Venerable Achok Rinpoche is the fourth incarnation of Achok Geshe Sonam Chopel, a highly revered lama in 15th century Amdo, Eastern Tibet. Each of the incarnations in this lineage had been highly accomplished, the last Achok Rinpoche being reputed to be "one of the two Arhats of Amdo".
The present Achok Rinpoche was identified at the age of two by the late Panchen Lama, following which he received a traditional monastic education. Rinpoche holds the degree title of Geshe Lharampa, the highest scholastic honour in the Gelug system.
Fluent in English and at home in the international milieu, Rinpoche had taught at the University of Vienna, the School for Tulkus in Beijing and at Buddhist centres around the world.
At preesent, Rinpoche is Director of the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives in Dharamsala, India. He has been tasked by His Holiness the Dalai Lama to work with the leading monastic institutions to introduce Western science into their education curriculum, an innovation which His Holiness identifies as being vital to the invigoration of philosophical study and the enhancement of global understanding.
Rinpoche travels frequently as His Holiness' representative at various international conferences on Tibetan science and culture, in addition to fulfilling the needs of his monastery and his students around the world.
This time, Rinpoche has graciously accepted an invitation to stop over in Singapore en route to a teaching programme in Tokyo. It is indeed a fortunate and rare opportunity to meet such a distinguished master.
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