Teachers in Rigpa

Masters of the Nyingma Tradition Guiding Rigpa

Since Rigpa’s founder and main teacher, Sogyal Rinpoche, passed away in 2019, great masters of the Nyingma and Longchen Nyingtik traditions who have taught, guided and given transmissions and instructions to the Rigpa community over many years, continue to do so.

Lamas and teachers who teach regularly in Rigpa centres around the world and online include (in alphabetical order) Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche, Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche, Khamtrul Rinpoche, Khenchen Namdrol Rinpoche, Khenchen Pema Sherab, Neten Chokling Rinpoche, Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche, Ringu Tulku Rinpoche, Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche, Tsoknyi Rinpoche, Tulku Ridgzin Pema Rinpoche and Western teachers Andy Karr, Chagdud Khadro, Dungse Jampal Norbu, Elizabeth Mattis Namgyel and Lama Tsering Everest.

In addition, Rigpa is honoured to regularly host the head of the Sakya school, His Holiness the 42nd Sakya Trizin Ratna Vajra Rinpoche and one of the most senior teachers of the Gelugpa school of Tibetan Buddhism His Eminence the 7th Kyabje Yongzin Ling Rinpoche.

Rigpa’s Teachers and Practice Holders

Along with these masters, a group of Senior Teachers and Practice Holders were formally introduced to the Rigpa sangha in August 2021 as those who are requested by Rigpa’s Vision Board & Spiritual Advisors to take the lead in guiding our community’s study and practice, along with the full mandala of Rigpa’s teachers, practice holders and activity holders.

All of Rigpa’s teachers and practice holders are responsible to the Buddhadharma and to Rigpa’s sangha and lineage and therefore they are accountable to Rigpa’s Vision Board and Spiritual Advisors. They all adhere to ethical standards including Rigpa’s Code of Conduct and comply with the laws in each country where they teach and practice.

Senior Practice Holders in Ireland

’Senior Practice Holders’ are the most senior knowledge holders of the lineage of Vajrayana practices held in Rigpa.

Susan Browne has been a Dharma student for over 30 years and has done several years of closed retreat. She has guided many individuals and groups in retreat and was responsible for the care of over 400 students during Rigpa’s 2006–2009 Three Year Retreat. She currently prepares and guides retreatants to enter tsa sum retreat at Dzogchen Beara and is passionate about the continuity of the practice lineage. She is an instructor on topics such as meditation, contemplation and compassion practices, as well as Vajrayana practices.

Teachers in Ireland

‘Teachers’ specialise in one or several Dharma topics connected to the path of study and practice, such as meditation, foundations of Buddhism, lojong, madhyamaka, Vajrayana preliminary practices (Ngondro), and so on.


Derek Corr	Brendan Doyle	Jeffrey DeLeo	Kirsten DeLeo

Klara Finkele	Cecily Leonard	Martin Leonard	Anthony McCay

Veronica Nicholson	Leon Rossiter	Anne Sheehan	Andrew Warr

Michael Ronan

Practice Holders in Ireland

‘Practice Holders’ lead Vajrayana group practice for the Rigpa community around the world, contributing to the continuation of the vibrant tradition of Vajrayana in Rigpa.


Ann Alford	Nicki Beshoff	Jennifer Cronly	Jeffrey DeLeo

Marc Deters	Sebastian Diebetsberger	Kieran English	Klara Finkele

Annette Moeker	Matt Padwick	Cliff Venner