The Compassion Project operates under the spiritual direction of Phagyab Rinpoche (pronounced “Puk Yab Rin Poh Chey”), a lama, scholar, and highly renowned practitioner in the Gelugpa order of Tibetan Buddhism. Born in Kham, Tibet, in 1966 and ordained at the age of thirteen, Rinpoche received a rigorous traditional education in Buddhist philosophy and ritual in Tibet and then at Sera Monastery in South India. While studying for his Geshe degree, the highest rank in Tibetan Buddhist scholarship, he was recognized by the Dalai Lama as the eighth reincarnation of Phagyab Rinpoche—a venerated Buddhist teacher—and was requested to return to Tibet in order to assume leadership of the Ashi and Lithang monasteries, the traditional seats of Phagyab Rinpoche. While teaching in Tibet, Rinpoche was apprehended for his religious beliefs and subsequently fled back to India before immigrating to the USA in 2003.

Rinpoche believes that there has never been a more pronounced need for individuals to model compassionate, empathic and globalized thinking and action. He notes that as the world’s ecosystem hovers in a state of fragile balance and human conflict continues to spawn renewed cycles of violence, we find ourselves at a critical choice point. We can recognize, teach and celebrate our common humanity, innovate solutions to shared global issues, and thrive, or we can reinforce the tribal dogmas and entrenched fundamentalisms that are rupturing our deeply interconnected world.

In early 2008, he established The Compassion Project together with his assistant and interpreter, Marina Illich, Ph.D., and a small team of committed individuals to promote tools for developing mutual understanding, forgiveness, and the spirit of universal compassion that will bring much-needed healing to our global community.

Marina Illich is a scholar of Indo-Tibetan Buddhism. She completed her doctorate in Religious Studies at Columbia University in 2006 under the guidance of Prof. Robert Thurman and has traveled and researched extensively in Tibetan communities in Tibet, India and Nepal. In February 2008, she established The Compassion Project together with Ven. Phagyab Rinpoche and currently assists him as his facilitator and interpreter.

Although he was forced into exile from his loved ones, spiritual teachers and students, Rinpoche is a steadfast advocate of non-violent communication and non-violent conflict resolution who regularly calls for forgiveness and kindness to those who perpetrate violence on others.

Rinpoche is also a dedicated advocate of the innate potential we all possess to heal ourselves, physically, mentally and emotionally. After escaping from Tibet, he developed a number of serious and potentially life-threatening illnesses and, upon arriving in the US in 2004, he was given a bleak medical prognosis. Harnessing his practiced meditation skills, Rinpoche underwent a journey of radical self-healing that has astonished and inspired doctors, friends and audiences across the U.S. In his lectures and seminars, Rinpoche offers audiences techniques for mobilizing our thoughts, emotions, and physical body to promote radical mindbody healing.