Tibet Sun Newsroom

Nyingma head Kathok Getse Rinpoche has passed away in Nepal following an accident, according to sources. He was 64.

The accident took place two days ago at Hattiban, a village about an hour outside of Kathmandu. He was in retreat, and slipped while coming out of the retreat place, causing severe injury.

An official statement on the incident will come out tomorrow.

His body is at Adzom Kathok Choekhorling. The public can pay their respects tomorrow.

The fourth throne-holder of Kathok Monastery, Kathok Getse Rinpoche Gyurme Tenpa Gyaltsen, was appointed as the seventh head of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism during the 29th Nyingma Monlam in Bodh Gaya in January this year. Representatives of the Nyingma school unanimously appointed him to a three-year term.

Following the appointment Rinpoche met with the Dalai Lama in Bodh Gaya in the same month.

Born in Golok in eastern Tibet in 1954, Rinpoche was recognised by the 16th Karmapa and other lamas as the reincarnation of the third Kathok Getse, Gyurme Tenpa Namgyal (1886-1952). From a very early age, Rinpoche received teachings and empowerments from many past and current masters, including the Dalai Lama.

Since coming into exile in 1997, he spent many years in retreat in Nepal, and was the current leader of Katok Ritrod Monastery in Nepal.

His monastery is in a hilly area three hours drive from Kathmandu.