It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved teacher and guru, Bardor Tulku Rinpoche, on April 1, 2021, at the age of 72. Born in Kham, eastern Tibet, he was recognized at a young age by His Holiness the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa. In 1977, His Holiness asked Bardor Rinpoche to help establish his new monastery, Karma Triyana Dharmachakra (KTD) in Woodstock, New York.
Bardor Rinpoche served KTD for over 30 years, providing inspiration as he worked side-by-side with the volunteer construction crew that built the main monastery building. Later he began teaching at KTD and its affiliate Karma Thegsum Choling centers (KTC’s), and was the main teacher traveling to the Ann Arbor KTC for many years. In 2003, Rinpoche established his own center, Kunzang Palchen Ling (KPL) in Red Hook, New York, to help preserve teachings from all traditions of Tibetan Buddhism, including his own tradition. In 2020, he completed construction of KPL’s monastery building.
Bardor Tulku Rinpoche and his wife, Sonam Chotso Lama, raised three daughters in Woodstock. He is also survived by his son-in-law and two young granddaughters, as well as a large extended family and a community of devoted students.
More information, including a full biography, can be found on the KPL website, https://www.kunzang.org/.
On the day of Rinpoche’s cremation, a cloud in the shape of a double dorje appeared above his cremation stupa in the morning: