Geshe Tenzin Yeshe was born in Khyunpo, in Kham, Eastern Tibet.
Until he was 18 years old, he lived a traditional Tibetan nomadic lifestyle, keeping animals and helping his family with daily chores.
At the age of eighteen, Geshe Tenzin Yeshe took monastic vows with lama Tenpa Gyaltsen Khyungnak and became a monk.
He studied different aspects of the Bön spiritual tradition, such as the practices of Ngondro (Nine preliminaries), primordial vision, purification of the six realms, tsalung and dark retreat.
He received oral instructions in the practices of Dzogchen “the Great Perfection” and Phowa (transference of consciousness) from Lungrig Namdak Rinpoche and from Thaye Rangdol Rinpoche .
In 1990, Geshe Tenzin Yeshe made a pilgrimage to Kongpo Bonri (a sacred Bön mountain in Kongpo, Kham) , circumambulating the mountain 100 times.
In 1991, he travelled to Himachal Pradesh, India, to continue his study of the Bön spiritual tradition, passing the holy Mount Kailash on his way.
He studied and practiced Bön Buddhism for four years at Tashi Menri Ling monastery, Dolanji, and was blessed by receiving essential instructions from H. H. Menri Trizin Rinpoche, the Abbot of the monastery and the official spiritual leader of all the Bönpos.
In 1995, Geshe Tenzin Yeshe went to Triten Norbutse Monastery in Kathmandu, Nepal, where he broadened his spiritual knowledge and practice of Bön sutra , tantra and Dzogchen under the tuition of H. E. Yongdzin Lopön Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche (senior teacher of the Yungdrung Bön tradition) and Tenpa Yungdrung Rinpoche (abbot of Triten Norbutse monastery).
He also studied philosophy and other matters of Tibetan culture, such as grammar, poetry, astrology and mandala art.
Geshe Tenzin Yeshe received his Geshe degree (doctor of philosophy) at Triten Norbutse monastery in 2003 and , like all new Geshes, remained there to offer his services and to teach younger students.
Since 2005, Geshe Tenzin Yeshe has been teaching at Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche’s dharma centers in USA, Mexico and Europe.
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