The Fifth Dzogchen Ponlob Konchok Tenpai Nyima (rdzogs chen dpon slob 05 dkon mchog bstan pa'i nyi ma) was born near Dzogchen Monastery around the year 1898. Details of his birth and parents are not available currently.

At a young age he was identified as the reincarnation of the Fourth Dzogchen Ponlob, Jigme Choying Wosel (rdzogs chen dpon slob 04 'jigs med chos dbyings 'od gsal, c.1825-c.1897) by the Fifth Dzogchen Drubwang, Tubten Chokyi Dorje (rdzogs chen grub dbang 05 thub bstan chos kyi rdo rje, 1872-1935), who brought him to Dzogchen Monastery, Orgyen Samten Choling (rdzogs chen o rgyan bsam gtan chos gling) in the Rudam Kyitram (ru dam skyid khram) Valley. He was educated there and became a master of Powa, an esoteric method of transferring consciousness sometimes referred to as “enlightenment without meditation” (ma-sgom sangs-rgyas).

Konchok Tenpai Nyima passed into nirvana at the young age of twenty-seven, around the year 1924.

Jikdrel Tsewang Dorje (rdzogs chen dpon slob 06 'jigs bral tshe dbang rdo rje, 1925-1962), born in at Den in Kham was identified as his reincarnation.

Samten Chhosphel earned his PhD from CIHTS in India where he served as the head of Publication Dept. for 26 years. He has a Master’s degree in Writing and Publishing from Emerson College, Boston. Currently he is an adjunct Assistant Professor at the City University of New York, and Language Associate in Columbia University, NY.

Published December 2011