LW wave

 

Lama Tsering Wangdu Rinpoche was born in 1936 in the village of Langkor in West Dingri, Tibet, near the Mt. Everest region.

He began studying with his guru, Naptra Rinpoche, at age 8. When Rinpoche was in his early twenties, Naptra Rinpoche sent him on a traditional Chod retreat, known as a chodkhor, visiting 108 cremation grounds, during which he had many profound experiences. Upon conclusion of the retreat, his teacher acknowledged his accomplishment in the practice and sent him on pilgrimage to Nepal, where he arrived in 1958.

Rinpoche eventually made his way to the Kathmandu Valley, where he settled in the Tibetan refugee camp in Jawalakehl. He lived there for many years among hte refugees, and became one of the few pujaris (ritual practitioners) accessible to both the Tibetan refugee population as well as the local Nepalese community. He is well known in Kathmandu for his powers as a healer.

LW & HHDLIn March 2003, Rinpoche attended teachings by His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama in Dharamsala, India. During that visit, His Holiness told him that the Shije teachings of Padampa Sangye, including the practices for the pacification of suffering, were especially precious and relevant to contemporary conditions.

Recognizing Rinpoche as an eminent lineage holder of these teachings, His Holiness aked Rinpoche to establish a monastery in Kathmandu to continue these teachings in Nepal and preserve it for the benefit of future generations.
In accordance with the instruction of HH The Dalai Lama, Lama Wangdu Rinpoche acquired an old monastery, called Shelkar Chode, in Boudha. Coincidentally, this monastery was the branch of the one in Tibet, where Lama Wangdu used to work during his youth.

The monastery has been renovated and installed with new statues, with financial aid from HH The Dalai Lama. The monastery now houses about twenty monks, who are being trained by Lama Wangdu in the lineage of Shije and Chod, and other Nyingma practices such as the tradition of the Longchen Nyingthig. Some of these monks were rescued from Dingri, the birthplace of Lama Wangdu, and also the place where the lineage of Shije took root in Tibet with its founder, Padampa Sangye.

LW monks puja