The first Shangpa Rinpoche	The second Shangpa Rinpoche

Shangpa Rinpoche was born on 12th September 1960 at the border between Tibet and Nepal. At the age of 2, he was recognised as an incarnation of the Great Yogi Shangpa Rinpoche, who was a disciple of His Holiness, the 15th Gyalwa Karmapa. After going through many hardships, he and his mother finally arrived in Pokhara, Nepal.

16th Gyalwa Karmapa	Shangpa Rinpoche when he was small

He was ordained by His Holiness, the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa when he was 9 years old. During his tender age, he studied all the ritual arts and memorised scriptures under the guidance of the late Dupsing Rinpoche and other learned teachers. When he was 16 years old, he joined the Tibetan Higher Institute of Buddhist Studies in Varanasi and mastered Buddhist philosophy, literature, poetry, history of Buddhism and Sanskrit, etc. He also received teachings and empowerment from many great teachers, particularly His Holiness, the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa, Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche, Urgyen Tulku Rinpoche, Tenga Rinpoche, Khunu Rinpoche and Khenpo Rinchen. He went through many short and long retreats at his monastery.

Shangpa rinpoche (sitting, on the right) under the guidance of the previous Dupsing rinpoche (sitting, on the left)

While he was in his fourth year of study, Dupsing Rinpoche passed away and His Holiness, the 16th Karmapa instructed him to assume the responsibility as the abbot of the Jangchub Choeling Monastery in Pokhara, Nepal.

Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche (on the left) with 17th Gyalwa Karmapa (on the right). Both of them are influential teachers of Shangpa Rinpoche.

In 1982, Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche requested Rinpoche to go to Singapore to be the spiritual teacher. Since then he has been the religious adviser of the Singapore Karma Kagyud Buddhist Centre and giving teachings and advice to its members and devotees. In 1991, Rinpoche initiated the search for and purchase of the Centre's current premises.

In 1997, he was appointed by members in the general meeting to be the abbot of the Centre. On the 4th September 1998, he was enthroned as the abbot according to the traditional Tibetan Buddhist procedures in the morning and in the evening at the Singapore Futsing Association Hall, he was officially appointed as the abbot in a ceremony held in conjunction with his 39th birthday celebration.

Shangpa rinpoche relentless efforts to spread the Buddha's teaching are great.	Known for his compassionate nature, Shangpa Rinpoche has been guiding his followers with patience and understanding.

Relentlessly making efforts to spread the Buddha's teachings for the benefit of sentient beings, Rinpoche has undertaken several other dharma works within Pokhara and beyond in other parts of Nepal and South East Asian region. Some of these works bear indications of the continuation of the works of his previous life. All his dharma works have the full supports of his disciples and devotees. As a result, Rinpoche has taken on additional responsibilities as abbot of Vikramashila Buddhist Institute in Nepal, Tharpa Choeling Nunnery in Mustang, and Drubgyud Choeling Monastery cum Institute in Lumbini. To manage his works in these areas, Rinpoche established the Shangpa Foundation in 1996 and became its Chairman with the approval and support of the Nepalese Government. Rinpoche is currently also the president of Dharmodaya Society in Nepal, a member of WFB Regional Centre. WFB Regional Centre is an official Buddhist Organization in Nepal that branches out through the whole of Nepal to promote Buddhism and it teachings.

Karma Kagyud Buddhist Center, Singapore

Rinpoche is currently residing in Karma Kagyud Buddhist Centre, Singapore and he travels frequently to the other countries to keep in touch with the progress of his works and to continue with the propagation of Buddhism.

Please visit www.shangpa.org for the full biography of Shangpa Rinpoche.