Ngagyur Palyul Ling School Board of Council
Khenpo Khyentse Dorje
Khenpo Khyentse history
Khenpo Khyentse was born June 17, 1964 in a very small village, Tukuche, located in the Mustang District in northwest Nepal. Khenpo was brought up in a quite prominent family in the village. He is fluent in 3 languages: Tibetan, English and Nepalese. In 1985 he entered into a well-known Buddhist college, the Ngagyur Nyingma Institute, a Buddhist center for higher studies and research at the Namdroling monastery in Bylakuppe, Mysore District in south India. After he finished the nine-year program at the college, the late HH Penor Rinpoche conferred on him the title of khenpo (a title equivalent to a Ph.D. of Buddhist philosophy).
Khenpo was so moved by the late HH Penor Rinpoche’s unimaginable compassion that he took him his role model in founding the Padma Sambhava Charity Foundation in 2006. In 2011, he established the Shree Nalanda Buddhist School, which provides the students from Tulkue and the Himalayan region with education, housing, and food, just as his root teacher, the last H.H Penor Rinpoche, had done for Namdroling monastery.
Khenpo Khyentse’s vision is to give the basic needs to people from the Himalayan region and to bring up the standard of living of those who have financial difficulty. He is also extremely compassionate toward the children among them, because he knows that these children can build a bright future for this world if the foundation can provide them with a good education and health care. He also hopes to bring the wisdom of Buddhism to those who are interested in learning and practicing Buddhism by establishing meditation centers in the modern world.
A Brief Biography
Khenpo Khentse Dorje Tamang was born on 26 May 1984 to Mr. Pema Thille Tamang. He has been associated with Namdroling Monastery since 1995 and has devoted his life to the study, practice, preservation, and propagation of the Buddha Dharma.
He entered monastic life at a young age and became a monk at the age of ten. He was registered under the monastery administration with registration number 2240/1237. His early Buddhist education began at the Monastic Junior High School, where he studied basic Buddhist literature and completed Grade 8 in 2001. In 2002, he undertook the traditional practice of the Five Hundred Thousand Preliminary Practices (Ngöndro), laying an important foundation for his further Buddhist studies and practice.
In 2003, he joined the **Ngagyur Nyingma Institute, where he pursued an extensive and rigorous course of study in Buddhist philosophy and practice. His education covered the profound teachings of both Sutra and Tantra, as well as the philosophical and practical aspects of the Nyingma Buddhist tradition. He successfully completed the Institute's nine-year course in Buddhist philosophy and practice in 2011.
Following the completion of his formal studies, he was conferred the title of Lopön, signifying his accomplishment as a master in Buddhist philosophy and practice. He subsequently dedicated approximately five years to teaching, practicing, and propagating the teachings of Lord Buddha for the benefit of sentient beings. Through his continued study, practice, teaching, and service to the Dharma, he was conferred the title of Khenpo in 2018, representing an advanced scholarly qualification in
Buddhist philosophy.
Throughout his spiritual journey, Khenpo Khentse Dorje Tamang has received numerous important empowerments, oral transmissions, and teachings of the Nyingma tradition from renowned Buddhist masters. Among his principal spiritual teachers was his root guru, Drubwang Pema Norbu Rinpoche, one of the great masters of the Palyul tradition. These teachings and transmissions have deeply influenced his Buddhist practice and his commitment to preserving and transmitting the authentic Dharma.
For many years, Khenpo Khentse Dorje Tamang has faithfully served the monastic community and upheld the teachings of the Buddha in accordance with Buddhist principles, monastic discipline, and institutional responsibilities. His life has been characterized by continuous learning, spiritual practice, teaching, and service.
He has also played an active role in the development of the Palyul Ling Foundation, working alongside Khenpos, Tulkus, and other Dharma practitioners. He has contributed to the Palyul Ling project and continues to support its vision of preserving and spreading the Buddha Dharma internationally.
At present, Khenpo Khentse Dorje Tamang serves as the Vice Chairman of Ngagyur Memorial School, a branch of the Palyul Ling Foundation, located in Chandragiri, Thankot, Kathmandu, Nepal. In this role, he contributes to the educational, spiritual, and overall development of the school and its students.
With many years of monastic education, Buddhist study, meditation and practice, teaching experience, and institutional service, Khenpo Khentse Dorje Tamang is well qualified to teach and explain a wide range of Buddhist teachings and practices. His knowledge of Buddhist philosophy, familiarity with Sutra and Tantra, and dedication to the preservation of the Dharma enable him to guide students who sincerely wish to study, understand, and practice the Buddha's teachings.
His lifelong commitment remains centered on preserving the authentic Buddhist tradition, sharing the wisdom of the Buddha, and contributing to the spiritual and educational development of future generations for the benefit of all sentient beings.