Kyabje Drukpa Thuksey

In 1986, on the tenth day of the first Tibetan month, the second Drukpa Thuksey Rinpoche was born in Chushul, Ladakh. Prior to his birth, several oracles and visiting high masters told his expecting mother that the child to be born would be a great being, and that this special child should be presented to the Gyalwang Drukpa as soon as he was born. During the entire week before his birth, ravens guarded the family’s house and a light pleasant drizzle of rain showered upon the village. Unfortunately, the child’s mother died at his birth.

While newborn’s family was busy with the infant’s mother who just passed away and seemed to have forgotten about the special child, the same birds which had come from distance had miraculously placed the infant in a bird nest placed on the wooden top of a window. It was hours later that the family realized the infant was missing and found him resting peacefully in the care of the ravens. The Gyalwang Drukpa experienced many dreams and visions that his guru Drukpa Thuksey Rinpoche’s reincarnation would take place in Ladakh. In July 1987, Their Holinesses the 14th Dalai Lama and the Gyalwang Drukpa went together to GyalwaGotsangpa’s cave above Hemis Monastery and meditated there for two hours. Through meditation and pure visions, both concluded that the special child born in Chushul was the authentic reincarnation of the first Drukpa Thuksey Rinpoche. Shortly after, the Gyalwang Drukpa personally visited Chushul to pay his respect to the reincarnation of his first guru and offer Drukpa Thuksey Rinpoche the mandala of long life.

After that the Gyalwang Drukpa asked the family to take good care of Rinpoche. The child surprised everyone present by knowing what was expected of him during the offering of mandala. On 30 June 1988, when His Eminence was two and a half years old, he left Ladakh with the Gyalwang Drukpa for DrukSangagChoeling Monastery in Darjeeling, India. Four months later, the young child was formally enthroned at the monastery built by his predecessor. The Gyalwang Drukpa has since been taking care of the upbringing and education of the reincarnation of his guru, just as his guru had taken care of him.

In 2012, His Eminence Drukpa Thuksey Rinpoche graduated from Tango Buddhist University in Bhutan, where he studied for nine years, with a Master’s Degree in Philosophy. Since graduation, he had taken over the management and administration of DrukSangagChoeling Monastery in Darjeeling. He is now the Chairperson of the award-winning green school in Ladakh, the Druk White Lotus School, and like his spiritual brother His Eminence GyalwaDokhampa Jigme Pema Nyinjadh, he is now actively assisting the Gyalwang Drukpa in the affairs concerning the Drukpa Lineage, especially in Europe and India. His Eminence Drukpa Thuksey Rinpoche was the deputy chairperson of the 3rd Annual Drukpa Council (ADC) that took place in August 2011 at NaroPhotang, Shey, Ladakh and he was the Chairperson of the 4th and 5th ADC, actively organizing the important events for the lineage. He was also the adviser of the 33rd Kalachakra presided by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and held in Ladakhin July 2014. His Eminence is presently the Chairperson of the 7th Annual Drukpa Council and the KumbhMela of Himalayas – Naropa 2016.