Venerable Khanchen Rinpoche Tenzin Jamyang Phuntsok was born in Simla, North India in 1972, to Tibetan parents who had fled Tibet in 1959. He entered Drepung Loseling Monastery in India at the age of eight, and received his preliminary vows from His Holiness the Dalai Lama a year later. During the eight years he spent at Drepung, Rinpoche studied ritual and root philosophy along with reading, writing and memorization of key philosophical texts in the Gelug tradition.

In 1985, His Holiness recognized Rinpoche as the fourth incarnation of Khanchen Rinpoche Dakpa Tsundu, who founded Tashi Thek Chok Ling Monastery in Chabcha, Amdo, Tibet, in the 1890s. The first Khenchen Rinpoche was the great abbot of Gyumey Tantric Monastery in central Tibet, as well as of Jakyung Monastery in Amdo, which was the home monastery of one of Lama Tsong-Kha-Pa’s first teachers, Choje Dhundup Rinchen.

After his recognition, Rinpoche continued his studies at Sera Monastery in India. In 1993 he visited Tashi Thek Chok Ling Monastery in Tibet for the first time, and spent ten months giving teachings to resident monastics and the general public.  He received his full ordination Bhikshu vows from His Holiness the following year. In 2001, after 21 years studying Buddhist philosophy, he received his Geshe degree at Sera Monastery.

Khanchen Rinpoche has received all four major Tibetan Buddhist lineages’ teachings, and numerous initiations, empowerments, and oral transmissions over the years. His teachers include His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Ling Rinpoche, Jangtse Choje Rinpoche Lobsang Tenzing, Khensur Rinpoche Lobsang Tsering, Kyabje Denma Locho Rinpoche, Geshe Lobsang Lhundrup, and Geshe Pema Gyaltsen.

Rinpoche moved to the United States in 2005, and has given numerous teachings at Buddhist centers in the Bay Area. He was the resident teacher for the Tibetan Center for Compassion and Wisdom in Mill Valley, and he founded Tashi Thek Chok Ling Buddhist Center in Bay Area, California in 2010. This center, a branch of his monastery in Tibet, is dedicated to preserving, transmitting and deepening understanding of the authentic teachings of Tibetan Buddhism and Buddhist philosophy.