Khenpo Yeshi

Khenpo Yeshi was born into a noble family in Kham, East Tibet in 1969.  From early childhood, he showed a deep interest in the study of Dharma.  Tibetan Dzogchen master, His Eminence Lungdok Rinpoche, as well as His Eminence Khenpo Könchok Gyaltsen took a personal interest in guiding young Yeshi and, at the age of thirteen, he was granted empowerments, transmissions and oral instructions in the cycle of sNying thig.

Arriving in South India at nineteen, Khenpo Yeshi went to Sera Monastery, and later entered Dzogchen Monastery to complete his studies in both the Sutra and Tantra trainings. Over the years, Khenpo Yeshi studied closely with more than two dozen eminent Khenpos, including His Eminence Khenchen Meiwa Tubten Rinpoche and His Eminence Khenchen Pema Tsewang Rinpoche. Moreover, he received empowerments, transmissions, and oral instructions of both kama and terma of the Nyingma tradition from such renowned high Lamas as His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, His Eminence Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, His Eminence Dodrupchen Rinpoche.

 In 1992, Khenpo Yeshi traveled to Changchub Ling at Dera Dun, India, where he received teachings, transmissions, and empowerments of the Drikung Kagyu Lineage from His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang, His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chungtsang, Khenchen Konchog Gyaltsen Rinpoche, Togden Rinpoche and many other great teachers and masters of the Drikung Kagyu Lineage.

At the completion of his academic Buddhist studies, Khenpo Yeshi traveled to Nepal to undertake an intensive three-year meditative retreat under the guidance of the renowned Dzogchen master, H.E. Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche. At that time, H.E. Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche granted Khenpo Yeshi special dzogchen teachings and personal instructions, placing him in retreat at Asura Cave Retreat Center in Pharping, south of Kathmandu.

Upon completion of his retreat in 1997, His Eminence Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche invited Khenpo Yeshi to teach at the monastery’s Shedra (program of advanced Buddhist studies).  In 1989, Khenpo Yeshi received teachings and empowerments from His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche in Nepal, and in 2001, Khenpo Yeshi participated in his 45-day Yamataka Retreat in Arizona’s Garchen Institute. While in America, Khenpo Yeshi received further personal teachings from H.E. Garchen Rinpoche.

Since 2001, he has participated in retreats at Lama Tharchin’s Dharma center, Pema Osel Ling, in Santa Cruz, California and at Garchen Rinpoche’s summer retreats held in Arizona.  He continues to instruct students both from Asia and America and currently he is completing his PhD studies at the University of California, Berkeley. Khenpo Yeshi resides in Land O’ Lakes, Florida and occasionally teaches at Drong Ngur Jangchubling Buddhist Center.