Khenpo Chimed Tsering is the spiritual leader of more than a hundred Nyingma monasteries in the Holy Yolmo Valley, Northeast of Kathmandu, Nepal. Khenpo Rinpoche was born in Yolmo in 1964. At the age of eight, he began his Buddhist studies and practice in Yolmo. In 1976 he received his first empowerment of the Northern Spiritual Treasures (Jang Ter) from His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche. He also practiced and received many transmissions and empowerments of the Drukpa Kagyu lineage from Lama Dechen Dorje, a disciple of Tripon Pema Choegyal, who was one of the main disciples of the great master Drubwang Shakya Shree.

In 1983 Khenpo became a monk at Dazang Rinpoche's Monastery in Kathmandu, where he studied the Karma Kagyu lineage. In 1985 he went to South India and entered the Ngagyur Nyingma Institute of Higher Buddhist Studies founded by His Holiness Penor Rinpoche in Bylakuppe. This Institute, or Shedra, is the largest of its kind in the world. During his studies Khenpo ranked first in his class for six years and second for three years, graduating after nine years with the highest honors. During that time, he also became known for his debating skill and his ability for explaining Buddhist philosophy. As part of his exams, he was frequently chosen to debate in the presence of H.H. Dalai Lama, H.H. Penor Rinpoche and more than a hundred Khenpos and Geshes. While he was still a student, he acted as assistant professor in the Institute for five years, and after graduation he became a professor in the same Institute.

In 1996, at the request of many Lamas from Yolmo, H.H. Penor Rinpoche sent Khenpo to his native place to teach and establish monasteries. In addition, His Holiness directed Khenchen Pema Sherab Rinpoche and Khenpo Chimed's brother Khenpo Nyima Dondrub to visit Yolmo once a year to teach.

Khenpo established an annual teaching program in the Yolmo Valley, according to which every year alternatively each of the monasteries would be given teachings. As part of this program, in 1996 he taught more than one thousand lamas at the Tak Ongsa Monastery. In 1997, he and his teacher Khenchen Pema Sherab Rinpoche taught at the Sermathang Monastery. In 1998, Lopon Nyima Dondrub joined them to teach at Tsuri Monastery. The three Khenpos continued with the program, and taught together at Monlam Chim Monastery in 1999, at Milarepa's Cave˜the Great Holy Place˜in 2000, and at Takpa Kharka Monastery in 2001. As a result of this program, the spiritual life in Yolmo was greatly enriched, with more and more participants attending the teachings every year.

The Kyangin Monastery in the Yolmo Valley

In addition to his teaching activities, Khenpo is the director of the Yolmo Project, which includes the current construction of the first retirement home in Yolmo, as well as a monastery, a nunnery, a Shedra, a children's home, and a three year retreat center. H.H. Penor Rinpoche has also placed one of his retreat centers in Yolmo under Khenpo‚s care.

In 1998, lamas representing more than one hundred monasteries in Yolmo requested the formal enthronement of Khenpo Chimed and Lopon Nyima Dondrub as Khenpos. In October that year, Khenchen Pema Sherab Rinpoche, the senior Teacher at the Ngagyur Nyingma Institute, went to Yolmo and conducted the enthronement ceremony at Tsuri monastery. H.H. Penor Rinpoche awarded Khenpo Chimed the Khenpo Certificate a year later.
In 1999, Khenpo invited H.H. Penor Rinpoche to bless the Yolmo Project monastery land. In 2001 at the Khenpo‚s request, His Holiness returned to Yolmo and gave empowerments, teachings and oral transmissions to more than three thousand people. He also gave special teachings to the yogis in the three year retreat center.

During the Spring of 1999, H.H. Penor Rinpoche gave permission to Khenpo to travel to the United States and establish Dharma centers. In 1999, Khenpo opened the Pema Tsal Meditation Center in New York and another one with the same name in Yellow Springs, Ohio, in 2001.

At the end of 2001, the Nepal Government appointed Khenpo as president of the Monastery Management and Development Committee, that represents more than 2000 Buddhist monasteries in Nepal and is responsible for the distribution of the Government aid and the welfare of the monasteries.

In 2005, Khenpo Rinpoche started the construction of his monastery, Palyul Dongag Shedrup ösel Norbu Ling, and is responsable of the Siddharta Foundation, in the Pandit Goun Valley, Nepal.

KHENPO CHIME’S LONG LIFE PRAYER

OM SOTTI
GYAL KUN NGO WO CHI MED THOD TENG TSAL
BAR CHED KUN SEL BENZA KI LA YA
TRIN LEY KUN DRUB KHA DROEE TSOG CHE KHEY
DENG DER MON PA DRUB PE GE LEG TSOL
NAM DAG DOM SUM TRIM KYI TSA WA TEN
SEN SAM GOM PE YAL DAB CHE CHER GEY
CHED TSOED TSOM PE DRE ZANG YUR ZA WE
CHI MED YONG DUEE WANG PO TEN SHUG SOL
TSA SUM GYAL WA TSOEE JEN LAB DANG
CHO NYI NAM DAG CHO CHEN LU MEY THOE
DAG CHAG LHAG SAM DAG PAY MON PE DREY
GEG MAY LHUN DRUP TRA SHI PAL BAR SHOG