A short biography of Ven. Paltul Rinpoche

Paltul Rinpoche was born the third of four children in the Nangchen Par-Kar Region of Kham, East Tibet on the 8th day of the first Tibetan month in the year of the water-rabbit (the year 1963 according to the western calendar). His parents were simple nomads of the Tibetan highlands and he spent his childhood as a normal boy living in the high altitudes of the Himalayas. However, from his very early years he showed an extraordinary interest in the Buddha's teachings and an extraordinary talent in the art of healing.
Following the traditions of his culture, he joined the local Palkey Lachen Monastery, a monastery of the Sakyapa School (one of the main lineages of Tibetan Buddhism). Shortly after his ordination as a monk, he joined a pilgrimage. "By accident" one his fellow pilgrims led him to the famous Palpung Retreat Center, founded by H.H. Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye Rinpoche, who was a grandmaster in 19th century Tibet. Having arrived there, Paltul Rinpoche got to know the Venerable Yonten Phuntsok, an old and famous physician who was himself a disciple of H.H. Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye Rinpoche, and who held an unbroken tradition in the ancient art of Tibetan Medicine. The Ven. Yonten Phuntsok accepted Paltul as his personal student, and so the previously planned pilgrimage turned into a five-year apprenticeship. With his outstanding talents Paltul thoroughly and extensively mastered the art of Tibetan Medicine including its five tantras. After additional years of practical studies as an assistant of the Ven. Yonten Phuntsok, he returned to his home village, married and settled down.
Meanwhile the monks of the Pal Demo Tashi Coeling Monastery were searching for the re-incarnation of the 4th Pora Tulku Rinpoche, in order to enthrone him as the legitimate head of their monastery. Eventually, they requested information from H.H. the 12th Tai Situ Rinpoche, as to where the 5th Pora Tulku could be found. H.H. Tai Situ Rinpoche disclosed the exact location of Paltul's residence, so an entourage of H.H. Tai Situ Rinpoche unexpectedly visited Rinpoche's home village. As prophesized, Paltul Rinpoche was recognized as the previous Pora Tulku Rinpoche. The previous four Pora Tulku Rinpoches were meditation masters and physicians who had been renowned all over Tibet. "Coincidentally", the 4th Pora Tulku Rinpoche had also studied under H.H. Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye Rinpoche at Palpung Retreat Center and was his close disciple. After the 4th Pora Tulku Rinpoche had graduated, H.H. Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye Rinpoche instructed him to return to his home monastery, where he established two retreat centers. He dedicated himself there to teaching and healing locals as well as visitors from all over Tibet. Paltul Rinpoche was finally inaugurated as the 5th Pora Tulku Rinpoche of the Pal Demo Tashi Chöling Monastery and received his new name "Paltul" from H.H. the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Orgyen Trinley Dorje.

Rinpoche decided to undertake a three-year retreat, but all the retreat opportunities at Tsurphu Monastery were occupied. For this reason, he and his wife Tashi left for Nepal, where he eventually completed the retreat in Pullahari. His wife Tashi also completed a two-year retreat during this period of contemplation.

Rinpoche has received a great many initiations, profound teachings and instructions from a variety of high Tibetan spiritual masters, including H.H. the 17th Karmapa Orgyen Trinley Dorje, H.H. Sakya Trizin, H.H. Tai Situ Rinpoche, H.E. Thrangu Rinpoche, H.H. Jamyang Kongtrul Rinpoche, Bokar Rinpoche and Khenpo Tsultrim Gyatso Rinpoche. He continues the unbroken lineage of the healing tradition of Tibetan Medicine. His status and his competencies are well authenticated in documents by H.H. the 17th Karmapa Orgyen Trinley Dorje, H.H. the 12th Tai Sipa and , H.H. Jamyang Kongtrul Rinpoche. These authentications correspond to the western standard of a Ph.D. in medicine.

Since 1999 Paltul Rinpoche has been living in New York City with his family. He works there as a healer and Buddhist teacher, while engaging in the medical and economic development of his home region in Tibet, the rural area of Nangchen Par-Ka, Kham.

Among other activities in the U.S., he regularly travels to several countries in both the Eastern and Western world, including Germany, China, Taiwan, and Malaysia. The funds he receives through his medical treatments and Buddhist teachings are almost exclusively used to re-build his monastery Pal Demo Tashi Chöling. In addition, a hospital and a medical school named Karma Woesel Doe-joe Ling are also in the process of being built. Furthermore, a Tibetan hospital and Medicine-Buddha temple has also been recently initiated with the help of Chinese sponsors in Shanghai.