Dharamshala: The 16th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile today expressed its heartfelt condolences and grief at the demise of Kathok Getse Rinpoche, 7th head of Nyingma tradition. Rinpoche passed away on 19 November 2018 in Pharping, Nepal at the age of 64.

“The Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile is deeply saddened to learn of the sudden demise of Kathok Getse Rinpoche, the 7th supreme head of Nyingma tradition. Our heartfelt condolence goes out to all his devotees and followers of the Ngagyur Nyingma tradition,” the Tibetan Parliament wrote in a condolence letter.

“We offer our earnest prayers for his noble rebirth and for his continued blessings.”

The fourth Kathok Getse Rinpoche Gyurme Tenpa Gyaltsen, holder of the Kathok Monastery lineage, was appointed as the 7th head of Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism for a three-year term, during the spiritual gathering of 29th Nyingma Monlam in Bodh Gaya, in January this year. The representatives of the Nyingma school drew a unanimous decision to appoint Kathok Getse Rinpoche and five other Nyingma lamas as the supreme head of Nyingma tradition in a three-year tenure basis. Representatives of six major Nyingma monasteries, Zogchen, Shechen, Mindrolling, Dorje Drak and Palyul will succeed Kathok Getse Rinpoche as the supreme head of Nyingma on the termly basis.

Brief bio-data of Kathok Getse Rinpoche

Kathok Getse Rinpoche was born in Golok, Eastern Tibet, and was recognized by the 16th Karmapa, Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö and Adzom Gyalse Gyurme Dorje as the reincarnation of the Third Katok Getse, Gyurme Tenpa Namgyal. From a very early age, Rinpoche received teachings and empowerments from many masters. After coming to exile in 1997, Getse Rinpoche received teachings and empowerments from His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche and Penor Rinpoche among others.

From a very early age, he received teachings and empowerments from many masters such as Katok Moktsa Rinpoche, Khenpo Jikme Phuntsok, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tubten Pema Trinle, the reincarnation of Adzom Drukpa, Tulku Nyida, son of Tulku Lhatop, himself a son of Dudjom Lingpa. Katok Getse Rinpoche spent many years in retreat and was known for his mastery of Dzogchen. After exile from Tibet, he divided his time between Kathmandu, where he oversaw Katok Ritrod, Chagdud Gompa small retreat center in Pharping (Nepal), India, and Bhutan.

View the official letter here.

-Taken from tibet.net