Venerable Khenpo Jigme

President & Teacher, Vajra Vidya Retreat Center (Crestone)

Venerable Khenpo Jigme is a senior Karma Kagyu teacher who studied under Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche. Widely respected for his calm clarity and extensive retreat experience, he teaches Buddhist philosophy, ritual, and meditation, while also guiding practitioners through traditional retreat practice.

Early training & ordination

In 1980, he became the first Bhutanese monk at Thrangu Tashi Chöling Monastery in Kanglung, Bhutan, where he began formal study of Tibetan language, scriptures, and ritual. In 1983, he moved to Thrangu Tashi Chöling in Boudhanath, Nepal, the main monastery of Thrangu Rinpoche, received full ordination (gelong), and continued his intensive training in core rituals and Tibetan grammar.

Higher studies & three-year retreat

In 1989, he entered the Namo Buddha Institute for Higher Buddhist Studies in Namo Buddha, Nepal, and completed the five-year shedra curriculum. In 1994, he joined the traditional three-year retreat at Namo Buddha, where the lineage’s practices and meditations are learned in full, preparing qualified practitioners to serve as lamas/teachers.

In recognition of his strength in philosophy, ritual, and meditation, Thrangu Rinpoche conferred the title Khenpo on Khenpo Jigme in 1997 and appointed him a main teacher for both the Namo Buddha Institute in Nepal and the Vajra Vidya Institute in Sarnath, India. Since then, he has remained among the principal faculty of these monastic colleges, teaching core Buddhist philosophy and guiding practice. He has also taught the Dharma in Malaysia.

Teaching Western students

Starting in 2005, Khenpo Jigme expanded his work with Western students by offering translated Dharma talks and helping lead an intensive Tibetan-language program for dedicated practitioners. Today, he teaches and guides retreats through Vajra Vidya Retreat Center in Crestone, with an emphasis on clear instruction, careful pacing, and direct support for individual practice.