Khenpo Karten Rinpoche
Khenpo Karten Rinpoche was born in 1965 in Eastern Tibet, Kham, Nangchen, Zalmogang. He became a monk at Japa Monastery when he was twelve where he mastered the recitations and chant melodies for the monastery’s ritual practices. At the age of sixteen he began his studies at Dege Zhechen Monastery and Dzogchen Monastery. From the Dzachuka abbot Sötse Rinpoche he received instruction on Bodhicaryavatara—Guide to the Bodhisattva Conduct— the Three Vows, the Wishfulfilling Treasury, and more. He then trained with many fully qualified great beings such as his karmic root Guru of all his lifetimes, the elder Nangchen Lama Sangye Tenzin Rinpoche; Drubchen Karnor Rinpoche, a second Milarepa; Lhateng Jamo Tulku; Nangchen Adeu Rinpoche; Benchen Chimé Tulku; Nedo Khatrul Rinpoche; Ga Dulmo Chöje Rinpoche; Pelbar Rinpoche, Lama of Khenpo Karten’s own monastery; and others. From these masters he received Pratimoksha, Bodhisattva, and Tantric vows as well as initiations, instructions, and transmissions of many practices from the scriptures, from termas—hidden treasure teachings— and from vision teachings. He studied the Five Great Treasuries in particular, his training being in no way incomplete. When he was twenty-one he entered and completed a three year, three month retreat at the Tersar Drubkhang of his own monastery and became praised by all for his practice and perseverance. When he was twenty-four he received instructions on Mahamudra and Dzogchen from Trachog Khenchen Karma Tseten. He also studied the Gelugpa scriptures such as the Great and Middling Stages of the Path Teachings with Kada Tritrul Dorjechang. He returned to the Dege area a second time where he studied with many accomplished Gurus such as Palpung Khenpo Dilchung Lochö, Khenpo Zhönu Nyima and Dzogchen Khenpo Chimé Rigzin, listening, contemplating, and meditating on profound subjects of Sutra and Tantra and other fields of knowledge.
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama
Japa Sangye Tenzin Rinpoche
