The twelfth Tai Situpa, Pema Donyo Nyingche Wangpo, was born in the male wood-horse year (1954) in the Palyul District of the Kingdom of Derge, to a family of farmers. The details of his birth were completely in accordance with the prediction of the sixteenth Karmapa. He was later taken to Palpung monastery and at eighteen months was enthroned there by the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa. At this time it was acknowledged that he clearly recognised his old attendants and disciples.
When he was 6 years old the political conditions forced him to leave Tibet, travelling first to Bhutan, and later joining the Gyalwa Karmapa, his spiritual master and supreme head of the Kagyu lineage, in Rumtek Monastery, Sikkim, India. He received his formal religious training from the Gyalwa Karmapa and many other teachers under his guidance. In 1975, at the age of 22, he assumed his traditional responsibilities by founding the monastic project, Sherab Ling, at the request of his Tibetan followers who had settled in northern India. In 1980 he made his first tour to Europe, and has since travelled widely in North America, Europe and South-East Asia teaching Buddhist philosophy and meditation at the request of Buddhist, humanitarian and multi-faith organisations. In the winter of 1984 the Tai Situpa made his first return to Tibet. "It was a completely non-political religious trip," he emphasised, "prompted by the spiritual needs of the people." He was invited to an enormous number of monasteries of all traditions, where he gave teachings and empowerments, one of which was attended by over 100,000 people - which is astonishing given the remoteness of Palpung monastery. In 1989 he lead the Pilgrimage for Active Peace to inspire people to take an active involvement in world peace. A documentary was made of the event which included an audience with Pope John Paul II, an exchange with the Benedictine monks in Assisi, prayers for peace on Mt. Shasta and an interfaith dialogue with the spiritual leaders of the world's main religions in India. He returned to Tibet in 1991 where he ordained more than 1200 monks and nuns and transmitted a series of empowerments, (Dam Nga Zod), that was attended by over 65 reincarnate lamas, an estimated 2000 ordained Sangha from 92 monasteries and countless laypeople.
His root-teacher Karmapa Rigpai Dorje, passed away in 1981 and on 25th June 1985 took rebirth into a nomad family in Eastern Tibet. In 1992, following traditional methods, he was recognised by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and soon after enthroned in his monastery in Tibet by the Tai Situpa. In January 2000 the XVII Karmapa, Orgyen Trinlay Dorje, made a daring escape from his monastery in Tibet, to be able to continue his religious studies. The Tai Situpa is now guiding his spiritual training in exile near to Dharamsala, IndiaThe XII Tai Situpa continues the traditions of the practice lineage of the Tai Situpas'.
A renowned Buddhist teacher, training in turn the next generation of Buddhist masters. On a more personal level the Tai Situpa is a scholar, poet, calligrapher, artist, author, architect and geomancer (the science of studying the properties and relationships between the environment, the elements and their interaction with lines, angles, surfaces and solids). As a person concerned for the future well being of the planet and its people, the Tai Situpa both organises and participates in conferences throughout the world attempting to make compassion and wisdom a part of the reality of life on earth. As a Buddhist master, he regularly tours the world giving teachings and empowerments at the request of the Dharma Centres, and holds long-term Mahamudra courses to introduce the most profound and sacred of the Karma Kagyu teachings.