Khen Rinpoche Geshe Thubten Chonyi
Born in Nepal in 1962, Khen Rinpoche Geshe Thubten Chonyi joined Kopan Monastery after being ordained by Lama Zopa Rinpoche in 1974. He studied at Kopan monastery for 6 years. After that he went to Sera Je Monastery in South India and continued another 18 years of intensive study and debate in Bubddhist Philosophy.
Khenrinpoche was awarded the title of Geshe Lharampa, the highest Tibetan Buddhist doctorate conferred in the Gelug monastic tradition.
After completing his education at Sera Je, Khen Rinpoche joined Gyumed Tantric College for one year where he furthered his studies on tantra. The Gyudmed monastery is one of the two key monastic colleges in the Gelug tradition that specialises in the teachings of Buddhist tantra. Khen Rinpoche again excelled in his studies there and was awarded first position in his class.
He was appointed as resident teacher of Amitabha Buddhist Centre in Singapore in 1999 by Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Khen Rinpoche started teaching the FPMT Five-Year Basic Program at Amitabha Buddhist Centre in August 2003.
To date, 2 rounds of The Basic Program has been completed. This is a comprehensive Buddhist study program for students who wish to deepen their knowledge of the Buddha’s teachings and enhance their daily practice.
On 14th July 2011, Khen Rinpoche Geshe Thubten Chonyi was appointed as the Abbot of Kopan Monastery and Nunnery in Nepal.
At present, Khenrinpoche spends his time as resident teacher of Amitabha Buddhist Centre and Abbot of Kopan Monastery and Nunnery.
Read the complete online story “A Deep Interest in Study: Khen Rinpoche Geshe Thubten Chonyi’s Story and the History of Kopan”:
https://fpmt.org/mandala/in-depth-stories/khen-rinpoche-geshe-thubten-chonyi/
Watch “The Story of Khen Rinpoche Geshe Thubten Chonyi and the History of Kopan Monastery” on YouTube: