A brief biography of
H.E. Trulshik Adeu Rinpoche
(translated from Chinese)

Adeu Rinpoche is also known as Trulshik Rinpoche, currently holding the various positions in the prominent local associations, such as Committee Member of Qinghai Buddhist Society, Chairman of the Yushu Buddhist Society and the Deputy Chairman of the Yushu State Governmental Association. Rinpoche plays an active role in promoting the unity of the country and of the local Tibetan people.

The present Adeu Rinpoche is in his eighth reincarnation. However according to one of the supplication prayers composed by the fifth Khamtrul Rinpoche, the present Adeu Rinpoche is actually in his seventeenth reincarnation. His first reincarnation was the compassionate Avalokiteshvara; the second was a benefactor of Buddha Shakyamuni known as King Brahmadatta; the third was the chief disciple of Guru Padmasambhava, Nubchen Sangye; the fourth was Milarepa's snow-lion-like disciple, Loton Gendun Phul; the fifth was King Gesar who illustrated rainbow body; the sixth was Longjiaoyi (note: the name is currently transliterated from Chinese, pending rectification at a later stage); the seventh was Chusey Naka Najiu (note: the name is currently transliterated from Chinese, pending rectification at a later stage); the eighth was Gyalwa Yang Gonpa (Gyalwa Gotsangpa's heart disciple); the ninth was the great Terton Jiaxiangcun (note: the name is currently transliterated from Chinese, pending rectification at a later stage); the tenth was Saparao Jiangpa (note: the name is currently transliterated from Chinese, pending rectification at a later stage); the eleventh was Trulshik Thrinley Gyatso, who founded the first Drukpa Trulshik monastery in Nangchen, and became the religious head of Nangchen kingdom. Trulshik Thrinley Gyatso became the first Trulshik Rinpoche, thus began the Trulshik reincarnation lineage. The second Adeu Rinpoche Thrinley Chukdrup was a renowned scholar (pandita) in Tibet who had mastered the Sutras and the Tantras; in many debates, he won over the masters sent by the Dalai Lama. The third Adeu Rinpoche was Jampa Drubpei Norbu;  the fourth was Pelden Tenpei Nyima; the fifth was Palden Gyurmey Tshewang Thrinley, who illustrated the shadowless clear crystal light body, and he was conferred by the Emperor Qian Long of the Qing Dynasty as 'Nomi Hothogtu' and he founded another grand monastery known as Nangchen Tshechu Gompa.  Palden Gyurmey Tshewang Thrinley gave Tulku Zhangjia (note: the name is currently transliterated from Chinese, pending rectification at a later stage) initiations and was provided by the Emperor with the privilege of being chauffered by a royal carriage during the meeting with other representatives of Tibet; during that time in the entire Tibet, only the Dalai Lama, His Holiness Sakya, the Karmapa, Minling Trichen and Adeu Rinpoche had this privilege. The sixth Adeu Rinpoche was known as Ngedon Tenpei Wangchuk who was a great accomplished one (Mahasiddha) and the king of Nangchen. The seventh Adeu Rinpoche was Chokyi Gyaltshen Geleg Namgyal, who was born in a butcher's family but attained the clear crystal light body. The eight Adeu Rinpoche is known as Ngawang Tutu Cichin Drinchen Gyatso (note: the name is partly transliterated from Chinese, pending rectification at a later stage).

The current eighth Adeu Rinpoche was born on the 4th day of the Tibetan 12th month in the fifteen cycle of Iron Horse year, in the middle of a freezing winter. However his birth miraculously transformed his birthplace into a magnificent land where flowers bloomed, thunders roared and rainbows appeared. And all the water in his house was mysteriously turned into milk. As the sixteenth Karmapa and the eighth Choegon Rinpoche recognized the child as the authentic reincarnation of the seventh Adeu Rinpoche, he was taken to Tshechu Monastery for enthronement at the age of seven. Right after this, he began his traditional education in writing, calligraphy, poetry, astrology, mandala painting, spiritual practice and text recitation. At the same time, the young Adeu Rinpoche also received many teachings, Tantra and oral pith-instructions based on the old and new traditions but primarily on the Drukpa lineage from the eighth Choegon Rinpoche, Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche and many other great masters. Right after this, Rinpoche entered into a seven-year retreat, when he carried out many spiritual practices based on different deities and on the skilful trainings of the prana and bindu, such as the Six Yogas of Naropa and the liberating Mahamudra mind-training practices. He was also learning philosophy. Adeu Rinpoche later wrote a precise commentary on the three groups of precepts, the root of heart-essence of Nyingmapa lineage, and on the various mandala deities. 

In 1958, all the sacred texts, statues and precious objects were completely destroyed, and Rinpoche was imprisoned for fifteen years. Although Adeu Rinpoche suffered a great deal, the period in prison gave him an opportunity to meet many accomplished masters who were also trapped in the prison. Through these masters, he received instructions on Dzogchen (the Great Perfection), and under their guidance, he practiced rare and precious listening lineage (Nyengyud) of the Nyingmapa school, and studied the various Nyingmapa terma teachings.

Adeu Rinpoche is an extremely important master of the Drukpa lineage, especially after the Cultural Revolution, when many great Drukpa lineage masters had passed away. In the present time whereby teachings of the Drukpa lineage have gone almost into extinction, Adeu Rinpoche is the only remaining lineage holder of the Khampa tradition of the Drukpa lineage.

At the end of 1980, Adeu Rinpoche went to Tashi Jong in India to pass on the entire lineage of the Khampa Drukpa tradition to the present Khamtrul Rinpoche Shedrub Nyima, Choegon Rinpoche Chokyi Sengye and many other great reincarnate masters of the Drukpa lineage.

In the beginning of 1990, Adeu Rinpoche also gave a complete initiation of the Drukpa lineage to the local reincarnate masters in Nangchen. About 51 reincarnate tulkus and 1,600 monks and nuns were present to receive the initiation and oral transmission. In this way, Adeu Rinpoche became the main lineage master of the Khampa Drukpa tradition for all the Drukpa tulkus. Thereafter, Adeu Rinpoche went to Bhutan and exchanged initiations with Je Khenpo, Jigme Chodrak Rinpoche, Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and many other enlightened masters, thus becoming a representative of the Drukpa lineage.

At present, Adeu Rinpoche has undertaken the responsibility to restore Tshechu Monastery, and at the same time to collect, correct and edit all the Drukpa teachings, Tantras and practices. Once this colossal project is completed, Adeu Rinpoche will print these in the traditional format and distribute them to all the Drukpa monasteries, for the benefit of the current and future practitioners and to prevent the loss of the teachings of the glorious Drukpa lineage.