Kalu Rinpoche

Kalu Rinpoche (1905-1989) was born in Treshöd, in the Hor region of Kham, in Eastern
Tibet.

He entered the Monastery of Palpung, the center of the Karma Kagyü school during
this time, at the age of 15. Here he studied and practiced until the age of 25, when he left
Palpung as he decided to become a solitary yogi in the woods of the Khampa countryside.

For close to 15 years he strove to perfect his realization and became renowned in the
villages and among the nomads for his bodhisattva style. When he returned to Palpung
he was entrusted with the rare transmission of the Shangpa Kagyü and was appointed a
vajra master.

For many years he gave teachings and empowerments. He also became the meditation teacher of the 16th Karmapa until he was forced to leave Tibet, going into exile
in India in 1955.

Kalu Rinpoche established his own monastery near Rumtek, the seat of the 16th Karmapa. He – also on the request of the 16th Karmapa – taught extensively in the United States and Europe and built teaching centers in many countries. He also built a retreat center where Western students could do the traditional three-year-retreat.