Biography of Ponlop Rinpoche

The Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche was born at Rumtek Monastery (Dharma Chakra Center) in Sikkim, India. His father was Dhamchö Yongdu, General Secretary of His Holiness the Sixteenth Gyalwa Karmapa. His Holiness, supreme head of the Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, immediately recognized him as a reincarnated lama. He was enthroned at Rumtek Monastery in 1968.

Rinpoche received Buddhist refuge and bodhisattva vows from His Holiness at an early age, and was ordained as a novice monk in 1974. He has received most of the Buddhist teachings and empowerments of the Kagyu and Nyingma traditions from His Holiness the 16th Karmapa, His Holiness Dilgo Khyentsé, Rinpoche, and others.

At twelve, he began studying Buddhist philosophy at the primary school in Rumtek. In 1980, Rinpoche first traveled to the United States, Canada, and Southeast Asia with His Holiness the Sixteenth Gyalwa Karmapa. He gave dharma teachings and assisted with the various ceremonies performed during the course of this tour.

In 1981, he entered the monastic college at Rumtek, Karma Shri Nalanda Institute for Higher Buddhist Studies, an affiliate of Sampurnanant Sanskrit University in Varanasi, (U.P.) India. There he was schooled in the traditional scholastic curriculum of Buddhist philosophy, psychology, logic, and debate.

Rinpoche worked for the Students' Welfare Union at the Institute for three years. In 1987, Rinpoche became head librarian of the Institute's new library. He was the chief-editor of the Nalandakirti Journal, an annual publication which brings together Eastern and Western views on Buddhism.

In May 1990, Rinpoche graduated from the Institute as Ka-rabjampa and also simultaneously earned the degree of Acharya, or Master of Buddhist Philosophy, from Sampurnanant Sanskrit University. Ka-rabjampa literally means "one with unobstructed knowledge of scriptures." This is the traditional Kagyu degree which is equivalent to the Geshe degree.

Rinpoche also completed courses of studies in English and comparative religions at Columbia University in New York City.

Preserving And Teaching

Rinpoche travels widely and teaches in North America, Europe and Asia. Since 1990 he has annually criss-crossed the globe, teaching and assisting Buddhist centers around the world. He supervises the activities of study and meditation centers in Europe and North America, and has worked actively to develop and adapt traditional Tibetan education curriculums for Western audiences.

In 1994, to assist in the integration of computer technology with traditional Tibetan scholarship, Rinpoche founded Nitartha international, a non-profit education corporation based in New York City. Nitartha uses computer technologies to support Tibetan studies and education, and preserves the ancient literature of Tibet in digital formats. Rinpoche also advises web site design for various dharma related sites, such as Nalandabodhi.

In 1996 he helped establish Nitartha Institute in North America, which provides a focused Buddhist studies program, and where Rinpoche is the main teacher. Since January 1996, Rinpoche has been visiting professor at Naropa University, Boulder, Colorado, where he teaches courses on Buddhist philosophy and language. In 1997, Rinpoche founded Nalandabodhi to preserve the genuine lineage of the Nyingma and Kagyu Schools of Tibetan Buddhism. In 1998 he became director of the Kamalashila Institute of Germany, at the request of His Holiness, the Seventeenth Gyalwa Karmapa.

Modern Mind, Ancient Wisdom

Rinpoche is acknowledged as one of the foremost scholars of his generation in the Nyingma and Kagyu schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Seattle is his primary residence and he is known for his sharp intellect, humor, and the lucidity of his teaching style. Fluent in the English language and well-versed in Western culture, Rinpoche is also an accomplished calligrapher, visual artist and poet.

Rinpoche is also holds important offices within the Nyingma and Kagyu lineages. As abbot of Dzogchen Monastery, Rinpoche is a high-ranking Nyingma master. In addition, in 1979 at Dharmachakra Center, Rumtek, Sikkim, India, His Holiness, the Sixteenth Gyalwa Karmapa, supreme head of the Kagyu lineage, formally empowered and officially proclaimed The Seventh Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche as one of the lineage holders of the Karma Kagyu school and heart son of His Holiness Karmapa.

This text is from nalandabodhi.org, and was used by permission.