Venerable Khenpo Tenzin

Venerable Khenpo Tenzin was born near Gargon Monastery in Nagchen Tibet, 1990. Coming from a very large family, Khenpo had a very strong inclination to study Dharma. His wish to enter the spiritual life was so strong that he taught himself to play the trumpet and learned many of the Lamas dances himself simply by observing and acting them out.

When Khenpo turned 9 years of age his family honored his wishes and allowed him to enter Gargon Monastery. During this time he attended the general courses of study for new monastics and completed his 5 fold path Mahamudra Ngondro practice.

Khenpo received recognition for his studies and his ability to quickly memorize long dharma text, and he was one of eight promising monks to travel to Sertar Monastery (Jigme Phuntsok’s massive learning center in Sichuan, housing at times over 10,000 monks and nuns) and continue their studies at this prestigious place of learning.

Subsequently Khenpo Tenzin studied at Dzongsar Shedra in Sichuan and when he finally arrived in India he studied at the famous Gelug center, Sera Jey Monastic Universtiy.

In 2015 at the urging of Garchen Rinpoche, arrangements were made to have Khenpo Tenzin come to the U.S. and in early 2016 Khenpo was made the resident teacher at the Garchen Buddhist Institute.

Khenpo Tenzin has also studied and completed certified courses in English as a Second Language & American Culture at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque.

In front of a large assembly during the recent visit of H.H. Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche for the 4th annual Drikung Kagyu Monlam, Lama Tenzin was recognized and awarded the title Khenpo, by both H.H. Chetsang Rinpoche and by H.E. Garchen Rinpoche.