A Biography of ‘Khenpo Shir Lama Gurung (Thupten Yeshe), Nepal – Chief Guru of Diamond Buddhist Centre UK
1. Outline: Khenpo Shir Lama Gurung (Thupten Yeshe) was awarded the Khenpo Degree (Philosophy of Doctrine) from Ngagyur Nyingma Institute, Mysor, India on 2017. He received many empowerment, oral transmission and teaching from Rinpoches and Kyabje H.H. Dalai Lama. Now, he is principal at ‘Bouddha Arghoun Sadan,’ (Monastery) Ramghat Pokhara, Kaski, Nepal. At present he is the President of Gurung Bouddha Samaj Nepal.
2. Birth: Khenpo Shir Lama Gurung (Thupten Yeshe) was born at Tangting village ward no 4, Namarjung VDC on September 23, 1980. Now, It’s been changed as ‘Madi Gau Palika,’ ward no 2, according to the new federal constitution of Nepal. His parent Om Bahadur Gurung and Birkashi Gurung were a middle class farming family in the village.
3. Early Childhood: He was one of the smart children during his childhood. He studied up to grade 7th at the ‘Himalayan High School’ at Tangting village and grade 8 and 9 at ‘Dhudh Pokhari High School.’ He has four siblings, and he is the elder one among them.
4.Buddhist Education:
1. Elementary reading, writing and ritual practice at Deep Monastery, Pokhara, 1992- 96.
2. Intensive Buddhist middle level course at Namdroling Monastery, Bylekupee, Mysore, India, 1996-2000.
3. Nine graded college studies and completed Master in Buddhist Philosophy (Sutra and Tantra) in first division from Ngagyur Nyingma Institute, Mysore, India, 2000-2010. This Institute was established by H.H. Penor Rinpoche.
4. Awarded Khenpo Degree (Philosophy of Doctrine) on April 6, 2017 from Ngagyur Nyingma Institute, Mysor, India. He is the first person to receive the Khenpo Degree among the Gurung Community in Nepal.
5.Ordination:
1. General ordination (Sramanera Shila) received from H.H. Penor Rinpoche in 1999.
2. Full Ordination (Bhikshu Shila) received from H.H. Penor Rinpoche in 2007.
6. Other Buddhist Teaching and Practicees.
1. After completion of Master degree, he received and completed all the preliminary practice, Tsalung higher level Mahayoga practice and highest level of great perfection practice from Kyabje Penor Rinpoche.
2. He received many empowerment, oral transmission and teaching from Kyabje H.H. Dalai Lama, Kyabje Penor Rinpoche, Kyabje Sakye Trichen Rinpoche, Kyabje Chadral Sangye Dorji Rinpoche, Kyabje Dodrup Rinpoche, Kyabje Taglung Tsetrul Rinpoche, Kyabje Shechhen Rabjan Rinpoche and Kyabje Thupsang Rinpoche.
7. Other virtuous activities:
1. He is contributing his best of knowledge to spread the Buddhist education at home and abroad. He is visiting more than 15 Monasteries in Nepal for peace, prosperity and happiness for all sentient beings.
2. He is founder president of ‘Gurung (Tamu) Lama Buddhist Society’ of Kathmandu since 2014. The major aim of this society is to continue preserve, unification, similarity of ritual ceremony, maintain the purity of Buddhist teachings. He has been successfully conducted the historical assemblies twice among Nepal, India’s Gurung Lamas, lay practitioners to disseminate, flourish, preserve the Buddhist and Gurung culture.
3. A sub-regional Committee of ‘Gurung (Tamu) Lama Buddhist Society were formed in Pokhara, Chitwan, Dharan and Jhapa district under his leadership.Executive member of Nepal Buddhist Nyingma Association.
4. Currently, he is a principal and Vajra master of ‘BAS’ Bouddha Arghoun Sadan, (Monastery) Ramghat Pokhara, Kaski, Nepal. The monastery is providing free Buddhist education, foods, cloths, hostel facilities for more than 55 students and a sermon at new moon and full moon under his leadership.
5. The ‘BAS’ has numbers of building. Currently a three stories building is under construction to expand the private prayer hall, library, and museum.The ‘BAS’ is planning to manage an electronic cremation house in the future to minimize the environmental impact.
6. The ‘BAS’ has owned total 25 Ropani land. 15 Ropani for residential use and 10 Ropani for public garden.
7. The ‘BAS’ is governing by Capt. Bhuban Singh Gurung. He is 9th Chairman of this Organization.
8. Hobby:
His hobby is reading, writing, travelling, flourish the Buddhist art, culture, and literature at home and abroad.
9. Daily life:
His daily life is busy more than normal people. He arranges the sermons, attend the classes, teaching, ritual ceremony, visiting Monasteries and participate the workshop, seminars and conferences. He is the master of compassionate, highest knowledge with a perfection of art. He has number of disciples, laymen, followers and known as a ‘Master of Sermon’ at the age.
