Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche
Dzogchen master, founder of the International Dzogchen Community, and outstanding Tibetologist.
Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche was born in 1938 in Geu (Derge county) and was recognized as the reincarnation of the great Dzogchen master Adzom Drukpa (1842–1924). In connection with this, he received a rigorous traditional education, completing his studies in philosophy and literature at an early age.
In 1955 he met his principal teacher — Changchub Dorje (1863–1961), whose way of life and method of transmitting Dzogchen knowledge became for him an inexhaustible source of profound inspiration.
In 1959, when Chögyal Namkhai Norbu received an invitation to Italy from the renowned Italian Tibetologist and orientalist Giuseppe Tucci, he was already an established scholar and spiritual master. Prior to this he had taught Tibetan language in Chengdu (China), and had spent a year in Sikkim (India) working on essays in Tibetan. Despite having other offers, Chögyal Namkhai Norbu chose Italy — largely due to his interest in the invaluable library of Tibetan texts that Professor Tucci had collected over many years.
Thus, barely twenty years old, Chögyal Namkhai Norbu began collaborating with Professor Giuseppe Tucci on a catalogue of Tibetan texts at the Institute for the Middle and Far East (ISMEO) in Rome. In 1962 he became Professor of Tibetan Language and Literature at the Naples Oriental University (L'Orientale), where he continued to teach until 1992. This is how Chögyal Namkhai Norbu came to settle in Italy. In 1971 he began teaching Yantra Yoga, and in 1976, at the request of students, gave his first teachings on Dzogchen Ati Yoga.
For over 50 years he devoted his life to opening this ancient teaching — a genuine treasure of humanity — to thousands of people around the world.
For his extensive cultural activity and tireless social work, Chögyal Namkhai Norbu received numerous awards and honors both in his homeland and abroad. Among these, special mention is deserved by the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (rank of Commander), presented to him by President Sergio Mattarella in 2018.
Chögyal Namkhai Norbu passed away peacefully at his residence of Merigar in Arcidosso (Grosseto, Italy) on September 27, 2018.
In 1955 he met his principal teacher — Changchub Dorje (1863–1961), whose way of life and method of transmitting Dzogchen knowledge became for him an inexhaustible source of profound inspiration.
In 1959, when Chögyal Namkhai Norbu received an invitation to Italy from the renowned Italian Tibetologist and orientalist Giuseppe Tucci, he was already an established scholar and spiritual master. Prior to this he had taught Tibetan language in Chengdu (China), and had spent a year in Sikkim (India) working on essays in Tibetan. Despite having other offers, Chögyal Namkhai Norbu chose Italy — largely due to his interest in the invaluable library of Tibetan texts that Professor Tucci had collected over many years.
Thus, barely twenty years old, Chögyal Namkhai Norbu began collaborating with Professor Giuseppe Tucci on a catalogue of Tibetan texts at the Institute for the Middle and Far East (ISMEO) in Rome. In 1962 he became Professor of Tibetan Language and Literature at the Naples Oriental University (L'Orientale), where he continued to teach until 1992. This is how Chögyal Namkhai Norbu came to settle in Italy. In 1971 he began teaching Yantra Yoga, and in 1976, at the request of students, gave his first teachings on Dzogchen Ati Yoga.
For over 50 years he devoted his life to opening this ancient teaching — a genuine treasure of humanity — to thousands of people around the world.
For his extensive cultural activity and tireless social work, Chögyal Namkhai Norbu received numerous awards and honors both in his homeland and abroad. Among these, special mention is deserved by the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (rank of Commander), presented to him by President Sergio Mattarella in 2018.
Chögyal Namkhai Norbu passed away peacefully at his residence of Merigar in Arcidosso (Grosseto, Italy) on September 27, 2018.