Birth and family
H.E. Ogyen Rangjung Drodul Dechen Dorje Rinpoche, also known as Lho Karma Ratna Rinpoche, was born on June 10, 1980, in Zahor (Mandi), northern India: in the Tibetan calendar, the Year of the Iron Monkey in the sixteenth Rabjung cycle. His parents are H.E. Lho Ontul Rinpoche and Khando Tashi Dolma La. Numerous auspicious signs appeared before and after his birth, indicating the arrival of an extraordinary being.
Recognition and lineage
Beginning in 1999, the great tertön Dzogchen Thubten Chokyi Nyima Gawai Norbu Rinpoche, a highly accomplished master and an emanation of Tertön Ratag Palsang, experienced a series of vivid visions. Through these visions he recognized Lho Karma Ratna Rinpoche as the Quality-aspect emanation of Lho Drongtrul: Lho Jedrung Orgyen Nuden Dorje. Lho Drongtrul (or Lho Bongtrul) is the title borne by successive incarnations in this tulku lineage. These revered masters are the heads of Lho Lungkar Monastery in Nangchen, Kham, Tibet, established in 1798 by Lho Drubchen Tingzin Sangpo. On April 14, 2003, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche formally confirmed this recognition.
Early education and monastic training
Rinpoche began his studies in 1985, learning Tibetan and English from his mother, Khando Tashi Dolma La. In 1987 he enrolled in an English-medium school in Sikkim, and in 1989 he entered Drikung Jangchub Ling Monastery in Dehradun, where he studied Tibetan grammar, English, and ritual practice. From 1999 he spent five years at Dzongsar Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö Institute in Bir under the guidance of the late Khenchen Kunga Wangchuk and Khenpo Choying Lhundup.
Retreat and spiritual practice
In 2007, Rinpoche made a pilgrimage retreat to the sacred site of Lapchi, completing a five-day trek into the remote mountains. There he received Mahamudra teachings from His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche and entered retreat in one of the meditation caves associated with the great yogi Jetsun Milarepa, who realized the true nature of mind in those very caves.
In 2009, under the guidance of H.E. Lho Ontul Rinpoche, he entered the Yangzab Dzogchen Preliminary Practices and Three Roots retreat at Tso Pema, engaging in intensive training according to the profound teachings of the Drikung Dzogchen lineage.
Since July 2025, Rinpoche has been in a three-year secluded retreat in Bumthang, Bhutan, alongside His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche and Khenchen Nyima Gyaltsen.
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