Kyabje Kalu Rinpoche
Kyabje Kalu Rinpoche was the Supreme Head of the glorious Shangpa Kagyu lineage. He was the first in the line of incarnations in the name of Kalu Rinpoche, also considered an activity emanation of Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye, Khyungpo Naljor, Manjushri and Vairocana.
Lineage
The first Kalu Rinpoche was an eminent Tibetan master from Palpung monastery in Tibet.
After a life of long solitary retreats in caves, he was appointed the retreat master of the two retreat centers, for both the Marpa Kagyu lineage as well as the Shangpa Kagyu lineage by the 11th Tai Situ Rinpoche. He left Tibet for Bhutan in the 1950s, in the 1970s established many dharma centers around the world.
Rinpoche died May 10, 1989 in his monastery in Sonada.
The second Kalu Rinpoche was born September 17, 1990 to the former incarnation's secretary. Tai Situ Rinpoche officially recognized Kalu Rinpoche’s yangsi (young reincarnation) on March 25, 1992.
Tai Situ Rinpoche sent a letter of recognition with Lama Gyaltsen to the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, who immediately confirmed the recognition.
On February 28, 1993, Kalu Rinpoche was enthroned at Samdrup Darjay Ling. Chamgon Tai Situ Rinpoche and Goshir Gyaltsap Rinpoche presided over the ceremony, assisted by Kalu Rinpoche’s heart-son, Bokar Rinpoche.
Situ Rinpoche performed the hair-cutting ceremony and bestowed on the young tulku the name Karma Ngedön Tenpay Gyaltsen —Victory Banner of the Teachings of the True Meaning. He received his education mainly from Bokar Rinpoche, and Tai Situ Rinpoche, his root teacher.
Kyabje Rinpoche entered the traditional three year retreat in Mirik and concluded it in 2009, going to Palpung Sherab Ling right after its completion to meet with his teacher, Chamgon Tai Situ Rinpoche.
In 2010 Kyabje Kalu Rinpoche went on his first teaching tour throughout the world and has since then been spending most time traveling, bestowing the transmissions of the glorious Shangpa lineage whose lineage holder he is.
