Kalu Rinpoche was born in Trehor in Kham in 1905. His father, Karma Lekshé Drayang, the Thirteenth Ratak Palzang Tulku, was a respected doctor. He began his studies at the age of thirteen at Palpung Monastery, where Palpung Situ Rinpoche ordained him and gave him the name Karma Rangjung Kunkhyab.

After two years of studying the sutras and tantras, and receiving instruction and empowerments from many of the great lamas at Palpung and other monasteries in Kham, he gave a teaching on the three sets of vows before an assembly of a hundred monks and lay people. Among his teachers was Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö, to whom he also gave several empowerments and transmissions.

He began a traditional three-year retreat at the age of fifteen under the direction of his root lama, Lama Norbu Dondrup, from whom he received all the transmissions of the Karma Kagyu and Shangpa Kagyu traditions.

From the age of twenty-five, he practiced for twelve years in solitary retreat in the mountains of Kham, wandering about without possessions, until he was requested by Situ Rinpoche to return and teach. He then became the director of three-year retreats at Palpung. It was around this time that he was recognized by the sixteenth Karmapa as the activity emanation of Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Tayé.

Having left Tibet in the 1950s, Kalu Rinpoche first went to Bhutan, where he established two retreat centres and ordained 300 monks. In 1965 he established his own monastery at Sonada in Darjeeling, Samdrub Darjay Choling, and established a three-year retreat center there.

Kalu Rinpoche was an extraordinary teacher of our time and his Dharma fame spread throughout the Western world as one of the first Tibetan Lamas to have made a deep and lasting connection with Westerners. Because of this connection, Rinpoche was able to establish over 100 Dharma Centers in 16 countries around the world, open many Three Year Retreat Centers, build monasteries and stupas, and author numerous books. Kalu Rinpoche passed at his monastery in Darjeeling, India at the age of 85.

The First Full-Time Resident Teacher

Venerable Lama Tenzin’s traditional upbringing in the high mountains of Dalung, Tibet prepared him for the incredible task of coming to the West to plant the first fresh seeds of the Tibetan Buddhist teachings. 

The All-Good Venerable Lama Tenzin was sent to Maui in 1981 by his Root Guru, Kyabje Kalu Rinpoche and spent his precious time, until death, establishing the foundation for the Buddha’s teachings on Maui. He maintained a daily schedule of offering traditional prayer services and meditations, which are still carried on today.

As a young monk, Lama Tenzin studied in the Geluk tradition at the great Tashi Lhungpo Monastery in Shigatse, Tibet. He left Tibet as a refugee and met Kalu Rinpoche in India to study under his tutelage in the Karma Kagyu and Shangpa Kagyu traditions, completing the three-year retreat at Kalu Rinpoche's monastery in Sonada, India.

At Sonada monastery, he was one of Kalu Rinpoche’s closest students - his personal Shrine Master and honorable cook. Lama Tenzin was not an ordinary cook, but a very special personal cook for Vajradhara Kalu Rinpoche until he came to Hawaii. In the morning, Rinpoche would have tea, then tsampa (roasted barley flour) with dried cheese and butter, other times he would have tea and bread.

In addition to being a wonderful cook, Lama Tenzin was an incredible Torma Artist and created beautiful butter sculptures which are still preserved in Rinpoche’s private shrine room.

Lama Tenzin's legacy will be honored by all who knew him. Reflecting the qualities of a Bodhisattva, Lama Tenzin will be remembered for his disciplined practice, his gentle nature and equal kindness to everyone. He gave his life to the Dharma.

The Second Full-Time Resident Teacher

Venerable Lama Gyaltsen was appointed by the late All Good Lama Tenzin, under the guidance of Khenchen Lodro Donyo Rinpoche and Kyabje Bokar Rinpoche, to succeed him as Full-Time Resident Teacher. He arrived to Maui on the Full Moon day of June 2003.

Lama Gyaltsen was born in 1968 in Sonada, Darjeeling, India, into a Tibetan Buddhist practitioner family. His father was a Lama and participated in a three-year retreat with Chatral Rinpoche, one of the greatest Dzogchen masters of his time. His mother lived on the Samdrub Darjay Choling monastery property, and was a dedicated practitioner.

From a young age, Lama Gyaltsen had the excellent fortune to receive empowerments and teachings from great masters including Dudjom Rinpoche, Chatral Rinpoche and the Black Crown ceremony from His Holiness 16th Karmapa. He entered Kalu Rinpoche’s monastery at an early age and received a full monastic education. In his early twenties, he completed the traditional three-year retreat and did a two-year solo retreat in a cabin in the forest. Afterwards, he was appointed as the General Secretary of his monastery, where he served for several years before relocating to Maui, Hawaii. He has received the entire transmission of the Kangyur from H.E. Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche and the Kalachakra Empowerment from H.H. Dalai Lama.

A very qualified teacher in the new generation of Tibetan Buddhist teachers in the West; he is accessible, articulate, fluent in English, artistic, humorous and a masterful storyteller. During his time serving as teacher at the Maui Dharma Center, he constructed the awe-inspiring twenty-seven foot tall Lhabab Stupa and for over ten years, taught one of the single most important texts in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, Shantideva’s The Way of the Bodhisattva, also known as Bodhicharyavatara.

While maintaining a full schedule of leading ongoing services, retreats, and teachings - he has also taught Tibetan language translation, a favorite course amongst our sangha. He has served the community as a Spiritual Friend and Mentor to people of all faiths.