Since 1998, Lopon Phurba Dorji has been Yeshe Khorlo-USA's Resident Teacher and Retreat Master. Lopon was born in Gangtey Gompa, Bhutan in 1955, the year of the Wood Sheep. From an early age he studied under the great Nyingma yogi, Khenpo Dadzar, in Tharpaling, Bhutan, one of the historical seats of the Omniscient Longchen Rabjampa. He was appointed the title of "Lopon" or "Personal Teacher" by Khenpo Dadzar. In 1986, Lopon established the Rigzhung Shedra (Buddhist College) at Gangtey Monastery, where he served for two years as the dean of Buddhist Studies. Then, at the request of Gangteng Rinpoche, Lopon went to Mysore, India to study under H.H. Penor Rinpoche at Ngagyur Nyingma University. Lopon has also received extensive empowerments and transmissions from H.H. Dilgo Khentse Rinpoche and H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche.

In 1993, Lopon entered into the traditional three-year meditation retreat under the Je Khenpo of Bhutan, H.H. Jetsuen Tenzin Dondrup Rinpoche. Lopon received the complete transmission of the Peling cycle and was appointed Retreat Master for the following group of three year retreatants. In April 1998, Lopon traveled with Gangteng Tulku Rinpoche to the United States. At the end of the Dzogchen retreat in Crestone, Colorado, Lopon was installed as the Resident Teacher of Yeshe Khorlo-USA.

Since coming to the United States, Lopon has guided and overseen the development of Choying Dzong, the Yeshe Khorlo Retreat Center in Crestone, Colorado, which has included the construction of a Bhutanese style lhakang (temple) and four solitary retreat cabins. In 2005, the Statue Project was initiated under Lopon's guidance and completed in December 2006. Lopon teaches at Choying Dzong and travels to give talks on Buddhist meditation and philosophy to Yeshe Khorlo students at regional urban centers around the United States.

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