Khenpo Kunzang Palden

Khenpo Kunpal (c.1872-1943) also called Gekong Khenchen Kunzang Palden and Kunzang Chökyi Drakpa was a great scholar of the Nyingma tradition. He was a close disciple and biographer of Patrul Rinpoche. He was born in Dzachukha valley, in Kham and was ordained as a monk by Khenpo Yönten Gyatso of Dzogchen monastery. After receiving the transmission from Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo and the fifth Dzogchen Rinpoche, he became one of the great holders of the Longchen Nyingtik lineage. He was also an important student and biographer of Mipham Rinpoche. He taught at Gekong monastery of Dzachukha and was the first teacher at the shedra of Kathok monastery, where he was assisted by Khenpo Ngawang Palzang (Khenpo Ngakchung). He left many important writings like The Stories of Vinaya and commentaries on Mipham Rinpoche's Beacon of Certainty (Ngeshé Drönmé). He is best known for his commentary on the Bodhicharyavatara, by Shantideva which is taught to this day in most shedras. He was the main teacher of Pöpa Tulku, and also taught Khunu Lama Tenzin Gyaltsen.

Selected Writings

• Drops of Nectar

Further Reading

• Khenchen Kunzang Pelden and Minyak Kunzang Sönam, Wisdom: Two Buddhist Commentaries, Editions Padmakara, 1999
• Kunzang Palden, The Nectar of Manjushri's Speech: A Detailed Commentary on Shantideva's Way of the Bodhisattva, Shambhala, forthcoming 2007
• Nyoshul Khenpo, A Marvelous Garland of Rare Gems: Biographies of Masters of Awareness in the Dzogchen Lineage, Padma Publications, 2005

External Links

• Andreas Kretschmar's Translation of Khenpo Kunpal's Bodhicharyavatara Commentary