Tulku Thubten Rinpoche was born in 1969 in the eastern region of Tibet known as Golok. At the age of 10, he entered monastic training in the Nyingma lineage of Tibetan Buddhism in the monastery of Dho Gonpa, under the guidance of Tsurlo Rinpoche. He studied with amazing teachers, including Gonpa Tulku Jigme Dorje and Khenpo Chopel. Rinpoche also has a strong connection with Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok

At the age of 15, Tulku Thubten was recognized by Gonpa Tulku as the reincarnation of the Ahnam Lama Choying Puntsok, a chief disciple of Dudjom Lingpa.

In 1991, he escaped from Tibet into Nepal. After a year in exile, he accepted the opportunity to travel to the U.S. and arrived in California. At the invitation of Lama Tharchin Rinpoche, he became one of the main teachers of the Vajrayana Foundation College of Buddhist Studies in Santa Cruz. Since that time, he has traveled and taught extensively all over the U.S.

Rinpoche’s studies of western culture, philosophy and religion give him the unique ability to express dharma in teachings that are very understandable to the western student of Buddhism, whether beginner or advanced. He is deeply admired for his use of eloquent English and for his playful humor.

Lama Tharchin Rinpoche comments on both Khenpo Orgyen Thinley Rinpoche and Tulku Thubten Rinpoche "... genuine, like 24 carat gold. You don't have any doubt, they will tell you directly. Like a crystal. Anything you can see from outside, inside, same things. That's incredible. Plus, they don't have any ego to their fame or name, they are genuine teachers."

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