H. E. Khensur Achok Rinpoche will be teaching on Lam Rim at Thubten Dharge Ling, July 16-18.

Rinpoche is the fourth incarnation of Achok Geshe Sonam Chopel, a highly revered lama of 15th century Amdo, Eastern Tibet. Each of the incarnations his lineage has been highly accomplished.The previous Achok Rinpoche was reputed to be “one of the two Arhats of Amdo”.

Born in 1944 in the Amdo province of Tibet, H.E. Achok Rinpoche was recognized at the age of two by the late Panchen Lama. As a young boy, Rinpoche received a traditional monastic education at his monastery Amchok Tsanney Gompa. Subsequently, he left along with his teacher for further studies at The Great Seat Monastery, Gaden, near Lhasa.

In 1959, Rinpoche escaped to India after Communist China invaded Lhasa, Tibet. He continued his Buddhist philosophical studies in the Buxa Duar Transit camp. Joining the Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies at Sarnath, Rinpoche received the Archarya degree. Afterwards, Rinpoche was appointed as the Abbot of the re-established Tashi Kyil Monastery.

Followed by that, Rinpoche worked for the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives for 14 years and received his Geshe Lharampa degree, the highest scholastic honor in the Gelug system. Upon invitation from the University of Vienna, Rinpoche taught Tibetan language and philosophy in Austria for two years.

Under the advice of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Rinpoche visited Tibet and China in 1983 and 1987 by invitation from the 10th Panchen Lama. There, Rinpoche taught Buddhist studies at a special school for reincarnate Tibetan Lamas in Beijing for six months. After returning from Tibet and China, Rinpoche was The Director of the Tibetan Medical Institute for a short time. Then from 1994 to 1996 Rinpoche served as The Abbot of Gaden Shartse Monastery.

Appointed as the director of the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives in Dharamsala, India from 2000 to 2006, Rinpoche started efforts to introduce western science into the monastic education curriculum. His Holiness the Dalai Lama identifies this as being vital to the invigoration of philosophical study and the enhancement of global understanding.

Rinpoche travels frequently as His Holiness’ representative at various international conferences on Tibetan science and culture. Continuing to teach and guide his students, Rinpoche also works at fulfilling the needs of his monastery.

Text for the teachings: Concise LamRim