Khenpo Chödrak Tenphel

Khenpo Chödrak Tenphel (*1950) was born in Kham, Eastern Tibet; his Buddhist education started under the guidance of the 16th Karmapa in 1960, at the Monastery of Rumtek.

He took his novice vows at the age of 16 and completed his comprehensive studies of Buddhist philosophy, epistemology, linguistics and dialectics, by the age of 26 with the title of a Junior Khenpo. Five years later he became Head Khenpo of the Karma Kagyü lineage.

Khenpo Chödrak Tenphel continued his studies – including transmissions of different lineages, received empowerments and practiced meditation. Next to his root lama, the 16th Karmapa, he studied with Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Pawo Rinpoche and Kalu Rinpoche.

He became the head of the Nalanda Institute for Higher Tibetan Studies in Rumtek and was teacher of many students, who themselves became Khenpos.

He left at the age of 42, to take responsibility for the Karmapa International Buddhist Institute in New Delhi (KIBI) for 14 years. Through his contact with Western students at KIBI, he started to travel extensively and teach in Europe, the USA and Southeast Asia.