Gyalwang Drukchen Rinpoche

His Holiness the 12th Gyalwang Drukpa is the supreme head of the Drukpa lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. He is considered to be an emanation of the Buddha of Compassion, as well as an incarnation of several great masters of the past including Naropa and Gampopa.

His Holiness the Gyalwang Drukpa's teachers include Kyabjé Thuksey Rinpoche, Kyabjé Dudjom Rinpoche, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Kyabjé Trulshik Rinpoche, Kyabjé Bairo Tulku Rinpoche and Pawo Rinpoche.

He has re-established a home for the Drukpa Lineage in exile at his monastery in Darjeeling and Kathmandu. He oversees many monasteries in this tradition in Ladakh, Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal, Sikkim and the Far East, and now has centres in the West.

Rinpoche speaks excellent English, and his teaching is noted for its directness, frankness and freedom from convention.

This interview was published in View, issue number 9: 'The Guru Question'