Thupten Lekshe Chokyi Drayang

His Holiness Penor Rinpoche, Thupten Lekshe Chokyi Drayang

A Short Biography

His Holiness the third Penor Rinpoche of Nyingmapa Palyul Lineage for Vajrayana in Tibet is the eleventh throne holder of Palyul lineage.

He was prophesied in some Sutras and by Guru Rinpoche in the Ratna Lingpa's Treasure. The fifth Dzogchen Rinpoche, had made a detailed prophecy about the birth of him. He was bornt in Powo of Kham region in the eastern Tibet, in the ancestral heritage of Terton Duddul Dorje. Khenpo Ngaga, one most important Dzogchen master, of the time, gave full support to the fifth Dzogchen Rinpoche's prophecy. Both of them recognised Penor Rinpoche as the emanation of the great Dzogchen master Vimalamitra and reincarnation of second Drubwang Pema Norbu Rinpoche.

At the age of four, he was invited to the Palyul monastery, had his studying and receiving teachings from many masters and scholars. Later Penor Rinpoche entered four consecutive years' retreats with his master Choktrul Rinpoche. He successfully accomplished all the stages of the practices, including Terton Migyur Dorje's Namchoe, Terton Ratna Lingpa's Ratling, the most profound innermost teachings of Dzogchen, and the practices of secret sealed protectors etc. He ascended the Golden Throne of the Palyul Lineage Holder at the age of twelve.

When he was young Penor Rinpoche was in retreat to practice the "Illusory body of Manjushri" a mind treasure of Mipham Rinpoche. At the conclusion of the retreat, a sweet, enchanting sound could be heard coming form his shrine room and the mirror on his alter radiated brilliant light.

Once when Penor Rinpoche visited the dentist, he had a tooth extracted, which Kunsang, his secretary, kept it in a small casket. Several years later, he opened the casket to look at the tooth and was astounded to see the small shiny relics had appeared. Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche said that his was a sign showing that Penor Rinpoche has attained the stages of realisation of a bodhisattva.

Penor Rinpoche left Tibet in 1959 and was exiled in India. He started building Namdroling Monastery from 1963 and established the Sangha community in Mysore district of south India. Today this monastery has a Sangha community to home over 1,500 lamas and has become the single largest Nyingmapa Monastic Institution out of Tibet consisting primary school, higher scholastic institute, retreat centre, a nunnery, home for old age and so forth. In fact it has all the facilities to study all the aspects of the Nyingmapa tradition.

Beside this Penor Rinpoche has visited Tibet four times. He re-built the Main Palyul Monastery and gave financial support to many other branch monastery. He also gave teachings and empowerment to thousands of monk while he was there. At one such incident, in Gonjo region, he had given long life empowerment to thousands of people, without once having to have the ritual vase refilled. The water seemed to keep pouring out of it in a never-ending stream.

Penor Rinpoche started visiting other countries since 1985, preaching Dharma and established many centres in States, Canada, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Philippine, Malaysia and Nepal beside other monasteries around Northern part of India.

adapted from website

Primary Teachers

• Khenpo Ngakchung
• Khenpo Nuden

Alternate Names and Spellings

• Drubwang Pema Norbu Rinpoche
• Paltrul Pema Norbu
• Pema Norbu Rinpoche

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