Khenpo Chöying Dorjee

Khenpo Chöying Dorjee teaching

Khenpo Chöying Dorjee (b. 1974) is a student of Khenpo Kunga Wangchuk and Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche. He studied at Dzongsar Institute, in India from 1992 to 1998, where he received the shastra and acharya titles. Khenpo Chöying has been teaching at Dzongsar Institute since 1999, and in 2002 he was nominated as a khenpo.

Education

Choying Dorjee learned reading and writing at the age of six. He received numerous empowerments and teachings from Leda Jangchub Dorjee and his monastic vow from Gila Rinpoche, aka Ngawang Chophel Zangpo.

In accordance with the last wish of his late father, coupled with his own commitment and on the advice of Tromtar Khenchen Yeshi Zangpo from whom he received the master’s explanation on the Lamdré teaching and the Compendium of Sadhanas, he joined Dzongsar Shedra in India in 1992 where he completed the study of the Eighteen Renowned Scriptures including auxiliary teachings under Khenpo Kunga Wangchuk and other teachers whom Khen Rinpoche nurtured.

Khenpo Choying Dorjee received numerous initiations and instructions from H.H. the Dalai Lama, Kyabgon Gongma Trichen Rinpoche, Luding Khenchen Rinpoche and Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche including Kalachakra, and the Lamdré teaching.

Teaching

Khenpo Choying Dorjee was appointed as an assistant teacher in 1999 and as a teacher in 2001. In 2002, amidst the large gathering of shedra khenpos and monks, Khenpo Kunga Wangchuk enthroned Khenpo Choying Dorjee as Khenpo and gave him the name of Shedra Khenchung. In 2004, Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche awarded him the Khenpo certificate in the presence of H.H. the Dalai Lama. In 2005, he was appointed as the Khenpo of Dzongsar Dharma Center in Malaysia and went to learn English at the British Council in Singapore the next year. He returned to the Shedra in 2008 as advised by Khenpo Kunga Wangchuk.

In 2009, on the instruction of H.H. Dagchen Ngawang Sonam, he served as the tutor of H.E. Dungsey Avikrita Vajra Rinpoche of Phuntsok Podrang until Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche sent him as a visiting scholar to the University of Berkeley in 2011. As advised by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, he served for three years as Shedra principal from 2013.

Khenpo Choying Dorjee gives teacher training workshops for Buddhist teachers including westerners and is one of the khenpos teaching in the Milinda Program, a 10-year contemporary shedra for westerners.

He teaches in America, Asia, Australia and Europe and always strives to make the teachings understandable and applicable in everyday life.

Khenpo Choying Dorjee also serves on the Khyentse Foundation India Program Committee.

Teachings Given to the Rigpa Sangha

• 3-22 November 2020, Rigpa Germany, online programme: commentary on the Uttaratantra Shastra