His Life

Tai Situ Rinpoche was born in Eastern Tibet in 1954 to a family of farmers. He is the twelfth in an unbroken line of incarnations to hold the Tai Situ title from 1377 to the present day, but his sacred lineage stretches back far further than that and includes such great masters as Dombi Heruka, and Marpa, (the spiritual teacher of Milarepa).

His twelfth reincarnation was recognised by His Holiness the 16th Karmapa - Rigpai Dorje, and he was enthroned, aged eighteen months, by the Karmapa, and received the hair-cutting ceremony from His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama - Tenzin Gyamtso. Following the political changes he left Tibet to receive the transmission of the complete Kagyu Lineage as well as the Mahamudra and Shangpa Kagyu lineages under the spiritual guidance of the Karmapa. In 1975 he established his seat in India, known as Sherabling, and has overseen it's development into one of the main centres of learning & practice for the Kagyu lineage in the world today

In 1980 at the request of Buddhist and humanitarian organisations he began touring the world bringing the Buddha's teachings and the profound practices of the Karma Kagyu lineage to the global community presenting them directly in English. In 1989 he led the Pilgrimage for Active Peace that toured the world where he was joined by many great spiritual leaders such as their holinesses the Dalai Lama, Pope John Paul II, and Jagat Guru Shankaracharya.

In 1992 through the direct guidance of the the sacred Letter of Prediction left by the sixteenth Karmapa, the Chamgon Tai Situpa found the reincarnation of the Gyalwa Karmapa, and with the clear divine vision of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and the acknowledgement of the State Oracle, the Tai Situpa and Goshir Gyaltsab Rinpoche performed the hair cutting ceremony and enthroned His Holiness the seventeenth Gyalwa Karmapa - Orgyen Trinlay Dorje - in Tibet. Following the Karmapa's escape from Tibet in 2000, the Tai Situ Rinpoche is now transmitting the Kagyu Lineage back to His Holiness.

His Activities

The Tai Situpa continues the traditions of the practice lineage of the Tai Situpas, and is renowned as a Buddhist Master training the next generation of Buddhist teachers. He is a great scholar, poet, calligrapher, architect, artist, geomancer and author of several books. As an individual concerned with the future of the world, the Tai Situpa organises and participates in events and conferences throughout the world.