The 12th Tai Situpa was born in 1954 to a family of farmers in the village of Achog, which is a part of the Palyul (dpal yul) province in China. He was recognized according to traditional methods and enthroned at Palpung Monastry at the age of 18 months. When he was six years old, political conditions forced him to leave Tibet with a few attendants; first travelling to Bhutan and then to Sikkim, where he joined the 16th Karmapa who had also left Tibet. He received his formal religious training under the guidance of the 16th Karmapa until 1975 when at the age of 22 he assumed his own tradional responsibilities. He established his first monastic project called Palpung Sherab Ling in Himachal Pradesh. He has traveled widely making his first visit to the west in 1981 to Scotland. and since then has travelled widely in North America, Europe, and South East Asia, lecturing on Buddhist philospohy and meditation. He founded an institute in 1984, based on the principles of multi-disciplinary faith which now has branches in Honolulu, San Francisco and Paris. He has authored many books like, 'Way to go' and 'Relative world, ultimate mind', a collection of his teachings. He is currently involved in the advancement of inter - faith and inter - cultural humanitarian efforts. As a person concerned with the future well being of the planet and its people, the Tai Situpa has recently concluded a world piligrimage for active peace, attempting to spread compassion and wisdom as a part of the vision of life on earth.