Khenchen Namdrol Tshering Rinpoche

Khenchen Namdrol Tsering (or Tshering) Rinpoche took birth in 1953, in Dege, Tibet. At the age of seven, because of the political situation in Tibet he fled to India with his family and settled in Bylakuppe, South India. In 1968, he completed Bum-Nga (the five hundred thousand accumulations of the preliminary practice). From Ngyoshul Khen Rinpoche, a great Dzogchen Master, he received the teachings of the Thirty-Seven Practices of the Bodhisattvas, Vishestava (Praise of the Distinctive Qualities of the Buddha), and Mipham Rinpoche’s Tong Thun Sengei Ngaro (Notes on Tathagarbha entitled Roar of the Lion). From Khenpo Khedrub, he had an opportunity to receive many teachings on different writings of Mipham Rinpoche such as the Commentary on Abhidharmakosha and Madyamakalankara, the Condensed Tenet Concepts and the Notes on Chandrakirti’s Madhyamakavatara, the notes on Nagarjuna’s Mulaprajna and other Madhyamaka treatises.

Later, Khenchen traveled to Sikkim for further study. During his five years there he received various sutra teachings, including Prajnaparamita, Madhyamaka, Pramana and others from Khenpo Tsondru Rinpoche. He received Tantra teachings as well, including Longchenpa’s Trilogy of Self-Liberation and Key to the Treasure - a general commentary to Guhyagarbha Tantra.

At the age of twenty-five, in order to fulfill the noble wishes of His Holiness Penor Rinpoche, Khenchen along with Khenpo Tsondru, returned to Namdroling Monastery. Since the establishment of Ngagyur Nyingma Institute in 1978, he has played an active role in administering and teaching at NNI. In 1983, His Holiness Penor Rinpoche conferred on him the degree of Khenpo.

In 1988, Khenchen Namdrol went to Serta, in Kham Province, Tibet, to receive teachings from H.H. Khenchen Jigmed Phuntsog Rinpoche. At that time he received three different commentaries on Guhyagarbha Tantra: Mipham Rinpoche’s 'Odsal Nyingpo (Clear Light Essence), Longchenpa’s Chogchu Munsel (Clearing the Darkness of Ten Directions), and Dodrubchen Tenpai Nyima’s Dzodkyi Demig (Key to the Treasure). He also received Dzogchen Teachings, including Chetsun Nyingthig (Innermost Spirituality of Chetsun), as well as H.H. Khenchen Jigmed Phuntsog’s own instructions on Dzogchen, Paltrul Rinpoche’s commentary on the Three Words that Strike the Vital Point, Pointing the Finger to the Nature of Mind and many others.

During a second visit to Serta in 1992, Khenchen Jigmed Phuntsog bestowed upon him Longchenpa’s Precious Treasury of the Meaning of Words, instructions on Khadro Nyingthig (Innermost Spirituality of the Dakini) called 'Illuminating the Profound Path', Mipham Rinpoche’s Vital Instructions on Dzogchen Tregchod (Cutting Through) and many other esoteric teachings.

In 1998, under the guidance of His Holiness Penor Rinpoche, Khenchen established the Palyul Retreat Center, Samten 'Odsal Ling in Pharping, Kathmandu, Nepal. Khenchen now spends much of his time at that center and as well teaching abroad and at the Ngagyur Nyingma Institute. Khenchen is an excellent teacher and his skillful way of teaching is greatly reputed far and wide.