Trinlay Tulku Rinpoche
Being intimately linked to the American people through my own mother who is from Santa Barbara, it is with great joy that I support the 17th Karmapa Thaye Dorje’s intention to establish a main Dharma centre in San Luis Obispo. Such a place is of great importance as it will provide the basis and structure needed to continue the transmission of genuine Buddhist teachings in the United States.
Numerous authentic masters and teachers will gather there to share their wisdom. Treasures of Buddhist literature composed in various languages over the past twenty-five centuries will be collected, translated and made accessible to all. The Centre will be a place where people can learn about meditation, discernment and kindness – qualities so essential to the well-being of everyone. I am confident this Centre will contribute towards greater awareness and peace in the world.
– Trinlay Tulku Rinpoche
Trinlay Tulku was born in Switzerland in 1975 to a French father and an American mother. At thirteen months he was recognized by the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa and the Venerable Kalu Rinpoche as the reincarnation of an important Buddhist teacher. The following year the young Trinlay Rinpoche and his family moved to Darjeeling where he began traditional tulku training under the care and guidance of Kalu Rinpoche. For the next ten years, Trinlay Tulku travelled the world with Kalu Rinpoche, often serving as his translator. In the course of his spiritual schooling, Rinpoche has received various transmissions and essential instructions in Buddhist philosophy and meditation from many highly qualified masters.
At twelve, Trinlay Rinpoche returned to Europe to continue his studies and training under Lama Teunsang at the Karma Migyur Ling Buddhist center in Montchardon, a village in the French Alps. In parallel with his Buddhist instruction, at age 17, Rinpoche began pursuit of a traditional Western education in Philosophy, Tibetology and the Humanities at the Sorbonne, the School of Oriental Languages in Paris, and other institutions in France and England. Presently, Trinlay Tulku is working towards a doctorate at the Sorbonne. Each year, Rinpoche travels to many places throughout Europe, Asia and the US to teach the Dharma.