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About Dungse Pema Rinpoche

Dungse Lama Pema Rinpoche was born in 1972 in Tsum, in Nepal-Tibet border in the Himalayas, in a family of great Buddhist practitioners. He is the eldest son of Lama Pema Lapchen Rinpoche who traces his family lineage to that of the Ngak Labrang of the great thirteenth century Nyingma master Guru Chowang. Dungse Pema Rinpoche is the 25th generation descendant.

In 1981, at the age of nine, he entered Thrangu Tashi Choling Monastery in Boudhanath, Kathmandu.

In 1983, he took initial vows of a monk, formally departing from the family tradition of lay practice.

In 1989, he took complete ordination vows of a Gelong Bikkshu from the Very Venerable Thrangu Rinpoche, tutor of H.H. the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, the head of the Karma Kagyu order of Tibetan Buddhism.

In 1993, Lama Pema entered the first three-year retreat at Namo Buddha Retreat Center in Namo Buddha, Nepal under the guidance of V.V. Thrangu Rinpoche. In the retreat, he accomplished the practices of the Kagyu Guru Yogas, Vajrayogini, Chakrasamvara, Red Chenrezig, Konchuk Chindu, Six Yogas of Naropa, Mahamudra, Tara, Amitabha, and Chod. After retreat, Dungse Pema Rinpoche as per tradition returned to Tsum and received all the empowerments for his family lineage of Guru Chowang.

After completing of studies in Buddhist philosophy and rituals in 1997, he became the principal of Shree Mangal Dvip High School, Rinpoche’s school for Himalayan Children in Kathmandu, Nepal. Dunse Pema Rinpoche was then appointed as the discipline master (chotrimpa) for Thrangu Tashi Choling Monastery in 1999.

In 2002, Rinpoche appointed him as a Vajra Master, one of the highest posts in the monastery amongst khenpos (abbots), retreat masters, staff and monks. He continues to hold this position.

In 2003, Thrangu Rinpoche sent Dungse Pema Rinpoche to Vancouver, BC to help support and teach at Rinpoche’s centre here.

In 2004, when plans were made to establish Thrangu Monastery in Richmond, BC, Thrangu Rinpoche appointed Dungse Pema Rinpoche to help make Rinpoche’s vision for the monastery come to fruition.

For the next several years, in addition to his teaching duties, Dungse Pema Rinpoche coordinated Rinpoche’s visits as well as supervised the ongoing construction of the monastery. Under the sound leadership of Dungse Pema Rinpoche, Rinpoche’s vision of a traditional Tibetan monastery in Canada – first of its kind in the country – finally came true in July, 2010. He is now the head of the monastery(in Vancouver)， the chief representative of V.V. Thrangu Rinpoche for North America.

In this capacity, Dungse Pema Rinpoche has been responsible for all aspects of the monastery’s day-to-day operations as well as the well being of the monastic community here and its lay supporters. Since its inauguration, the monastery has joyfully hosted Rinpoche’s extensive teaching activities as well as such events such as the 2010 North American Kagyu Monlam.

He coordinated His Holiness Sakya Trizin Rinpoche’s visit to Thrangu Monastery in August 2011.

In February 2012, Dungse Pema Rinpoche was selected as one of the retreatants for the Akshobya Retreat under the guidance of His Holiness the 17th Karmapa during the Kagyu Monlam gaterhing in Bodhgaya, India.

In 2017, Dongse Pema Rinpoche invited and organized the 17th Karmapa to visit Canada. In 2018, he also invited Khenpo Chuchen Lodro, deputy director of Serta Larung Five Science Buddhist Academy, to visit Thrangu Monastery in Vancouver.

Dongse Pema Rinpoche continues to work tirelessly to spread Buddhism and hopes that Buddhism will bring incredible benefits to more people in Canada and all aroud the world.