He was born in Rong Dakmar, Tibet. In 1958 he and his family were forced into exile, settling in Darjeeling, India. Some years after his father’s passing, in 1975, Pema Wnagyal Rinpoche and his family came to live in Dordogne, France.
Pema Wangyal Rinpoche studied extensively under the guidance of Kyabje Kangyur Rinpoche, Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche, and other great masters.
Although living in the West for over four decades, Rinpoche is deeply committed to nourishing the well being of Tibetan communities in exile, travelling frequently to India and Asia to supervise developmental, religious, educational and cultural projects.
Pema Wangyal Rinpoche developed a highly reputed program of traditional three-year retreats in Dordogne (France). These retreats have flourished under his continued supervision since their inception in 1980.
Together with Jigme Khyentse Rinpoche and Rangdrol Rinpoche, he also developed a series of parallel retreats in France and Portugal, allowing students who were unable to join the traditional three-year retreat to engage in a ‘parallel’ program of teachings.
Pema Wangyal is also the founder of the Padmakara Translation Group, as well as of several humanitarian and environmental organisations in many countries, including C.A.S.A. – Centro de Apoio ao Sem Abrigo, Mother Earth, Siddhartha’s Project. (Source Accessed May 15, 2026)
