Our Founder

LAMA TSEWANG
RINPOCHE

Lama Tsewang Rinpoche, the founder of Danang Foundation, was born in 1965 into a farming family near Tsurphu Monastery, a sacred site west of Lhasa, Tibet. In 1980, the Panchen Lama spearheaded a revival of Tibetan Buddhism in the region, leading to the establishment of Nechung College. At the age of eighteen, Tsewang Rinpoche became one of the first students accepted into Nechung College, where he delved into the study of Buddhist philosophy, arts, and literature. During this period, the Sixteenth Karmapa directed Drupon Dechen Rinpoche, a significant teacher in the Kagyu lineage, to return to Tibet from India. Drupon Dechen Rinpoche was tasked with the reconstruction of Tsurphu Monastery and appointed as its abbot. Under Drupon Dechen Rinpoche’s guidance, Tsewang Rinpoche, at the age of twenty, commenced his traditional three-year, three-month retreat.

In 1990, His Eminence the 10th Kyabje Pawo Rinpoche, one of the six heart sons of the Karmapa, together with Drupon Rinpoche, jointly appointed Tsewang Rinpoche to take charge of Nenang Monastery after the successful completion of his retreat.

Empowering Leadership

Built in 1321 A.D., Nenang Monastery is the main seat of His Eminence Pawo Rinpoche, who is a highly respected and accomplished master of the Kagyu lineage.

The appointment of Tsewang Rinpoche to represent His Eminence Pawo Rinpoche is significant and extraordinary, as lineage is strongly emphasized in Tibetan Buddhism.

His Holiness The 17th Karmapa
Escape to India

VoA Kunleng invites Tsewang Rinpoche, Head of the escape entourage, to discuss the departure of Karmapa Urgyen Trinley Dorjee from Tibet in 1999, and the dangers and obstacles they had to overcome in order to finally reach Dharamsala, India on January 5, 2000.

In 1999, His Holiness the Seventeenth Karmapa escaped from Tibet and went into exile in India. Barely fourteen years old then, the Karmapa demonstrated incredible wisdom and vision when he decided to leave Tibet to preserve his lineage and its teachings. The Karmapa appointed Tsewang Rinpoche to lead this risky escape. Realizing the importance of this task, Tsewang Rinpoche gave up his work at the monastery, school and orphanage, as well as other projects. He disguised himself as a businessperson and surveyed possible escape routes.

On the evening of December 28, 1999, Tsewang Rinpoche and a group of lamas escorted His Holiness on the treacherous journey through Shikatse, Lhatse, Ngamring and Sagha, eventually arriving in India and later settled in Dharamsala.  

In India, His Holiness was able to further his education with lineage masters and continue his Dharmic activities to benefit beings, while Tsewang Rinpoche continued to serve the Karmapa with his utmost dedication even after Rinpoche moved to the United States.

In 2002, Tsewang Rinpoche came to the United States. As he began his Dharmic activities in America, Rinpoche continued to promote Buddha Dharma in Asia; after he settled in America, Tsewang Rinpoche made several trips to Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Despite being abroad, Rinpoche continued to provide for the school and orphanage he had established in Tibet, contributing whenever circumstances allowed.

Towards the end of 2006, Tsewang Rinpoche founded Danang Foundation to expand his Dharmic activities. In 2010, at the request of his devotees, he founded the Tibetan Buddhist Center in Flushing, New York, so that Buddha Dharma may flourish for all.

Lama Tsewang Rinpoche’s Activities in the United States