About Lama Tsewang Tashi Rinpoche
 Lama Tsewang Tashi Rinpoche was born in 1965 in western Lhasa, to a farming family living next to the sacred Tsurphu Monastery. He began to study Buddhism in his childhood, and was a very diligent student. At 19, he entered Nechung Buddhist College, where he studied grammar and Buddhist philosophy. He graduated successfully from the three-year course. In 1987, Rinpoche dedicated himself to his root guru, Kyabje Drupon Dechen Rinpoche of the retreat centre at Tsurphu, and completed the traditional Kagyu three-year and three-month retreat.
Under the instructions of His Eminence the 10th Kyabje Pawo Rinpoche, Drupon Rinpoche appointed Lama Tsewang abbot of Nenang Monastery, as Pawo Rinpoche’s representative. Kyabje Pawo Rinpoche and Drupon Rinpoche then jointly conferred upon Lama Tsewang, the title Lama Tsewang Rinpoche.
(Nenang Lama) Lama Tsewang Rinpoche’s work
Nenang Monastery is a historical Tibetan monastery built in 1321 C.E. The previous abbot, His Eminence the 10th Pawo Rinpoche, is one of the most respected masters in Tibetan Buddhism, a highly accomplished master in the Kagyu lineage and a heart son of His Holiness the Karmapa. It is extremely difficult to be honored and elevated in the lineage system of Tibetan Buddhism. Venerable Drupon Rinpoche's decision to appoint Tsewang Rinpoche representative of His Eminence Pawo Rinpoche is therefore, very auspicious and quite extraordinary.
As his root guru directed, Tsewang Rinpoche served as abbot of Nenang Monastery. In the following nine years, he worked on the restoration of the Monastery and oversaw the monks’ practice in the three methods in Buddhism - hearing, contemplation and meditation. With compassion and firmness, Rinpoche fortified the Kagyu tradition’s dual emphasis on practice and study. Besides this, he saw that the monks are provided with room, board, medical care and even built a retreat centre at Nenang.
His Holiness the 17th Karmapa gave Tsewang Rinpoche the responsibility  to search for the reincarnation of the late Kyabje Pawo Rinpoche. In 1995, the 11th Pawo Rinpoche was found and enthroned in his main seat at Nenang Monastery. This success made H.H. the Karmapa and the Kagyu lamas very pleased.
Ven Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche helped Tsewang Rinpoche develop Dharma connections with Thrangu Centers in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Malaysia, where Tsewang Rinpoche quickly became very much loved and respected by resident lamas and Dharma practitioners alike. All donations offered by these Dharma practitioners were donated to people and places where there is great need for financial assistance.
In Tibet, Rinpoche started a free school with a six-year program, providing 120 students and teachers with classrooms, teaching materials, stationery and teachers’ salary. He built an orphanage to provide for 23 orphans, and frequently subsidized medical and living expenses of underprivileged families unable to provide for themselves. Many people benefited from Rinpoche's generous efforts.
Tsewang Rinpoche works selflessly and relentlessly to bring well-being to others. He constantly aspires for the non-discriminating light of Dharma to shine on everyone and for Dharmic activities to increase. He prays for his body, speech and mind to remain untainted in every lifetime, that he may serve his accomplished guru devotedly, remain unaffected by any honor and fortune, and to be a true lineage holder working tirelessly for the benefit of all sentient beings.
Journey with His Holiness the 17th Karmapa from Tibet To India
In 2000, Tsewang Rinpoche escorted His Holiness the Karmapa  out of Tibet. The Karmapa’s departure from Tibet shocked the world. Merely 15 years old at that time, the Karmapa already possessed unimaginable wisdom beyond words. Disregarding his own comfort, he had decided to go into exile in India in order to spread the Dharma, preserve his lineage and for the benefit of all sentient beings. The Karmapa instructed Tsewang Rinpoche to plan and coordinate the escape. Rinpoche was completely devoted to the Karmapa and so, gave up his own monastery, school, orphanage and all other commitments. Rinpoche disguised as a businessman to investigated escape routes to Nepal, and proposed a possible course within two months.
On 28th December, 1999, 10p.m., the Karmapa quietly slipped out of Tsurphu Monastery. Together with Tsewang Rinpoche and others along the way, they took the route from Shigatse, Lhatse, Ngamrin, Saga, Nagarkot in Nepal and Mustang. On 5th January, 2000, they finally arrived in Dharamsala, India. By the blessings of the three jewels, H.H. the Karmapa’s compassion, and Tsewang Rinpoche’s courage and selfless dedication to the Karmapa, the journey was a success.
In India, the Karmapa was able to study and practice Buddhism, spread the Dharma and his compassion among sentient beings while Tsewang Rinpoche served as the Karmapa's Audience Secretary.
Spreading the Dharma and promoting Tibetan culture all over the world
After arriving in the West in 2002, Tsewang Rinpoche began to visit Taiwan and North America. His mind is very much in Tibet, with his monastery, school, orphanage and its children, and he continues to contribute efforts from afar. In all his activities, Rinpoche maintains a selfless attitude, always working to spread the Dharma and to promote the Tibetan culture.
At present, he is assembling materials for his autobiography, with the hope that his story might inspire future generations among Tibetan youth. |
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What We Do
Lama Tsewang Rinpoche
Lama Tsewang Tashi Rinpoche was born in 1965 in western Lhasa, to a farming family living next to thesacred Tsurphu Monastery. He began to study Buddhism in his childhood, and was a very diligent student. At 19, he entered Nechung Buddhist College, where he studied grammar and Buddhist philosophy. He graduated successfully from the three-year course.
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