Sakyong Jamgon Mipham Rinpoche, Jampal Trinley Dradul (born Ösel Rangdrol Mukpo on November 15, 1962) is an American and Tibetan Buddhist descendant of the Shambhala lineage and Shambhala, a worldwide network of urban Buddhist meditation centers, retreat centers, monasteries, a university, and other enterprises, founded by his father, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. In July 2018, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche stepped back from his duties due to an investigation into sexual misconduct and power abuse. He resumed teaching in Nepal in March 2020. Further teaching was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Biography

Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche was born Ösel Rangdröl Mukpo in Bodhgaya, India on November 15, 1962. His father, Chögyam Trungpa, was a Buddhist monk who fled Tibet in 1959 (at age 20) and gradually became the head of a large party of refugees. His mother, Könchok Paldrön, was a young nun who met Trungpa in Tibet and fled with him to India. For several years, Mukpo lived with his mother in a Tibetan refugee camp in northwest India. His father left India in early 1963 to study at Oxford University. At the age of seven, he went to live with his father at

Samye Ling Samye (, ), full name Samye Mighur Lhundrub Tsula Khang (Wylie: ''Bsam yas mi ’gyur lhun grub gtsug lag khang'') and Shrine of Unchanging Spontaneous Presence is the first Tibetan Buddhist and Nyingma monastery built in Tibet, during the reign ...

in Scotland. Trungpa moved to the United States in 1970, and Ösel Mukpo joined his father there, in Boulder, Colorado along with his new stepmother Diana Mukpo in 1972. Ösel Mukpo has two younger half brothers ( Gesar Mukpo and Tagtrug “Taggie” Mukpo) and one younger step brother (

Ashoka Mukpo Four laboratory-confirmed cases of Ebola virus disease (commonly known as "Ebola") occurred in the United States in 2014. Eleven cases were reported, including these four cases and seven cases medically evacuated from other countries. The first ...

). In 1979, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche performed a ceremony officially investing his son Ösel Rangdröl with the title of Sawang ("earth lord"). This confirmed Ösel as his Shambhala heir and the future Sakyong. After his father's death in 1987, the Sawang moved to Nepal and studied with Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche for three years, while Osel Tendzin, the Vajra Regent, succeeded Trungpa Rinpoche as Buddhist lineage holder and head of the various organizations established by Trungpa, including Vajradhatu, Shambhala Training, and

Naropa University Naropa University is a private university in Boulder, Colorado. Founded in 1974 by Tibetan Buddhist teacher Chögyam Trungpa, it is named for the 11th-century Indian Buddhist sage Naropa, an abbot of Nalanda. The university describes itself as B ...

. When Tendzin died in 1990, the Ösel Mukpo was acknowledged as Trungpa's successor in the Kagyu, Nyingma and Shambhala lineages and head of the organizations. In May 1995 he was formally enthroned as Sakyong at a ceremony performed by

Penor Rinpoche Kyabjé Drubwang Padma Norbu Rinpoche (), 1932 – 27 March 2009, was the 11th throneholder of the Palyul Lineage of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism, and said to be an incarnation of Vimalamitra. He was widely renowned in the Tibetan Bu ...

. After the enthronement, Penor Rinpoche recognized Mukpo as the tulku of Mipham the Great, after which he has been known by the title Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche is the head of the Shambhala organization, a global network of meditation and retreat centers. He has written several books, including the national bestseller ''Turning the Mind into an Ally'', ''Ruling Your World'', ''Running with the Mind of Meditation'', and ''The Shambhala Principle''. His most recent book, ''The Lost Art of Conversation'', was released in October 2017. In 2018, he stepped back from all teaching and administrative duties due to an investigation and public discussion of his alleged sexual and organizational misconduct. He resumed teaching in March 2020, instructing a group of 108 students in Nepal. Further teaching at an event in France in June 2020 was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Investigation of sexual assault and power abuse

In February 2018, Buddhist Project Sunshine, an organization founded as a survivors' network for former Shambhala members, reported multiple allegations of sexual assault within the Shambhala community. In June 2018, Buddhist Project Sunshine issued a second report detailing sexual misconduct by Sakyong Mipham that occurred as recently as 2011 and claimed that those within Shambhala International had concealed the misdeeds. In response, Sakyong Mipham stepped aside from his leadership role and the Shambhala governing council resigned. Sakyong Mipham also issued a statement saying "...that some of these women have shared experiences of feeling harmed as a result of these relationships. I am now making a public apology." In July 2018, Naropa Institute removed him from their board following the allegations of sexual misconduct. In August 2018, Buddhist Project Sunshine released another report containing further allegations against Sakyong Mipham that included sexual encounters with minors, a charge that the Sakyong has denied. In December 2018, the

Larimer County, Colorado Larimer County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 359,066. The county seat and most populous city is Fort Collins. The county was named for William Larimer, Jr., the founder of Denver. ...

Sheriff's Office opened an investigation of the allegations of sexual assault. The investigation was closed in February 2020, and no charges were filed. In February 2019, Shambhala International's interim governing council issued a report by Wickwire Holm, a Canadian law firm, that detailed two credible allegations of sexual misconduct against Sakyong Mipham. Later that month, six members of his Kusung (body protectors) wrote an open letter corroborating a pattern of physical and sexual misconduct and other concerns. Sakyong Mipham subsequently stated that he would cease teaching for the "foreseeable future". He returned to teaching in March, 2020, instructing a group of 108 students in Nepal. In September 2020, The Walrus published an investigative report detailing a culture of abuse dating back to early days of the Shambhala Buddhist organization, with all three leaders of the organization, including its founder, Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, having been credibly accused of sexual misconduct and abuse of power.

Lineage of Sakyongs

The Sakyong holds and propagates the teachings of Shambhala. This tradition emphasizes confidence in the basic goodness of all beings and teaches courageous rulership based on wisdom and compassion. The term "Sakyong" literally means "earth-protector" in Tibetan, although it is colloquially understood to mean "king." Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche is regarded by his followers as a '' chögyal'' ( Sanskrit ''dharmaraja'') – "king of truth" – who combines the spiritual and worldly paths. In the Shambhala religion, the first Dharmaraja of Shambhala, Dawa Sangpo, was said to have been empowered directly by the Buddha. Shambhala Buddhists believe the Sakyong to be the earthly embodiment or emanation of the Rigden – mythical kings of Shambhala – and in this sense believe him to be a '' tulku'' (Tibetan), or ''nirmanakaya'' ( Sanskrit) of the Rigden. Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche is regarded as the first in this lineage of Sakyongs, and as such he is referred to as the "Druk Sakyong", or "Dragon Earth-Protector".

Sakyong Wangmo and family

The consort of the Sakyong is referred to as the Sakyong Wangmo. The first Sakyong Wangmo was Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche's wife, Diana Mukpo. The current Sakyong Wangmo is Sakyong Mipham's wife Khandro Tseyang Ripa Mukpo, the daughter of Terton Namkha Drimed Rabjam Rinpoche. The Sakyong and Sakyong Wangmo were married on 10 June 2006 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Khandro Tseyang was officially empowered as Sakyong Wangmo by Penor Rinpoche at a ceremony in Halifax in August 2008. The Sakyong and Sakyong Wangmo have three daughters. The first, Drukmo Yeshe Sarasvati Ziji Mukpo (Lady Dragon Wisdom), was born on 11 August 2010. The second, Jetsun Yudra Lhamo Yangchen Ziji Mukpo, was born in March 2013. The third, Dzedrön Ökar Yangchen Ziji Mukpo, was born on 10 April 2015.

Bibliography

Books

* ''The Lost Art of Good Conversation'', Harmony Books, 2017, * ''The Shambhala Principle: Discovering Humanity's Hidden Treasure'', Harmony Books, 2013, * ''Running with the Mind of Meditation: Lessons for Training Body and Mind'', Harmony Books, 2012, * ''Ruling Your World: Ancient Strategies for Modern Life'', Morgan Road Books, 2005, * ''Turning the Mind into an Ally'', Riverhead Books, 2004,

Articles

It's All in the Mind
in '' Shambhala Sun'', November 2006.

Notes

References

* Hayward, Jeremy (2008) ''Warrior-King of Shambhala: Remembering Chögyam Trungpa''

External links

Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche's homepage

Interview with Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche on relationships, loneliness and "Ruling Your World."
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mipham, Sakyong Living people 1962 births Kagyu lamas Nyingma lamas Shambhala vision Rinpoches Tibetan people Tulkus Kagyu tulkus Tibetan Buddhists from India Buddhist new religious movements Indian Buddhists People from Bihar