Bokar Rinpoche was born in western Tíbet in 1940 to a family of nomads not far from Mount Kailash. When Rinpoche was four years old, His Holiness the Gyalwa Karmapa recognized him as the reincarnation of the previous Bokar Tulku Karma Sherab Ösel.

His Holiness Karmapa named the young Bokar Tulku Karma Shedrup Yongdu Pel Zangpo.

Rinpoche was first educated in the monastery founded by his previous incarnation. Afterward, Rinpoche continued his studies at Tsurphu, main seat of the Karmapas in central Tíbet.

At a young age Rinpoche assumed full responsibility for the monastic community of Bokar.  Due to the Communist oppression in Tibet, Bokar Rinpoche fled into exile at twenty years old. In India, he became a close disciple of Dorjechang Kalu Rinpoche.  

Under Kalu Rinpoche's guidance, Bokar Rinpoche twice made the traditional retreat of three years and three months in Sonada. The first retreat followed the practices of the Shangpa Kagyu, and the second was based on the practices of the Karma Kagyu. 

In Mirik, India, Bokar Rinpoche founded a center for retreats. This place has also become an important monastery for the practice of Kalachakra. Bokar Rinpoche is considered the main teacher of meditation for the Kagyu Lineage; Rinpoche has meditated for over 19 years in retreat.  He was also appointed by the Gyalwa Karmapa to be the retreat master of a new facility at Rumtek Monastery in Sikkim.

In 1987, Kalu Rinpoche said: "Bokar Rinpoche is extraordinary, perfectly made.  Naropa prophesized to Marpa, that in the lineage succession, each direct disciple of the lineage would be superior to the master. In the same way, Bokar Rinpoche will be my successor and will be greater than me."

Bokar Rinpoche became Kalu Rinpoche's successor and acted as the supreme head of the Shangpa Kagyu lineage after Kalu Rinpoche's passing. He also was a teacher to the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa and to Kalu Yangsi Rinpoche.

Bokar Rinpoche passed into nirvana on August 17, 2004.  For 49 days, ceremonies were held in his honor.

His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa (together with Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche, Gyaltsab Rinpoche, Kalu Yangsi and a congregation of hundreds of monks) presided over the concluding ceremonies at Bokar Ngedhon Choekhor Ling Monastery in Mirik, India, on October 7th, 2004.

These concluding ceremonies were held in the presence of Bokar Rinpoche's remains (kudung) and more than 15,000 people gathered to pay their last respects to Rinpoche.

We pray for the quick return of Bokar Rinpoche to this world, and for his buddha-activity to continue even after his passing.