Sabchu Rinpoche

Sabchu Rinpoché was born in 1983, year of the Water Pig. As a newborn infant, he was recognized by Shamar Rinpoché as the 5th Sabchu Rinpoché. During the transmission of the Tersar empowerments given at Nagi Gompa by Tulku Urgyen Rinpoché, the ceremony where he was presented with his traditional Dharma robes and the name Karma Mipham Tenpi Nyima took place before all who were present, including the four Karma Kagyu regents, many high-ranking tulkus and other lamas of the Karma Kagyu lineage. The formal enthronement took place twice; first in Rumtek and then in the monastery of Swayambhu.

The young tulku moved to Swayambhu Monastery at the age of six and began studying Tibetan language and the fundamental practices of the Karma Kamtsang lineage. He received many empowerments, reading transmissions and instructions from the greatest masters of the time, beginning with the New Treasure collection given by Tulku Urgyen Rinpoché. Dilgo Khyentsé Rinpoché conferred the three Dzogchen collections; Tenga Rinpoché gave the reading transmission of the Tengyour, the translated treatises; Nyenpa Rinpoché gave the reading transmission of the Kangyour, the translated teachings of the Buddha; Trangu Rinpoché gave the Kagyu Ngak Dzö, the Tantra Treasury empowerments; Pénor Rinpoché conferred the Rinchen Terdzö, the Treasury of Precious Termas; Sakya Trizin gave the Drouptab Küntü, the Compendium of Sadhanas; Luding Khenchen Rinpoché gave the Gyüdé Küntü, the Compendium of Tantras; Shamar Rinpoché transmitted the empowerments and reading transmission of the Chikshé Kündröl, the empowerment collection by Karmapa Wangchuk Dorjé. He also received many practice instructions from different highly qualified meditation masters. He studied the scriptures and philosophical treatises under Khenpo Shenpen and later with Karmapa Thayé Dorjé under Khenpo Chödrak Rinpoché at KIBI in New Delhi.

He spent one year practicing Chö in Pharping. Then, at the age of eighteen, he began a traditional three-year, three-month retreat in Pharping under the guidance of Maniwa Sherab Gyaltsen Rinpoché, one of the greatest, most qualified meditation masters of the current time. There, Sabchu Rinpoché received all Karma Kamtsang transmissions traditionally practiced in retreat. Afterwards, he began traveling and teaching in the USA and other Western countries. Today, his activities are mainly focused on Nepal, where he oversees the Swayambhu Monastery, and the West, where he teaches the Dharma and continues his personal studies.