Akong Rinpoche

Akong Rinpoche (also Akong Tulku or Trülku; born 1939 or 1940 in Kham, eastern Tibet, † October 8, 2013 in China ) was a Tibetan doctor, author and Lama of the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism.

Together with Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche founded Akong 1967, named after Samye Ling Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in Europe first in Dumfriesshire, Dumfries and Galloway. Akong Rinpoche also founded in 1980 the charity Rokpa International, which he was president until his death.

Life

Akong Rinpoche was a very young age by the 16th Karmapa Rangjung Dorje Rigpe as the abbot of the Drolma Lhakhang Trülku (Tibetan: lha khang sgrol ma ) recognized Monastery ( 1 Akong ). He was taken at the age of four years to Drolma Lhakhang to preserve the traditional education there and become the next abbot of the monastery. In addition to religious education Akong Rinpoche also received instruction in Tibetan medicine.

To continue his studies, he traveled as a youth by Shechen, where he was instructed by the " Shechen Kongtrul Rinpoche " in the Mahamudra teachings of the Kagyu.

In 1959 Akong Rinpoche escaped from Tibet to India. After he had spent some time in refugee camps, he was among others asked to take care of the "Young Lamas Home School " in Dalhousie in Chamba district.

He traveled in 1963 with Chogyam Trungpa to England to study at the University of Oxford including English. Besides his studies Akong Rinpoche worked a few years as a nurse.

In 1967, Akong Rinpoche together with Chögyam Trungpa " Kagyu Samye Ling " in Scotland. The 16th Karmapa Rangjung Dorje Rigpe visited the monastery in 1974 and 1977. Between 1972 and 1987, many well-known Buddhist teachers were invited to Samye Ling. Under the guidance of the 16th Karmapa Rinpoche Akong created the possibility of three-year retreats at Samye Ling hold. Furthermore, a large traditional Tibetan Buddhist temple was built, with an associated college, a library and a museum. The temple was founded in 1988, inter alia, opened in the presence of the 12th Tai Situpa Pema Dönyö Nyinche and Lord David Steel.

Akong 1992 was one of the key players involved in the discovery of the officially enthroned 17th Karmapa Ugyen Dorje Thrinle. Ugyen Thrinle Dorje was brought with his help after Tshurphu and Akong Rinpoche arranged the meeting with the local 12th and 12th Tai Situpa Goshri Gyeltshab Rinpoche, the Ugyen Dorje Thrinle gave his monastic name and enthroned him later. The People's Republic of China awarded him the title "Living Buddha". In August 2011 he was guest of honor of the Chinese government in Lhasa, the there the 60th anniversary of the " liberation of Tibet " celebrated.

He developed in cooperation with western therapists " Tara Rokpa " a path of inner development, ranging from a therapeutic level to the meditative training. Main source of philosophy, psychology and meditation experience of Buddhism, supplemented by psychotherapeutic methods and understanding of the western point of departure. Tara Rokpa is not bound by religious and open to all.

Akong Rinpoche was killed, according to reports from monasteries and the media on October 8, 2013 along with his nephew and an accompanying monk was therefore stabbed in an attack or dispute over money Akong Rinpoche in Chengdu (China).