Karmapa receives empowerments from His Eminence Luding Khen Rinpoche

October 30, 2026

From 5 to 29 October 2026, Thaye Dorje, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, received a cycle of private empowerments from His Eminence Luding Khen Rinpoche at the Karma Kagyud Buddhist Centre (KKBC) in Singapore.

His Eminence Luding Khen Rinpoche is the 76th Abbot of Ngor Ewam Chödän Monastery, whose seat in exile is in Manduwala, India, and a principal holder of the Ngor lineage of the Sakya school of Tibetan Buddhism. He is the nephew and successor of the late 75th Abbot, His Eminence Luding Khenchen Rinpoche, who had become the spiritual head of the Ngor tradition in 1954.

Karmapa had a close connection with the previous Luding Khenchen Rinpoche, who was one of his teachers. In 2003 he received from him part of the Gyüde Küntü, a vast compendium of Buddhist tantras. This year’s empowerments continue that precious link between the Karma Kagyu and the Ngor lineages.

Venerable Shangpa Rinpoche, abbot of KKBC, Venerable Dupseng Rinpoche and Karma Trinlay Rinpoche were also present during the empowerments. KKBC was founded in 1981 by His Holiness the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa to make the precious teachings of the Buddha available in Singapore.

On the last day of the empowerment cycle, His Holiness offered a thanksgiving mandala to His Eminence Luding Khen Rinpoche.

That evening, His Eminence granted the empowerment of Thousand-Armed Chenrezig to a large gathering of practitioners in the Rigpe Dorje Hall of KKBC.

Please enjoy this selection of photos from this special occasion.