Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche was born in Derge, Kham (Eastern Tibet) on 8 December 1938. At the age of two he was recognized as the reincarnation of the Adzom Drukpa Drodul Pawo Dorje (1842-1924) by Palyul Karma Yangsid Rinpoche and Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche.

Adzom Drukpa was one of the greatest Dzogchen masters of the early part of the twentieth century, a terton and a disciple both of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo and Paltrul Rinpoche, a teacher of Sogyal Lerab Lingpa, Nyala Pema Düddul and Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö, and an important master in the Longchen Nyingtig lineage.

At the age of eight, Chögyal Namkhai Norbu was recognised as the mind-incarnation of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal Rinpoche (1594-1651) by both the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa and the 11th Palpung Situ Rinpoche. Ngawang Namgyal Rinpoche was the historical founder of Bhutan, and the reincarnation of the great Drukpa Kagyüd master Kunkhyen Padma Karpo (1527-92). His reincarnations were the temporal and spiritual rulers of Bhutan until 1904, when the current monarchy was established. The title ’Chögyal’, meaning Dharma King, is given with this recognition. 

In his early years Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche studied at the Derge Gonchen monastery. At the age of nine he entered a Sakya College where he studied Buddhist philosophy for many years with Khyenrab Chökyi Odzer.

He also received numerous tantric and Dzogchen transmissions and teachings from many masters, including his paternal uncle Togden Ugyen Tendzin (who achieved the rainbow body), maternal uncle Khyentse Rinpoche Chökyi Wangchug, Drubwang Rinpoche Kunga Palden, Negyab Rinpoche, Drugse Gyurmed Dorje, Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche and Bo Gongkar Rinpoche.

In 1951, he also received teachings from Ayu Khandro Dorje Paldrön, a woman who spent over fifty years in dark retreat and was a disciple of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo.

Rinpoche was invited to China in 1953 as a representative of the Tibetan monasteries. After visiting Chengdu and Chungching, he accepted the invitation to teach Tibetan language in Menyag. During this time Rinpoche met Kangkar Rinpoche from whom he received instructions on the Six Yogas of Naropa and other teachings.

Rinpoche met his root teacher Rigdzin Changchub Dorje in 1955 and stayed at his residence in Khamdogar for six months. From Changchub Dorje he received the authentic transmission of Dzogchen and realized the essence of the teaching as one state of knowledge beyond all limitations. This realization has remained a characteristic feature of his way of teaching throughout his life.

In the late 1950s, Chögyal Namkhai Norbu made a pilgrimage to Tibet, India, and Nepal. While he was residing in Sikkim in 1959, the Chinese occupied Tibet, and as he was unable to return to his homeland to join his family, he remained in Sikkim working as an author and editor for the Government of Sikkim.

Recognized as extremely knowledgeable in all aspects of Tibetan culture at only the age of twenty-two, he was invited to Italy by the famous Professor Giuseppe Tucci to work at the ISMEO Institute in Rome for two years. In 1962 he took a post in Naples at the Istituto Universitario Orientale where he taught Tibetan language and literature until 1992.

From the time of his residence in Italy, Chögyal Namkhai Norbu focused his research mainly on the ancient history of Tibet investigating thoroughly the autochthonous Bön tradition. His books, which include works on history, Tibetan medicine, astrology, Bön and folk traditions such as namkha, are evidence of his profound knowledge of Tibetan culture and his commitment to preserve this ancient cultural heritage. They have been highly appreciated by Tibetans as well as scholars throughout the world.

In 1971 Chögyal Namkhai Norbu began to teach Yantra Yoga, an ancient form of Tibetan Yoga combining movement, breathing and visualization. A few years later he started to give Dzogchen teachings to a small group of Italian students with whom he founded the Dzogchen Community. At that time Dzogchen was relatively unknown in the West.

As interest in his teachings grew, Rinpoche dedicated himself to spreading Dzogchen. Today there are centers of the Dzogchen Communityin in Italy, the United States, South America, Australia, and many other countries. Apart from his spiritual activity, he founded the International Shang Shung Institute to preserve the cultural traditions of Tibet, and ASIA, a non-profit organization operating in Tibet which is mainly dedicated to serving the educational and medical needs of the Tibetan people.