Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal

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Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche

Short description

Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche was born on June 10, 1950, in Kham, Tibet. On that summer day in the family tent, Rinpoche’s birth caused his mother no pain. The next day, his mother, Pema Lhadze, moved the bed where she had given birth. Beneath it she found growing a beautiful and fragrant flower which she plucked and offered to Chenrezig on the family altar. Soon after his birth three head lamas from Jadchag monastery came to his home and recognized him as the reincarnation of Khenpo Sherab Khyentse. Khenpo Sherab Khyentse, who had been the former head abbot lama of Gochen Monastery, was a renowned scholar and practitioner who lived much of his life in retreat.

Rinpoche’s first Dharma teacher was his father, Lama Chimed Namgyal. Beginning his schooling at the age of five, he entered Gochen Monastery. His studies were interrupted when his family had to escape to India. In India, his father and brother, Ven. Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche (1932-2010), continued his education until he entered the Nyingmapa Monastic School of Northern India, where he studied until 1967.

He then entered the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, which was then a part of Sanskrit University in Varanasi, where he received his B.A. degree in 1975. He also attended Nyingmapa University in West Bengal, where he received another B.A. and an M.A. in 1977.

In 1978 Rinpoche was enthroned as the abbot of the Wish-fulfilling Nyingmapa Institute in Boudanath, Nepal by H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche Jigdral Yeshe Dorje, and later became the abbot of the Department of Dharma Studies, where he taught poetry, grammar, philosophy, and psychology. In 1981, H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche appointed Rinpoche as the abbot of the Dorje Nyingpo Center in Paris, France. In 1982 he was asked to work with H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche at the Yeshe Nyingpo Center in New York. During the 1980s, until H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche’s mahaparinirvana in 1987, Rinpoche continued working closely with him, often traveling as his translator and attendant.

In 1988, Ven. Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche and Ven. Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche founded the Padmasambhava Buddhist Center (PBC) to preserve the authentic message of Buddha Shakyamuni and Guru Padmasambhava in its entirety, and in particular to teach the traditions of the Nyingma school and Vajrayana Buddhism. PBC includes over 20 centers in the U.S.A., India, Puerto Rico, Latvia, and Russia, as well as monastic institutions in India, the U.S.A., and Russia.

As a holder of the complete Nyingmapa lineage, Khenpo Tsewang Rinpoche is fully versed in the Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana schools, and is a master of Dzogchen. He has co-authored over 35 Dharma books in English with Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche, and has personally authored several books, including a biography on His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche named Light of Fearless Indestructible Wisdom, two books of poetry on the life of Guru Rinpoche, including Praise to the Lotus Born: A Verse Garland of Waves of Devotion, and a unique two-volume cultural and religious history of Tibet entitled The Six Sublime Pillars of the Nyingma School, which details the historical bases of the Dharma in Tibet from the sixth through ninth centuries. At present, this is one of the only books written that conveys the Dharma activities of this historical period in such depth.

Ven. Khenpo Tsewang Rinpoche actively travels throughout the world giving teachings, empowerments, and personal guidance in fluent English at numerous retreats.

The main monastery and retreat center of the Padmasambhava Buddhist center is Padma Samye Ling Monastery and Retreat Center, located in Delaware County in upstate New York. Located in the western region of the Catskill mountains, the outstanding facilities are contained within 500 acres of forests, meadows, and natural springs. PSL hosts group and personal retreats throughout the year, as well as an annual philosophical Shedra, weekly Dharma Study, and a long-term residency volunteer program.

For more information about Khenpo Tsewang Rinpoche's activities, the Padmasambhava Buddhist Center, or to schedule coming to PSL for retreat or a visit, please contact:

Padma Samye Ling 618 Buddha Highway Sidney Center, NY 13839 (607) 865-8068 www.padmasambhava.org

Main teachers

H. H. Dudjom Rinpoche Jigdral Yeshe Dorje; Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche; Lama Chi-me Namgyal (Khenpo's father); Gadra Lama Nyima Ozer (transmitted Tsasum Lingpa lineage); Raya Tulku (a togden near Gochen Monastery in his youth, who transmitted terma of Ratna Lingpa); Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche; Chatral Rinpoche; Dodrupchen Rinpoche; Kangyur Rinpoche; H. H. 16th Karmapa; Khenpo Thubten Tsondru; and Sangyum Kushog Rigdzin Wangmo, the wife of Dudjom Rinpoche.

Primary Lineages

Published Works

  • Inborn Realization: A Commentary on His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche’s Mountain Retreat Instructions


Books with Ven. Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche:

  • The Beauty of Awakened Mind: Dzogchen Lineage of the Great Master Shigpo Dudtsi
  • The Buddhist Path: A Practical Guide from the Nyingma Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism (formerly entitled Opening to Our Primordial Nature)
  • Ceaseless Echoes of the Great Silence: A Commentary on the Heart Sutra (English and Spanish)
  • Cutting Through Ego and Revealing Fearlessness: Chod Practice According to Jigme Lingpa’s Bellowing Laugh of the Dakini
  • The Dark Red Amulet: Oral Instructions on the Practice of Vajrakilaya
  • Discovering Infinite Freedom: The Prayer of Kuntuzangpo
  • Door to Inconceivable Wisdom and Compassion
  • The Essential Journey of Life and Death
  • Volume I: Indestructible Nature of Body, Speech, and Mind
  • Volume II: Using Dream Yoga and Phowa as the Path
  • Heart Essence of Chetsun: Voice of the Lion (restricted)
  • Illuminating the Path: Ngondro Instructions According to the Nyingma School of Vajrayana Buddhism (English and Spanish)
  • Liberating Duality with Wisdom Display: The Eight Manifestations of Guru Padmasambhava
  • Light of Fearless Indestructible Wisdom: The Life and Legacy of His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche
  • Light of Peace: How Buddhism Shines in the World Lion’s Gaze: A Commentary on the Tsig Sum Nedek
  • Mipham’s Sword of Wisdom: The Nyingma Approach to Valid Cognition
  • The Nature of Mind (formerly entitled Pointing Out the Nature of Mind: Dzogchen Pith Instructions of Aro Yeshe Jungne)
  • Prajnaparamita: The Six Perfections
  • The Seven Nails: The Final Testament of the Great Dzogchen Master Shri Singha
  • The Smile of Sun and Moon: A Commentary on the Praise to the Twenty-One Taras
  • Supreme Wisdom: Commentary on Yeshe Lama (restricted) Tara’s Enlightened Activity
  • Uprooting Clinging: A Commentary on Mipham Rinpoche’s Wheel of Analytic Meditation
  • Walking in the Footsteps of the Buddha: The Path to Freedom


Padma Samye Ling Shedra Series

  • (Nine Yanas) Turning the Wisdom Wheel of the Nine Golden Chariots
  • (Vol. 1) Opening the Clear Vision of the Vaibhashika and Sautrantika Schools
  • (Vol. 2) Opening the Clear Vision of the Mind Only School
  • (Vol. 3) Opening the Wisdom Door of the Madhyamaka School
  • (Vol. 4) Opening the Wisdom Door of the Rangtong & Shentong Views: A Brief Explanation of the One Taste of the Second and Third Turning of the Wheel of Dharma
  • (Vol. 5) Opening the Wisdom Door of the Outer Tantras: Refining Awareness Through Ascetic Ritual and Purification Practice
  • (Vol. 6) Splendid Presence of the Great Guhyagarbha: Opening the Wisdom Door of the King of All Tantras
  • (Vol. 7) Key to Opening the Wisdom Door of Anuyoga: Exploring the One Taste of the Three Mandalas

Internal Links

External Links

http://www.padmasambhava.org PBC Schedule of Events: http://www.padmasambhava.org/events PSL Resident Volunteer Program: http://www.padmasambhava.org/psl-dharma-skills-program

YouTube: http://www.padmasambhava.org/youtube Facebook: Padmasambhava Buddhist Center Twitter: KhenpoRinpoche Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/khenporinpoche

To learn more about Ven. Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche: http://www.padmasambhava.org/ven-khenpo-tsewang-dongyal-rinpoche

Email: jowozegyal@catskill.net

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