Namgyal Rinpoche

1931- 2003

Rinpoche (which means Precious or Jeweled One) was a Canadian Buddhist monk who studied, practiced and taught meditation in many different parts of the world since the early 1960s.  His name and title were conferred on him by His Holiness the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa, head of the Karma Kargyu school of Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhism.

Previously the Rinpoche was known as the Ven. Ananda Bodhi, the name given him by the Venerable Sayadaw U Thila Wunta when he received the robes of a Bhikku (fully ordained Buddhist monk) at that teacher's temple in Burma (Myanmar).  At that time the Rinpoche was known familiarily as "The Bikkhu",  which means "wanderer".

After spending many years in the East, involved in meditation and study with different teachers in Sri Lanka , Burma and Thailand, he returned to the West at the invitation of the English Sangha Trust  to teach in London, England as their resident Bhikku.  During this time he also established Johnson House, which he later passed on to Ven. Akon Tulku to become Samye Ling.  He returned to Canada to teach in 1965 and continued to give teachings and empowerments in Canada and around the world until his death in Switzerland in 2003.