Ven Gelong Karma Jiga provides our group with teachings and meditation practices. He makes regular visits to our center here in kettering.

The Ven Gelong Karma Jiga is a fully ordained Buddhist monk of the Karma Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. He is senior monk from Samyé Ling Monastery. He has worked under the direction of Dr. Akong Tulku Rinpoche, the founder of Samye Ling and the founding President of the Rokpa Trust since 1976 and with the Ven Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche since 1988. Due to the kindness of Akong Tulku and Lama Yeshe, Karma Jiga has studied with and received empowerments from the greatest of Tibetan Masters....... Situ Rinpoche, Gyaltsap Rinpoche, Kalu Rinpoche, Thrangu Rinpoche, Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, Tenga Tulku, Ringu Tulku, Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso, Yongey Minjur Dorje Rinpoche etc in Samyé Ling and the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa in India.

He has accompanied Dr Akong Tulku Rinpoche on visits abroad, on pilgrimage and assisted him in the monastery and other centres during ceremonies and visits etc when asked to do so.

Gelong Jiga has also accompanied Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche on visits abroad, on Pilgrimage and assists him when asked to do so. Karma Jiga studied Statue casting and mould making, Lama dancing and Ritual music under the direction of the master artist Sherabpalden Beru, artist in residence at Samye Ling Monastery . He studied the basic ritual music & ritual forms with the former Palpung Lamas, Lama Thubten & Lama Lodro & Tenga Tulku Rinpoche, former Master of Ritual at H. H. the 16th Gyalwa Karmapas monastery at Rumtek in Sikhim who also taught him mandala drawing.

He has completed retreats of varying lengths in the last 30 years. He entered the long term retreat and after completing his Personal Yidam practice was brought from the enclosed retreat, back to the monastery where. For the last 10 years he has founded and established projects on behalf of the Trust, under the direction of the Abbot and retreat master of Samyé Ling monastery, the Lama Yeshe Losal.

Karma Jiga was the first Western Monk to be ordained for life by the present Abbot. He was caretaker during the formative years of the Holy Island Project. Having also established a Centre on Arran, which will host the next three year retreat for men, he set up the first Buddhist Centre in Moscow. Rokpa Dundee was founded by Karma Jiga on behalf of the trust in 1999 after fundraising, teaching and running meditation classes there for 2 years.