Yongdzin Lopön
Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche
1926–2025
A DIGITAL TRIBUTE TIMELINE
This interactive timeline honours the life and legacy of our precious master, H.E. Yongdzin Lopön Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche—one of the most revered masters of the Yungdrung Bön tradition. It highlights the key milestones of a life devoted to wisdom, service, and the preservation of one of the world’s oldest spiritual lineages.
Created for a digital generation, this is the first timeline of its kind—offering both tribute and a tool for reflection and learning. The digital tool is conceptualised and developed by Shima Beigi under the guidance of Khenchen Tenpa Yungdrung Rinpoche, abbot of Triten Norbutse Monastery. Khenchen Rinpoche have carefully reviewed the content for accuracy and authenticity.
Beyond being a historical record, this living timeline invites individuals to connect with the gentle radiance of a master whose life serves as a profound teaching—and to draw inspiration from his embodiment of the timeless wisdom of Yungdrung Bön.
1. Yongdzin Rinpoche, India, 1960s.
2. H.E. 32nd Menri Trinzin Kudum Sherab Lödro and Yongdzin Rinpoche, 1961, Nepal.
3. Langchen cave, where Yongdzin Rinpoche spent 4 years studying and practising facing Gyerru Do, a headland extending into Gyerru Lake.
4. From right: Yongdzin Rinpoche, Yungdrung Gyaltsen (the abbot of Chuktso Monastery in Northern Tibet), and Lama Sonam Gyaltsen, who later became the abbot of Bön Monastery in Dhorpatan, West Nepal.
5. From right: Sherab Tsultrim (personal assistant of Yongdzin Rinpoche, Yongdzin Rinpoche, and Pasam Sherpa in Kathmandu after escape from Tibet.
6. Chögyal Namkhai Norbu and a group of his disciples visited Yongdzin Rinpoche and received initiation of Zhangzhung Meri and textual transmission of the Twelve Little Tantras of Zhangzhung Nyengyü, April 1978.
7. Yongdzin Rinpoche surrounded by the Bönpo community at the Triten Norbutse site.
8. From right: Yongdzin Rinpoche with Khenchen Nyima Wangyal, the 31st abbot of Ling Monastery, Ghemodrachung.
9. Yongdzin Rinpoche and Major Senz of CRS inaugurating the newly built motor road, the Bönpo settlement members, 1967.
10. From left: Sengtrug, Tshawo Tenzin Wangyal, Lama Sonam Gyaltshen, 32nd Menri Tridzin Sherab Lodrö, Lama Tsultrim Nyima, Sherab Tsultrim and Machen Tsewang Kyab.
11. Yongdzin Rinpoche at Triten Norbutse Monastery with Monks.
12. Yongdzin Rinpoche with H.H. the 33rd Menri Trinzin.
13. Yongdzin Rinpoche with H.H. the Dalai Lama.
14. Yongdzin Rinpoche surveys the ruins of Menri for the first time since leaving Tibet in 1986.
15. Yongdzin Rinpoche with Khenchen Tenpa Yungdrung Rinpoche and other lamas opening and blessing the top floor of the newly built Temple at Triten Norbutse Monastery, 2025.
16. Yongdzin Rinpoche at Triten Norbutse Monastery.
1. Yongdzin Rinpoche, India, 1960s. 2. H.E. 32nd Menri Trinzin Kudum Sherab Lödro and Yongdzin Rinpoche, 1961, Nepal. 3. Langchen cave, where Yongdzin Rinpoche spent 4 years studying and practising facing Gyerru Do, a headland extending into Gyerru Lake. 4. From right: Yongdzin Rinpoche, Yungdrung Gyaltsen (the abbot of Chuktso Monastery in Northern Tibet), and Lama Sonam Gyaltsen, who later became the abbot of Bön Monastery in Dhorpatan, West Nepal. 5. From right: Sherab Tsultrim (personal assistant of Yongdzin Rinpoche, Yongdzin Rinpoche, and Pasam Sherpa in Kathmandu after escape from Tibet. 6. Chögyal Namkhai Norbu and a group of his disciples visited Yongdzin Rinpoche and received initiation of Zhangzhung Meri and textual transmission of the Twelve Little Tantras of Zhangzhung Nyengyü, April 1978. 7. Yongdzin Rinpoche surrounded by the Bönpo community at the Triten Norbutse site. 8. From right: Yongdzin Rinpoche with Khenchen Nyima Wangyal, the 31st abbot of Ling Monastery, Ghemodrachung. 9. Yongdzin Rinpoche and Major Senz of CRS inaugurating the newly built motor road, the Bönpo settlement members, 1967. 10. From left: Sengtrug, Tshawo Tenzin Wangyal, Lama Sonam Gyaltshen, 32nd Menri Tridzin Sherab Lodrö, Lama Tsultrim Nyima, Sherab Tsultrim and Machen Tsewang Kyab. 11. Yongdzin Rinpoche at Triten Norbutse Monastery with Monks. 12. Yongdzin Rinpoche with H.H. the 33rd Menri Trinzin. 13. Yongdzin Rinpoche with H.H. the Dalai Lama. 14. Yongdzin Rinpoche surveys the ruins of Menri for the first time since leaving Tibet in 1986. 15. Yongdzin Rinpoche with Khenchen Tenpa Yungdrung Rinpoche and other lamas opening and blessing the top floor of the newly built Temple at Triten Norbutse Monastery, 2025. 16. Yongdzin Rinpoche at Triten Norbutse Monastery.
Guru Yoga
CYI TSUG DE-WA CHEN-POI PHO-DRANG DUIn the palace of great bliss on the crown of my head,
DRIN-CÄN TSA-WAI LA-MA LA SOL-WA DEB
Is my benevolent Root Master to whom I pray;
SANG-GYÄ SEM SU TÖN-PA RIN-PO-CHE
Precious One who reveals (one’s own) nature of mind as Buddha,
RANG NGO RANG GI SHE-PAR JYIN GYI LOB
Bless me so that I recognise my own real nature!
1. Yongdzin Rinpoche, India, 1960s.
2. H.E. 32nd Menri Trinzin Kudum Sherab Lödro and Yongdzin Rinpoche, 1961, Nepal.
3. Langchen cave, where Yongdzin Rinpoche spent 4 years studying and practising facing Gyerru Do, a headland extending into Gyerru Lake.
4. From right: Yongdzin Rinpoche, Yungdrung Gyaltsen (the abbot of Chuktso Monastery in Northern Tibet), and Lama Sonam Gyaltsen, who later became the abbot of Bön Monastery in Dhorpatan, West Nepal.
5. From right: Sherab Tsultrim (personal assistant of Yongdzin Rinpoche, Yongdzin Rinpoche, and Pasam Sherpa in Kathmandu after escape from Tibet.
6. Chögyal Namkhai Norbu and a group of his disciples visited Yongdzin Rinpoche and received initiation of Zhangzhung Meri and textual transmission of the Twelve Little Tantras of Zhangzhung Nyengyü, April 1978.
7. Yongdzin Rinpoche surrounded by the Bönpo community at the Triten Norbutse site.
8. From right: Yongdzin Rinpoche with Khenchen Nyima Wangyal, the 31st abbot of Ling Monastery, Ghemodrachung.
9. Yongdzin Rinpoche and Major Senz of CRS inaugurating the newly built motor road, the Bönpo settlement members, 1967.
10. From left: Sengtrug, Tshawo Tenzin Wangyal, Lama Sonam Gyaltshen, 32nd Menri Tridzin Sherab Lodrö, Lama Tsultrim Nyima, Sherab Tsultrim and Machen Tsewang Kyab.
11. Yongdzin Rinpoche at Triten Norbutse Monastery with Monks.
12. Yongdzin Rinpoche with H.H. the 33rd Menri Trinzin.
13. Yongdzin Rinpoche with H.H. the Dalai Lama.
14. Yongdzin Rinpoche surveys the ruins of Menri for the first time since leaving Tibet in 1986.
15. Yongdzin Rinpoche with Khenchen Tenpa Yungdrung Rinpoche and other lamas opening and blessing the top floor of the newly built Temple at Triten Norbutse Monastery, 2025.
16. Yongdzin Rinpoche at Triten Norbutse Monastery.
1. Yongdzin Rinpoche, India, 1960s. 2. H.E. 32nd Menri Trinzin Kudum Sherab Lödro and Yongdzin Rinpoche, 1961, Nepal. 3. Langchen cave, where Yongdzin Rinpoche spent 4 years studying and practising facing Gyerru Do, a headland extending into Gyerru Lake. 4. From right: Yongdzin Rinpoche, Yungdrung Gyaltsen (the abbot of Chuktso Monastery in Northern Tibet), and Lama Sonam Gyaltsen, who later became the abbot of Bön Monastery in Dhorpatan, West Nepal. 5. From right: Sherab Tsultrim (personal assistant of Yongdzin Rinpoche, Yongdzin Rinpoche, and Pasam Sherpa in Kathmandu after escape from Tibet. 6. Chögyal Namkhai Norbu and a group of his disciples visited Yongdzin Rinpoche and received initiation of Zhangzhung Meri and textual transmission of the Twelve Little Tantras of Zhangzhung Nyengyü, April 1978. 7. Yongdzin Rinpoche surrounded by the Bönpo community at the Triten Norbutse site. 8. From right: Yongdzin Rinpoche with Khenchen Nyima Wangyal, the 31st abbot of Ling Monastery, Ghemodrachung. 9. Yongdzin Rinpoche and Major Senz of CRS inaugurating the newly built motor road, the Bönpo settlement members, 1967. 10. From left: Sengtrug, Tshawo Tenzin Wangyal, Lama Sonam Gyaltshen, 32nd Menri Tridzin Sherab Lodrö, Lama Tsultrim Nyima, Sherab Tsultrim and Machen Tsewang Kyab. 11. Yongdzin Rinpoche at Triten Norbutse Monastery with Monks. 12. Yongdzin Rinpoche with H.H. the 33rd Menri Trinzin. 13. Yongdzin Rinpoche with H.H. the Dalai Lama. 14. Yongdzin Rinpoche surveys the ruins of Menri for the first time since leaving Tibet in 1986. 15. Yongdzin Rinpoche with Khenchen Tenpa Yungdrung Rinpoche and other lamas opening and blessing the top floor of the newly built Temple at Triten Norbutse Monastery, 2025. 16. Yongdzin Rinpoche at Triten Norbutse Monastery.
“Since the Natural State has been with us from the very beginning, we have nothing more than rediscover it, continue it, and allow its potentiality to manifest. That is Buddhahood.”.
— H.E. Yongdzin Rinpoche
The digital timeline and tribute make reference to the book “The Life of a Great Bonpo Master”, which is a compilation of different accounts of the life of Yongdzin Lopön Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche. The core is a Tibetan language account based on Yongdzin Rinpoche’s own diaries and on interviews with numerous people, composed by a committee of his disciples under the direction of Khenpo Tenpa Yungdrung Rinpoche, the abbot of Triten Norbutse Monastery in Nepal. That short work of six chapters was published in 2005 to mark Yongdzin Rinpoche’s 80th birthday. An English translation of the Tibetan text was later made by Dhondup Tsering in 2007. The present work is an expanded account based on the original biography and supplemented with material from extensive interviews conducted with Yongdzin Rinpoche, as well as a record of his activities in the years following the publication of the original work. The biography is followed by a glossary of Tibetan terms and the names of places, people and teachings that appear in the work.