Dhagpo Kundreul Ling's community of lamas, druplas, monks and nuns is a direct result of the activity of the late 16th Gyalwa Karmapa Rangjung Rigpe Dorje and Gendun Rinpoche. At present the centre is under the spiritual authority of the 14th Shamarpa, Chökyi Lodrö, and the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Thaye Dorje who is destined to become its spiritual leader. The community is also intimately linked to Dhagpo Kagyu Ling, the Karmapa's European seat, which is directed by Lama Jigme Rinpoche.

" In the person of Jigmela, I give you my heart.
In the person of Gendun Rinpoche,
I give you a pure jewel. "
16th Gyalwa Karmapa

The 17th Gyalwa Karmapa:
Trinley Thaye Dorje
The successor of the 16th Karmapa, was born in Lhasa Tibet in 1983. Since 1994 he has been residing in India, firstly in the Karmapa Institute in New Delhi, and since 1998 in Kalimpong. He is presently pursuing his education which includes Buddhist studies, meditation, languages and general lessons. At the same time he receives all the transmissions destined for a Kagyu lineage holder. Once his training is accomplished he will demonstrate the complete spiritual activity specific to the Gyalwa Karmapas.

The 14th Shamarpa:
Chökyi Lodrö
He is the current holder of the Karma Kagyu lineage. He assumes the position of regent during the transition period between two incarnations of the Karmapa . The Karmapas and Shamarpas are intimately connected, alternately acting as master and disciple for each other through the centuries. Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche was the founder of Dhagpo Kundreul Ling along with Gendun Rinpoche. He has taken charge of the centre's spiritual direction since Gendun Rinpoche's departure.

Lama Gendun Rinpoche:

A monk, yogi and accomplished meditation master, he was born in 1918 in eastern Tibet. He remained in retreat for much of his life in both Tibet and India. The 16th Gyalwa Karmapa gave him the entire transmission of the Kagyu school, thus making him an authentic lineage holder. In 1975 he came to settle in the Dordogne region of France at the request of the Karmapa, where he taught the Dharma to a large number of practitioners and sympathisers. In 1984, he moved to Auvergne in order to direct the retreat centres and hermitages.

Gendun Rinpoche contributed greatly to the implantation of the Buddha's teachings in Europe. His mission was to fulfil the execution of the Karmapa's wishes. He left his body on the 31st October 1997 having accomplished this task.

Lama Jigme Rinpoche:

Jigme Rinpoche was born in Kham, Eastern Tibet, in 1949. When the Chinese invaded Tibet in 1955, he moved to Tsurphu, the monastery of the Karmapas in Tibet, and eventually, in 1959, together with the Karmapa and many other high lamas and tulkus of all ages, he moved on to Rumtek in Sikkim. In Rumtek, H.H. the Karmapa founded a monastery in order to preserve the teachings, and it was there, together with all the regents and important tulkus gathered there by the Karmapa, that Jigme Rinpoche received all the transmissions directly from him.