Lama Kunga Thartse Rinpoche

Lama Kunga Thartse Rinpoche

Resident Teacher at Ewam Choden Tibetan Buddhist Center Rinpoche Lama Kunga Thartse was born into a noble family in Lhasa in 1935, the son of Tsipon Shuguba, Treasurer in the Dalai Lama's government.

At the age of 7, he was recognized as a reincarnation of Sevan Repa, a heart disciple of Milarepa, Tibet’s great 11th century poet-saint. Rinpoche entered Ngor Monastery at eight and was ordained as a monk at sixteen. In 1959, he was Vice-Abbot of Ngor Monastery, in the Sakya Tradition, but fled Western Tibet with his countrymen at the time of Chinese invasion.

In 1972 Rinpoche came to America and established Ewam Choden Tibetan Buddhist Center in Kensington California. Lama Kunga has also taught in New Jersey, Washington, D.C., Wisconsin, Oregon, Florida, Utah, Minnesota, and Arkansas. A skilled and compassionate teacher, Lama Kunga Rinpoche’s students feel blessed with his close relationship to the Buddha Dharma.

from Ewam Choden Tibetan Buddhist Center website