Venerable Chokhor Rinpoche from Sera Jey Monastery, India, the newly appointed 2nd Abbot of Sera Jey Buddhist Culture Center, New York, will be arriving New York on May 28, 2023.  A welcome reception and ceremony will take place at the Center on his arrival.
Venerable Chokhor Rinpoche will take charge of the Abbot of Sera Jey Buddhist Culture Center, New York, following the retirement of the 1st Abbot, Venerable Pare Rimpoche, who has devotedly served the center since 2009.
Brief Biography of Venerable Chokhor Rinpoche –
He is the reincarnation of the 3rd Chokhor Rinpoche, recognized by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama in 21st March, 1985.  At the age of seven in 1986, he was initiated by the then abbot of Sera Jey Monastery, Khensur Ngwang Legden and admitted to Sera Jey Monastery.  Under the kind guidance and guardianship of Geshe Jampa Topgyal and Geshe Gyaltsen of Lhopa Khangtsen, Rinpoche learned Tibetan reading, writing, calligraphy and grammar from Geshe Ngawang Choesang of Tsangpa Khangtsen, and enrolled in the Geshe program to study Buddhist Philosophy under the guidance and teacher, Gyudmed Khensur Geshe Lobsang Delek.
Rinpoche received the Getsul (Sramanera) vow, from His Eminence Choden Rinpoche at the age of 13, in the year 1992.  And at the age of 27, in the year 2006, Rinpoche received the Gelong (Bikshu) vow, full initiation, from His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama.
Rinpoche marked his first scholastic prominence, by his selection and participation in the monastery's annual Rigchung Ceremony (Minor Debate) in 1996.  And received his Geshe degree graduation in the year 2009, after successfully completing the monastery's curriculum studies in the Five Major Buddhist Treatises.  In 2014-15, he studied and completed the one-year Buddhist Tantra Course at Gyuto Tantric Monastery, Dharamsala.
Rinpoche had received many teachings, empowerments, transmissions & quintessential instructions of His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama and other high lamas as, H.E. Choden Rinpoche, Gyudmed Khensur Urgen Tseten, Denma Locho Rinpoche and Dhakpa Tritul Rinpoche.  He has also served as a member of Sera Jey Tulku Committee for several years.
After completing his studies and receiving the Geshe scholastic title, in 2010 Rinpoche was appointed the Abbot of Drophenling Monastery at Gangtok, Sikkim, by Sera Jey Monastery.  Rinpoche served as the Abbot of the monastery for three year, between 2011 – 14.  Following then, he was appointed the Abbot of Tharpa Choeling Monastery at Kalimpong, and continued to serve until his departure for the United States to take charge of the Abbot of Sera Jey Buddhist Culture Center, New York.
