Lobsang P. Lhalungpa was born in Lhasa, Tibet. From 1940 until 1952, he was a monk-official in the service of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and of the Tibetan government. He established the first Tibetan-language  program of All India Radio and dedicated his life to the promotion and preservation of Tibet’s rich spiritual and cultural tradition. Lhalungpa translated The Life of Milarepa, and was chosen by His Holiness the Sixteenth Karmapa to translate Mahamudra: The Moonlight. He authored Tibet: The Sacred Realm. He lived in Santa Fe, New Mexico, for many years. He died of internal injuries suffered as a result of a fatal car accident in Santa Fe in New Mexico, on 28 April 2008 at the age of 82. The funeral service was conducted on 1 May. On 4 May, a group of monks from Drepung Loseling monastery led a memorial service, attended by a mixed group of some 400 people from the Tibetan communities in Sante Fe and Alberquerque.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama, in his condolence message said: “In his passing way, we have lost a great patriot and scholar.”

He is survived by his widow, Gisela, and his children.

Publication:

• Tibet: The Sacred Realm, Photographs 1880-1950 by Lobsang P. Lhalungpa
• The Life of Milarepa: A New Translation from the Tibetan
• Mahamudra: The Moonlight the Quintessence of Mind and Meditation by Dakpo Tashi Namgyal and Lobsang P. Lhalungpa
• The Life of Gampopa by Jampa Mackenzie Stewart and Lobsang P. Lhalungpa
• Life Story of Milarepa: Tibet’s Poet Saint by Ken Albertsen and Lobsang P. Lhalungpa
• Ancient Wisdom, Living Tradition: The Tibetan Spirit in the Himalayas by Marcia Keegan and Lobsang P. Lhalungpa