Khenpo Sonam Tsewang

By dolma

Published on August 27, 2024

Expert Traditional Advisor

Khenpo Sonam Tsewang is a khenpo at Ngagyur Nyingma Institute, the advanced center of philosophical study at Namdroling Monastery, Bylakkuppe. He has completed and graduated his studies in Buddhism from Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, Varanasi and also from Ngagyur Nyingma Institute, Namdroling. He was enthroned as a Khenpo at Namdroling Monastery in 2011 by His Holiness Karma Kuchen Rinpoche. Khenpo will be providing expert advice for the project on complex translation points, especially for texts from the Nyingma tradition.

Khenpo has been serving Namdroling Monastery for numerous years. He served in the Rigzod Editorial Committee as an editor and translator for over 7 years. Subsequently he founded the Padma Mani Translation Committee of Ngagyur Nyingma Institute with the guidance of Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso Rinpoche where Khenpo Sonam taught translation, administered and supervised for 6 years. He was also one of the founding members of Ngagyur Nyingma Research Centre (NNRC) and worked for the committee for 5 years. Beside this, he has represented Namdroling Monastery in various platforms such as national and international seminars and conferences for Buddhism. Presently he was a lecturer on Mahayana at Abiding Heart Education, Nepal.

Khenpo had also served for the late His Holiness Penor Rinpoche and Namdroling monastery’s most senior khenpo, Khenchen Pema Sherab Rinpoche to translate their teachings from Tibetan to English in order for the non-Tibetan speakers to understand the teachings. He has translated and published English books including How to Follow a Spiritual Master, The All-Pervading Melodious Sound of Thunder: The Outer Liberation Story of Terton Migyur Dorje, Drops of Nectar, and Lamp on the Path. He also travels extensively with his teacher Khenchen Pema Sherab Rinpoche, for teaching tours mainly in Europe and Asia during which he has the privilege to receive countless precious and sacred teachings and empowerments from Khenchen Pema Sherab Rinpoche. He also receives personal guidance and spiritual instructions from him.