Born in Sikkim, India, in 1958, Thupten Rinpoche became a monk of Gaden Jangste Monastery at the age of ten.

At this monastery, Rinpoche received the traditional education in logic, philosophy, ritual arts, and chanting. Thupten Rinpoche received teachings, initiations and guidance from the great masters of this time, including His Holiness the Dalai Lama, late Trijang Rinpoche, late Zong Rinpoche and late Ling Rinpoche. Rinpoche was awarded his Geshe degree in 1992, and has served and devoted his time for the restoration of Gaden Jangste Monastery since then. Under the direction of his teacher, Khensur Rinpoche Lobsang Tsephel, Thupten Rinpoche, the senior tulku at Gaden Jangste, was the main project supervisor for the rebuilding of Gaden Jangtse Monastery that spanned from 1998 till recent years. The scope of the project did not just include the infrastructure itself but also including restoring all the Buddha statues, the sacred thangkas and numerous ritual objects inside the temple which were mostly destroyed or left in Tibet. In addition, Rinpoche also supervised the building of Gaden Guest House, Kalachakra Stupa, and most currently the Gaden Jangtse School.

In 1997, Rinpoche established Land of Flourishing Virtue, a Dharma center in West Covina which now co-located with Land of Compassion Buddha. Through the kindness and under the direction of his teacher, Khensur Rinpoche Lobsang Tsephel, the center hosts teachings, initiations and pujas; all are welcome to visit.