Tokden Achö 阿曲瑜珈長老

Tokden Achö, aka Tokden Chökyi Lodrö (b. 1932) is the seniormost tokden of Khampagar Monastery and the only one still alive from the group of tokdens who originally came out of Tibet with the previous Khamtrul Rinpoche Dongyü Nyima.

Early Life

Tokden Achö was born in Tibet and joined Khampagar Monastery in Kham at the age of 10. He studied for seven years and at seventeen went into retreat for ten years, receiving teachings from the 8th Khamtrul Rinpoche Dongyü Nyima. In 1960 he fled to exile in India with Khamtrul Rinpoche. Together with a group of lay followers they were able to set up the Tashi Jong Community in Kangra Valley, where the new Khampagar Monastery was built.

Activities

Tokden Achö has worked hard building up the Khampagar Monastery and community at Tashi Jong while receiving many teachings and empowerments from 8th Khamtrul Rinpoche and other realized masters over the years, being in retreat whenever he could. In 1986 he was appointed as personal attendant to the young Gyalwa Dokhampa Shedrub Nyima, the 9th Khamtrul Rinpoche, travelling with him to Asia and Europe, as well as on pilgrimages to many holy Buddhist sites.