H. E. Kalu Rinpoche
His Eminence the Second Kalu Rinpoche is a world-renowned spiritual teacher and emissary of Vajrayana Buddhism. He is lineage holder of the Shangpa tradition, which originated from two female yoginis a thousand years ago. His face-to-face, published, and online teachings have brought to life these previously secretive practices, offering public access to those poised for profound transformation.
He was born in 1990, in Darjeeling, India. His father, Lama Gyaltsen, was a nephew of the previous Kalu Rinpoche and had also been his secretary since his youth. The Second Kalu Rinpoche was recognized on March 25, 1992, by Tai Situ Rinpoche.
In 1993, Kalu Rinpoche was inducted into Samdrub Darjay Chöling (Sonada). In 1999, he moved to the monastery of Bokar Rinpoche and in 2004, he began a traditional three-year retreat. In 2009, he received from Tai Situ Rinpoche all the transmissions of the Shangpa Lineage. On this occasion, he was conferred the cycle of initiations of the lineage 108 times.
In 2010, Kalu Rinpoche traveled to the West for the first time and took charge of the meditation centers the First Kalu Rinpoche had created around the world. In 2014, he returned to Palden Shangpa La Boulaye in France, and in 2019, he returned to the United States to resume the tradition of the Shangpa Monlam initiated by his predecessor.
Having experienced his own challenges along the way, Rinpoche is extraordinarily relatable, kind, and without judgment.
Books, Courses & Podcasts
The Yoga of Niguma
Immerse yourself in the extraordinarily transcendent practice of the yoga of Niguma.
The yoga of Niguma comes to us from a secret tradition passed down over hundreds of years by Buddhist yogis in Tibet. The practice originated with the eleventh-century female yogini Niguma, who mastered and transmitted a tradition of remarkable practices that culminate in physical, spiritual, and emotional wellness. In this book, His Eminence Kalu Rinpoche, a Tibetan master who holds this lineage for today’s generation, is now opening up the practice to make its extraordinary benefits accessible to the modern yogi.
The yoga of Niguma consists of twenty-five sets of yogic exercises. Some are physically challenging while others are quite subtle in nature; all are grounded in meditation on the breath. Kalu Rinpoche illuminates the practice by sharing his own personal journey with the yoga of Niguma and how the lineage came to be. He also teaches us how we can prepare the mind for this practice with meditation and how to balance our emotions. Then, Rinpoche takes us step-by-step through the twenty-five illustrated sequences of Niguma yoga. Coauthor Michele Loew, an international yoga teacher, shares supportive Hatha yoga techniques that will bolster your Niguma yoga practice.
The yoga of Niguma is a revered method that integrates body, mind, and breath. Dive in to discover for yourself a gradual, profound groundswell of subtle awakening.
Rinpoche and Michele have recorded two full-length videos that demonstrate Niguma yoga sequences and supportive hatha yoga postures and supplement the instructions in the book. To learn more and watch the videos simply purchase the book and scan the QR code on the Additional Resources page in your copy.
You may also be interested in Rinpoche’s courses from Wisdom, Niguma’s Dream Yoga and The Illusory Body and Mind.
H. E. Kalu Rinpoche: The Yoga of Niguma (#169)
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat features H. E. Kalu Rinpoche. Rinpoche is the Lineage Holder of Shangpa Kagyu. He was born in 1990 and recognized by H. H. the Dalai Lama and H. H. the 12th Chamgon Kenting Tai Situpa. Kalu Rinpoche completed the traditional three-year retreat between January 2004 and September 2008. After graduating he traveled, gaining experience in the modern world, before returning to Sonada to give the full Shangpa transmission. Rinpoche continues to connect traditional Shagpa Kagyu teaching to a modern, digital world. His work makes these teachings accessible, ensuring they will remain available for generations to come. During this episode host, Daniel Aitken, and Rinpoche discuss Rinpoche’s perspective on dharma in the modern world, Niguma Yoga, his upcoming Wisdom Academy Course, The Illusory Body and Mind (formerly titled Luminous Mind), and much more.
This episode contains a discussion of the live yoga demonstration from Rinpoche. You can view that demonstration from the video recording here from minutes 44:09-1:00:12.
Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please give us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts if you enjoy our show—it’s a great support to us and it helps other people find the podcast. Thank you!
H. E. Kalu Rinpoche: Illusory Body and Mind (#186)
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat features special guest, H. E. Kalu Rinpoche. Rinpoche is the Lineage Holder of Shangpa Kagyu. He was born in 1990 and recognized by H. H. the Dalai Lama and H. H. the 12th Chamgon Kenting Tai Situpa. Kalu Rinpoche completed the traditional three-year retreat between January 2004 and September 2008. After graduating he traveled, gaining experience in the modern world, before returning to Sonada to give the full Shangpa transmission. Rinpoche continues to connect traditional Shangpa Kagyü teaching to a modern, digital world. His work makes these teachings accessible, ensuring they will remain available for generations to come.
In this episode host Daniel Aitken and Rinpoche discuss:
- his current Wisdom Academy course The Illusory Body and Mind;
- his upcoming Wisdom Academy course Niguma’s Dream Yoga;
- the subtle body;
- his books;
- and much more!
Mentioned in this episode:
- Rinpoche’s last Wisdom Dharma Chat with a live yoga demonstration
- Four Tibetan Lineages translated by Sarah Harding
- Luminous Mind by Kyabje Kalu Rinpoche
- Shangpa Kagyu: The Tradition of Khyungpo Naljor, Part One by
- Shangpa Kagyu: The Tradition Of Khyungpo Naljor, Part Two by
Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please give us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts if you enjoy our show—it’s a great support to us and it helps other people find the podcast. Thank you!