Rinpoche

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title: "Rinpoche" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["rinpoches", "honorifics", "tibetan-buddhist-titles", "religious-leadership-roles"] description: "Honorific term used in the Tibetan language" topic_path: "society/religion" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rinpoche" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Honorific term used in the Tibetan language ::

Rinpoche, also spelled Rimpoche (), is an honorific term used in the Tibetan language. It literally means "precious one", and may refer to a person, place, or thing—like the words "gem" or "jewel" (Sanskrit: Ratna).

The word consists of rin (value), po (nominalizing suffix) and chen (big).

The word is used in the context of Tibetan Buddhism as a way of showing respect when addressing those recognized as reincarnated, older, respected, notable, learned and/or an accomplished Lamas or teachers of the Dharma. It is also used as an honorific for abbots of Buddhist monasteries.

References

References

1. Shakspo, Nawang Tsering. (1999). "The Role of Incarnate Lamas in Buddhist Tradition: A Brief Survey of Bakula Rinpoche's Previous Incarnations". The Tibet Journal.
2. Yu, Chun-Fang. (March 2000). "The Reincarnation of Khensur Rinpoche: The Trials of Telo Rinpoche: A Stranger in My Native Land:The Reincarnation of Khensur Rinpoche.;The Trials of Telo Rinpoche.;A Stranger in My Native Land.". American Anthropologist.

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