Late Khenpo Migmar Tsering

A Short Biography

Venerable Khenpo Migmar Tsering was the abbot and the principal of the prestigious Sakya College, the premier institution for higher studies in Buddhist philosophy for Sakya students for a decade (1989 - 1999)

Born in Western Tibet, Khenpo Migmar escaped to India in 1959 at the age of four and completed his elementary studies in Southern India. He then studied at the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies in Sarnath and in 1972 became one of the first students at the Sakya College when it was founded.

For the next ten years, he studied under the most Venerable Khenpo Appey Rinpoche. When he graduated, he was described by his teacher as one of his most intelligent and learned students and soon became one of the shining stars of the Sakya School.

He received most of the major Tantric empowerment and initiations from His Holiness Sakya Trizin, His Eminence Chogye Trichen Rinpoche and His Eminence Luding Khen Rinpoche.

Being probably one of the few Khenpos (abbots) in the Tibetan tradition to teach directly in English, his teachings were both accessible and relevant to a western audience and thus were greatly appreciated during his teaching tours.

Prior to his appointment as the abbot of Sakya College, he had worked in the Translation Bureau of the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives and has also taught for a number of years at the central Institute for Higher Tibetan Studies at Sarnath, India.

During his tenure at the college, he had served as tutor to many senior graduates of Sakya College including the two sons of His Holiness Sakya Trizin, His Eminence Khöndung Ratna Vajra Rinpoche, His Eminence Khöndung Gyana Vajra Rinpoche and also many other Sakya incarnate lamas.