Rigdzin Dorje (Will Jackson)

Rigdzin Dorje (Will Jackson), whose Buddhist roots are in the Mahâyâna, has spent the last 20 years of his life practicing its Tantric form, Vajrayâna. During this experimental phase Dorje received initiations by illustrious teachers such as Dungse Rigdzin Dorje Rinpoche (Nyingma) and His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama (Gelug), and personal instruction and/or initiations from teachers such as Lama Jampa Thaye (Sakya), Lama Kunga Thartse Rinpoche (Sakya), Namkai Norbu Rinpoche (Dzogchen), Dr Nida Chetnatsang (Yuthok Nyingthik), and Khandro Kunzang (Nyingma, Nagkpa lineage), amongst others. In 2010 he formally met Khenpo Sonam (Nyingma, Longchen Nyingthik lineage) who initiated him into the Guhyagarbha Tantra as part of a four year course of study which was accompanied by Longchenpa’s commentary on the tantra. After Tantric graduation he studied two of Longchenpa’s Precious Treasury texts – ‘A Treasure Trove of Scriptural Transmission’ (2 years) and ‘A Precious Treasury of a Way of Abiding’ (1 year). Within and surrounding these teachings by Khenpo were retreats both in Dzogchen and for Ngakpas.

Rigdzin Dorje is also educated in written and spoken Sanskrit, taught by Doctors Antonia Ruppel and Varun Khanna (respectively) of the Yogic Studies Institute. In 2026 Dorje received his diploma in Buddhist Philosophy and Psychology through an online study course with the Ven. Geshe Dorji Damdul (Director of Tibet House, Dharamsala). Dorje has also studied Hoodoo Rootwork, which he learned from Momma Starr Casas (Southern Conjure, family lineage). He has completed adventure-pilgrimages to holy places in India, Nepal, and Japan and back again (even getting stranded in Nepal during their 2025 revolution). In Thailand Dorje explored both their Buddhist orthodox and occult culture.

Will Jackson (Rigdzin Dorje) has an educational background in Ayurvedic Medicine (California College of Ayurveda), Yoga and Ayurveda (Dancing Shiva), and currently works in the homeless sector in Los Angeles, having been a grass-roots organizer around homelessness issues (Ktown for All), a public servant (Chair of Homelessness Committee, Wilshire-Center Korea town Neighborhood Council), and served as a frontline lead outreach worker, housing navigator, and omni-man for Housing Works CA. Will currently works in the Homeless sector as an independent contractor consulting on film projects pertaining to homelessness and with entities such as USC as a co-chair in HPRI, or on County-wide initiatives such as the HDAP ‘Place-based Permanent Supportive Housing (PB-PSH) Best Practices Initiative.’ Applying his Ayurvedic education, Will Jackson is the founder and owner of the herbal ghee company Medighee.

Dorje is currently preparing his first book with us, Pretakalpa, on working with hungry ghosts.