The present Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche, Thubten Chökyi Gyamtso, was born in 1961 in eastern Bhutan. He was recognized as a tulku by H.H. Sakya Trizin, and received empowerments and teachings from many of the greatest masters of Tibetan Buddhism, including H.H. the 16th Karmapa; H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche and Lama Sonam Zangpo (his paternal and maternal grandfathers); Chatral Rinpoche; Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche, Khenpo Appey, and many others. His root guru was Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, who began training Rinpoche from the age of 7.

While still a teenager, Rinpoche built a small retreat center in Ghezing, Sikkim and soon began traveling and teaching around the world. In the 1980s, he began the restoration of Dzongsar Monastery in Derge, the responsibility of which he had inherited from his previous incarnation, Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö. He established Dzongsar Institute in Bir, India, (now DKCLI in Chauntra), which has grown to be one of the most respected institutions for advanced dialectical study. He also oversees two monasteries in Bhutan and has established dharma centres in Australia, Europe, North America, and Asia. He has written several books and made award-winning films. Rinpoche continuously travels all over the world, practicing and teaching the Dharma.

Jennifer Yo was born in Taiwan to a Chinese Buddhist family.
She did her bachelor and master degrees in Taiwan and Ireland.
After graduation, she taught Chinese language and linguistics in universities in America and Ireland.
She translated Thich Nhat Hanh’s book Anger into Chinese.
Jennifer met Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche in 2006 and worked as administrator at the Deer Park Institute, India, from 2006 to 2011.
She taught English in two alternative education schools from year 2012-2014.
Since 2014 she has been working for Khyentse Foundation as project manager for the cross translation projects between Chinese and Tibetan.
She is also in charge of the Language Program of Dzongsar Khyentse Choekyi Lodro Instotute in India and Intensive English Program for Buddhist Scholars in Thailand.
She is also a member of Buddhist Education for Children Steering Committee.

Cangioli started her career in public relations and publications with a non-profit organization in Hong Kong. In the early 1980s she started her own company, Management Resources International, one of the first, and most successful, professional organizers in Hong Kong, hosting many international conferences and exhibitions in the Asia-Pacific region. Cangioli moved to San Francisco in 1988 and became a student of Rinpoche in 1994. She served as treasurer of Siddhartha’s Intent Western Door from 1996 to 2001. She was a founding director of Khyentse Foundation, and has served as executive director since the inception of the Foundation in 2001. Cangioli graduated with honors from the University of Hong Kong with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature.

The very first meetings from which Khyentse Foundation grew were hosted by Cangioli at her home in San Francisco. Since then, she has given tirelessly to the Foundation, working more than full-time hours, rarely taking a weekend off, always on a wage of exactly zero. We would not be here today if it were not for her dedication, her devotion, her excellent business sense, her diplomacy, and her hard work.

In her own words:

I am so grateful to have the opportunity to serve Rinpoche through Khyentse Foundation. I did not get to know the Dharma and Rinpoche until I had some years of work experience. I had no idea how this experience could be of any meaningful use until I started working for the Foundation.

Working for Khyentse Foundation for the last 10 years has brought meaning to my existence. I cannot think of doing anything else that would be more valuable. Although I am not able to be constantly aware that all work is practice, especially when dealing with the more mundane business aspects of the Foundation, I have the luxury of knowing that all KF activities, as Rinpoche recently mentioned, are dedicated so that they can be the cause of enlightenment for all.

I am always in tears when I read in Shantideva’s Bodhicharyavatara:
Now my life has given fruit
This human state has now been well assumed…

Ivy Ang has been using her facilitation skills to help Khyentse Foundation with strategic planning since its early years, and she was instrumental in assisting the Foundation to set and achieve its first two five-year goals.

At the request of Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, Ivy facilitated the 5-day Translating the Words of the Buddha conference in March, 2009 in Bir, India. The conference culminated in the birth of the ambitious Buddhist Literary Heritage Project, with the 100-year goal of translating the words of the Buddha into several languages.

“When I was first asked to assist with Khyentse Foundation’s strategic planning in 2003, I had no idea what an amazing transformative journey it would be. Whatever small contribution I have made to KF over the years, it has returned a thousandfold. Working with Rinpoche’s mandala has been the single most inspirational and worthwhile experience in my entire life. It really is a rare glimpse of Indra’s net of jewels reflecting each other.”

In December 2009, at the invitation of Prime Minister Jigme Thinley of Bhutan, Ivy facilitated a 5-day education workshop in Thimpu to transform Bhutan’s educational curriculum to reflect their Gross National Happiness (GNH) principles. Expressing his appreciation, the prime minister said, “Kudos to our facilitator, Ivy Ang, who somehow magically and graciously opened up the space to allow that expression within an atmosphere of complete respect, safety, and warmth, while at the same time moving us firmly forward and never compromising the need for practical action and implementation. Striking such a balance is a magical skill.”

Ivy has more than 30 years of professional experience in international business and organizational development. She has also worked with many nonprofit organizations, including strategic planning for the Tibetan Buddhist Resource Center. Ivy is founder and president of Visionlinc, a company dedicated to linking vision, people, and strategies.

Dr. Naihuei Hou graduated from Department of Chinese Literature, National Chengchi University in 1989.
Her major research is focused on classical Chinese poetry and garden literature.
She has been with Department of Chinese Literature, National Taipei University since 1989, and become full professor since 1995.
She primarily teaches classical Chinese poetry, classical Chinese novel, and Introduction to Buddhism.
Her major publication includes the following books, " Theme of Tang Poetry and Mental Health," "Picturesque and Scenario--The Garden Life of Literati in Tang Dynasty," "Park Culture of Tang Dynasty and Song Dynasty," "Gardens and Life Culture of Song Dynasty."
She also edits a series of dictionaries, such as "Dictionary of Chinese Idioms," and "Practical Living Dictionary."

Hsaio, Chin-sung gets his master degree in Political Sciences at the Cheng-chi University.
He has been an assistant professor in the department of Nationalities at the Cheng-chi University where his main topic of research was related to the Chinese border policies.
He focused his analysis on the history, the culture and the Buddhist philosophy of Tibet.
After he retired, he became the director of the Faguang Research Institute of Buddhism where he taught Tibetan culture and language.
He is the author of numerous articles, books and translations from Tibetan to chinese.