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Khenpo Jyurme Pema Tenchong
Khenpo (Abbot) Jyurme Pema Tenchong was born to Yab Phagchok Rinpoche and Yum Khandro Tshering Choden in the year 1971 which corresponds to the Water Rat year of the Buddhist calendar.
Besides playing and enjoying his childhood, he dedicated most of his early life to learning the basic Buddhist literature from his father and also from his elder brother, Phagchok Ripoche Rinpoche Kuenzang Dorji.
He received initiations and teachings on Terser Ngoendro Thriechen, Kuenzang Lamai Zhelung and blessings and teachings on Zablam Thruk Nga from his elder brother, and teachings on Dzogpachen Kusum Ngotroue from his grateful father.
As time passed by, H.E. Thektse Rinpoche made a grand visit to Mon Shingkhar Lauri. His father and older brother sent him with Rinpoche, on this visit, who then suggested he join the family of the Wogmin Ogyen Mindrolling Monastery in Derhadun, North India to study Buddha Dharma.
Mindrolling is known to be the holiest monastery in the history of Buddism in both India and Tibet. He was ordained as a monk by H.H. Minlling Thrichen Rinpoche.
H.H. Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche was the one to ordain him as a Getsuel and initiate him into Ngagyur Kama. He then accomplished the vow of gelong (full monk) from H.H. Minlling Khentrul Rinpoche. With pure punctuality and hard work, he completed his first course in the first section after eight years and was successful in mastering all the lessons and skills taught.
In 1992, he joined the higher section of the college for the nine years course to learn and master the Buddhist philosophy. In the year 2000, he accomplished the blessings and initiations of Dudjom Terser and Dejoi Bumzang from H.H. Thrulshik Rinpoche. In the year 2004, he received the complete initiation on Tsasum Nyenyig and Dzogrim Trika from his Yab Rinpoche and brother, Lama Rinpoche Kuenzang Dorji respectively.
To practically experience the things that he had learned, he went for a retreat on top of a pristine and holy mountain in Phagchok village called Tashi Phodrang. There, he stayed for one year meditating on practices like Tsasum Nyendrup, Dzogrim Tsalung Tummo and on Dzogchen Neylug Rangjung and Threkchoe Thoegyal which was passed on to him by his venerable brother, Lama Rinpoche Kuenzang Dorji.
Due to his success in studying, contemplating, and meditating, he was respectfully invited to the Monastery of H.E. Thektse Rinpoche in Tawang as a teacher in the year 2005. It was a golden opportunity for him to receive teaching and initiation on Khandro Singdongmai Mindrol Dampa from H.E. Thektse Rinpoche. Immediately after receiving it, he went into retreat to meditate on it as suggested to him by H.E. Thektse Rinpoche.
He then went to a holy cave in Tawang called Taktsang Rong-Gurui Drup-phuk to meditate on Terser Droloe and Throema Nagmoi Nyendrup, putting his life at risk for seven long months in the jungle.
Presently, he is serving the Buddha dharma by teaching Buddhism to thousands of devotees in Phagchok Samdrupcholling Gonpa, his village, thereby fulfilling the role of oil to keep the lamp of Buddhism burning forever.