Lama Tharchin Short Biography
Lama Tharchin Rinpoche was a tenth generation descendent of Palchen Namkha Jigme (1757-1821) of Repkong, Tibet who founded a large non-monastic community of Shitro and Vajrakilaya practitioners that continues to the present day. Lama Tharchin Rinpoche was born in Kongpo, southern Tibet, and was educated at Lamaling by His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche. In addition to His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche, Lama Tharchin Rinpoche’s main teachers were his uncle, Lama Sherab Dorje, Chadral Rinpoche, and Dudjom Rinpoche’s son, Thinley Norbu Rinpoche.
He left his homeland in 1960 and went to live in His Holiness’ community in Orissa, India, which is where he met Ayang Rinpoche. After living briefly in Nepal and Taiwan, he came to the USA in 1984 to improve his health. He soon established the Vajrayana Foundation and Pema Osel Ling, a retreat center in the Santa Cruz Mountains of California.
Lama Dechen Yeshe Wangmo met Lama Tharchin Rinpoche in Hawai’i in 1989, shortly before her own root teacher, the Venerable Kalu Rinpoche, passed away. She immediately became Rinpoche’s student and translator. In 1992, he enthroned her as a lama in Honolulu, Hawai’i and, together, they founded Orgyen Dechen Cho Dzong on the Big Island of Hawai’i in 1994. Rinpoche continued to teach on all the Hawaiian Islands, generously bestowing all the Dudjom New Treasure empowerments and transmissions and offering copious teachings and practice instructions.
In 2002, in order to focus on the Dudjom New Treasure of The Dakini Heart Essence (Khandro Thuk Thik), Lama Wangmo founded Jnanasukha with the guidance of Lama Tharchin Rinpoche as the Spiritual Advisor. Beginning in 2008, Jnanasukha held annual programs with Lama Tharchin Rinpoche for the sole purpose of transmitting The Dakini Heart Essence in depth. In 2012, Rinpoche requested the Board of Directors to establish a physical location, however it could come about. For more info: http://www.Jnanasukha.org
Published with permission and written by Lama Dechen Yeshe Wangmo
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