I am Shedrup Kunzang Namgyel, born at Nyari, the place named after a fish-like landscape located at Dungkhar, Lhuntse district of Bhutan. It is part of Khenpalung and a place located facing Richen Bumpa Monastery where Guru Rinpoche meditated for three months. I was born in the Fire Rabbit Year in 1987 to father Yeshey Rigzin, who was a tantric and Sonam Pelki, the niece of a great master Ngawang Choedra who was the main disciple of Azom Drukpa Rinpoche. My father Yeshey Rigzin was the main disciple of Dungtse Lopen alias Tashi Phuntsho who was the direct disciple of Togden Yeshey Nyingpo.
During the birth, numerous miraculous signs were said to have appeared like covering the residence with rainbow from both inside and outside. I was named Kunzang Namgyel by my father. At four, I was observed to recollect the events of my previous life and narrated the accounts of my previous life. My father unable to believe, took me to Samling Trulku Rinpoche and narrated the stories. He was profoundly happy and declared that I am the reincarnation of Lama Sonam Rinchen from Tibet, he offered scarf. He named me Jigme Thinley Jamtsho. He advised my parents to keep clean and take to the seat (Monastery)of Gyalwang Karmapa as soon as possible. But being a farmer from a remote village in Bhutan, my parents could not fulfill that task.
Back at home, I started to learn reading and writing from my father since I was young with much ease and dedication. My village being remote and far from cities, I couldn’t even go for studies at Gangtok. In the meanwhile, at the age of seven, my father passed away and I couldn’t go anywhere. At village I was enrolled to a meditation center and learned ritual practice thoroughly from my first teacher Monlam Namgyal.
At the age of fourteen, I recited Kangyur for two years with four other friends at the seat of Drubwang Lama Sonam Zangpo in Serzhong. I received empowerments of Hayagriva, Vajrapani, and Garuda-deity and underwent other process of maturation and liberation like completion of preliminary practice of Five Times Hundred Thousand practice From Lama Rigzin Samdrup. Then I received empowerment of Four Heart-Essences (Nyingtig Yabshi) life-empowerment of Manjushri from His Holiness Penor Rinpoche, the emanation of Vimalamitra. Moreover I received oral transmission of Omniscient Mipham Rinpoche’s encyclopedia from His Eminence Trulku Rigzin Pema Rinpoche; empowerment of Dudjom Rinpoche’s encyclopedia from His Eminence Dungzin Garab Rinpoche; preliminary practice of Nyingthig from Lam Serpo; Longchen Rabjam’s Heart Essence preliminary practice and other teachings of peaceful and wrathful Manjushri, empowerment of Sarasvati, Life Entrustment of Tsheringma, Method of Attainment of Manjushri, Method of Attainment of Sarasvati, Tersar Preliminary practice, Manjushri Nama Sangirti, Attainment of the Vidyadhara Life and many other Buddhist text from Khenchen Rinzin Dorji Rinpoche at Ngagyur Tholop Thekgu Lekshedling (Taktse Nyingma Institute) in Gangtok Sikkim India.
I also received teachings of, seven-word guru sadhana of Mipham, Brief Life of Padmasambhava, Manjushri Nama Sangirti, Attainment of Manjushri of Chagme Rinpoche, Conquering All Diseases, Vajra Subjugator (A Mahayana sutra) from His Holiness Drayab Khamtrul Rinpoche.
Kama (a canonical teachings) from His Eminence Yangthang Rinpoche, and received Gyübum(The Hundred Thousand Tantras of the Nyingma School) from Ladhak Choeje Togden Rinpoche. And I also received Seven-point Mind Training and Spinning Blade of Mind Training from Khenchen Pema Sherab.
The three roots (guru, yidam, dakini) instruction, empowerment of sutra of Embodiment of Realization and Four Heart-Essences (Nyingtig Yabzhi), Three Roots of Terton Nyidrak, Life-empowerment of Dakini Dechen Gyalmo from His Holiness Dodrupchen Rinpoche; sutra of Embodiment of Realization, Palyul liturgical text and Notes for the Development Stage(bskyedrim) from Khen Rinpoche Jamyang Tshering, and I met my root guru Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, and received many teachings including Rinchen Terzoed, Thangtong Nyengyud, pema Lingpa treasure collections, teaching collection of sera khando, and Nyingthik yazhi. From Terchen Namkha Drimed ramjam Rinpoche, I received treasure collection of Gesar, I received kama empowerment and transmission and jigmelingpa teaching collection from HH Namkhai Nyingpo Rinpoche. And from HH Zhechen Rajam Rinpoche I received teaching collection of HH Dilgo khyentse Rinpoche, jigmelingpa teaching collection, Dza paltrul Rinpoches teaching collections and all the secret dharmapala empowerment from Rinchen Terzoed. And I received ngondro tsa-lung and Dzogchen, Nyingthik yazhi, empowerment of JigmeLingpa treasure collection, empowerment of chod, fire empowerment of tumo, empowerment of five dakini, and I learn few times of longchen Lujong (Longchenpa yoga) from my guru lama Jigme Namgyel Rinpoche.
Currently I’m looking after the Rinchen Bumpa Monastery, and rest of my life serving Buddha dharma. May it benefit to all the sentient beings.
Tashi Delek, Thank you for your precious time.