Recognized at a very young age by His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche and His Holiness the 16th Karmapa as the reincarnated tulku of Chhoje Rinpoche VII, the Venerable Chhoje Rinpoche VIII is lineage holder of both the Nyingma and Kagyu traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. Rinpoche studied and trained under the personal guidance of HH Dudjom Rinpoche and Venerable Soktse Tulku Rinpoche, and received extensive teachings from the Venerable Thrangu Rinpoche, Khenpo Palden Sherab Rinpoche, Khenpo Thubten Rinpoche, Khenpo Dazer and Khetsun Zangpo Rinpoche.
Chhoje Rinpoche first traveled to the West in 1983 to follow HH Dudjom Rinpoche to New York City and, in 1988, founded Padma Shedrup Ling (Padmasambhava Study and Practice Centre) in California. Since that time, Rinpoche has given teachings on the Vajrayana path of Tibetan Buddhism throughout the United States — primarily in California, as well as in Colorado, Oregon, New York, Texas and Nevada. In addition to his North American students, Rinpoche has students in India, Nepal, Japan, Israel, Mexico, Malaysia and Europe.
Four years ago, Rinpoche began a strict retreat which he completed in the summer of 2010. In July 2010, Rinpoche returned to Chumur Monastery in Ladakh, in Northern India – the monastery he had founded in his previous life - for the consecration of new prayerwheels, statues and construction. About 1,000 people gathered at Chumur to participate in a week of practice, to receive teachings and to celebrate Rinpoche’s return. Two weeks later, Rinpoche was in Leh, Ladakh when the catastrophic flash flood claimed over 1,000 lives and destroyed hundreds of homes. Distributing funds raised by the PSL sangha, Rinpoche gave critical aid and support to many families and individuals, providing food, supplies and medicines and enabling survivors to quickly rebuild their homes.
Rinpoche’s familiarity with Western culture, his ready command of English and his sweeping humor have made his teachings readily accessible to Western students. AWAKENING MIND The Field of Bodhi: A Teaching on the Heart Sutra was Rinpoche’s first public teaching in North America after accomplishing his three year retreat.
Chhoje Rinpoche