Tibetan Buddhist master, Professor Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche has been conferred with Italy’s highest honour, Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic on Monday according to the report in the official website of Central Tibetan Administration. The Tibetan Buddhist master is one of the foremost masters in the world.
“Professor Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche, was honoured with Italy’s highest recognition, Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic on Monday. The President of the Republic of Italy, Sergio Mattarella, has conferred the honour on Prof Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche on the proposal of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers.” said the report in Central Tibetan Administration on Tuesday.
The commendatoreate is a recognition for “rewarding merits acquired towards the Nation in the field of letters, the arts, the economy and in the engagement of public offices and activities carried out for social, philanthropic and humanitarian purposes. It is well suited to the teacher who has dedicated his whole life to culture, philanthropic and social activity, spending himself personally to keep the torch of peace always lit.” added the report.
According to the brief biography added in the report, Prof. Norbu was recognized as extremely knowledgeable in all aspects of Tibetan culture at the age of only twenty-two, he was invited to Italy by the famous Professor Giuseppe Tucci to work at the ISMEO Institute in Rome for two years. In 1962 he took a post in Naples at the Istituto Universitario Orientale where he taught Tibetan language and literature until 1992. From the time of his residence in Italy, Chogyal Namkhai Norbu focused his research mainly on the ancient history of Tibet investigating thoroughly the autochthonous Bön tradition.
The Tibetan master’s books, which include works on history, medicine, astrology, Bön and folk traditions, are evidence of his profound knowledge of Tibetan culture and his commitment to preserve this ancient cultural heritage. They have been highly appreciated by Tibetans as well as scholars throughout the world.