Khenpo David Karma Choepel

With the encouragement of Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche, Khenpo David spent four years learning Tibetan and studying Buddhist philosophy at the Vajra Vidya Institute in Nepal and India. He then spent several years traveling with Rinpoche as his main English-language translator. He has also had the good fortune to serve as the Seventeenth Gyalwang Karmapa’s interpreter on many occasions, as well as to translate for other great lamas of the Kagyu lineage. He has translated numerous books, including Vivid Awareness by Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche, Shantideva’s Way of the Bodhisattva, the Ninth Karmapa’s teachings on abhidharma Jewels from the Treasury, among others. He has been resident here at Thrangu Monastery since March of 2020.