Appointment of New Khenpo

Khenpo Sonam Gyurme

_In February, His Eminence Nyenpa Rinpoche and Venerable Tenga Rinpoche appointed Sonam Gyurme as the first Benchen Khenpo in Nepal. He was enrolled in Benchen Monastery in Kathmandu at the age of 18, and underwent monastic training under the guidance of both Rinpoches and other teachers for eight years. During this time, he was considered to be a diligent and determined student in various subjects. At the age of 25, the Rinpoches decided to send him to the Dzongsar Shedra, which was established by His Eminence Dzongsar Kyentse Rinpoche, in Bir, India. This Shedra is near His Eminence Tai Situ Rinpoche's monastery, Sherab Ling. Sonam Gyurme studied intensively for nine years all the major treatises of Tibetan Buddhist philosophy, such as the Madyamikas, Prajna Paramita, Sutras, Abhidharma Kosha, Tsema, etc. In Dzongsar Shedra he was acting as a kyorpon, an assistant of the Khenpos.