Kyabje Kalu Rinpoche

Rinpoche is considered an incarnation of Khyungpo Naljor, Vairocana, Ananda
and Jamgon Lodro Thaye.

The first Kalu Rinpoche was born in Kham, Eastern Tibet, in 1905. Until he was thirteen years old, the child lived with his parents and then left for Palpung where Rinpoche received his noviciate vows from the eleventh Chamgon Tai Situ Rinpoche and entered the monastery. At 16 he entered the traditional three-year retreat and hence attended a second retreat where he received all transmissions of the old and new traditions. During that time he was recognised by the Tai Situ Rinpoche as emanation of Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche. At 25 he went into a 12-year solitary retreat after which he returned to the monastery according to the wishes of Situ Rinpoche in order to become the retreat master of both retreat faciltites, Naroling and Niguling. There he was bestowed the rare transmissions of Shangpa Kagyu lineage. In 1955, following the wish of The Gyalwang Karmapa, he left Tibet in order to prepare everything in exile. From 1971 until 1981 Rinpoche traveled throughout the whole world and established more than 70 Dharma and 20 retreat centers and built 20 stupas. Rinpoche passed away May 10th, 1989 in Sonada.

His incarnation, the second Kalu Rinpoche was born September 17, 1990 in Darjeeling, India. The birth was accompanied by extraordinary signs and from earliest childhood on, the child revealed greatest peace, discipline and fearlessness and his greatest joy was to play ritual instruments. Yangsi Rinpoche was officially recognised March 25, 1992 by Kuanding Tai Situ Rinpoche  who had received definite signs from Kalu Rinpoche himself. The recognition was also confirmed by The Dalai Lama.

July 1992, at the request of his disciples he went to France and visited many of his centers. In December 1992 he went on pilgrimage to Bodhgaya where he headed the great monlam. February 28, 1993, Rinpoche was enthroned in a ceremony in his own monastery in Sonada by Dorje Chang Tai Situ Rinpoche, Goshir Gyaltsab Rinpoche and Kyabje Bokar Rinpoche. Accompanied by his parents he also travelled to Tibet to be received by The Gyalwang Karmapa. June 1995 Rinpoche went on world tour for the first time, accompanied by Kyabje Bokar Rinpoche and his parents. He visited many monasteries and centers and blessed countless beings.

Yangsi Kalu Rinpoche entered the Shangpa three-years retreat at Bokar monastery in August 2004 and completed it in September 2008. Right after he travelled to Palpung Sherab Ling to meet with Dorje Chang Tai Situ Rinpoche. In 2010 Rinpoche will for the first time travel the world to teach the holy dharma. Kalu Rinpoche is the lineage holder of the glorious Shangpa Kagyu lineage.

excerpted from "The Himalayas and Beyond"

Website of Kalu Rinpoche