Geshe Murig Nyima Kunchap Rinpoche::

Geshe Murig Nyima Kunchap Rinpoche is the founder of Dolpo Bon Society and Nepal Bon Religion Association. He is a master of Sutra, Tantra and Zogchen of Bon tradition. Rinpoche presently works as a senior lecturer in CIHTS. He is also the head lama of Nepal Bon Religion Association, Nepal and Dolpa Youngdrung Committee, which was founded by him. He was born in 1964 at Nepal-Tibet border in Dolpo Techurong, Nepal, which was once a province of Zhang Zung.

Rinpoche started learning Tibetan language, literature and measurement of thanka painting at the age of eight from his grand father. From the age of fourteen to seventeen, he learned to make sacramental cakes, ornamenting them with molded butter, ritual offerings. He also received oral instructions on preliminary practice and initiations of few deities from his root lama Bar Le Rinpoche. Thereafter he decided to go to Menri monastery and become monk.

Rinpoche arrived at Menri Monastery in 1982 and got ordination from His Holiness the Menri Trizin Rinpoche and His Eminence the Yongzin Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche on the auspicious birth day of The great Bonpo master Nyamed Sherab Gyaltsen. From then till he was thirty one in 1994, he learned major philosophical text such as prama stages and path (Bhumi marga), Yanakarma (stages of Yana), Prajnaparamita, Madyamika, Abhidharma, Venay, Tantra and Zogchen for thirteen years from Bonpo masters like His Eminence Lopon Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche, Lopon Trinley Nyima Rinpoche and Ven Tsundue Gongphel Rinpoche.

In short, Rinpoche studied, contemplated and practiced all major Bonpo text of Sutra, Tantra and Mind. He also constantly engaged in teaching, dialogue and writing of above texts. Besides, he studied general science like Astrology, Astronomy, Poetry, Tibetan language and literature, measurement of Mandala and stupa. In Accordance with Menri lineage, he learned to play ritual instruments, ritual offerings and also got complete instructions and initiations of all outer, inner and secret deities of Bon religion.

Rinpoche was awarded the most prestigious doctorate degree of Geshe in 1994 by His Holiness the Menri Trizin Rinpoche and His Eminence the Yongzin Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche after successfully clearing the final test with flying colors in front of mass monks of Menri Monastery.

In the same year, Rinpoche was appointed as lecturer in Bonpo Department in Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarnath, UP, India. There he worked as head of Bon department from 1999-2001.

Rinpoche's past and present status and activies in the society:  

• President of Nepal Bon welfare Committee for three year.(1991-1994)

• Chanting master of Menri monastery for three years.(1990-1993)

• Taught general sciences to Junior monk in Menri monastery for five Years.(1989-1994)

• President of Bon student welfare committee in the year 1995,1998,2002.

• Vice-president of Nepal Bon Buddhist Federation(2008- )

• President of Yungdrung Shug Tshal User's Committee (2010- )

Rinpoche has traveled widely, giving teachings on preliminary practices, practice of mantra, ritual offering to accomplish good fortune, Astrology, Astronomy and Horoscope in USA, Nepal, Mexico, India and Russia for past many years.