Tulku Orgyen Phuntsok Rinpoche

At a young age Tulku Orgyen P’huntsok was recognized by H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche as the reincarnation of Togden Kunzang Longdrol Rinpoche, a highly realized yogi from Powo who had been one of H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche’s main students, and who had been influential in spreading the Dharma both in Tibet and in Padmasambhava’s sacred Hidden Land of Pemaköd. Tulku spent his early years in retreat in his birthplace of Pemaköd in Arunachal Pradesh, northeastern India, studying all aspects of Buddhism (with emphasis on the Longchen Nying Thig and Dudjom Tersar lineages) at his monastery there. At the age of 15, Tulku began advanced studies in southern India at Namdroling Monastery, the largest monastery of the Nyingma lineage, rebuilt in India by H.H. Penor Rinpoche, the previous Supreme Head of the Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism. Tulku completed the nine-year Khenpo degree, and during his final three years at Namdroling Monastery, he taught Buddhist philosophy at Namdroling. Since 1999, Tulku Orgyen has been with Vairotsana Foundation, assisting Bhakha Tulku Rinpoche with teaching, practice, and other Dharma activity. Tulku has taught and led retreats throughout the United States, and travels and teaches frequently in Asia as well. Tulku served as a visiting professor at University of California – Santa Barbara, and has taught Tibetan language and other subjects periodically at the Vairotsana Foundation Center in Santa Barbara. Currently, Tulku serves as the Resident Lama and Director of Vairotsana Foundation-Santa Barbara.