The Abbot

Biography of Khenchen Jamyang Tenzin

Khenchen Jamyang Tenzin was born in 1960 in Shimla, HP, India. His father Mr. Kunga and mother Mrs. Tsering Dolma had hard time struggling for survival as they fled Tibet few months ago.  His childhood name was Tsetan Dorjee.  At the age of 13, he became monk at Sakya Tsechen Do-Ngag Choeling in Mundgod where he studied basic Buddhist rituals of Sa-Ngor tradition till 1976. After that, he joined Sakya college to study  higher Buddhist studies under the great master Khenchen Appey Rinpoche, and graduated in 1984. He studied sutras, tantras, shastras and English language and become well-versed in all faculties. That same year, under the guidance of H.H. Sakya Trizin and Khenchen Appey Rinpoche appointed him as the Principal of Sakya College. He taught and at the same time took responsibility of the administration of Sakya College till 1990.

Thereafter, Khenchen Jamyang Tenzin undergoes meditational retreat at Jamchen Lhakhang, Kathmandu, Nepal to contemplate, experience and enhance his spiritual wisdom of Lam-Dre (exclusive Path and Fruition teaching of Sakya Tradition) under the spiritual guidance of His Eminence Chogyed Trichen Rinpoche. After the completion of the three years retreat, KhenChen Jamyang Tenzin went back to Sakya College.

Later in 1994, on the requests of Mundgod Sakya Monastery and directions from HH the Sakya Trizin, he returned to Mundgod and was formally enthroned as the abbot of  Sakya Tsechen Do-Ngag Choeling, Mundgod. Since then, he has been teaching and guiding monks and laypeople alike. Khenpo Jamyang Tenzin’s farsightedness, resourcefulness and kindness were instrumental in bringing positive administrative changes and the constructive developments that we see at Sakya Monastery.

His generosity is much known as not only to the monks of this monastery but he also extends helps to poor people in Tibetan Settlement as well as local Indian poor people through Initiative Oberland from Germany and some friends from Switzerland.

He also visits International Buddhist Academy (IBA) Kathmandu every year as an Associated Professor to teach international Buddhist students and carries translation works to give teaching to western disciples.