His Holiness the Fifth Karma Kuchen Rinpoche
Heart Son of Holiness Pema Norbu – Twelfth and Current Palyul Lineage Throneholder
With the passing of our beloved Holiness Penor Rinpoche in the Spring of 2009, His Holiness Karma Kuchen Rinpoche has assumed his responsibilities as the 12th Lineage Holder of the Palyul tradition. He was recognized as the 5th Karma Kuchen Rinpoche by both the late Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche and Holiness Penor Rinpoche, who cared for him as one of his three Heart Sons since the age of 4. After his accomplished training at Namdroling under the direct guidance of His Holiness Penor Rinpoche, he was formally enthroned as the 12th Throneholder of the Palyul Lineage in 2000. He assumed the major responsibility of the Palyul Mother Monastery in Tibet where he rebuilt many temples, prayer wheels, and sacred objects of veneration, as well as spread the Dharma in the Land of the Snows. Of the many remarkable qualities he possesses, the most striking quality is his strict and pure observance of all the vows of a monk. He is thus the embodiment of pure conduct in these degenerate times. In the fall of 2009, Palyul students were fortunate that His Holiness Karma Kuchen Rinpoche embarked on a 14 city tour of the US, Canada, and Mexico to visit the dharma centers and to get to know his students. We pray for his long life and wish that he will return soon to be with his devoted students here in the U.S.