The Fifth Khedrup – Ugyen Tenzin Thinley Lhendrup
Monla Khedrup Rinpoche Ugyen Tenzin Thinley Lhendup (also referred to as Khedrupchen Rinpoche) was recognized and enthroned as the Fifth successive reincarnation of Kyabgon Khedrupchen Jigme Kundrol who was an illustrious heart son of Rigzin Jigme Lingpa.
Rinpoche is the Founder and incumbent President of Khedrup Foundation, a non-profit religious organization registered with the Commission of Religious Organizations in Bhutan. Rinpoche is also the head of Sangchen Ogyen Tsuklag Monastery in Trongsa and Phajo Gonpa in Samdrup Jongkhar.
Apart from these responsibilities, Rinpoche travels around the world teaching Buddhism to his students at their request.
Read a detailed account on Rinpoche’s lineage and previous incarnations here.
Birth & Early Childhood
Monla Khedrup Rinpoche was born in the year 1990 to Yum Tshewang Paldron & Yab Tenzin Dorji on the full moon day of the third month in Shingkhar Lauri, Samdrup Jongkhar in Bhutan. Rinpoche's birth was accompanied by many miraculous signs such as circular rainbows forming atop the house of his parents, the water in the house turning milkish, light rain resembling flowers and a unique multi-colored flower that no one had seen before blooming from the cracks of the house as well as right outside the door.
Yum Tshewang Paldron recalls that the 4th Khedrupchen Rinpoche, who was a Yogi and wanderer prophesized that he would be reborn as her son. When the 4th Khedrup was wandering through different places doing his practices during the final years of his life, Mayumla was a young girl, no more than 13 years of age who feeling devotion for the 4th Khedrup chose to serve him by bringing him food, washing his clothes and carrying his things for him. It was due to her compassion and devotion that the 4th Khedrup left this prophecy.
From a young age, Rinpoche demonstrated unexcelled intelligence and a deep interest in the Buddha dharma. As he began talking, Rinpoche recalled his past lives with vivid clarity and asked to be taken to the places where previous Khedrup's had lived and meditated. As soon as he was able to walk, he would pack up his things into a small bag and leave the house. Mayum Tshewang Paldon never thought much about it until later when he was recognized as the reincarnation of a great wanderer-yogi.
As he was growing up in the village, Rinpoche continued to demonstrate that he was no ordinary being. Through various incidents, Rinpoche has left miraculous signs such as his footprint & hand print on the rocks which has become a site of worship for the villagers.
For details on Rinpoche's education, recognition & enthronement, click here.
Education
At twelve years old, Rinpoche was taken under the care of Late Drubwang Kunzang Namdrol in Phagchok Samdrupcholing Monastery where he studied basic rituals, rites and Buddhist studies until the age of sixteen.
Rinpoche then attended Ngagyur Nyingma College, Mindrolling Monastery (one of the main Nyingma Monasteries in Tibetan Buddhism) in Dehradun, India and he graduated in 2014. Rinpoche completed both his undergraduate and post graduate studies in Buddhist Philosophy in the Ngagyur Nyingma College where he returned for 3 more years to teach as a teacher.