Teachers at DharmaSun

Born in Mugum in northwestern Nepal in 1982, Urgyen Tenphel’s parents were devotees of Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche. At the age of 13, Urgyen Tenphel happily took ordination at Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling Monastery and in 1995 enrolled in the monastery’s newly-established Sangye Yeshe Shedra or ‘monastic college.’ In 2002, Urgyen Tenphel began teaching review classes for monks in their first and second year of shedra. He assiduously continued his own studies and earned his khenpo degree in 2008. Khenpo Urgyen Tenphel then taught two or three shedra classes daily. In 2010, Rangjung Yeshe Institute enlisted him to serve as a language partner for their Western students. He very much enjoyed these exercises which helped him overcome shyness and feel more comfortable conversing with the foreign students. In 2010 and 2011, Khenpo taught academic classes to RYI’s MA students. He subsequently taught courses at Rinpoche’s centers in Southeast Asia, Europe, and California. Deeply committed to educating the monks and nuns, Khenpo was delighted to be assigned to serve as Khenpo in Nagi Gompa’s first shedra classes for nuns. So enthusiastic was he that in addition to teaching adult nuns, he also taught middle school classes and kindergarten-level classes for the novice nuns. Currently, Khenpo Urgyen Tenphel is Vice Principal of Sangye Yeshe Monastic Shedra.