Professor Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche, 79, a leading Tibetan Buddhist scholar, has died at the Merigar West Dzogchen Community in Arcidisso, Italy. He was recently awarded the Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic; Italy’s highest honour. Rinpoche taught at the Institute Universitario Orientale in Naples for 30 years and wrote many books on Tibetan history and culture as well as establishing Dzogchen communities around the world.