Dharamshala: The Ngagyur Kathok Adzom Wosel Dongag Choekorling this morning announced the demise of 7th Nyingma head, Kathok Getse Rinpoche.
According to the announcement, Kathok Getse Rinpoche passed away around 11:30 am on Monday, following an accident on the same day. Rinpoche was at Katok Ritrod, Chagdud Gompa, a retreat center in Pharping, Nepal during the time of the accident.
They urged all the devotees to do special prayers for his noble rebirth.
At the Nyingma Mönlam in Bodhgaya, January 2018, Katok Getse Rinpoche, holder of the Kathok Monastery lineage, was appointed as the 7th head of Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism for a three-year term.
The representatives of the Nyingma school drew a unanimous decision to appoint Kathok Getse Rinpoche and five other Nyingma lamas as the supreme head of Nyingma tradition in a three-year tenure basis. As per the decision, the Representative of six major Nyingma monasteries, Zogchen, Shechen, Mindrolling, Dorje Drak and Palyul will succeed Kathok Getse Rinpoche as the supreme head of Nyingma on the termly basis.
Brief bio-data of Kathok Getse Rinpoche
Kathok Getse Rinpoche was born in Golok, Eastern Tibet, and was recognized by the 16th Karmapa, Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö and Adzom Gyalse Gyurme Dorje as the reincarnation of the Third Katok Getse, Gyurme Tenpa Namgyal. From a very early age, Rinpoche received teachings and empowerments from many masters. After coming to exile in 1997, Getse Rinpoche received teachings and empowerments from His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche and Penor Rinpoche among others.
From a very early age, he received teachings and empowerments from many masters such as Katok Moktsa Rinpoche, Khenpo Jikme Phuntsok, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tubten Pema Trinle, the reincarnation of Adzom Drukpa, Tulku Nyida, son of Tulku Lhatop, himself a son of Dudjom Lingpa. Katok Getse Rinpoche spent many years in retreat and was known for his mastery of Dzogchen. After exile from Tibet, he divided his time between Kathmandu, where he oversaw Katok Ritrod, Chagdud Gompa small retreat center in Pharping (Nepal), India, and Bhutan.