A Brief Biography of Kyabje Kalu Rinpoche

On September 17, 1990, the reincarnation of Kalu Rinpoche was born in Darjeeling, India. His father, Lama Gyaltsen, nephew of Kalu Rinpoche, had been his secretary since his youth, his mother Kalzang Dreulkar, is from Kourteu, in southern Bhutan.

Tai Situ Rinpoche recognized officially as reincarnation (Yangsi Kalu Rinpoche in Tibetan, yangsi meaning literally “new existence”) on March 25, 1992, explaining that he received signs of Kalu Rinpoche. The Dalai Lama officially confirms this recognition as well as many masters like Chatral Rinpoche, H.H. Sakya Trinzin Rinpoche.

On February 28, 1993, he was inducted into Samdrub Darjay Chöling (Sonada) during a ceremony presided over by Taï Sitou Rinpoche and Gyaltsab Rinpoche, as well as Bokar Rinpoche. During the haircut ritual, the young tulku (Tibetan reincarnation) receives the name of Karma Ngédeun Tenpè Gyaltsèn (Banner of Victory of the Teachings of True Sense). From that moment, he is the second Kalu Rinpoche.

His father passed away in 1999 and he asked to live in the monastery of Bokar Rinpoche in order to grow and study under his direction. In 2004, he began the traditional three-year retreat he completed in 2008. In 2009, he received from Tai Situ Rinpoche all the transmissions of the Shangpa Lineage. On this occasion, he undertakes to confer 108 times the cycle of initiations of the lineage from which he is now holder.

In 2010, Kalu Rinpoche traveled to the West and took charge of the meditation centers created by the first Kalu Rinpoche around the world.

In 2014, he returned to Burgundy, in the center of meditation Palden Shangpa La Boulaye, to teach and to resume the tradition of Monlam Shangpa initiated by his predecessor. He has done the same in the United States in 2019. He also resumed the conduct of three years retreats, first in Burgundy after renovation of a retreat center, then in Brazil where such a retreat takes place for the first time.
Kalu Rinpoche gives each year initiations and teachings around the world: in Europe, especially in Burgundy; in North and South America, particularly in Brazil; and in Asia. Rinpoche gives every year teachings and empowerments in Thailand.

Dharma Help for all sentient beings during COVID-19 crisis

Tashi delek to all my dharma sisters and brothers.

In these times of crisis with the covid-19 virus, I have been reading inspiring posts not only from scientific, medical points of view, but from spiritual viewpoints as well.
In these difficult times, it is more important than ever to maintain psychological wellbeing.
Millions of us are in self-isolation.
Therefore I want you to know I will offer you all my prayers and also I would like to invite all of you to participate in these prayers as well. We are also willing to communicate with you directly (through social media) listen to your concerns and meditate with you.

I wish you all the best.

Please look after yourselves and your loved ones. Stay strong – you are always in my heart and prayers.

Kalu Rinpoche

Teachings

Q : If one wants to go into solitary retreat to develop the view and the method, what would be your advice ?

A : If you want to go for solitary retreat, never tell yourself: “Ah, I’ll commit myself for three years, I’ll commit myself for five years, I’ll commit myself for ten years”; don’t do that; there are people that can do that, but it doesn’t mean that you should take that risk. You should always do the retreat day by day, from this morning until this evening, I commit myself to do retreat. That’s it. That’s how you have to continue the momentum, the rhythm, that’s the most important.

Be careful with the food you eat, don’t take the food given by other people, make your own food, be clean, be healthy.

Don’t be superstitious in your mindset. … Read More →

Six-Armed Mahakala Worldwide Practice

Dear Dharma friends,

I would like to lead a worldwide practice on the recitation of the Six-Armed Mahakala mantras since today, till accumulate 100 millions mantras together. All the merits accumulated from this practice would be dedicated to the prosperity of the Buddha Dharma, to the longevity of all the great masters, to the harmony and wisdom and truthfulness of the worldwide sanghas, and to the liberation of all the sentient beings from the illusion of samsara.

Mahakala is a pure emanation of Avalokiteshvara in order to benefit all beings. His practice originates from the great Mahasiddha Shawaripa and was carried to Tibet by Khyungpo Naljor. It has been passed down through an unbroken lineage until the present. The great Taranatha, a lineage holder of this practice refined the texts and practices. … Read More →

Shangpa Gyurso

Illustrious Buddha Vajra Bearer’s regents, lord bodhisattvas of awakening’s tenth stage, appear in an uninterrupted line of indisputably accomplished masters, known throughout the three worlds as lord protectors of beings, the Shangpa Instruction Lineage, adorned with many particularly wonderful and exalted qualities—at your lotus feet I respectfully bow.

Buddha Vajra Bearer, sixth lord of all families of enlightenment, bestowed deep, secret vajra tantras, verses of profound meditation instruction, in the innate sound of his indestructible, melodious voice.

From that time forth, the garland of jewels who appear in this Oral Instruction Lineage have reached the citadel of the mind’s nature, the body of ultimate enlightenment. The radiant splendor of their meditative experience and realization overflows from their mouths, expressing their profound enlightenment as vajra songs. The laughter of these songs of realization reverberates throughout space to nourish adepts’ faith and devotion; to strike with the ridingcrop of encouragement to turn away from attachment and to foster renunciation; to augment meditative experience; to instill firm confidence in realization’s wisdom; to please the spiritual heroes and dakinis; to lead others to freedom along the narrow passage through obstacles and impediments; and to satisfy infinite numbers of human and nonhuman beings with the unsurpassable gift of the Teachings.

A Sea of Blessing – Jamgon Kongtrul introduction to the Shangpa masters’ songs

Shangpa Lineage

The Shangpa lineage is often referred to as the ´secret lineage´ because Niguma instructed Khyungpo Naljor to transmit the teachings to only one student for the first seven generations (beginning with the Buddha Vajradhara and Niguma).

From Gyalse Mok Chokpa, the lineage was passed to Kyergang Chokyi Senge (Kyergangpa) , Nyentön Rigung Chökyi Sherab (Rigongpa), and Sangye Töngpa. The first seven masters are known as the Seven Great Jewels of the Shangpa tradition. Read More →

“Shangpa Kagyu Teachings” – Chamgon Kenting Tai Situpa

Shangpa Mönlam

Buddha’s teaching shows the authentic path
The source of true happiness and genuine success,
Master, learned and realized in the path of enlightenment,
Unmatched in the past, the present and the future,
Prodigious Incarnation of the Five Deities,
Khyungpo Neljor, I bow to your feet.

As you know, the Mönlam are vast wishes for the good of sentient beings and for the development of Dharma. When practiced as a ritual in retreat, they benefit from the strength of a repeated practice, from the power of group preactice and from the spiritual energy of the great masters of the past who composed the prayers we recite.

The Mônlam are a perfect example of the activity of Kalu Rinpoche. In his great kindness, he made it his daily practice for the good of all sentient beings. Later, he regularly practiced them together with his sangha. Finally, in 1983, he established the practice of holding the Shangpa Mônlam in Bodhgaya every year.

Your contribution is really making a difference!

The monks and lamas of Kalu Rinpoche’s monastery in India are very grateful for the donations received through shangpakagyu.org website (previously paldenshangpa.org). A complete accounting and records are being kept of the donations and the expenditures of the monies sent to help the monks.

The first donations received have been used to clothe and feed especially the new younger monks. Also, some of the monies were spent on school supplies for their classes; maintenance and repair of the monks’ rooms; maintenance of the monastery buildings; and medical needs of the monks.

Thanks to our generous recent Donators:

The ongoing needs are medical care, clothing, food, repair and maintenance. In consultation with doctors, dietary guidelines will be implemented to insure the monks stay healthy. All efforts are focused in making sure that the monks can study and practice and also to their well being. With the proper conditions for study and practice, they will be able to benefit the buddhadharma, society and all beings.