About Geshe Tenpa
Geshe Tenpa was born in Amdo, Ngawa, in eastern Tibet. He lived with his parents until he was eight years old, when his grandfather sent him to Nangzhig Monastery in Amdo, Ngawa Tibet.
Nangzhig Monastery was founded in 1108 and is the largest Yungdrung Bon Monastery in Tibet. At the age of 8, he studied the Tibetan language and learned many rituals from Khanpo Akhu Gaylwa. When he was 10 years old he took his monk’s vows, and at 13 he began his studies in Bon Philosophy to earn his Geshe diploma.
He studied Philosophy with Polo Tenzin Puntsok Rinpoche from age 13 to 17. When Geshe Tenpa was 17 years old, he entered Triten Norbutse Monastery, where he continued his studies in Bon Philosophy with Ponlop Tsangpa Tenzin Rinpoche.
When he was 22 years old, he studied Sutra, Tantra, Dzogchen with Drupdra Khanpo Tsultrim Rinpoche. He received his Geshe diploma from Triten Norbutse Monastery at the age of 33.
Geshe Tenpa was honored to study for many years with HE Yongdzin Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche, who is the oldest teacher of the Bön tradition and is considered the world’s greatest expert on Bon.