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Autobiography of Khenpo Sonam Gyurme
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I was born in the Western year of 1972 in Nepal in the center of the Kyimo region near the Serthang at the location of Nubri (Western mountain) Kuthangtsag. My father is TsewangDondrub and my mother is NyilhaSangmo.
In the year 1990 I became a monk at Benchen Monastery, Nepal, in the presence of KyabjeTenga Rinpoche. Then I made efforts in various studies such as writing, reading, the performance of rituals of the insight and transmission of the Karma Kamtsang tradition, and the construction of mandalas for four years. For two years I acted as a chanting master (dbumdzad) in the year 1992 I took the precepts of full ordination from the supreme third incarnation of JamgonKongtrul Rinpoche.
In the year 1996, in accordance with the expressed wishes of both DrubwangSangyeNyenpa Rinpoche and KyabjeTenga Rinpoche I went to the DzongsarShedra in Bir, which belongs to the district of Kongrar in the state of Himachal, Northern India. For twelve years I had the honor to meet great spiritual teachers beginning with the MahapanditaDorje Chang KungaWangchug and including instructors such as KhenpoRinchen while studying the thirteen major philosophical texts, the eighteen renowned scriptures, as well as the summarized sūtras together with science and culture. I also lectured at DzongsarShedra for one year in accordance with the wishes of the ruling Khenpos.
In the year 2004, I received the khenpo degree at the DzongsarChökyiLodroShedra from both the third incarnation of the human emanation of Manjugosha and Rimé master KyabjeDzongsarKhyentse Rinpoche—the supreme ChökyiGyatso—and KyabjeKhenchenDorje Chang KungaWangchug. This took place at Conhara near the capital of the Sahor Kingdom Mendi, Northern India. I was given the graduation certificate as well as certificate for the award of dGeba’igshesgnyen Chen po by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, GyalwangTendzinGyatso.
At that time there was no Khenpo giving Dharma instructions here at my own monastery, therefore both DrubwangSangyeNyenpa Rinpoche and KyabjeTenga Rinpoche asked
me to leave DzongsarShedra. Following my insistent requests to stay at BenchenPhuntsokDargyeling Monastery, Kathmandu, Nepal to give Dharma instructions to the members of its ordained sangha, TempaYarphel and I went to meet JamyangLosal, the khenpo presently in office at DzongsarShedra in India and requested a permanent leave from the shedra in order for me to continuously teach at the BenchenShedra in Parphing and the Benchen Monastery in Kathmandu. The request was granted.
After having returned to my own monastery I received teachings on Mahāmudrā and Dzogchen and many empowerments from DrubwangSangyeNyenpa Rinpoche while from KyabjeTenga Rinpoche I received teachings on the Six Dharmas of Nāropa, teachings about the three year retreat together with the rituals of the Generation and Accomplishment Stages, and many empowerments. During a vast inauguration ceremony headed by the two Rinpoches, I was bestowed the title of khenpo according to the Buddhist monastic scriptures. Then, in accordance with the wishes of the two Rinpoches, I was Sthavira (gnasbrtan) Khenpo for lecturing and for the summer retreats at BenchenDargyeling in Nepal for the duration of three years.
In the year 2006 I was raised to director of studies by the two Rinpoches. Based on the constitution of the NalandaShedra, which is determined by His Holiness the Sixteenth Gyalwang Karmapa, I set the charter as well as the syllabus of the BenchenNangtenThösam Ling Shedra.
In the February of 2007 during the waxing period of the moon both Rinpoches founded the BenchenNangtenThösam Ling Shedra, which is under the guidance of KyabjeDrubwangSangyeNyenpa Rinpoche, near the mountain site of the Asura Cave and the Self-Arising Tara Temple in Parphing, Nepal. The members of the sangha who had already entered the shedra in the main monastery, relocated to the new shedra in Parphing. At the consecration ceremony I was authorized for the responsibilities of the Senior Khenpo and continous lecturer of the sangha members. Since then seven years have passed altogether. I will continue to fulfill my service.
Copyright @ 2010 Benchen Karma Choeling. All Rights Reserved.
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