At the age of three, he moved from America to Nepal. In 1993–1994, he first received the blessings of the empowerment of the Precious Collection of Sadhanas from His Holiness the Sakya Gongma Trizin, the lord of lineages and mandalas, at Tharlam Monastery in Nepal. Coinciding with this fortunate opportunity, under the presiding presence of His Holiness the Sakya Gongma Trizin Dorje Chang Chenpo, amidst an ocean of gathered monks, a grand and auspicious celebration and enthronement ceremony were held. He was then installed on the high golden throne.
His Holiness the Great Vajradhara, the supreme leader, bestowed upon him the name Ngawang Kunga Tegchen Chökyi Nyima. From then on, he resided permanently at Shree Tharlam Sasang Namgyal Monastery in Nepal. Initially, he began with the foundation of all qualities, learning to read and write. Gradually, he studied the immaculate traditions of the Ngorpa lineage, particularly the practices transmitted through the direct lineage of the holy ancestors from Gaton Vajradhara. These include Hevajra, Vairocana, Kangso , Lama Chöpa, and various devotional practices. He perfected his training in these direct lineage practices and liturgical chants under the guidance of Gen Tenpa Wangchuk and others.
At the age of nine, on March 28, 1999, he received the Lamdre Lobshe teachings from His Holiness the Sakya Gongma Dakchen Rinpoche. At the end of that year, he received the final empowerments of the Collection of Sadhanas from His Holiness the 41st Sakya Trizin at the Ngor Ewam Chöden Monastery.
In 2004, at the age of fourteen, in the auspicious Lumbini Grove—a sacred and special place—he received the pure novice monk vows of a śrāmaṇera from His Eminence Chogye Trichen Rinpoche. He was given the name Tenpai Gyaltsen.
In 2005, he first went to Sakya College to study the major texts of Sutra and Tantra. At the request of the people of Tharlam Namgyal Ling Monastery, the former Dezhung Rinpoche’s residence, he visited Tibet in June 2007. The abbot, staff, and entire monastic community of Tharlam Monastery, as well as the six village communities and all the faithful people from other regions, welcomed him with hundreds of miles of horses, motorcycles, and vehicles, accompanied by joy, faith, and excitement. He was then enthroned as the protector and abbot of this monastery in the great Lamdre Chökyi Lhakhang temple of Tharlam Namgyal Ling Monastery. The entire monastic community and lay population offered him a grand long-life ceremony.
During this visit, he also carried out extensive activities at Ga Thubten Monastery, Dzonggo Samten Ling Monastery, Ga Kyegu Dondrub Ling, Dezhung Monastery Shedrup Dargye Ling, and many other monasteries. After these activities, he returned to India in June of that year to continue his studies at the prestigious Sakya College.
In 2010, he took on the responsibility of Chairman of the Student Welfare Committee at Sakya College. He diligently studied the Six Great Treatises, the Eighteen Major Texts, and all aspects of Sutra, Tantra, and secular knowledge. In 2015, he completed the Shastri degree.
Following his attainment of a Shastri degree in sutras from Sakya College, he enrolled in the Vajrayana Institute to study tantric practices, dedicating three years to his education there.
In 2024, he made a special request to His Holiness Sakya Gongma Trichen and His Holiness the 42nd Sakya Trizin to impart teachings on Lamdre at Tharlam Monastery. In response to his request, His Holiness Sakya Gongma Trichen and His Holiness the 42nd Sakya Trizin expounded the teachings on Lamdre over a period of two months to over four thousand devotees who had gathered from various parts of the world.
He has also undertaken retreat practices for several deities, including Bjung Dül, Sajyam Bagdrup, and Drolkar. He continues to pursue further study and contemplation of Sutra, Tantra, and secular subjects.
