The 9th Khamtrul Rinpoche, Gyalwo Do-Khampa Shedrub Nyima

Soon after the death of the 8^th Khamtrul Rinpoche, the Khampagar Monastery requested the 16^th Khamapa to predict the details of his rebirth. On the 6^th of July in 1981, a letter was received by H. E. Dorzong Rinpoche and Choegyal Rinpoche form the 16^th Karmapa, clearly stating the father’s and mother’s names, the place and the date of birth. A letter was also received from H.H. Dilgo Khyentes Rinpoche, stating the place of birth as Bomdila, Arunachal Pradesh. A group from Khampagar Monastery was sent to Bomdila and the incarnation of the 8^th Khamtrul Rinpoche was then found.

The 9^th Khamtrul Rinpoche was born on the 6^th of December 1980 in Bomdila, Arunachal Pradesh to devout Buddhist Family. In September 1982, Khyentes Rinpoche and Dorzong Rinpoche went to Bomdilla to perform the recognition ceremony and to invite the child and his family to Khampagar Monastery in Tashi Jong. Rinpoche reached Tashi Jong on the 7^th of November 1982, the day of Buddha’s descent form Tushita Heaven. The previous Khamtrul Rinpoche had also arrived at Khampagar Monastery (in Tibet) on the same auspicious day when Buddha descended from Tushita Heaven. H. H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche enthroned the 9^th Khamtrul Rinpoche on the 18^th of February 1983 and gave him the name Do-Khampa shedrub Nyima. The ceremony was attended by representatives of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, heads of the Tibetan Buddhist School, and the royal families of Bhutan and Sikkim.

As a young child, Rinpoche was raised by the great Togdens of Khampagar Monastery. He later received lessons from Khenpo Lhawang from Tibet, Dorzong Rinpoche and the Togedens, in addition to many sets of teachings and initiations from H.H. Dilgo Khyentse. Being older, Dorzong Rinpoche invited H.E. Adeu Rinpoche from Qinghai, China and Sengdrak Rinpoche from Nepal to ensure that Rinpoche received all the teachings and initiations of the Drukpa Kaygu lineage. Dorzong Rinpoche also gave all the teachings on the major philosophical texts and initiations that he himself had received from the 8^th Khamtrul Rinpoche to the 9^th Khamtrul Rinpoche.

Rinpoche was then invited to visit his monastery in Tibet, the original Khampagar Monastery, and to the monastery of H. E. Adeu Rinpoche as well. Tens of thousands of Sangha members turned up to pay respect to the 9^th Khamtrul Rinpoche. Rinpoche also made pilgrimages to the various Buddhist Holy Place in India, Thailand, Japan, Sri Lanka and Burma.

Currently, Rinpoche spends much of his time doing retreat at Tashi Jong and studies and practices the Dharma and lineage teachings. At all the grand ritual ceremonies in Khampagar Monastery, he presides as the Vajra Acharya.

Being always calm, compassionate and warm since the earliest time of his childhood, Khamtrul Rinpoche’s qualities radiate in his everyday life, a nature undoubtedly streamed from his previous life. His presence is the source of so much joy and strength for his followers near and far.