Prof. Samdhong Lobsang Tenzin

Prof. Samdhong Lobsang Tenzin, the 5th Samdhong Rinpoche, was born in 1939 in Jol, Eastern Tibet. Recognized as the reincarnation of the 4th Samdhong Rinpoche, he was enthroned at Gaden Dechenling Monastery. He completed his religious training at Drepung Monastery in Lhasa and fled to exile in 1959. He received the Bhiksu ordination from His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 1960 and served as a religious teacher in Tibetan schools. He became the Principal of Dalhousie Tibetan School and later received his Lharampa and Ngagrimpa Degrees.

Rinpoche served as Principal and Director of the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies from 1971 to 2001. He was a member of the Drafting Committee for the Constitution of the Future Polity of Tibet and the exiled Tibetans. In 2001, he became the first democratically elected Kalon Tripa, serving until 2006. He was re-elected for a second term and transferred his political leadership to Dr. Lobsang Sangay in 2011.