Khyentse Foundation, founded by the revered Bhutanese lama, teacher, filmmaker, and author Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche, has endowed a tenured professorship in Tibetan and Buddhist studies at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU Munich), one of the oldest universities in Europe. 

This endowment, made together with the German Tara Foundation, is the third such chair that the foundation has funded and the first in Europe, following professorships at the University of California, Berkeley and the University of Michigan.

“Since its inception, Khyentse Foundation has supported the academic study of Buddhism. In particular, support for academic institutions has always been one of the pillars of our work. Given the importance of institutionalized professorships as a driver for research and teaching, especially for a rather marginalized academic field, one of our aims is to sponsor endowed chairs of Buddhist studies,” said Anja Hartmann, a member of the Khyentse Foundation board of directors and chair of the Academic Development Committee. “The first was the Khyentse chair at the University of California, Berkeley in 2006, followed by the Khyentse Gendun Chopel Professorship of Tibetan Buddhist Studies at the University of Michigan in 2018. . . .  We are delighted to announce another lifetime professorship in Buddhist studies at the Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich, Germany, one of the oldest universities in Europe.” (Khyentse Foundation)

Founded in 2001, Khyentse Foundation is a nonprofit organization established by Dzomgsar Khyentse Rinpoche with the aim of promoting the Buddha’s teaching and supporting all traditions of Buddhist study and practice. The foundation’s activities include major text preservation and translation projects, support for monastic colleges in Asia, a worldwide scholarship and awards program, development of Buddhist studies at major universities, training and development for Buddhist teachers, and and developing new modes of Dharma-inspired education for children.

“There can be no doubt that this new appointment will continue this national and international cooperation, and further strengthen . . . Munich’s status as one of the foremost centers for the study of Tibet and Buddhism,” said LMU Munich vice president and professor of Chinese studies Hans van Ess, himself a member of the Buddhist studies program. (Khyentse Foundation)

LMU Munich became a hub for Tibetan Buddhist studies in Europe during the tenure of Prof. Ehrhard, drawing scholars from Asia, Europe, and the United States. The university collaborated closely with other seats of learning working in the field of Tibetan Buddhism  around the world, including Oxford University, the University of California, Berkeley, the University of Tokyo, Peking University, and Fudan University.

Born in Bhutan in 1961, and now based primarily in Himachal Pradesh, India, Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche is the son of Thinley Norbu Rinpoche and was a close student of the Nyingma master Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche (1910–91). He is recognized as the third incarnation of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo (1820–92), founder of the Khyentse lineage, and the immediate incarnation of Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö (1893–1959). In addition to Khyentse Foundation, his projects include 84000, a non-profit global initiative to translate the words of the Buddha into modern languages and make them available to all; Siddhartha’s Intent, which organizes, distributes, and archives his teachings; Lotus Outreach, which directs a wide range of projects to help refugees; and The Lhomon Society, which promotes sustainable development in Bhutan through education.

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Khyentse Foundation
Buddhist Professorship Endowed in Munich at One of Europe’s Oldest Universities (Khyentse Foundation)
Cross-Fertilization of Academia and Buddha’s wisdom (Khyentse Foundation)

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