Rinpoche

Rinpoche is a Tibetan Buddhist honorific meaning "precious one" or "precious jewel." It is used to address or refer to respected teachers and to reincarnate lamas, the tulkus, who are believed to be the rebirths of previous masters. The term is employed across major Tibetan Buddhist schools—Gelug, Kagyu, Nyingma, and Sakya—and also appears in many Buddhist communities influenced by Tibetan practice.

The word derives from Tibetan rin po che, literally "precious one" (rinpo being "precious," che "jewel" or "unbeatable"). As an honorific, it is often prefixed to a teacher's name, or used on its own to convey respect.

In the tulku system, certain masters are identified as reincarnations of earlier figures, continuing their lineages across generations. Recognition is usually undertaken by senior lamas or spiritual authorities within a lineage; processes may include signs, oracles, or other customary procedures, followed by formal enthronement and acceptance by disciples and monastic communities.

In contemporary usage, "Rinpoche" functions as a title of respect for both living lamas and recognized tulkus, and is commonly used by English-speaking students as part of a teacher's name or when addressing them directly. It remains a core feature of Tibetan Buddhist scholarly and contemplative life.