ASSOCIATION FOR THE PRESERVATION OF TIBETAN CULTURE AND RELIGION
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Namkha Rinpoche | Switzerland | 2004
| Rigdzin
Namkha Gyatso Rinpoche ..................................................................................................................................................................................... The life of Namkha Rinpoche tells the story of Tibet and its people. It is the story of a child who grew up in a nomad tent, in the very depth of Kham’s desert valleys, and who, today at the age of 40, dedicates his life to preserving the unique riches of Tibetan Buddhist tradition and passing it on to the Western world. Few months after his birth, Rinpoche showed signs of being a reincarnated Buddhist teacher. This discovery was kept a secret to avoid the violent suppression of Buddhism and the young tulkus (reincarnated master) by the Chinese at the time. Rinpoche’s father – an experienced and respected lama– managed to secretly provide him with the profound Buddhist and yogic education a reincarnated lama is supposed to receive. This meant studying texts, learning the art of Tibetan rituals and meditating on compassion and on the nature of the mind. As a teenager, Rinpoche studied with the wisest lamas of Eastern Tibet at the time. He also spent seven years in solitary retreat, perfecting the development of compassion and the Buddhist wisdom of mind. In 1991, as the Chinese oppression against Buddhism had slightly weakened, Rinpoche, aged 24, was recognised as the reincarnation of a late Buddhist master, by HH Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche (foremost master of the twentieth century and teacher of HH the Dalai Lama himself). Since then, Namhka Rinpoche has started to teach Buddhism nearby the Tibetan capital of Lhasa. In 1998, he organised prayer festivals for the longevity of HH the Dalai Lama, despite the dangers of Chinese suppression that any religious manifestation in favour of HH the Dalai Lama entails. At some point, Rinpoche was informed by a relative who worked for the Chinese police, that he was about to be imprisoned. He then fled to Nepal, crossing the Himalayas by foot. Since his exile, Rinpoche has mainly dedicated himself to teach Westerners. He now lives in Switzerland where he has founded 3 dharma centres. So far, he has also opened centres in Holland, Spain, Lithuania, Sweden and Taiwan. Rinpoche is greatly appreciated by his students for the way he tirelessly makes himself available and helps them realise qualities of wisdom, peace of mind and compassion. Rinpoche is head of numerous humanitarian and cultural preservation projects in Tibet, India and Nepal. His own personal situation remains humble, as he lives with his family in a modest apartment. Since
Rinpoche left Tibet, he has worked closely with HH the Dalai Lama
and his government. Namkha Rinpoche is an old friend of Lodi Gyari
Rinpoche, special envoy of HH the Dalai Lama in Washington D.C.
and main person designated by the Dalai Lama to engage in negotiations
with Chinese leadership. Namkha Rinpoche has always wanted to
follow His Holiness’ advices and to serve the main goals
set up by His Holiness, among which the improvement of the Tibetan
people’s living conditions and the development of world
peace through peace of mind, as well as mutual respect between
religions. This partnership with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and
its government has now been made concrete as His Holiness has
accepted Rinpoche’s invitation to teach in Switzerland from
August 3rd till 5th 2009. |