Venerable Khenpo Samdup is the founder of LNNNF and the abbot of Nyiphug Namdrol Norbuling Monastery.
He was born into a very poor family in Mustang, and was ordained at Nyiphug monastery immediately after his birth. At the age of 19, he completed a one-year Hevajra meditative retreat and received full ordination vows at the age of 20. He studied Buddhism at Ngorpa Center, Manduwala, India for two years before attending his lineage’s renowned center for monastic learning, Sakya College in Mussoorie, India.
There he studied Buddhist philosophy, logic, debate , ritual and psychology for 11 years. He graduated from Sakya College with a Kachupa degree (equivalent to a B.A.) and an Acharya degree (equivalent to an M.A.).
After a year as an assistant teacher at Sakya College, he was appointed Khenpo (abbot) by H.H. The Sakya Trizin Rinpoche who sent him in 2003 to the monastery of his childhood, Nyiphug Namdrol Norbuling, to give guidance for its development and preservation. He now resides at the monastery, overseeing daily operations and managing LNNNF’s Community Education Initiative.
