Lama Tenpa. Born in 1942, in Oklahoma, USA, he grew up in New Mexico, New York and Maryland and lived for 15 years in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, graduating in Economics from The University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee in 1970.

He has been interested in the study and practice of Buddhism since the early 1960's. He was a cofounder of the first Buddhist center in Milwaukee in 1971 and practiced both Theravada Buddhism and Zen Buddhism.

He taught English in Spain from 1975-1983 and is fluent in Spanish. A student of Gendun Rinpoche since 1977, he entered Lama Gendun's first three year retreat in 1983 and then completed two traditional three year retreats under his guidance.

He received full monk's ordination in 1987.

Since going out of retreat in 1991, at the request of Lama Gendun and Shamarpa, he has given teachings in Europe and North America : France, Spain, England, Germany, Greece, Italy, Canada, and the U.S.A.

When not teaching and traveling he is resident in the Kundreul Ling monastery, Auvergne, France.