Lama Chime Tulku Rinpoche is a Tibetan Buddhist, Tulku and Dharma teacher.
15 Facts About Chime Rinpoche
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Chime Rinpoche's students include American author and Buddhist nun Pema Chodron and musicians Mary Hopkin, David Bowie and Tony Visconti.
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Chime Rinpoche was born in Jyekundo, Kham, East Tibet, Tibet, into a family that were direct descendants of the chieftain Rardha Pontsong, who was inspired to give his land to the 4th Sangye Nyenpa so that Benchen Monastery could be built.
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Chime Rinpoche was not the only Tulku in his family, as both Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and the 9th Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche were his maternal uncles.
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Chime Rinpoche was educated at Benchen Monastery, where he completed academic studies as well as a traditional three-year, three-month retreat.
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Chime Rinpoche studied and combined the practices of Mahamudra and Dzogchen through receiving instructions in Mahamudra from Kabje Sangye Nyenpa and Dzogchen from Dilgo Khentse Rinpoche.
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In 1959, Chime Rinpoche reached India via Bhutan alongside his Root Gurus and maternal uncles, Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and 9th Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche.
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Chime Rinpoche shared a small apartment with Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche and Akong Rinpoche in Oxford.
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Chime Rinpoche later gained British citizenship, registered 22 October 1970 and has lived in Britain ever since.
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In 1973, Chime Rinpoche founded Kham House in Ashdon, Essex, UK the first Tibetan Buddhist Centre in England.
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In 2011, Chime Rinpoche travelled from London for a surprise reunion with two of the other Benchen Tulkus, Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche and Tenga Rinpoche, to the 2011 Summer Camp at Benchen Phuntsok Ling, Benchen's European headquarters.
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In England, Chime Rinpoche chose to stop being a monk and married.
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In Britain, Chime Rinpoche is the President of the Tibetan Terrier Association, a club that is dedicated to preserve and promote the Tibetan Terrier breed of dog.
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Chime Rinpoche was employed by the British Library as Curator for Ancient Tibetan Manuscripts for 16 years.
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Chime Rinpoche said, in very broken English, 'You are looking for me.