In 1961, Rinpoche and his family walked across the border into India to join His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the tens of thousands of Tibetans who’d fled the Communist invasion. As a respected lama, Rinpoche was drafted into service by the Tibetan Government-in-Exile. He was to spend the next forty-five years in devoted service to his people, first as doctor and head of a refugee settlement, and later as secretary of the Department of Religious Affairs. During those years, Rinpoche married Tsewang Dolkar, the daughter of Yakgyal Tulku Pema Kunkyen. They have five children. [PIC: YOUNG FAMILY]
During his years of government service, Rinpoche formed a close bond with His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama. Upon Rinpoche’s retirement in 1986, His Holiness the Dalai Lama asked him to remain in Dharamsala, so that he might help with the Nyingma practices done on behalf of the government and His Holiness’s Private Office. As always, Rinpoche respectfully heeded His Holiness’s advice.
Though officially ‘retired’, Rinpoche’s activities have in no way slowed down. Over the past twenty years, he has traveled extensively around the world, promoting the interests of the Tibetan people and giving teachings to a growing group of students, in Asia, Europe and North America. In 1991, Rinpoche established Chime Gatsal Ling, a small dharma centre in McLeod Ganj, to provide a place for students of all backgrounds to pursue their study and practice of Buddhism. In 2004, Rinpoche began work on a new monastery for his growing community of monks.
Rinpoche’s published works include his recently published autobiography Memories of Lost and Hidden Lands, Dzogchen Meditation (published by Sri Satguru Publications) and The Jewel Ladder (published by the Tibetan Library of Works and Archives).
