The previous Kalu Rinpoche was born in Eastern Tibet in 1905. He mastered the philosophy and practice texts and made two traditional three-year retreats during which he was recognised by the 11th Tai Situpa as an emination of one of the preeminent scholars of the 19th century, Jamgon Kontrul (1830-1899).

When he was 25 he left Palpung Monastery to practice the life of a yogi in caves throughout eastern Tibet for 15 years. On his return to Palpung he received the complete transmission of the Shangpa Kagyu lineage and appointed the Vajra Master of Palpung Monastery and the master for the retreat centres.

Upon leaving Tibet he quickly came to the attention of Western devotees and from the 1970s taught extensively throughout the world establishing both Shangpa Kagyu and Karma Kagyu centres and the first traditional retreat centre in the west. Greatly respected for his realisation and inspiration on May 10th 1989 Khyabje Kalu Rinpoche passed away at his monastery in Sonada, India.

On Sept 19th 1990 he was reborn in Darjeeling and soon after officially recognised as the reincarnation by the Tai Situ Rinpoche, which was confirmed by His Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama. He received the complete transmission of the Shangpa Kagyu lineage from the Chamgon Tai Situpa in 2009 and has completed his first traditional three year retreat.