His Eminence Kyabje Ling Rinpoche

The current incarnation of Ling Rinpoche, the 7th Kyabje Yongzin Ling Choktrul Rinpoche, was born in India on November 18, 1985. He was taken to the Tibetan Children’s Village in Dharamsala after his mother died, and stayed there until the Dalai Lama recognized him as the reincarnation of his Principal Tutor, the 6th Kyabje Yongzin Ling Rinpoche, who died in 1983.

The 7th Kyabje Yongzin Ling Rinpoche joined Drepung Monastic University’s Loseling College in 1990, which was re-established in the Mundgod Tibetan settlement in South India. His enrollment and return to the monastery of his predecessors was celebrated with large, traditional religious ceremonies for auspiciousness. The 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th Yongzin Ling Rinpoches had studied there as members of Drepung Loseling Monastery.

The Dalai Lama gave the young Ling Rinpoche novice monk vows in 1993 to continue a monastic lineage. He also received full monastic (‘Bikshu’) vows from Dalai Lama exactly 50 years after the Dalai Lama had received them from his Principal Tutor. Monks usually receive Bikshu vows when they are 20 years old. Kyabje Yongzin Ling Rinpoche was asked to lead a Long Life Puja on March 5, 2004, which was organized by the Tibetan Government to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Dalai Lama taking the Bikshu vows. The 6th Kyabje Yongzin Ling Rinpoche had given them to him in 1954 in front of the Jho statue in Lhasa’s Jokhang temple.

Since Ling Rinpoche was 20 years old at the time, the Dalai Lama gave him the Bikshu vows on March 3, 2004, at the 14th Dalai Lama’s palace in Dharamshala India. The 6th Kyabje Yongzin Ling Rinpoche had received all his monastic vows from the 13th Dalai Lama in the Potala Palace.

The Gelug tradition emphasizes a deep and intensive study of Buddhist scriptures. The 7th Kyabje Ling Rinpoche’s monastic studies began when he was ten years old under the guidance of Dalai Lama. Geshe Namgyal Wangchen and Geshe Thubten Rapgay served as his two main tutors. During breaks from studying, he has completed private retreats. The 7th Yongzin Ling Rinpoche received his Geshe degree Drepung Monastic University in November 2016 and enrolled at Gyuto Tantric College in Dharamsala, India in April 2017 for a year of tantric studies that traditionally follows the completion of a Geshe degree.

In 1991 Ling Rinpoche gave his first teaching in South Korea. Since then he has given teachings and tantric initiations in many countries in Asia and Europe, Canada, Australia, the United States, Mexico and Israel, as well as Tibetan settlements throughout India and Nepal. Rinpoche has also organized and attended many important Buddhist events.

More details about the life and lives of Ling Rinpoche can be found on His official website.