Thartse Khen Rinpoche Ngawang Sonam Chogdhen
His Eminence was born in 1968 on the 16th of the 4th month of the Earth Male Monkey year of the 16th Rabjung, as the son of father Gyurmey Rigzin and mother Thongdrol, the cousin sister of His Eminence Chogye Trichen Vajradhara. Having received his novice monk vows from His Eminence Chogye Trichen Vajradhara, he was given the name Ngawang Sonam Chogdhen. He received a number of empowerments and teachings, including the Collection of Sadhanas.
At 13 years of age, in the male iron monkey year, he was bestowed the title of Thartse Zhabdrung by His Holiness the Sakya Trichen Vajradhara. At Sakya Mother Monastery, having completed the study of sutras, he was awarded the degree of Shatsri/Acharya (Ka-chupa).
Furthermore, having sought Khenchen Appey Rinpoche, Khenchen Kunga Wangchuk, Khenchen Sonam Gyatso, etc, eminent masters have completed the study of sutra, mantra, and other knowable topics. At 20 years of age, amidst Khenchen Jamyang Tenpei Nyima as the presiding abbot and Khenchen Kunga Wangchuk as the activity preceptor and others, inside the sacred Buddha house (gandhola) of Bodhgaya, the holiest sacred place, he took the vows of a bhikkhu.
He received several profound teachings and empowerment from His Holiness the Sakya Trichen. These included the precious Lamdre teachings for the assemblage and disciples, and a collection of tantras, among others.
From Khenchen Jamyang Tenpei Nyima, he received precious Lamdre teachings for both assemblage and disciples, among many other teachings of Vajrayana. On the 5th of the 2nd month of the Iron Sheep year, at Ngor Evam, the land of dharma, in India, the land of the exalted ones, he was anointed as the abbot throne holder, the regent of the Great Ngorpa, the second Buddha by His Holiness the Sakya Trizin. He bestowed precious Lamdre teachings, many empowerments, and other teachings during his visits to Kyegu Do, Deghe during his numerous earlier and lateral visits to these places. Having bestowed the Vinaya vows of novice and fully ordained ones, he worked for dharma and sentient beings.
Also, having traveled to several overseas countries, he placed many disciples upon the stages of spiritual ripening and liberation. He carried out renovation tasks in Ngor in Tibet. Shouldering the internal and external responsibilities of Ngorpa, he is currently alive, and his dharma activities are flourishing fully.