Ven. Pema Rinpoche at German Palyul Center
Ven. Khen Rinpoche Pema Chophel (Pema Rinpoche) joined Palyul Monastery at the age of eight at his own will. He took his vows of refuge from His Holiness Penor Rinpoche and received from him the Palyul traditional practice of Ngondro, Tsa Lung und Dzogchen from the Namcho Cycle.
From His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Khen Rinpoche also received teachings on the Nyintig Great Perfection Practices of Trekchod and Togyal. Khen Rinpoche received many profound transmissions from His Holiness Penor Rinpoche, His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche and many other great Tibetan masters.
Pema Rinpoche receiving the khenpo title from H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
Khen Rinpoche joined Ngagyur Nyingma Institute and completed his studies, having mastered the Hinayana, Mahayana and Vajrayana philosophies. Khen Rinpoche has thoroughly studied, researched and mastered the Tibetan Studies that cover the vast and profound teachings of Lord Buddha (both Sutra and Tantra), as well as the common studies of Tibetan language, poetry, and Tibet’s temporal and religious history. He is a highly qualified Buddhist scholar and senior professor of Ngagyur Nyingma Institute in South India.
Pema Rinpoche with his root guru H.H. Penor Rinpoche
Upon the attainment of these, Khen Rinpoche went to Shechen Monastery and conducted Buddhist teachings over a period of four years. He was the first Khenpo in the Institute of Shechen Monastery in Nepal. During the big Drubchen puja at Shechen Monastery, Khen Rinpoche received a Khenpo hat from His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche as a great blessing. In a poem written by His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, he prophesied that Khen Rinpoche would be of great benefit to sentient beings everywhere and he wrote his long-life prayer. When Khen Rinpoche came back from Shechen Monastery, he received once more a Khenpo title and doctorate certificate from His Holiness Penor Rinpoche.
H.H. Penor Rinpoche has appointed Pema Rinpoche to establish branch centers of the Palyul lineage in Europe
With the blessings of His Holiness Penor Rinpoche, Khen Rinpoche has been teaching and spreading Buddhism in many countries. These include India, Bhutan, Nepal, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Philippines, Cambodia, Malaysia, and European Countries such as Greece, France, England, Germany, Bulgaria and Austria.
He is the founder and the spiritual director of Palyul Dharma Center Europe, which includes the Palyul Dharma Center in Greece, Palyul Center UK, German Palyul Center and Palyul Center Bulgaria.
