Lopon Tsewang, born in 1970 to Tibetan parents, became a monk when he was a young boy. To complete his formal studies, he entered the Ngagyur Nyingma Institute at Namdrolling Monastery in 1993. Upon graduation, His Holiness Penor Rinpoche, abbott of Namdrolling Monastery and the Institute, sent Lopon Tsewang to teach in Sarnath at Padma Samye Cho Kar Ling, a new monastery being set up by Ven. Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche.

Following this assignment, Lopon Tsewang traveled to Taiwan where he taught and studied with Ven. Tulku Tsultrim Tharchin Rinpoche at his center in San Chung City. Lopon Tsewang is presently living in Jyekundo as our in country project's manager. All the pictures on the website from Tibet were talken by Lopon Tsewang.

Along with being a well trained scholor and teacher, Lopon Tsewang is a serious practitioner of Vajrayana Buddhism. He is known for his love of practice and his abilities to led practice retreats and teach the forms necessary to fully understand the depths of the teachings. Lopon Tsewang is skilled in the muscial instruments, ritual implements, torma creation, songs, and melodies of the Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism, Tibetan calligraphy and Tibetan astrology.

Seen above talking with Ven. Tulku Rinpoche at his center in Taiwan, Lopon Tsewang has a lighter side.

Lopon (right) photographed in Feb. 2007

He is a good cook, a carpenter, a wood carver and can sew and create hand made traditional Tibetan garments and monastic robes. A modern man he also uses computers, digital cameras, and SKYPE.

Lopon Tsewang, (top row) with his headset he uses to talk via the web with his American English tutor, has a conversational command of spoken and written English.

During his stay in Taiwan he is continued to study with his Memphis based tutor. He is working hard on learning English so he can work easily with western students and personally direct their practice and studies.