Ngagwang Pedma Namgyal Palzangpo (His Holiness Penam Rinpoche) was born in 1925 between the Machu River and the Machen Pomra Mountain in Amdo, Tibet. He was identified and honored since childhood by many high lamas and tulkus as a highly enlightened being and the upholder of the Jonang doctrine and the Kalachakra Tantra.
At the age of 3, a high lama from the Nyima lineage identified him as the incarnation of a supreme being. At the age of 7, Palyo Chukdrup Rinpoche, the highest lama of the region, visited him with great reverence and, recognizing him as a highly enlightened being, asked his parents for permission to take him to his monastery. His parents were reluctant to have their child leave, but two years later he was invited to Lama Tsenpa Monlam Sangpo’s Monastery (a modern Milarepa Monastery).
H.H. Penam Rinpoche received numerous instructions and commentaries on the Sutras as well as numerous quintessential instructions, transmissions, and the empowerments and commentaries for the Four Tantras, especially the Completion Stage of the Kalachakra from Lama Monlam Sangpo. It is reported that Lama Monlam Sangpo said to him, “Son of good fortune! You have come into this world for the purpose of the doctrine and sentient beings. In particular, you should hold the lineage of the Kalachakra Tantra. I have great hope that you will possess armor-like perseverance.” Later Lama Monlam Sangpo enthroned Penam Rinpoche as his spiritual heir and successor.
H.H. Penam Rinpoche passed away in 2011. As one of the unrivaled lineage holders, H.H. Penam Rinpoche studied under many great gurus from several schools and traditions, to gain a rich understanding of many schools of Buddhism, so that his training would be based on a non-sectarian approach. H.H. Penam Rinpoche has been proclaimed to be the Lord of the Jonang Doctrine by numerous Lamas and Tulkus during the recent revival of spiritual life in Tibet. Throughout his life, he was a great leader and inspiration to his people. H.H. Penam Rinpoche was a great yogi actualizing the awareness of the illusory nature of phenomenal existence. It is simply not possible to express the full extent of his enlightened abilities.