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Shambhala Buddhist Lineage
The word lineage means a line of instruction/transmission that has been passed down from teacher to disciple throughout history. 

Shambhala Buddhism joins the legacy of Tibetan Buddhism with the Shambhala tradition of awakened living in the world. The teachings of Shambhala Buddhism emphasize the need in our times for cultivating enlightened, or uplifted society, free from nationalism.

The premise of Shambhala is that basic human goodness and wisdom transcend any one culture or religion. Shambhala teaches the path toward realizing bravery, dignity, and kindness, and embodies an essence that has existed in many cultures throughout history.

For more information about the lineage of Shambhala Buddhism, visit the Buddhist section of the Shambhala International website.

Teachers
Sakyong Jamgön Mipham Rinpoche
Sakyong Jamgön Mipham Rinpoche, the spiritual head of the Shambhala Buddhist Lineage, founded Dechen Chöling in 1994. He is the Dharma heir of his father, the Vidyadhara Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, who was instrumental in bringing Buddhism to the West.

The Sakyong is unique in that he bridges East and West, having grown up in both North America and India. He holds the Mukpo family lineage, descending from the Tibetan warrior-king Gesar of Ling. Rinpoche also holds the Kagyü and Nyingma lineages. He is the incarnation of Mipham the Great, who is revered in Tibet as an emanation of Manjushri, the bodhisattva of wisdom. Rinpoche is the author of the best-selling books, Turning the Mind Into an Ally and Ruling your World.

For more biographical information, excerpts of his writings, examples of his art work, and photographs please visit the Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche’s website.

Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche
Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, holder of the Kagyü and Nyingma lineages of Tibetan Buddhism, founded the Shambhala Buddhist lineage.

Born in Tibet in 1939, Trungpa Rinpoche was recognized at an early age as a tülku, or reincarnated teacher. He fled Tibet in 1959, and four years later went to Oxford University in England. From that time until his death in 1987, he worked tirelessly to bring the living teachings of meditation to the Western world, establishing several major practice centres, over one hundred meditation centres, and Naropa University.

Author of dozens of books, Trungpa Rinpoche is renowned today for his remarkable ability to present the highest essence of the teachings in a form accessible to the West.

For more biographical information, excerpts of his writings, examples of his art work, and photographs please visit the Chögyam Rinpoche section of the Shambhala International website

Acharya Mathias Pongracz
In 2005, Mathias Pongracz was appointed Acharya, or senior teacher, by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. In 2006 he became the new Acharya-in-residence at Dechen Chöling.

He has studied and practiced under Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche and Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. He also studied closely with Kobun Chino Roshi from 1992 until his paranirvana in 2002.

Mathias Pongracz was a television reporter for the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation. He is also the former director of Shambhala Training in Vienna.

Other Teachers
Dechen Chöling also hosts programmes by other renowned Tibetan teachers such as Khenpo Tsültrim Gyamtso Rinpoche and the Venerable Khandro Rinpoche.

Japanese Kyudo master Kanjuro Shibata Sensei XX and Kado master Marcia Wang Shibata also teach at Dechen Chöling.

Khenpo Gawang is a new visiting teacher. He was appointed by Penor Rinpoche to study with the Sakyong and teach in the Shambhala Mandala.

A lot of programmes at DCL are taught by Acharyas, senior teachers, appointed by the Sakyong.

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