
His Eminence Thartse Khen Rinpoche
The seventy-seventh Ngor Throne Holder, Thartse Khen Rinpoche Ngawang Sonam Chokden, was born on April 16, 1968, in Nepal into the royal family of Mustang to father Gyurme Rigzin and mother Thongdrol, the niece of the late Chogye Trichen Rinpoche.
He received the name Ngawang Sonam Chokden from H.E. Chogye Trichen Rinpoche at the age of eight, at the time of receiving the novice monk vows. He continued to study under His Eminence in the years that followed, during which he received numerous important teachings such as the Collection of Sadhanas, Lamdre Lobshe, Kalachakra, and others.
At the age of thirteen, he was recognized by His Holiness the 41st Sakya Trichen Rinpoche as Ngor Thartse Shabdrung Rinpoche. After mastering ritual practices and memorizing mantrayana texts at the Ngor Monastery, he studied sutrayana at the Magon Shedra in Puruwala and tantrayana under the late Khenchen Appey Rinpoche. He studied logic and other subjects under the late Khenpo Kunga Wangchuk Thartse Khen Rinpoche. Rinpoche received the full cycles of teachings of Lamdre Lobshe and Lamdre Tsokshe, the Collection of Tantras (Gyude Kuntu), the profound teachings of the whispered lineage, and a vast array of similar teachings and supplementary instructions from H.H. the 41st Sakya Gongma Trichen Rinpoche and the late Luding Khenchen Rinpoche. In 2001, he was appointed the 77th throne holder of the Ngor lineage by H.H. the 41st Sakya Trichen and H.E. Luding Khenchen Rinpoche.
Thartse Khen Rinpoche mainly travels across Asia, where he has established and oversees numerous Sakya monasteries and centers. He plays a significant role in supporting the Buddhist community in Mustang and Tibet. Currently, he alternates with H.E. Luding Khen Rinpoche in fulfilling the role of throne holder of the Ngor lineage.
Source: https://sakyatradition.org/biographies/thartse-khen-rinpoche/