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Rinpoche received Buddhist refuge and bodhisattva vows from His Holiness at an early age, and was ordained as a novice monk in 1974. He has received most of the Buddhist teachings and empowerments of the Kagyu and Nyingma traditions from His Holiness Karmapa, His Holiness Dilgo Khyentsé, Rinpoche, and others. At fourteen, he began studying Buddhist philosophy at the primary school in Rumtek. In 1981, he entered the monastic college at Rumtek, Karma Shri Nalanda Institute for Higher Buddhist Studies, an affiliate of Samprunant Sanskrit University in Varanasi, (U.P.) India. There he was schooled in the traditional scholastic curriculum of Buddhist philosophy, psychology, logic, and debate. Rinpoche worked for the Students' Welfare Union at the Institute for three years. In 1987, Rinpoche became head librarian of the Institute's new library. He was the chief-editor of the Nalandakirti Journal, an annual publication which brings together Eastern and Western views on Buddhism. In May 1990, Rinpoche graduated from the Institute as an Acharya, or Master of Buddhist Philosophy. He has also completed courses of studies in English and comparative religions at Columbia University in New York City. In January 1996, Rinpoche was offered and assumed a faculty position at Naropa Institute, Boulder, Colorado, where he taught courses on Tibetan language and philosophy. Rinpoche travels widely to teach and offer assistance in Dzogchen and Kagyu study and practice. In 1980, Rinpoche first traveled to the United States, Canada, and Southeast Asia with His Holiness the Sixteenth Gyalwa Karmapa. He gave dharma teachings and assisted with the various ceremonies performed during the course of this tour. Rinpoche is acknowledged as one of the foremost scholars of his generation in the Nyingma and Kagyu schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Vancouver is his primary residence and he is known for his sharp intellect, humor, and the lucidity of his teaching style. Fluent in the English language and well-versed in Western culture, Rinpoche is also an accomplished calligrapher, visual artist and poet. Since 1990 he has annually criss-crossed the globe , teaching and assisting Buddhist centers in North America, Europe and Asia. He supervises the activities of study and meditation centers in Europe and North America, and has worked actively to develop and adapt traditional Tibetan education curriculums for Western audiences. In 1994, to assist in the integration of computer technology with traditional Tibetan scholarship, Rinpoche founded Nitartha international, a non-profit education corporation based in New York City. Nitartha uses computer technologies to support Tibetan studies and education, and preserves the ancient literature of Tibet in computerized formats. Rinpoche also advises web site design for various dharma related sites. In 1995 he helped establish Nitartha Institute in North America, which provides a focused Tibetan studies program, and where Rinpoche is a scheduled teacher. In 1997, Rinpoche founded Nalandabodhi to preserve the genuine lineage of the Nyingma and Kagyu Schools of Tibetan Buddhism. In 1998 he became director of the Kamalashila Institute of Germany, at the request of His Holiness, the Seventeenth Gyalwa Karmapa. As abbot of Dzogchen Monastery, Rinpoche is a high-ranking Nyingma master. In addition, in 1979 at Dharmachakra Center, Rumtek, Sikkim, India, His Holiness, the Sixteenth Gyalwa Karmapa, supreme head of the Kagyu lineage, formally empowered and officially proclaimed The Seventh Dzogchen Ponlop, Rinpoche as one of the lineage holders of the Karma Kagyu school and heart son of His Holiness Karmapa. Next to the four Eminences, Rinpoche is the highest ranking Rinpoche at Rumtek Monastery. Stories from the Oral Histories of the Dzogchen Ponlop Lineage of Rinpoches
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