Kyabje Chime Rinpoche, a beloved and well-known Tibetan Buddhist lama who played a formative role in establishing Vajrayana Buddhism in the West and guiding students for decades, passed away on 24 March. He was 85.

A statement released by the Trustees of the Dharma Trust at Marpa House, his primary center in England, announced:

It is with unbearable sorrow and deep regret that we inform you of the passing of our beloved teacher.

Rinpoche passed into Parinirvana this morning, 24th March 2026 . . . Although physically unwell for some time, Rinpoche’s mind remained lucid and clear to the end.” (Facebook)

The statement emphasized his impact on students and communities across the world, noting, “Rinpoche’s vast compassion, loving-kindness, and timeless wisdom touched all our hearts,” and described his role in “establishing the essence of the authentic teachings of the Vajrayana here in the West.” (Facebook)

Born in eastern Tibet, Chime Rinpoche was recognized at a young age as a tulku, or reincarnated lama, and received a traditional monastic training. Following the Chinese invasion of Tibet in the 1950s, he fled into exile, eventually making his way to the United Kingdom in 1965. There, he became one of the first Tibetan lamas to settle in Britain, joining contemporaries who would help lay the foundations for Tibetan Buddhism in Europe.

Unlike some of his peers, Chime Rinpoche maintained a relatively modest institutional presence. In 1974, he founded Kham Tibet House—later known as Marpa House—in Essex, which became a center for meditation, study, and retreat. He also worked for many years at the British Library as a curator of Tibetan manuscripts, contributing to the preservation and study of Buddhist texts in the West.

He was widely known for his informal and pragmatic teaching style, often encouraging students to integrate Buddhist practice into everyday life rather than adopting monastic forms. “To find enlightenment you don’t have to go to India or wear Tibetan clothes. Wear your English clothes! That’s what you are!” he once advised, reflecting his approach to adapting Dharma teachings to Western contexts.

Among his students was the musician David Bowie, whom he first met in the 1960s when Bowie sought to become a monk. Chime Rinpoche famously discouraged him, saying: “I said, so then don’t become monk; you do the music. And from that day that is what he did.” (The Telegraph) Their relationship continued over decades, illustrating the lama’s influence beyond traditional Buddhist communities.

Chime Rinpoche’s life spanned significant historical transitions, from traditional Tibetan monastic culture through exile and diaspora to the globalization of Buddhism. Reflecting on his own journey, he often spoke of the adaptability of the Dharma and the spiritual needs of Western students, observing that material comfort alone did not bring fulfillment. “What I discovered is that people in the West . . . feel something is missing, and that’s what they are trying to find.” (The Telegraph)

In his later years, he reduced administrative responsibilities and focused on meditation and occasional teachings. Despite declining health, he maintained a positive outlook toward death, consistent with the Buddhist teachings. “There is no death if there is no fear. I have no fear, and that means I have no death,” he said in an earlier interview. (The Telegraph)

Following his passing, Marpa House has begun traditional prayers and practices in accordance with Tibetan Buddhist customs, with further details expected to be announced. “We offer our love, devotion and heartfelt wish for Rinpoche to swiftly be reborn,” the Trustees of the Dharma Trust, Marpa House stated. (Facebook)

Chime Rinpoche belonged to a generation of Tibetan teachers who brought Vajrayana Buddhism to Europe and North America in the latter half of the 20th century. Today, Tibetan Buddhism remains one of the most visible forms of Buddhism in the West, contributing to a broader global Buddhist population estimated at nearly 500 million people.

His passing marks the loss of a teacher whose life bridged cultures and eras, and whose teachings continue to influence students across the world.

See more

Statement from The Trustees of the Dharma Trust, Marpa House (Facebook)
David Bowie’s Buddhist Master: ‘David rang me up and said I have a very big problem’ (The Telegraph)

Related news reports from BDG

Diana Mukpo, Widow of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, Has Died, Aged 72
The Esteemed Dzogchen Master, His Eminence Yongdzin Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche, Has Died
Revered Senior Tibetan Buddhist Lama Ayang Rinpoche Has Died, Aged 83
The Revered Buddhist Scholar and Teacher Tulku Thondup Rinpoche Has Died
The Revered Buddhist Scholar and Tulku Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche Has Died
Revered Buddhist Scholar and FPMT Founder Lama Zopa Rinpoche Has Died
Gaden Trisur Rizong Rinpoche, the 102nd Ganden Tripa, Dies Aged 94