H.E. Khempo Yurmed Tinly Rinpoche (1950–2005): Nyingma

Nyingma

The Nyingma tradition is the oldest of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism . "Nyingma" literally means "ancient," and is often referred to as Nga'gyur or the "old school" because it is founded on the first translations of Buddhist scriptures from Sanskrit into Tibetan, in the eighth century...

 scholar, teacher, and lineage holder.

Khempo was born in 1950 in Kham

Kham

Kham , is a historical region covering a land area largely divided between present-day Tibetan Autonomous Region and Sichuan province, with smaller portions located within Qinghai, Gansu and Yunnan provinces of China. During the Republic of China's rule over mainland China , most of the region was...

, Eastern Tibet

Tibet

Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...

 and was recognized as a reincarnate tulku

Tulku

In Tibetan Buddhism, a tulku is a particular high-ranking lama, of whom the Dalai Lama is one, who can choose the manner of his rebirth. Normally the lama would be reincarnated as a human, and of the same sex as his predecessor. In contrast to a tulku, all other sentient beings including other...

 by His Holiness Nyoshul Lungtok Tulku. He received his training from the Mindrolling, Dzogchen, Payul, and Tsopema monasteries in India under teachers such as Khochhen Rinpoche, Khenpo Tsondu Rinpoche, Khenpo Rabgye Rinpoche, Zonong Tulku Rinpoche, and His Holiness Mindrolling Trichen Rinpoche. Upon completion of his monastic training, Khempo received his master’s degree from the Sanskrit University in Varanasi

Varanasi

-Etymology:The name Varanasi has its origin possibly from the names of the two rivers Varuna and Assi, for the old city lies in the north shores of the Ganga bounded by its two tributaries, the Varuna and the Asi, with the Ganges being to its south...

, India. His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche

Dudjom Rinpoche

Dudjom Rinpoche is the title of a prominent line of tulkus of the Nyingmapa order of Tibetan Buddhism. Dudjom Rinpoche was born in 1904 on the tenth day of the sixth month in the year of the wood dragon in Southern Tibet in a region called the "hidden land" of Pema Ko. He died on January 17, 1987...

 (then) appointed Khempo to lead the Nyingma studies program at Benares University in India. Khempo subsequently became Abbot of Bhutan’s Gantay Monastery as well as Abbot of the Zilnon Kagyeling Monastery in Dharamsala

Dharamsala

Dharamshala or Dharamsala is a city in northern India. It was formerly known as Bhagsu; it is the winter seat of government of the state of Himachal Pradesh and the district headquarters of the Kangra district....

, India. In 2000, Khempo was selected to represent the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism is the body of Buddhist religious doctrine and institutions characteristic of Tibet and certain regions of the Himalayas, including northern Nepal, Bhutan, and India . It is the state religion of Bhutan...

at the United Nations Millennium World Peace Summit. He died in January 2005 while visiting his family in India.