Akong Rinpoche

Dr Akong Tulku Rinpoche

Akong Tulku Rinpoche (1940 – 8 October 2013) was a Tibetan Buddhist lama, meditation master, teacher, and the co-founder of the Samye Ling Monastery in Scotland, the first Tibetan Buddhist center to be established in the West. He was born in Tibet and recognized at an early age as the reincarnation of the Akong Tulku. Following the 1959 Tibetan uprising, he fled Tibet and eventually arrived in the United Kingdom, where he played a significant role in introducing Tibetan Buddhism and its practices to the Western world.

Early Life and Recognition

Akong Rinpoche was born in 1940 in the Derge region of Eastern Tibet. At the age of two, he was recognized as the reincarnation of the previous Akong Tulku Rinpoche, making him the abbot of Dolma Lhakang monastery at a young age. His early years were spent in rigorous religious and spiritual training, preparing him for his role as a teacher and spiritual leader.

Escape to Exile

In 1959, following the failed uprising against Chinese rule in Tibet, Akong Rinpoche was among the many Tibetans who made the perilous journey across the Himalayas to seek refuge in India. The journey was fraught with difficulties, and only 13 of the original 300 travelers survived, Akong Rinpoche being one of them. He spent several years in refugee camps in India before moving to the United Kingdom in the early 1960s.

Establishment of Samye Ling

In 1967, Akong Rinpoche, along with Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, founded the Samye Ling Monastery in Eskdalemuir, Scotland. This was a groundbreaking moment as it marked the establishment of the first Tibetan Buddhist center in the West. Samye Ling served not only as a center for meditation and study of Tibetan Buddhism but also as a bridge between Eastern and Western cultures. Akong Rinpoche's vision was to create a space where Westerners could learn about Buddhism and integrate its practices into their lives.

Humanitarian Work

Beyond his religious teachings, Akong Rinpoche was deeply committed to humanitarian efforts. He founded the charity ROKPA International, which focuses on providing education, healthcare, and social services to underprivileged communities in Tibet, Nepal, and Africa. His work emphasized the importance of compassion in action, a core principle of Buddhism.

Death and Legacy

Akong Rinpoche's life came to a tragic end in 2013 when he was murdered in Chengdu, China, under circumstances that remain unclear. His death was a great loss to the Tibetan Buddhist community and to the many people whose lives he touched through his teachings and humanitarian work.

Akong Rinpoche's legacy lives on through Samye Ling Monastery, ROKPA International, and the countless students and individuals he influenced. His life's work serves as a testament to the power of compassion and the potential for cross-cultural understanding and harmony.

See Also

• Tibetan Buddhism
• Samye Ling Monastery
• Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche
• 1959 Tibetan uprising