Vajra Master Pema Gyalpo

Vajra Master Pema Gyalpo (Dorje Lopon) holds an important and respected position within the monastery. For the past decade he has diligently fulfilled the duties of the monastery's chief ritual master. He is also actively engaged in teaching young monks and guiding those newly entering monastic practice.

Experienced in presiding over ritual activities and transmitting the Dharma, Master Pema Gyalpo is recognized within the monastery as a master of outstanding ability and accomplishment.

Vajra Master Pema Gyalpo was born in Surkhet, western Nepal. At Boudhanath in Kathmandu, under the guidance of the venerable Pen Rinpoche, he was ordained at Ugen Do-ngag Choling Monastery and began a foundational monastic education — Buddhist examination, reading, writing, ritual, recitation and lama dance.

He completed the philosophy course at Ugen Do-ngag Choling and was granted the Lopön degree; he also completed the Tibetan Buddhist yoga course. During this time Lama Pema Gyalpo received many empowerments and oral transmissions from authentic masters, including the teachings of the Four Heart-Essences, the Rinchen Terdzö, and the kama and terma dharmas.

For many years he has devoted himself to monastic duties, including preaching and transmitting knowledge of ritual implements, sacred objects and the use of lama dance.

Lama Pema Gyalpo successfully completed a three-year retreat at the Sang-ngak Ösel Ling retreat centre in Pharping, focusing on the preliminary practices and the generation and completion stages.

Under the guidance of the venerable Dudjom Sangye Pema Shepa Rinpoche, Master Pema Gyalpo established Thinley Takden Ling Monastery, and with unwavering devotion transmits the profound teachings of Kurukullā to devoted followers in Surkhet and Kathmandu.

Master Pema Gyalpo constantly offers instruction to new practitioners and serves as vajra master at the Namdrol Kangsang Ling Gonchen Association, personally assisting the venerable Urgyen Tenzin Rinpoche. From 2017 to the present (2026), for about a decade, he has served as vajra master while devoting himself to teaching and guiding young monks and new practitioners in ritual practice.