About our Roots
The Palyul Centre UK is part of the Penor Rinpoche Charity Foundation which also administers the Namdroling Monastery and its branches.
Palyul Monastery is one of the ‘Six Mother Monasteries’ of the Nyingma tradition, which is the oldest of the major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. It was founded in 1665 by the first throne holder Vajradara Rigzin Kunzang Sherab in eastern Tibet.
HH 3rd Penor Rinpoche 1932 - 2009 and HH 4th Penor Rinpoche 2011 -
His Holiness Penor Rinpoche was the eleventh throne holder and 3rd Head of Nyinpmapa school, and visited London five times between 1988 and 2001. He demonstrated great kindness and generosity in wishing to support those newly established in Buddhism in the UK.
The Palyul Centre UK was registered as a Charity in November 2002, charity number 1094656, and HH PenorRinpoche himself contributed a substantial amount both financially and spiritually.
The Palyul Centre UK was situated in Islington for 20 years, but the space was restricted, and it was always HH Penor Rinpoche’s wish to have more substantial premises in order to reach out to more people. After much searching, new premises have been secured in Plumstead, Woolwich in south east London - for more information please see Projects/New location for Palyul Centre UK.
Chonyi Wodser became a monk at the age of 7 at the Namdroling Monastery, where he received spiritual training. In 1982 aged 12, he was part of HH Penor Rinpoche’s entourage which visited the Himalayan regions. In Chonyi Wodser’s own words
“I was so fortunate to be one of HH Penor Rinpoche’s personal assistants, travelling widely with him, receiving his empowerments and teachings; we were always there, assisting him during ceremonies and I was so blessed to be able to practice countless times with him - very few have had this opportunity.“
In September 2017 His Eminence Gyangkhang Rinpoche, one of the heads of Namdroling Monastery, came to London, and asked Chonyi Wodser to take responsibility for the Palyul Centre UK. Since then he has acted as Director, working alongside Lama Dawa and the Palyul sangha, preserving the legacy of HH Penor Rinpoche in the UK by inviting authentic teachers of the Nyingmapa school and holding regular mediation courses and practices.
Image - HH Penor Rinpoche and Chonyi Wodser visiting London in 1988
Namdroling Monastery in Bylakuppe, South India.
Contact us at info@palyul.uk