Shangpa Rinpoche was born on 12 September 1960 near the border of Tibet and Nepal.  At the age of two, he was recognised by His Holiness the 16^th Gyalwa Karmapa as the reincarnation of the Great Yogi Shangpa Rinpoche.  Shangpa Rinpoche received the intensive education of a Tulku under the guidance of the late Dupsing Rinpoche and other teachers in Pokhara, Nepal.  At the age of sixteen, Shangpa Rinpoche joined the Central University of Tibetan Studies in Varanasi, India, where he mastered key subjects including Buddhist philosophy, literature, poetry, history and the Sanskrit language.  Shangpa Rinpoche also received extensive empowerments, transmissions and essential teachings from great masters of different lineages.   

In 1982, Shangpa Rinpoche arrived in Singapore to help establish the Karma Kagyud Buddhist Centre. 

Shangpa Rinpoche became a Singapore Permanent Resident in 1996.

In 1998, Shangpa Rinpoche was appointed the abbot of KKBC according to traditional Tibetan Buddhist procedures.  In this position, Shangpa Rinpoche took on a more active role in the Centre’s development, taking on the responsibilities associated with guiding members on their spiritual path; safeguarding the continued progress of the Centre in realising its goals and objectives, particularly the establishment of the Buddhist Institute.     

At present, Shangpa Rinpoche is the Chief Abbot of various Buddhist Institutions in Nepal, namely, Jangchub Choeling Monastery, Vikrama Shila Buddhist Institute, Karma Ngedon Palbar Ling Retreat Centre in Pokhara, Tharpa Choeling Nunnery in Mustang, Drubgyud Choeling Monastry in Lumbini and Kagyu Institute of Buddhist Studies in Kirtipur.  He is also the honourable advisor of Dharmodaya Society, a member of the  World Fellowship of Buddhists in Nepal, and Chairman of the Shangpa Foundation.  Shangpa Rinpoche is also the spiritual advisor of Karma Shedrup Choeling in Denmark. 

In recent years, Shangpa Rinpoche travels extensively to South East Asia, USA and Europe to give teachings.  Every year end, Shangpa Rinpoche returns to Nepal to give intensive week long precious dharma teachings at the Kagyu Institute of Buddhist Studies (KIBS).  Despite his heavy responsibilities and busy schedule, Shangpa Rinpoche currently heads the "Dharmakaya Buddha Mandala Project" in Pokhara, Nepal, where one of the largest Buddha statues of the world will be built. This will be another sacred place of sanctuary and devotion for all.