Why am I lucky? Because I met 2 great Rinpoches and attended their talks :) Both are great teachers in their own tradition.

Rinpoche means literally "Precious One." It is a title that is given mainly in two situations:
1) when someone is recognise as the reincarnation of a known Lama, from the previous life, OR
2) to someone who is Abbot of a big monastery or a great teacher

Often a Rinpoche is also a "Tulku". This last title is given to someone who was already a Dharma practitioner in his past life. It means that the being has obtained high realisation and has escaped the cycle of existence (Samsara) and is no longer influenced by the law of cause-and-effect (Karma), and chose to come back out of great compassion, in order to help other living beings.

I realised how fortunate I am to have met 2 great Rinpoches and attended their talks. One of them when I was younger, Dungse Garab Rinpoche; and many years later, Tsem Tulku Rinpoche. I used to think, "What's the big deal, Rinpoches only ma! I've met a few and I met many monks too, so what?"

Yesterday, I read that a woman waited 7 years to meet Tsem Rinpoche! And I remembered my father told me that many Bhutamese walked many days (yes, walked, that means ON FOOT la!) just to meet a Garab Rinpoche in a monastary. Usually, these people just get to meet Rinpoche to get a blessing and that's it! I never dreamt that I would meet any Rinpoche and even had the merits to attend their talks. When I came to KL, hanging out in clubs in Bangsar and in town, you think there's a Rinpoche there ar? (Ok odd enough, I've bumped into monks in full robes at shopping malls, beside the pool at my apartment, haha and many weird places :D)

NOW I will tell you what's the BIG DEAL!

DUNGSE GARAB DORJE RINPOCHE
- a Yogi-Rinpoche of god caste blood lineage of King Trisong Deutsen of Tibet
- the original wisdom son (and grandson) of H.H Dudjom Rinpoche
- son of Dungse Thinley Norbu Rinpoche

Education:
- received early education from his father when he was only 4
- admitted to the Simtokha Buddhist Institute in Bhutan when he was 8
- attended the Ogyen Kunzang Choekhor Ling Monastery in Darjeeling (5 years)
- pursue highest studies of the Vinaya Root Sutra (teachings of the morality), under the guidance of Khenpo Lodoe Zangpo in Sikkhim
- Mindroling Monastery in Dehra Dun, India, one of the six major monasteries of the Nyingma school ( 6 years)
-Institute of Buddhist Studies in Mysore, pursued higher studies and researches (5 years)

Gurus:
- H.H Dudjom Rinpoche (Jigdral Yeshe Dorje)
- Dungse Thinley Norbu Rinpoche
- H.H Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
- H.H Penor Rinpoche


HIS EMINENCE TSEM TULKU RINPOCHE
- a Mongolian prince and a descendant of Genghis Khan
- 1st incarnation was a great student of Lord Tsongkhapa
- ordained by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama in 1987
- recognised as a reincarnation of the Tantric Abbot of Gaden Shartse Monastery

Education:
- Gaden Monastic University, one of the 'great three' Gelugpa university monasteries

Gurus:
- H.H. Kyabje Zong Rinpoche
- H.H. Trijang Rinpoche
- H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama
- H.E. Kyabje Kensur Lati Rinpoche
- H.H. Kyabje Ling Rinpoche
- H.H. Pabongkha Rinpoche
- H.E. Gangchen Rinpoche
- H.E. Lama Zopa Rinpoche
- H. E. Drigung Rinpoche
- H.E. Kensur Jampa Yeshe Rinpoche
- H.E. Denma Locho Rinpoche
- H.E. Dagom Rinpoche
- H. H. Gaden Tri Rinpoche Jetsun Jampal Zhanphen
- H.E. Panang Rinpoche
- Venerable Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen
- Sera Mey Kensur Lobsang Tharchin Rinpoche

And the best part is: both Rinpoches are young, energetic, both speak fluent English (very important as most of us don't speak Tibetan!), humourous and full of wisdom. Not forgetting very awe-inspiring (in plain English: very good looking lah!) [check out their websites ;) ].

P/s: I also just found out that Khyentse Norbu (a.k.a. Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche), who directed two of my favourite movies, The Cup and Travellers and Magicians, is the the son of Dungse Thinley Norbu Rinpoche, so he's Dungse Garab Rinpoche's brother. It's a small world :)