The Late Khen Rinpoche Jampa Tashi Tenzin was born in Lomanthang, Mustang in the Wood ox year. (1925) At the age of 7, he learned the Tibetan alphabet from his father and age 11, received vow of Upasaka from Khen Tashi Choephel and began his monastic studies.
In 1941, he went to Sakya Lhakhang Chenmo in Tibet and received the novice vow from Khenchen Jampal Sangpo. Rinpoche studied rituals and memorized various major and minor texts. He had received many precious and profound teachings from Vajradhara Ngawang Thutop Wangchuk, the then throne holder of Sakya.
In 1949, Rinpoche enrolled at Tanak Thubten Namgyal, the institute of Higher Buddhist studies in Tibet. He received teachings on the six major divisions of Buddhist philosophy according to the Sakya Tradition. He lso received teachings on the three major tantras and other subjects such astrology, calligraphy, grammar, poetry, lexicography and more from many great scholars of Sakya order including the most venerable Khenchen Sangya Tenzin, the then principal of Tanak. Rinpoche completed his Rabjamba degree.
In 1959, during the invasion of Tibet by China in 1959, Rinpoche returned to Lomanthang. He received some of the principal teachings from his guru Vajradhara Chogye Trichen Rinpoche. His Eminence and the late Raja of Mustang appointed Rinpoche the abbot of Monchoe Dragkar Thegchen Ling. Rinpoche continuously received many precious teachings from many gurus including H.H The Dalai Lama, H.H. The Sakya Trizin and H.H The Late Jigdral Dagchen Rinpoche of Phuntsok Phodrang. Rinpoche travelled to the U.S, Taiwan, Singapore and Japan to impart teaching to devotees around the world and persevered to raise funds to build to present day winter residence in Kathmandu. He also wrote two books, a history of how Buddhism prevailed in Lo region and another on the monasteries in Lo. In 2004, the year of wood monkey year, Khen Rinpoche entered into Parinirvana at Kathmandu.