Biography of Norbu Tsering Rinpoche
Biography
The summarized life story of the lineage holder Pema Lhundrub Dorje:
Norbu Tsering Rinpoche, who as the holder of his spiritual family lineage is also called Dungzin Pema Lhundrub Dorje, was born during the celebrations of the Tibetan New Year’s Day of the “Wood-Tiger Year” (1974) as the son of Lama Gangri Tenzin Rinpoche and Kalden Wangmo at Losar. On the third day after his birth, three Ngakpas performed a smoke offering ritual (Pak-sang) and gave him the name Norbu Tsering.
At the age of five, he was recognized by Churi Lama Rinpoche, also called Jampa Guru, as the reincarnation of the abbot of the monastery of Chicher Lang in Dolpo, northern Nepal. His father, himself a widely known yogi, said:
“To be designated as a reincarnation is without value.
But one who truly possesses qualities
is a spontaneously arisen reincarnation.”
And his father gave no further attention to the title of reincarnation. At the age of eight, Tulku Tsewang Rinpoche (son of Golok Serta Rinpoche) asked Gangri Tenzin Rinpoche, the father of Norbu Tsering Rinpoche: “Venerable Lama, your son is not like other children. Shouldn’t he follow a spiritual path?” His father agreed. They chose the next auspicious day, the 15th day of the lunar month, and Tulku Tsewang Rinpoche cut a lock of his hair, thus giving him the refuge vows and the name Pema Lhündrub Dorje.
Already at the age of eight he received his first Dharma teachings and transmissions, which marked the beginning of his training. By the age of 20, Norbu Tsering Rinpoche had completed the preliminary practices, received empowerments, transmissions, Dharma teachings, and undertaken the retreat cycle of Könchog Chindu by Jatson Nyingpo. He also received empowerments, transmissions, Dharma teachings, and completed the retreat of the Chöd Rinchen Trengwa. Furthermore, he received empowerments, transmissions, Dharma teachings, and completed the retreat of the Dudjom Throma cycle, along with other important transmissions.
For his studies, he spent nine years at the monastic university Samye Jedren Shedra, where he studied numerous works of Buddhist philosophy. While deepening his practice, he met Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Penor Rinpoche, Dungse Thrinley Norbu Rinpoche, Khenchen Thubten Rinpoche, Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche, Chatral Rinpoche, Trülshig Rinpoche, Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche, Sakya Khenchen Kunga Rinpoche, Tulku Tsepag Rinpoche, Dagpo Rinpoche, Karti Lachung Rinpoche, Khen Yeshe Sangpo Rinpoche, and many others. From them he received the complete essential instructions, explanations, and transmissions of the Treasure (Terma) and Oral (Kama) traditions, which he internalized. He also completed the retreats and the most important meditation practices of the Dudjom Tersar tradition.
His father often told him: “You must be enthroned as a Vajra Master!”—a wish Norbu Tsering Rinpoche agreed to after some years. In the Male Fire-Dog Year (2006), his revered father Gangri Tenzin Rinpoche, in the presence of many lamas, monks, ngakpas, and laypeople, conducted his enthronement as Vajra Master at his monastery Pema Choling Drupdra. At present, he cares for the monastery Pema Choling entrusted to him.
Since 2014, Rinpoche has been invited every year to Germany to teach the Buddhadharma; since 2015, Rinpoche has also been teaching in other European countries.
Since June 2025, Rinpoche has been the Head Lama of Pema Choling at the Historical Parish Courtyard of Dewitz/Lindetal in the district of Mecklenburgische Seenplatte, Germany.