Penor Rinpoche

Sogyal Rinpoche and Penor Rinpoche, Lerab Ling 1995

His Holiness Penor Rinpoche (wyl. pad nor rin po che) or Kyabjé Drubwang Pema Norbu Rinpoche is the 11th throne holder of the Palyul Lineage of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism. He was the supreme head of the Nyingmapa lineage from 1993 to 2001.

H.H. Penor Rinpoche was born in 1932, in the Powo region of Kham, East Tibet.

Choktrul Rinpoche was his main master, although he received teachings from many Lamas. Beside becoming learned in several subjects including writing, poetry, astrology and medicine, he studied the sutras with different khenpos.

Aged twelve, he received from Choktrul Rinpoche the most important transmissions and empowerments of the Nyingma School, including the great empowerment of the Kagyé and the Rinchen Terdzö empowerments. From Karma Kuchen Rinpoche he received the terma revelations of Ratna Lingpa.

At twenty one he was fully ordained by his master at Tarthang Monastery following the vinaya lineage transmitted to Tibet by Shantarakshita, receiving all the essential instructions and empowerments of the Nyingma tradition. He also received at that time the cycle of Tendrel Nyesel, Lerab Lingpa's great terma revelation. He then completed a Vajrakilaya retreat and, having received all the transmissions of the Kangyur and Tengyur, he entered into retreat for four years during which his master gave him all the transmissions of the Palyul tradition, following the secret oral instructions of Tertön Mingyur Dorjé's Namchö. Penor Rinpoche successfully completed all the stages of the practice, accomplishing the root recitations of the Three Roots (lama, yidam, and khandro), the Namchö preliminary practices, tummo and tsalung, and Dzogchen practices.

He fled Tibet in 1959 and subsequently established Namdroling Monastery which is located in Karnataka State, in Southern India. Namdroling has become the largest Nyingma monastery in the world, where many khenpos, monks and nuns are receiving an education. Khenpo Namdrol, among others, is one of the main senior khenpos teaching at the shedra of Namdroling.

Penor Rinpoche made his first visit to the United States in 1985.

In 1993, he was elected the Supreme Head of the Nyingmapa, succeeding Kyabjé Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. In 2001 the title passed to Kyabjé Minling Trichen Rinpoche.

Long Life Prayer

NGA GYÉI TSUK GYEN PEN CHEN BIMALA
You are the crown jewel of five hundred panditas,

LAR YANG SIPAR ZUNG WÉ TSUL TÖN SHYING
The Mahapandita Vimalamitra, who has taken birth once more;

NYINGPÖI TENPA PEL LA DA DRAL WA
You who are unrivalled in spreading the Heart Essence of the teachings:

PÉMA NORBÜI SHYAP PÉ TAK TEN SHOK
Pema Norbu, may your life be forever firm!

Internal Links

• Penor Rinpoche's Lineage of Nyingtik Yabshyi

External Links

• The official site of Palyul Monastery