His Holiness Dharma King Penor Norbu Rinpoche

An incarnation of Vajrapani Bodhisattva, the eleventh lineage holder of the Nyingma Palyul tradition, Kyabje Drubwang Pema Norbu Rinpoche, was born in December 1932 in the Kham region of eastern Tibet and left this world in March 2009. After H. H. Dilgo Khyentse departed in 1991, H. H. Penor Rinpoche became the Supreme Head of the Nyingma Sect. In 2001 he resigned from that position to devote more time to his extensive global network of monasteries and dharma centers, recommending that H. H. Mindrolling Trichen Rinpoche assume that position. His Holiness Karma Kuchen Rinpoche IV, is the current head of the Palyul subsect.

His Holiness's Main seat was at Palyul Monastery in Tibet, one of the six main Nyingma monasteries. His Main seat outside of Tibet was at Namdroling (Thegchog Namdrol Shedrub Dargyeling) Monastery, Bylakuppe in Karnataka State, South India, close to the sacred Drekar Pungwa Stupa where Buddha first taught the Kalachakra Tantra. In 1978 the Ngagyur Nyingma Institute for Higher Buddhist Studies was added along with a nunnery and college for women. His Holiness had a number of branch temples in the US and a retreat center in McDonough, New York. During the 2008 Dharma Propagation Tour, Ven. Zhaxi Zhuoma Rinpoche and other tour members were able to have an audience with His Holiness and hear His Holiness Penor Rinpoche praise H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III.

See the book H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III for a more detailed biography and H. H. Dharma King Penor's commentary on the accomplishments of His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu.

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