About our Roots
The Palyul Centre UK is part of the Penor Rinpoche Charity Foundation which also administers the Namdroling Monastery and its branches.
Namdroling Monastery in Bylakuppe, South India.
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.
His Holiness 3rd Penor Rinpoche was the eleventh throne holder, 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.
He appointed Khenpo Pema Choephel, with the help of Penor Rinpoche’s followers, to set up the Palyul Centre UK, which was registered in November 2002, and Penor Rinpoche himself contributed a substantial amount both financially and spiritually.
The Palyul Centre UK is presently situated in Islington and is quite modest. There are plans in progress to move to a new location with more space - for more information please see Projects/Relocation of Palyul Centre UK. Many authentic masters of the Nyingma school have been invited to give empowerments and teachings, and regular meditation and other practices take place throughout the year.
In September 2017 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 long-serving Lama Dawa, performing practices and preserving the legacy of Penor Rinpoche in the UK.
Zangdog Palre (Copper Mountain) Temple at Namdroling Monastery