The Fifth Karma Kuchen Rinpoche
(1970 – date)
The 5th Karma Kuchen Rinpoche was born in the year of Iron Dog (1970), along with many auspicious signs in Southern India, to a noble religious family. When he was two years old, the late His Holiness Pema Norbu Rinpoche, and H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche notified his parents that their son was quite a special child, and they should send him to the monastery for training as a monk.
H.H. Karma Kuchen Rinpoche was sent to the monastery at the age of four, where he studied and perfected the teachings of Namcho (Sky Teachings) preliminaries (ordinary and extraordinary), Tsalung and up to Dzogpachenpo under the direct guidance of H.H. Penor Rinpoche. He also took the Bhikshu and Bodhisattva vows, and received the Namcho, Ratna Lingpa’s revelations and Rinchen Terzoed empowerments from H.H. Penor Rinpoche. In addition, he received many teachings under the late H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Dodrupchen Rinpoche, Nyoshul Khenpo Rinpoche, and many other great siddhas.
He displayed infinite wisdom and understanding of Vajrayana and Mahayana teachings when he gave a long discourse at the Ngagyur Nyingma Institute in the presence of many high Khenpos. In 1994, at the instructions of H.H. Penor Rinpoche, he went to deepen his studies at the main Palyul Monastery in Tibet where the retreat centers and a Buddhist Institute are also located. H.H. Karma Kuchen Rinpoche often gave lectures at the request of his students at the Dharma Institute. There he was recognized as the Fifth Karma Kuchen Rinpoche by Tulku Thubzang Rinpoche and Khenpo Acchu.
In 2000, on August 14th, H.H. Karma Kuchen Rinpoche was formally enthroned at the main Palyul Monastery in Tibet. This was considered an important event in the Buddhist world. Equipped with inconceivable wisdom, modesty, grace and boundless compassion, he has vowed to bring peace and happiness to all sentient beings and spread the supreme Dharma in the 10 directions.
Significant achievements of H.H. Karma Kuchen Rinpoche since his arrival in Tibet are that he has built many temples, Stupas, prayer wheels, images of deities and other objects of veneration and faith. Under the direction of Penor Rinpoche, he has also built a very grand and magnificent temple on 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.
Reference: Pathgate Institute of Buddhist Studies
