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Buddhist Masters in Bhutan
Bhutan's own Chief Abbot, His Holiness the Je Khenpo, and the great titles and lineages of the wider Buddhist world — what each title means, where it came from, and how it connects to Bhutan. Many of these masters are gathering in Gelephu for Project 108, where the Je Khenpo leads the prayers. The wider tradition is gathered in Buddhism in Bhutan.
Bhutan's Chief Abbot · Drukpa Kagyu · Bhutan
The Je Khenpo: Bhutan's Chief Abbot, from 1651 to the 70th
Only two people in Bhutan wear the saffron scarf: the King and the Je Khenpo. The office of Chief Abbot has existed since the Zhabdrung's time. Its 70th holder, the longest-serving in its history, restored full ordination for women, presided over the Kalachakra in 2025 — and offered the sacred relics sealed inside Project 108's chortens.
In Gelephu from 21 October 2026 · leading the prayers
Masters of the wider Buddhist world
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Karma Kagyu
The Karmapa: Who He Is, the History of the Title, and Its Ties to Bhutan
For nine centuries the Karmapas have headed the Karma Kagyu, one of the great schools of Tibetan Buddhism — the first line of Tibetan masters recognised as returning, life after life. The 16th Karmapa found refuge through Bhutan in 1959. Today two masters hold the title. In 2026 both made offerings to Project 108, and Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje will be in Gelephu from 1 to 4 November.
Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje in Gelephu · 1–4 November 2026
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Sakya
The Sakya Trizin: Nine Centuries of the Khön Lineage, and Three Throne-Holders in Gelephu
The Sakya throne has passed through one family, the Khön, since a monastery was founded on a grey hillside in Tibet in 1073. Its holders taught Mongol emperors. Today the office rotates among the family's senior members — and from 1 to 4 November 2026 three who have held it will be together in Gelephu.
All three in Gelephu · 1–4 November 2026
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Gelug
The Gaden Tripa: Holder of the Gelug School's Highest Throne
Six centuries ago Je Tsongkhapa founded Ganden Monastery and the school that would become the Gelug — the tradition of the Dalai Lamas. The throne he occupied is still held today, by a master chosen for learning rather than birth. The 105th Gaden Tripa will be in Gelephu for Project 108 from 1 to 4 November.
In Gelephu · 1–4 November 2026
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Karma Kagyu
The Tai Situpa: A Title from 1407, a Teacher of Bhutan's Third King
The title was conferred by a Ming emperor in 1407. An 18th-century Situpa founded Palpung and edited the Tibetan canon. The 11th taught Bhutan's Third King. And in August 2026 the 12th Tai Situpa came to Sarpang Dzong with relics for Project 108 — including two ringsel said to be more than nine hundred years old.
Came to Sarpang Dzong for Project 108 · 30 August 2026
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Drukpa Kagyu · Bhutan
Gyalwa Dokhampa: The Drukpa Master Teaching Mindfulness in Thimphu
The Khamtrul incarnations have carried the Drukpa lineage in eastern Tibet since the sixteenth century. The 9th Gyalwa Dokhampa, born in 1981 and trained in Bhutan, runs a monastery in Thimphu, writes on the restful mind — and leads a yoga and mindfulness centre in the Gelephu Mindfulness City.
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Nyingma · Pema Lingpa lineage · Bhutan
Pema Lingpa and His Incarnations: Gangteng Trulku, Sungtrul and Thuksey Rinpoche
According to Bhutanese tradition, Pema Lingpa, the most celebrated of Bhutan's treasure-revealers, dived into Mebartsho, the Burning Lake, holding a lamp, and came up with it still alight. Five centuries later his lineage runs through the royal house and through three lines of incarnate lamas — the Peling Yab-Sey-Sum — whose present holders have offered one of Project 108's chortens together.
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Nyingma · Katok lineage · Bhutan
Kathok Situ Rinpoche: Heir of a Great Nyingma Monastery, Rooted in Bhutan
Kathok, founded in eastern Tibet in 1159, is counted as the oldest of the great Nyingma monasteries. Its fifth Situ incarnation was born in Darjeeling in 1978 into two remarkable families — Dudjom Rinpoche's and Bhutan's royal house — and today teaches from a monastery in Wangdue Phodrang, leads a spiritual project in Gelephu, and will be there for Project 108 from 1 to 4 November.
In Gelephu · 1–4 November 2026
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Nyingma · Dudjom Tersar · Bhutan
Dungzin Garab Rinpoche: The Dudjom Lineage in Bhutan
From a treasure-revealer in nineteenth-century Amdo, to the head of the Nyingma in exile, to a yogi born in eastern Bhutan who leads tens of thousands of Chöd practitioners: the Dudjom lineage has become one of the great living traditions of Bhutanese Buddhism. Its holder in Bhutan sponsored a Project 108 chorten — and wrote that it was not for his own merit.
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Nyingma · Shechen lineage · Nepal and Bhutan
Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche: Dilgo Khyentse's Heir and Bhutan
Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, one of the greatest Tibetan masters of the twentieth century, made Bhutan his home, taught its royal family and was cremated in Paro before fifty thousand people. The grandson he raised, the 7th Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche, carries the Shechen lineage today — and leads a spiritual project in Gelephu.
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Nyingma · Longchen Nyingtik · United States
Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche: Teacher, Painter, Heir of the Rimé Masters
His lineage runs back to Jamgön Kongtrul, one of the architects of Tibetan Buddhism's non-sectarian revival. Born in India in 1964 and trained under Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, he taught at Naropa, founded Mangala Shri Bhuti and became Pema Chödrön's teacher. He will be in Gelephu for Project 108 from 1 to 4 November.
In Gelephu · 1–4 November 2026
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Buryat Buddhism · Russia
Khambo Lama: Buryat Buddhism's Senior Lamas, and Tsyren Lama of Transbaikalia
Beyond Lake Baikal, in the far east of Russia, a Buddhist tradition has survived empire, Soviet repression and revival. Its senior lamas carry the title Khambo Lama. One of them, Tsyren Lama Dondukbaev of Transbaikalia, will be in Gelephu for Project 108 from 1 to 4 November.
In Gelephu · 1–4 November 2026
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Theravāda · United States
Bhikkhu Paññākāra: The Monk Who Walked 2,300 Miles for Peace
A Vietnamese-born engineer turned Theravāda monk led a column of monks — and a rescue dog named Aloka — on foot from Texas to Washington, D.C., through the winter of 2025–26. His Walk for Peace drew crowds and millions of followers. He will be in Gelephu for Project 108 from 1 to 4 November 2026.
In Gelephu · 1–4 November 2026
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Theravāda forest tradition · Thailand
Kruba Boonchum: The Forest Monk of Three Nations
Revered across Thailand, Myanmar and Laos, Phra Kruba Boonchum spends his rainy seasons alone in caves — once for more than three years. In 2018 he prayed at the Tham Luang cave while the world waited for twelve trapped young footballers and their coach. In 2026 he came to Gelephu to pray at the Project 108 site and offered one of its chortens.
Visited the Project 108 site in Gelephu · 2026
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Karma Kagyu · New Zealand
Pong Re Rinpoche: The New Zealand-Born Tulku
Born in Auckland in the early 1990s, recognised as a reincarnate Tibetan master as a small child, raised through twenty years of monastic training in India. Pong Re Rinpoche is the first recognised tulku born in New Zealand — and in 2026 he made his first visit to Bhutan to offer a chorten to Project 108. He will be in Gelephu from 1 to 4 November.
In Gelephu · 1–4 November 2026