The Venerable Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche was born in Kham, Tibet, in 1933. At the age of five, he was formally recognized by His Holiness the Sixteenth Karmapa and Tai Situpa as the ninth incarnation of the great Thrangu tulku. He entered Thrangu monastery, where, from the ages of seven to sixteen, he studied reading, writing, grammar, poetry, and astrology, memorized ritual texts, and completed two preliminary retreats. At sixteen, under the direction of Khenpo Lodro Rabsel, he began the study of the three vehicles of Buddhism while in retreat. At twenty-three he received full ordination from the Karmapa.

Because of the Chinese military takeover of Tibet, Thrangu Rinpoche, then twenty-seven, was forced to flee to India in 1959. He was called to Rumtek monastery in Sikkim, where the Karmapa has his seat in exile. Because of his great scholarship and unending diligence, he was given the task of preserving the teachings of the Kagyu lineage; the lineage of Marpa, Milarepa, and Gampopa, so that one thousand years of profound Buddhist teachings would not be lost. Click here for more

Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche
In the 7th lunar month of 1951, Tulku Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche was born into the Tsangsar family as the first-born son of Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche whose family has, for many generations, held the now rare Barom Kagyu lineage.

At 18 months of age, Chökyi Nyima — Sun of the Dharma — was recognized as the 7th incarnation of the Drikung Kagyu lama, Gar Drubchen, a Tibetan mahasiddha and spiritual emanation of the renowned 2nd century Indian Buddhist philosopher, Nagarjuna. Soon after, he was enthroned at his predecessor’s monastery, Drong Gon Tubten Dargye Ling Monastery in Nakchukha, Central Tibet, where he resumed his role as Dharma Master to 300 monks.
In 1959, Chökyi Nyima and younger brother, Tsikey Chokling Rinpoche enrolled at the Young Lamas’ School in Dalhousie, India. At the age of 13, he entered Rumtek, seat of the Kagyu School of Tibetan Buddhism, and spent the next 11 years studying the Karma Kagyu, Drikung Kagyu, and Nyingma traditions under the guidance of such eminent masters as His Holiness the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa, Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, and Kyabje Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche… Click here fore more

The highly venerated Tenzin Tsultrim Palden also known as Khangser Rinpoche (which means yellow house) was born in 1975.
In 1980, he was recognized as the 8th reincarnation of Khangser Rinpoche. It is known that the 7th incarnation of Khangser Rinpoche was one of the three highly respected lamas who were responsible for locating the 14th reincarnation of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

In 1992, Khangser Rinpoche obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Buddhist philosophy upon completing Pharchin Ramjampa from the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics. The institute is nestled in the Himalayan mountain range, in the same region where His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama now resides, the state of Himachal Pradesh, North India.

In 1998, Rinpoche obtained a Master’s Degree in Buddhist philosophy upon completing Lobpon from Sera Jey Monastic University in South India.

In 2000, Rinpoche was invited as a visiting Professor at Tribhuwan University in Kathmandu, Nepal.

In 2002, Rinpoche obtained a Geshe Lharam Degree (equivalent to a Ph.D) in Buddhism and was conferred the highest dignification amongst the top division. In the same year, Rinpoche composed a text entitled “Commentary on Abhidharma” which is over three hundred pages in length. Click here for more