Ven. Tenpa Yarphel was born in Chamdo, Tibet. He became a novice monk in Tsenyi Namgyal Choekorling Monastery and learned prayer recitation, masked dance, and other rituals of the Drukpa sect of Kagyu. Later he studied fundamental Buddhist scriptures and philosophy at Khampa Ghar monastery and Serta Larung Ghar University.

After coming into exile in India, he joined Sera Jey monastery in 2001 for further Buddhist philosophy studies, especially Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. In 2004, he joined Sarah College for Higher Tibetan Studies and completed his Thorim Rigney Rabjampa (bachelor’s degree) affiliated with the Department of Education, CTA in 2008. In 2009, he worked as an editor at the Department of Religion and Culture, CTA, and edited three volumes of books on the history of over 300 monasteries including the four religious schools of Buddhism and the Bon religion of Tibet for three years.

He was previously elected to the 15^th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile in 2011 and was re-elected to the 16^th and 17^th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile. As a Parliament Member in the past 15 years, he has actively participated in parliamentary proceedings without missing a single session, made official settlement visitations, and partook in Tibet outreach programs. He has officially visited the USA, Canada, Germany, France, Belgium, Holand, Australia, and Taiwan, making his contribution to the common cause of resolving the Sino-Tibetan conflict and spreading awareness on Tibetan religion and culture. He is currently one of the members of the 18^th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile from the Kagyu School of Tibetan Buddhism and a member of the Standing Committee.