Akong Rinpoche

Chöje Akong Tulku Rinpoche (25 December 1939 – 8 October 2013) was a tulku in the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism and a founder of the Samye Ling Monastery in Scotland.

Early life

He was born in 1939, near Riwoq 31°12′41.76″N 96°36′0.89″E / 31.2116000°N 96.6002472°E / 31.2116000; 96.6002472 in Kham, Eastern Tibet. At the age of two he was discovered by the search party seeking the reincarnation of the previous (1st) Akong, Abbot of Dolma Lhakang monastery 31°10′0.38″N 97°13′59.61″E / 31.1667722°N 97.2332250°E / 31.1667722; 97.2332250 near Chamdo. The search party was following instructions given by the 16th Karmapa. Following Akong's death, Rumtek Monastery issued a statement clarifying his status as rinpoche. According to the statement, Akong was a tulku of a noted and respected ngagpa who had founded and developed the Dolma Lhakang temple. There are no records of previous Akong Rinpoches, either as meditators or scholars. Akong was given the title of Chöjé Lama, a traditional title, by the 16th Karmapa in 1974 in recognition of Akong's service in developing Samye Ling.