Khangsar Tenpé Wangchuk was born amidst miraculous signs in Akyong Khangsar in Golok at dawn on January 1st 1938. The time of his birth was marked by the conjunction of ‘four tigers’: he was born in the Earth Tiger year, in the tiger month, on the tiger day, and at dawn, which is the time of the tiger. He was soon recognized as the incarnation of Payak Önpo Rigdzin Dorje, who was an emanation of Yudra Nyingpo, one of Guru Rinpoche’s twenty-five disciples.

He studied with Palyul Choktrul Jampal Gyepe Dorje, Akyong Tokden Rinpoche Lodrö Gyatso and other masters, gaining profound levels of realization, so that he met deities in visions and received prophecies from them, and his understanding of the sutras and tantras expanded to became limitlessly vast. He revealed both earth and mind termas. Some of them he even unearthed in public, before crowds of people. Khenpo Jikmé Phuntsok declared him to be a great bodhisattva who had reached the more advanced stages (bhumis).

During his life, he was unjustly imprisoned for 12 years, starting from 1968. In prison, Lama Tenpé Wangchuk was still receiving profound Dzogchen teachings from many accomplished masters. After being released, he established both Khangsar Taklung Monastery and Payak Monastery and wholeheartedly focused on composing, editing, and passing on all the precious Nyingma teachings systematically.

He passed away at 6pm on April 13th, 2014. His final words of advice to his disciples were:

Compassion for sentient beings,
Respect for cause and effect,
Devotion for the Three Jewels,
Taking to heart for the pith instructions,
Love for Dharma friends.

And for the ordained sangha in particular: Let there be harmony, perfect observance of the vows, and service of the teachings.