Dorje translates traditional wisdom into practical guidance for happiness and meaningful action in daily life. He travels extensively, meeting students, youth, world leaders, and leading lights in spirituality, peace, conflict resolution, and education.
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He holds spiritual responsibility for over 900 monasteries and meditation centers worldwide and currently resides in New Delhi, India. Following the example of the 10th and 15th Karmapas, he married in 2017. On August 11, 2018, his wife Sangyumla Rinchen Yangzom (“Precious Prosperity Gathered”) from Thimphu, Bhutan, gave birth to their first son, Thugsey.
“The emphasis and direction of education should not just be about accumulating information to serve outer wealth, but to help develop consciousness, to help young people nurture their innate values of wisdom and compassion for the benefit of society.”
Thaye Dorje, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa
KIBI Resident Teachers
Khenpo Tsering Samdrup, Khenpo Lobsang Tsultrim, and Khenpo Chochok are highly experienced Buddhist teachers who have been teaching for decades. With deep understanding of the challenges faced by both Western and Eastern students, they share the wisdom of the Buddha through Buddhist philosophy as well as meditation for daily life, guiding their students with clarity, compassion, and mindfulness.
Other KIBI Teachers
It is our great pleasure to introduce you to the Buddhist teachers of KIBI, who are wholeheartedly dedicated to passing on the teachings of Buddha. What unites them is their thorough study of Buddhist texts and their commitment to making this wisdom accessible and practical. They guide with clarity, compassion and presence. In their teachings, they create a welcoming and supportive space where students can explore Buddhist philosophy and integrate meditation into their daily lives.
Venerable Drupon Maniwa Lama Sherab Gyaltsen Rinpoche
Sherab Gyaltsen Rinpoche, a highly respected lama of the Kagyu lineage, was a Maniwa – a title bestowed upon masters of the Chenrezig practice who have completed at least one billion recitations of Om Mani Peme Hung.
In Memory of Lama Sherab Gyaltsen Rinpoche
Born in Manang, Nepal, and ordained by the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa in Rumtek, India, Rinpoche’s activities reached far beyond the borders of Asia. Under his guidance, monasteries were established in Nepal and Stupas were built in Europe. One of his most important responsibilities was serving as retreat master for the traditional three-year retreats in Nepal, guiding countless practitioners on the path of deep practice.
From an early age, Rinpoche was recognized as an exceptionally gifted student. He became well-versed in every aspect of traditional Buddhist study – from sutra and tantra, to rituals and arts. Several times a year, Rinpoche led thousands of practitioners in the profound practices of Nyung-ne and Chenrezig at his Nyeshang Monastery in Swayambhu. Over the years, these gatherings generated more than fifteen billion Chenrezig mantras – a vast ocean of compassion offered to the world. Rinpoche’s teachings were profound, direct, and always accessible. With practical advice, inspiring stories, and warm humor, he left a lasting impression on all who had the good fortune to hear him.
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The venerable Drupon Maniwa Lama Sherab Gyaltsen Rinpoche passed away in September 2025. His kindness, wisdom, and tireless activity continue to inspire and guide us, and his blessings remain with all who follow the path.
Professor Sempa Dorje
Professor Sempa Dorje was one of the main teachers of H.H. Karmapa and the President of the Karmapa International Buddhist Society. He gave teachings to KIBI students and was a respected figure in the Buddhist community. Professor Sempa Dorje passed away on July 2022 in KIBI.
Professor Sempa Dorje
A Life Dedicated to the Dharma
Professor Sempa Dorje was born in 1929 in the Khunu region of Himachal Pradesh, India, near the Indo-Tibetan border. Coming from a long lineage of devoted Buddhist practitioners, he received his first Dharma teachings from his mother. At the age of 17, driven by a deep wish to study Buddhism, he travelled to Tibet – then considered the heart of Buddhist knowledge – and spent nearly 20 years studying there. He received his monastic education and ordination at Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, where over 5,000 monks trained in the classical Buddhist sciences. During this period, he studied with more than 50 teachers, delving deeply into Abhidharma, Madhyamaka, and other key Buddhist philosophies. Following the Chinese invasion in 1961, he returned to India and pursued further studies at the Sanskrit University in Varanasi. Later, he taught for two decades at the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies in Sarnath, becoming known for his vast scholarship and humble, open-minded spirit.
After retirement, he was invited by the 14th Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche to teach at KIBI. Initially reluctant, he eventually accepted and became the tutor of His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje, fulfilling this role with great dedication. His teaching combined the rigor of monastic training with the analytical methods of modern academia.
As President of the Karmapa International Buddhist Society (KIBS), he helped shape KIBI into an accredited institute for Buddhist studies, bridging traditional wisdom with modern academic standards. Professor Sempa Dorje often emphasized that study and meditation must go hand in hand: study provides understanding, while meditation reveals the true taste of realization.
He passed away in 2021 and remained in Tukdam, a meditative state after death, for several days. His final teaching was a profound transmission of Dharma. His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa reflected that Professor Sempa Dorje, affectionately called Genla, was one of his greatest teachers and a unique Bodhisattva, a precious gift from his late root teacher, the 14th Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche. Professor Sempa Dorje’s life and teachings continue to inspire generations of students to unite wisdom and compassion on the path of liberation.
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Topga Rinpoche, a nephew of His Holiness the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa and a member of a former royal family of Eastern Tibet, was appointed by the Karmapa as Vajra Master of Tsurphu Monastery at a young age. He was educated by H.H. the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa, whom he accompanied into exile to India in 1959. After going into exile, he served as General Secretary of Rumtek Monastery, where he worked tirelessly to preserve the purity and continuity of the Karma Kagyu lineage.
A profound scholar and practitioner, Rinpoche was deeply learned in Buddhist philosophy, logic, and Tibetan history. Shamar Rinpoche described him as “an idealist and an intellectual.” His vision and commitment to authentic Buddhist education led him to play a central role in the founding and early development of the KIBI in New Delhi. There, he taught Buddhist philosophy, perception theory, and Tibetan language, inspiring generations of students with his wisdom, humility, and devotion. He also served as a teacher to H.H. the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa.
Topga Rinpoche dedicated his life to upholding the inseparable spiritual legacy of the Karmapas and Shamarpas and to realizing the compassionate vision of his teacher, the 16th Karmapa. Married to a Bhutanese princess, he spent his later years in Bhutan, devoted to supporting the Dharma and guiding practitioners until his passing in 1997.
