Khenpo Jyurme Pema Tenchong
Khenpo (Abbot) Jyurme Pema Tenchong was born in the year 1971 corresponding to the Water Rat Year of the Buddhist calendar to YabPhagchok Rinpoche and Yum Khandro Tshering Choden. Besides playing and enjoying his childhood, he dedicated most of his early life to learning basic Buddhist literature from his father and also from his elder brother, Phagchok 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 who then suggested joining the family of Wogmin Ogyen Mindrolling Monastery in Dehradun, North India to study Buddha Dharma. Mindrolling is known to be the holiest monastery in the history of Buddhism 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 also the initiation of 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 of eight years and was successful in mastering all the lessons and skills taught. He then joined the higher section/college of the nine years course to learn and master Buddhist philosophy in 1992. In the year 2000, he accomplished the blessings and initiations on Dudjom Terser and Dejoi Bumzang from H.H. Thrulshik Rinpoche. In the year 2004, he received complete initiation on Tsasum Nyenyig and Dzogrim Trika from his Yab Rinpoche and his brother Lama Rinpoche Kuenzand 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 a 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 on retreat to meditate as suggested to him by H.E. Thektse Rinpoche.
He then went to a holy cave in Tawang called Taktsang Rong-GuruiDrup-phuk to meditate on Terser Droloe and Throema Nagmoi Nyendrup, putting his life at risk for seven long months.
Presently he is serving the Buddha dharma by teaching Buddhism to thousands of devotees in Phagchok Samdrupcholling Gonpa, his village, whereby fulfilling the role of oil to keep the lamp of Buddhism burning forever.