His Holiness Penor Rinpoche
(1932-2009)
Founder of PCD Centers Worldwide
11th Head of Palyul Nam Chö Lineage, Nyingma tradition
His Holiness Penor Rinpoche Austin, Texas Practice Advice
Brief Biographies of Palyul Teachers
His Holiness Pema Norbu (Penor) Rinpoche (1932-2009) was the 11th throneholder (head) of the Palyul Lineage of the Nyingma tradition, and an incarnation of Vimalamitra. He is renowned as a master of Dzogchen practice and for the integrity and strength with which he upholds the teachings of the Dharma. He retired from the post of Supreme Head of the Nyingma tradition, the oldest of the schools of Tibetan Buddhism, after many years service; succeeded by Mindroling Thrichen Rinpoche.
Palyul centers worldwide offer teachings in the Dharma including Meditation, Dzogchen, and more.
For further reading regarding the Palyul Nam Chö Lineage, please see: A Garland of Immortal Wish Fulfilling Trees: The Palyul Tradition of Nyingmapa by Venerable Tsering Lama Jampal Zangpo and Sangye Khandro, Snow Lion Publications, 1988.
His Holiness’ main monastery is Namdroling, in South India, home also to the Ngagyar Nyingma Institute, where hundreds of lamas study and graduate from a ten-year program which includes a three-year retreat.
Three senior Khenpos (Professors of Buddhist philosophy) – Khenchen Pema Sherab Rinpoche, Khenchen Namdrol Rinpoche, and Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso Rinpoche – oversee the education of the thousands of monks and nuns enrolled in study at Namdroling Ngagyar Nyingma Institute shedra (Buddhist seminary college).
His Holiness’ main worldwide representative is Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso Rinpoche. Palyul Centers for practice are located internationally, including India, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, UK, Europe and America.
His Holiness Karma Kuchen Rinpoche
12th Head of Palyul Nam Chö Lineage, Nyingma tradition
His Holiness Penor Rinpoche appointed Karma Kuchen Rinpoche as the Head of the Palyul Mother Monastery in Tibet in 1994.
On 14 August 2000, Karma Kuchen Rinpoche was formally enthroned as the lineage holder of the Palyul Tradition and is now the 12th head of The Palyul Lineage.
Penor Rinpoche on many occasions appreciated his efforts in holding the pure lineage of Palyul tradition and dissemination of Buddha Dharma in the Land of Snows.
His Holiness the Fifth Karma Kuchen Rinpoche was recognized by His Holiness Dujom Rinpoche and His Holiness Penor Rinpoche as the unmistaken incarnation of previous Karma Kuchen Rinpoche, Karma Thegchog Nyingpo.
He was invited to Namdroling Monastery where His Holiness Penor Rinpoche looked after him and personally instructed him. Karma Kuchen Rinpoche excelled in all the monastic training and mastered all the traditional knowledge of The Palyul Lineage. He also received numerous Nyingma Teachings from great masters such as His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and His Holiness Penor Rinpoche.
The significant achievement of Karma Kuchen Rinpoche since his arrival in Tibet was that he had built many temples, stupas, prayer wheels, images of deities and other objects of veneration and faith. Under the direction of His Holiness Penor Rinpoche, he has built a very grand and magnificent temple within the monastery premises.
Of the many remarkable qualities that he possesses, the most striking quality is his strict and pure observance of all the vows of a monk. He is thus the embodiment of pure conduct in these degenerate times.
Ven. Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso Rinpoche
Spiritual Director of Palyul Changchub Dhargyayling Dallas
US Teaching Schedule
Khenchen (Head Professor) Tsewang Gyatso Rinpoche the spiritual director of Palyul Changchub Dargyeling Meditation and Study Centers in the United States. He is an authentic and qualified teacher, a recognized scholar and accomplished Dzogchen teacher . His Holiness Penor Rinpoche (founder and head of Namdroling Monastery, Bylakuppe, India, see www.palyul.org) has authorized Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso Rinpoche to represent Namdroling Monastery and to teach, confer empowerments and to give personal instruction in Buddhist practice.
Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso Rinpoche is the representative of His Holiness Penor Rinpoche in the US.
Khenchen Rinpoche is also one of the three senior Khenpos (Professors) at Ngagyur Nyingma Institute at Namdroling Monastery in India; where he is responsible for the last three years of the nine year training for Buddhist shedra (seminary) students at Ngagyur Nyingma Institute.
Khenchen Rinpoche has been teaching in West for over 20 years; and his fluent English, sense of humor and deep insight into Western culture make him a reputable and popular teacher. He graduated at the top of all four traditions of Tibetan Buddhism in shedra (seminary school) and was awarded the Silver Medal for academic accomplishment by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso Rinpoche has been our best-kept ‘secret’ in the US! His ability to simply and easily explain and teach even the most complicated concepts has led to his teaching commitments growing exponentially beyond the US. This year, he is traveling and teaching in India, Singapore, Taiwan, the Philippines, Germany and Australia, as well as the US.
Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso Rinpoche has received all of the major lineage empowerments and transmissions of the Nyingma school and Palyul lineage and has done intensive dzogchen practice under the guidance of His Holiness Penor Rinpoche and other eminent dzogchen masters including Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche, Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche, Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche
and Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche.
Palyul Changchub Dhargyayling Dallas is honored to have Khenchen Rinpoche as Spiritual Director.
Khenpo Tenzin Norgey Rinpoche
Khenpo Tenzin Norgey holds the title of Khenpo (Professor of Buddhist Studies) and has recently been a teaching professor at the Palyul Monastery in Tibet and at Ngagyur Nyingma Institute, the prestigious Buddhist studies and research center, at Namdroling Palyul Monastery near Mysore, India.
He was born in the Tashigang District of Bhutan in 1965. In 1986, he joined the Shedra (college) at Ngagyur Nyingma Institute. At the Institute he studied under Khenchen Pema Sherab, Khenpo Namdrol Tsering and Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso and other visiting professors, including Khenchen Jigme Phuntsok and Khenpo Pema Tsewang from Tibet.
He completed the Shedra program at Ngagyur Nyingma Institute in 1995 and joined the Ngagyur Nyingma Institute teaching staff, teaching there for three years. He was formally enthroned as Khenpo by His Holiness Penor Rinpoche in 1998 and was then assigned by His Holiness to teach at the Buddhist Shedra (seminary college for training of Khenpos) at Palyul monastery in Tibet.
He has received all the major empowerments of the Rinchen Terzod, Nam Chö, Nyingthik Yabshi and Nyingma Kama from His Holiness Penor Rinpoche as well as the Mipham Kabum from His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.
Because of his knowledge, experience and fluent command of the English language (and fortunately for us in the United States!), His Holiness Penor Rinpoche assigned Khenpo Tenzin Norgey to teach students in the United States in conjunction with the ongoing U.S. teaching programs offered by Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso Rinpoche.
