Our Root Teacher and International Sangha
At the heart of Tibetan Spirit is Dorjé Lopön Dr. Hun Lye (Konchok Yedor) — spiritual teacher, scholar, and lineage holder in the Drikung Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.
Born in Malaysia and trained under some of the most respected masters of the Tibetan Buddhist world, Dorlop Dr. Lye was bestowed the title of Dorjé Lopön (Vajra Master) by H.H. Drikung Kyabgön Chetsang in 2013, acknowledging his deep realization and lifelong service to the Dharma.
As founder of Urban Dharma North Carolina, a city temple rooted in ancient tradition yet adapted to the modern world, Dorlop Dr. Lye has spent decades making the path of awakening accessible for Western students. His work spans scholarship (Ph.D. in Religious Studies), translation, ritual, and deep personal instruction.
Through the Drikung Dharmakirti International Sangha (DDIS), Dorlop Dr. Lye leads a vibrant, growing international community dedicated to preserving the integrity of Vajrayana practice while meeting the needs of a changing world.
More about Dorjé Lopön Dr. Hun Lye and DDIS
Drikung Dharmakirti International Sangha (DDIS)
Urban Dharma NC: Our Story & Lineage
Meet the Team
Chris Mauzé
CEO & Intern
Chris first joined Tibetan Spirit in 2012 as a college intern, shipping incense and attending teachings with Dorjé Lopön Dr. Hun Lye. In 2025, he returned as CEO to help shape the next chapter of the organization.
With over a decade of experience leading strategy and data teams in the consumer goods and tech space, Chris brings a mix of operational expertise and deep devotion to the Drikung Kagyu lineage. His work focuses on making Buddhist wisdom more accessible and using his “data powers for good.”
Mariana Restrepo
Sourcing & Education
Mariana is a writer, editor, and dedicated Dharma practitioner. Since joining Tibetan Spirit in 2015, she has been instrumental in cultivating strong relationships with our artisan partners in Nepal and creating educational resources for our global community.
She currently oversees our sourcing operations and leads our customer education initiatives, ensuring that every offering supports a genuine connection with the Dharma.
Beyond her work with Tibetan Spirit, Mariana serves as deputy editor of Buddhadharma magazine and contributes regularly to Lion’s Roar, where she focuses on amplifying Latinx Buddhist voices and promoting greater inclusivity in the Buddhist community. Originally from Colombia, she now lives in the Appalachian mountains of North Carolina with her husband and two children.
Kurt Van Der Dijs
Operations & Incense
With over a decade in the hospitality industry, Kurt’s worn many hats—from bussing tables to the development of his own hospitality consulting business. From the dining rooms of celebrated restaurants like Ghee & Curate to the kitchens of mom & pop restaurants, he has built a career rooted in service, leadership, and hospitality. He brings a spirt of joyful service, attention to detail, and a deep respect for all things Dharma.
At Tibetan Spirit, Kurt manages customer service, shipping, and daily operations with humor, devotion, and a deep gratitude for the lineage. A committed student in the Drikung Kagyu tradition. Outside of work, he is the current Facilities & Volunteer Scheduling Coordinator for Urban Dharma.
Our Community: Urban Dharma
Urban Dharma North Carolina, located in downtown Asheville, is our temple and community hub. Founded by Dorjé Lopön Dr. Hun Lye, it’s a place for people of all backgrounds to encounter authentic Dharma — through teachings, rituals, recovery circles, and community practice.
Whether you’re joining a puja in person or tuning in from afar, Urban Dharma is where we gather as a community of practitioners, both new and old, in support of each other.
Our Vision and Projects
We believe that for Tibetan Buddhism to flourish in the West, it must grow roots in both urban centers and forest hermitages—in the lives of beginners and long-term practitioners alike.
Forest Hermitage (Coming Soon)
A project initiated by Dr. Lye under the auspices of Drikung Kagyu Foundation, we are involved in the development of a monastic hermitage outside Asheville, North Carolina, designed for long-term monastic residents and short-term lay and monastic visitors. This will be a space for intensive practice in the forest, inspired by early Kagyu masters who emphasized simplicity and sincerity of practice in the context of mountain hermitages.
Urban Dharma NC – A City Temple for All
We view Dharma centers not as personal practice spaces but as public temples, where people encounter teachings, attend rituals, and gather to practice and to connect with each other. The Asheville center serves as the visible anchor for our lineage in the West. While grounded in Tibetan Buddhism, Urban Dharma is home as well to several on-going, weekly programs such as Tuesdays Calm-Abiding Meditation, Thursdays Open Sangha, four-times-a-week Recovery Dharma and weekday Morning Sits.
Our Sangha – Local & Global
Our sangha includes Asheville locals and an international circle of practitioners who gather via Zoom, anchored in the Drikung Kagyu lineage. This model allows for wide access while preserving deep connection. Our regular off-site participants include Dharma friends across North America, Eastern and Western Europe, Latin America and Asia.
Serving the Community
Urban Dharma supports Recovery Dharma groups, provides a welcoming space for spiritual seekers of all experience levels, and actively collaborates with Buddhist and interfaith communities.
Whether you are new to the Dharma or preparing for intensive retreat, you have a place here. Explore the Urban Dharma NC Calendar to find upcoming teachings, community events, weekly Dharma practices, and Recovery Dharma meetings.
Drikung Dharmakirti Translation Project
Established in February 2020, the Drikung Dharmakirti Translation Team emerged from the heartfelt encouragement of the Most Venerable Khenchen Konchog Gyaltshen Rinpoche. Initiated by Dorjé Lopön Dr. Hun Lye, our mission is to translate and share essential teachings from Drikung Kyobpa Jikten Sumgön’s Collected Works (bka' bum).
While numerous important Drikung Kagyu texts have been translated into various languages, remarkably few capture the direct words of our lineage’s founder, Drikung Kyobpa Jikten Sumgön. To bridge this gap, Khenchen Rinpoche identified ten short yet profound teachings, marking the beginning of our ongoing translation effort.
By translating Kyobpa Rinpoche's original teachings into English, we aim to deepen our community’s connection with the authentic wisdom of the early Kagyu lineage masters. These masters were exemplary realized beings whose teachings continue to guide practitioners toward awakening. We hope these translations will inspire English-speaking Drikung practitioners worldwide, encouraging them to seek oral instructions.
Tibetan Spirit Journal
A quarterly online publication, featuring writings by our teachers and contributors: you’ll find articles by Dorjé Lopön Dr. Hun Lye, Mariana Restrepo, and others. Sign up for our newsletter to get a little dharma in your mailbox every month.