About the Vajra Regent Ösel Tendzin
The Vajra Regent Ösel Tendzin was born Thomas F. Rich, Jr. in Passaic, New Jersey and in 1976 was formally empowered by the Vidyadhara, Chögyam Trungpa, Rinpoche, as his successor and dharma heir. The Vajra Regent was the first westerner to become a lineage-holder in the Kagyü and Nyingma schools of Tibetan Buddhism. It would be difficult to overstate his contribution to Buddhism in America, especially regarding his role in the development and guidance of the Buddhist and Shambhala communities established by Chögyam Trungpa, Rinpoche. The Vajra Regent served as president of Vajradhatu, a worldwide association of meditation centers from 1987 to 1990 and, with Trungpa Rinpoche, was the co-founder of Shambhala Training.

Until his death in 1990, the Vajra Regent taught extensively throughout North America and Europe, propagating the teachings he received from Trungpa Rinpoche and playing a major role in the transmission of the buddhadharma to the western world. Because of his realization and his facility with our language and culture, he was able to touch the lives of many people. As His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche said, "Without the Vajra Regent the Vidyadhara could never have accomplished all that he did."

The Vajra Regent taught with directness, humor, and compassion. He was unique in his ability to communicate his insight and passion for the Buddha's teachings and to do so in the vernacular of our society. The words of the Vajra Regent still carry the power and poignant relief of the Four Noble Truths and the mission of his Library and Archives is to share them with others.

The Library and Archives
The Vajra Regent Osel Tendzin Library and Archives is dedicated to the preservation and propagation of his many works, and operates as a division of Satdharma. The first priority of the Library is the digital duplication of over 800 master audiotapes and 70 master videotapes of talks by the Vajra Regent on deposit in the Shambhala Archives. All of these tapes will be stored in the VROT Library and Archives facility located in Ojai, California. Continuing projects include the transcription and editing of tapes for future publication, and the location and collection of originals and/or copies of poems, photographs, and calligraphies created by the Vajra Regent. Presently, the timely treatment of material arising from the teaching activities of the Vajra Regent’s dharma successor, Patrick Sweeney, is also being addressed in order to benefit the current and future students of Mr. Sweeney.

The Library and Archives will publish the Vajra Regent's works in both written and electronic formats. Publications will include public talks and seminars on the buddhadharma, Shambhala Training lectures, community talks and group interviews, vows and other ceremonies, and a book of poetry, photos, and calligraphies. The Unobstructed Way, the Vajra Regent's commentary on Gampopa's Jewel Ornament of Liberation, is in preparation. For a list of current publications and ordering information, click here.

Restricted materials will include vajrayana talks and seminars, advanced Shambhala teachings, and vajrayana transmissions. The first restricted publication will be The Chariot of Liberation, a seminar on ngöndro and mahamudra co-taught by the Vajra Regent and the Dorje Loppon, Lodro Dorje.

The Library and Archives is in the process of archiving the Vajra Regent's audio and video materials, and catalogueing its entire collection in electronic format. In the near future audio compact discs and videotapes will be made available for circulation and sale. We anticipate publishing in a multi-media format. Below are samples of teachings given by the Vajra Regent, in the form of talks to listen to or to read, and calligraphies to view. There is as well a set of pages documenting a stupa built for the Vajra Regent at the Ojai Valley Dharma Center.