Stichting World Peace Stupa Center Europe is an indepent organization under the spiritual guidance of Tibetan Lama Tarthang Tulku. Tarthang Tulku was born in Golok, East Tibet in 1935 and studied with many of the greatest masters of the 20th century, including Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Lodro, Zhechen Kongtrul, Zhechen Rabjam, Adzom Gyelsrey, and Bodpa Tulku. 

In 1958, Tarthang Rinpoche followed his root teacher, Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Lodro, to Sikkim and India. Unable to return to Tibet due to the political turmoil there, he found himself in exile. The next several years were devoted to pilgrimage and retreat at holy places in India. In 1962, he was appointed to represent the Nyingma tradition at Sanskrit University in Varanasi. That same year, he set up one of the first Tibetan printing presses in exile and began his life’s work of preserving sacred texts and art. In 1968, he resolved to pursue his vision in the West and left for America. 

Rinpoche chose Berkeley, California as his headquarters and established the Tibetan Nyingma Meditation Center there in 1969. One of the first learned Tibetan lamas to take up residence in the West, he quickly developed a vision of wisdom in action that would eventually lead to the founding of over twenty different organizations, making a significant impact on the transmission of Dharma to the West and the restoration of Dharma in Asia.  

Among his many remarkable accomplishments are the books he wrote and the programs he created meant specifically for a contemporary often non-religious western audience. It is one of the goals of the new stupa center to make these beneficial and insightful programs and books more widely available for Europeans.  

Today Tarthang Rinpoche lives in retreat at Odiyan Country Center in northern California. He continues to guide the work of selecting, editing and printing sacred texts and creating offerings of sacred art and symbols to the Dharma. He provides ongoing spiritual direction to the Nyingma community and its member organizations.