Our Lineage
Welcome to Chicago KTC. Whether you’re exploring meditation for the first time or seeking to deepen your Buddhist practice, our doors are open to you. Our name, “Karma Thegsum Chöling,” reflects our mission and heritage:
- Karma refers to our lineage, the Karma Kagyu, known for its emphasis on meditation practice.
- Thegsum means “three vehicles,” indicating that we teach all levels of Buddhist practice: Hinayana, Mahayana, and Vajrayana.
- Chöling means “Dharma place” (a space dedicated to Buddhist teachings).
We are part of the Karma Kagyu lineage, a living tradition of Tibetan Buddhism that traces back to 10th century India. Our practice emphasizes meditation, retreat, and direct experience passed from teacher to student through generations of realized masters.
Chicago KTC is affiliated with and operates under the guidance of Karma Triyana Dharmachakra (KTD), the North American seat of His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa. Located in Woodstock, New York, KTD serves as the spiritual headquarters for all Karma Kagyu centers in North America, preserving and transmitting the complete teachings of our lineage.
Our Community & Center
Our sangha (community) brings together people from all walks of life. Whether you’re completely new to Buddhism or have practiced for years, you’ll find regular meditation and teachings, traditional ceremonies, study groups, and special events with visiting teachers. There are many ways to engage, at whatever pace feels right for you.
When you visit Chicago KTC, you’ll discover a remarkable transformation: a 1920s speakeasy reimagined as a traditional Tibetan Buddhist sanctuary. In the winter of 2003, just before Tibetan New Year, we transformed this historic Chicago building into our current center.
Our bright, spacious shrine room features walls adorned with mantras and traditional designs painted by Tibetan artists and KTC members. At its heart stands a 4-foot tall, gold-leafed Buddha statue housed in a shrine cabinet crafted by our dedicated community. This unique blend of Chicago history and Tibetan tradition creates a space that grounds ancient wisdom in our contemporary world.
Our Teachers
Chicago KTC is guided by a living lineage of teachers, from our resident teacher here in Cicero to the heads of the Karma Kagyu tradition.
His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa
His Holiness Ogyen Trinley Dorje leads our lineage and guides millions of Buddhists worldwide. In 2015, His Holiness blessed our center with a visit, giving teachings on compassion and the Chenrezig practice that forms the heart of our center’s activities.
His Holiness the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa
His Holiness the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje (1924–1981), was a pivotal figure in Tibetan Buddhism. Born in Denkhok, Derge province, Eastern Tibet, he was recognized early as the Karmapa incarnation. In 1959, he led the Karma Kagyu lineage into exile, establishing Rumtek Monastery in Sikkim as the new seat. His global travels and teachings significantly contributed to the spread of Tibetan Buddhism worldwide.
Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche
Khyapje Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche (1924–2019) was a revered master of the Karma Kagyu lineage. Born in Kham, Tibet, he became abbot of Karma Triyana Dharmachakra Monastery in Woodstock, New York. Renowned for his teachings on Mahamudra and Dzogchen, he guided numerous three-year retreats and authored several books on Buddhist philosophy and meditation.
Khenpo Ugyen Tenzin
Khenpo Ugyen Tenzin serves as the Abbot of Karma Triyana Dharmachakra. He was enrolled in the first class of Karma Shri Nalanda Institute at Rumtek with Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche and Sangyay Nyenpa Rinpoche, and received the Acharya degree from Nalanda Institute and Sampurnanand Sanskrit University jointly in 1991. As a Khenpo, he taught Buddhist philosophy for six years at Nimalung Monastery in Bhutan. From 1997 to 2002, he was Senior Abbot and Principal Teacher at Nalanda Institute at Rumtek Dharma Chakra Center.
Lama Karma Drodhul
Lama Karma Drodhul, born in 1974 in Eastern Tibet, became a monk at Thrangu Monastery at the age of twelve and, after attending shedra (monastic college), received full ordination at the age of twenty. He came to the United States in 1997 and has been his uncle, Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche’s attendant since that time. He has completed two three-year retreats under Khenpo Rinpoche and is now co-retreat master at the Karme Ling Retreat Center in Delhi, New York. Lama Karma travels widely and brings a warm, energetic vibrancy to his teaching and guidance of students. He is based at KTD in Woodstock, New York. Lama Karma Drodhul is a skilled writer in classical Tibetan; his published books include Amrita of Eloquence: A Biography of Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche and Siddhas of Ga.
Lama Sean Jones
Our resident teacher and center director, Lama Sean completed the traditional three-year retreat at Karme Ling under Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche’s guidance. Known for his ability to bridge traditional wisdom with an understanding of contemporary life, Lama Sean offers regular teachings that make Buddhist concepts accessible while maintaining their profound depth. His approach helps students connect these traditional practices with their daily lives in Chicago.