Lama Kelsang Nyima Rinpoche

Lama Kelsang Nyima (b.1967) was born on the 15th day of the 6th month of the Tibetan calendar to his father, Khorta Tsetop, and his mother, Paldon at Tsaru, Doetoe, Amdo, Tibet. Lama Nyima did not have an opportunity to study the dharma until 1975, because of the pressures and restrictions of the Chinese regime. After 1976, although there was some freedom to teach, many teachers/gurus understandably hesitated to teach. Lama Kelsang decided to leave Amdo, and went to Ngari, in the Mount Kailish region of Eastern Tibet; he faced many obstacles along the way.

Lama Kelsang’s first teacher in Ngari was Wangthang Tulku, a Drikung Kagyu lineage lama at the Gyandrak Monastery. Lama Kelsang completed his preliminary practices with Wangthang Tulku, who also conferred the Troma Nakmo empowerment; Lama Kelsang Nyima then began the Krodikali practice. Later at Tsurphu, Lama Kelsang Nyima Rinpoche received the Amitabha, Chenrezig and Mitrugpa empowerments and teachings from Lama Karma Dechen. Lama Kelsang circumambulated Mount Kailish one hundred times along with members of his family. He received the Longchen Nyingthik teachings, including the Dzogchen Trikchuk teaching from the great master Golok Togdhen Rinpoche. While he was at Samye accomplishing mantras, Lama Kelsang received the mind instruction and other teachings and blessings from Khenchen Jigmey Phuntsok.

Lama Kelsang arrived in India in 1990, and completed a three-year retreat on the Eight Herukas (which had been conferred by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama). His retreat master was Lama Khamtrul Rinpoche. Later he moved to Nepal, where Dungsey Thinley Norbu Rinpoche conferred His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche’s Richo teaching and mind instruction from the Dudjom Tersar. Lama Kelsang Rinpoche also received the Rinchen Terdzö empowerment from Penor Rinpoche and the transmission from Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche. He received the Rigdzin Düpa empowerment from Chatral Rinpoche. Back in India later, the ngakpa siddhi Golok Lama Pema Tenpo conferred Dzogchen instructions, which Lama Kelsang received again later from Kyanchak Rinpoche. The Troma empowerment, transmission and instruction were conferred by Lama Yeshi Dorje, a disciple of Kyabje Dudjom Jigdral Rinpoche. In Darjeeling, Lama Kelsang received the Dudjom Tersar transmission from Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche. In 1997, Lama Kelsang Rinpoche arrived at the Odisha Tibetan settlement, where he received the Rinchen Terdzö empowerment from Namkha Drimed Rabjam Rinpoche. In 2020, he also received the entire transmission of the Jatsön Nyingpo treasure texts from Gyalsey Rinpoche.

After the passing of Tulku Tsephel in 2010, Lama Sonam Tashi consulted with the late Shenphen Dawa Rinpoche about Tulku Tsephel’s successor. Lama Kelsang Rinpoche was then enthroned as the 7th president of Dundul Raptenling Monastery. Serving as the president, Lama Kelsang Rinpoche cares for the monastery by attending and leading all prayers and occasions at the monastery.