Mitra Karl was born in Munich, Germany. He was originally trained, and worked, as a physician. He took Buddhist refuge vows in 1984 and, in 1990, completed a five-year training in higher Buddhist philosophy at Kamalashila Institute, Germany, receiving the traditional Kagyü title of "dharma tutor" (Tib. skyor dpon). Beginning in 1988, he received Buddhist and Tibetan language training mainly at Marpa Institute For Translators in Kathmandu, Nepal (director: Khenpo Tsültrim Gyamtso Rinpoche) and also studied Tibetology, Buddhology, and Sanskrit at Hamburg University, Germany. In 1989, Karl began serving as a translator, interpreter, and Buddhist teacher mainly in Europe, India, and Nepal. Since 1999, Karl has acted as one of the main translators and teachers at Nitartha Institute (director: Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche) in the USA, Canada, and Germany. In addition, he regularly taught at Gampo Abbey's Vidyadhara Institute from 2000-2007. He is the author of several books on Buddhism, including The Center of the Sunlit Sky, Straight from the Heart, In Praise of Dharmadhātu, and Luminous Heart (all from Snow Lion Publications).
Karl met Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche in 1986 during Rinpoche's
first teaching tour through Europe, receiving extensive teachings
as well as pratimoksha vows from him during the following years in
both Europe and Nepal, and later also in Canada and the USA. He
served as Rinpoche's personal translator during his teachings tours
in Europe (particularly at Nitartha Institute in Germany) from
1999-2005. In 2005, he was appointed as one of five Western
Nalandabodhi teachers and given the title "Mitra."
In 2006, he moved to Seattle and works as a full-time Tibetan
translator for Tsadra Foundation. Since his arrival
in Seattle, Karl has been instrumental in creating the new
introductory Nalandabodhi Buddhism 100 Series, leads Nalandabodhi
Path of Study classes, presents weekend courses and open house
talks at Nalanda West, offers selected teachings to
the Vajrasattva and Mahamudra practice communities, and provides
personal guidance as a Nalandabodhi Practice Instructor. He also
teaches weekend seminars and Nitartha Institute courses in
Nalandabodhi centers in the US, Canada, and Mexico, as well as in
other locations.
Within the Mitra Council, Karl supervises the Nalandabodhi Path of Study courses, which includes revision of the Hinayana and Mahayana courses and creation of the Vajrayana courses. While enthusiastic about all facets of the dharma, his main interests are the teachings on Mahamudra, Yogacara and Buddha Nature, and to make the essential teachings by the Karmapas and other major Kagyu lineage figures available to contemporary Western audiences.
The "Mitra" title: In 2005, Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche appointed a group of his long-time students to be senior Western teachers of Nalandabodhi. He gave each of them the title Mitra, or 'spiritual friend.' The Mitras teach in Nalandabodhi centers throughout North American mainly, and provide continual guidance and leadership for the practice and study paths of Nalandabodhi.