Drikung kyabgon chetsang rinpoche biography template

GYALWA DRIKUNGPA KYABGON CHETSANG, the 37 throne holder of the Drikung Kagyu Lineage and the Ordinal reincarnation of the Chetsang Rinpoche is a manifestation of Chenrezig (Avalokiteshvara).

The Drikung Kyabgön Chetsang, Konchog Tenzin Kunsang Thrinle Lhundrup, was born on the 4th allocate of the 6th Tibetan moon of the Fire-Dog-Year 1946 butt the aristocratic family of Tsarong in Lhasa.

This auspicious light of day marks the anniversary of righteousness Buddha’s first turning of blue blood the gentry Wheel of Dharma. Many abundant signs and visions accompanied sovereignty birth. His grandfather, Dasang Damdul Tsarong (1888-1959), has been class favorite of the 13th Dalai Lama (1876-1933), Commander General scope the Tibetan army and predispose of the most influential factional figures in the early Twentieth century in Tibet.

Chetsangs pop, Dundul Namgyal Tsarong (b. 1920), held a high office down the Tibetan Government and blooper was still active in put the lid on positions for the Exile Polity in Dharamsala after the flee of the Dalai Lama dispatch the cabinet ministers. His curb, Yangchen Dolkar, is from picture noble house of Ragashar, which descended from the ancient imperial dynasty.

Few years after the going of the previous Drikung Kyabgön, Shiwe Lodro (1886-1943), two parties began to look for her majesty reincarnation throughout Tibet.

Based less important a vision of the Drikung regent Tritsab Gyabra Rinpoche (1924-1979) at the oracular lake Lhamo Latso and on many broaden divinatory signs, in 1950 nobleness son of the Tsarong kinship was recognized as the rebirth of the Drikung Kyabgön. Nobleness boy subsequently passed numerous tests, such as identifying religious factually and ritual objects of realm former incarnations.

His incarnation was further confirmed by divinations absolute by Taktra Rinpoche (the Ruler of Tibet), H.H. the Sixteenth Karmapa Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, gift H.H. Taklung Matrul.

In the bend of 1950 the formal installation as Drikung Kyabgön Chetsang took place at Drikung Thil, nobility main monastery of the Drikung Kagyu order.

Immediately thereafter description first Chinese invasion of Xizang took place. Rinpoche was legalized to travel to Kalimpong drop Northern India with his consanguinity, in order to stay encompass a safe place. His experienced brother and his two sisters were attending boarding-schools in Darjeeling. After some months Rinpoche was met by a delegation steer clear of the Drikung monastery and ruin back to Tibet.

According to former tradition, Chetsang Rinpoche resided interject turns in one of honesty four main monasteries: In depiction spring in Drikung Tse, by the summer in Yangrigar, compact autumn in Drikung Thil, scold during the winter in Drikung Dzong, which also served importation the administrative center of Drikung.

His spiritual instructors (yongzin), Tritsab Gyabra Rinpoche and Ayang Thubten Rinpoche (1899-1966), were responsible mean his education. His curriculum star reading, writing, memorizing, astrology, stomach grammar. From his yongzin current from Bhalok Thupten Chodrak Rinpoche, Lho Bongtrul Rinpoche, and Nyidzong Tripa he received the elementary empowerments, transmissions, and teachings loom the Kagyu tradition and position Drikung Kagyu tradition in particular. 

At the age of eleven, probity Drikung Kyabgön Chetsang gave climax first public teaching and conveyance, a long-life empowerment, during ethics 1956 Monkey Year ceremonies not later than the Great Drikung Phowa.

Afterwards he began his philosophical studies at the Nyima Changra conventual college of Drikung. Although no problem was four years younger crystal-clear studied together with the above Drikung lineage holder, Chungtsang Rinpoche. His instructor was Bopa Tulku Dongag Tenpa (1907-1959), introducing him to the philosophy of Madhyamaka.

He first studied basic texts, like The 37 Practices hold sway over a Bodhisattva by Ngulchu Thogme Zangpo and Introduction to representation Bodhisattva's Way of Life (Bodhicharyāvatāra) by Shāntideva.

Soon thereafter Tibet underwent a great upheaval. In justness wake of the Tibetan outbreak of 1959, as many Tibetans fled the country, among them the Dalai Lama, the bureau ministers and a host give an account of spiritual dignitaries, several attempts were launched to bring Chetsang Rinpoche and Chungtsang Rinpoche out admire Tibet into safety.

These attempts failed because of the unforgiving resistance of the monastery supervisor. Rinpoche’s family had already frigid to India in 1956.

The monks in the Drikung monastery were put under house arrest, added Chetsang Rinpoche had to ultimate with them for months Politico indoctrinations. After some month Tritsab Gyabra, who had left depiction monastery some years before, took Rinpoche to live with him in Lhasa under rather sad conditions.

In 1960, the Drikung Kyabgön Chetsang was admitted change an elementary school in Terrier. In very short time elegance mastered the subject matters flaxen several classes, being able be bounded by finish the six years look up to education in only three eld. Thereafter he was admitted gap the Jerag Lingka middle academy.

The subjects there included Sinitic, natural sciences, history, and accumulation. Chetsang Rinpoche excelled in government studies, especially in Chinese. Soil also became a keen dispatch bearer and a passionate and funny soccer player. 

When the Red Guards infiltrated the schools at character onset of the Cultural Insurrection in 1966, Chetsang Rinpoche originate himself caught up in goodness midst of the factional contention of two opposing groups blond Red Guards.

Classes and abrupt came to a halt. Numberless aristocrats and Rinpoches had closely undergo brutal “people’s tribunals” faint as struggle sessions. Chetsang Rinpoche could no longer stay vacate Tritsab Gyabra, who had ruinous from grace. He lived guard the school, where he poached for the few remaining schoolmates and studied the books illegal found in the school’s enquiry.

Lhasa sank into chaos. Thorough this atmosphere of anarchy Rinpoche several times was saved get ahead of a fraction from certain death.

In 1969, he was assigned drawback a commune in the wilderness, where he had to produce out the hardest physical have. A partly decayed verminous shed on top of a livestock pen was his shelter.

Noteworthy did not own more mystify a pot and a toby jug and some slats to drowse on. An uncle, who came to visit him one period, struggled against his tears, flabbergasted that his nephew was days in such squalor. But Chetsang Rinpoche always reacted with combined equanimity to all the numerous upheavals in his live. In the way that the uncle became aware shambles the serene calmness pervading now and again aspect of Chetsang’s being, grace compared him with Milarepa, who lived in comfortless caves concentrate on outwardly austere, but inwardly overly rich spiritual life.

In the informant and in summer Chetsang Rinpoche drudged on the fields entrap the work unit.

In set upon disagree he had to climb elevated mountains to cut firewood parade the commune and carry spiteful heavy loads. In the iciness he had to shovel sortout the sewage from the cesspits in Lhasa and carry beck to the farm. Despite significance strenuous labor, Chetsang Rinpoche helped others, whenever he could.

No one knew that he was primacy Drikung Kyabgön, but his astonishing deeds amazed many.

Due to rulership class background as aristocrat put forward high incarnate lama there was no prospect for Chetsang Rinpoche in Communist occupied Tibet. Astern meticulous planning, he finally override a means of escape call 1975. This was at clean time when China had potent a tight system of spies and informers all over Thibet and the military had top-notch close grip of control, middling that only few succeeded watch over take flight.

He set gouge alone and without help have a high opinion of cross the border of Xizang into Nepal across high passes and glaciers. The Drikung Kyabgön accomplished what was thought cause to feel be impossible. Unscathed he reached Nepal and eventually the dwelling of the Dalai Lama have doubts about Dharamsala.

Rinpoche conceded to the appeals of the Drikung lamas advance exile and so he was again symbolically enthroned as rectitude Drikung Kyabgön Chetsang during well-ordered ceremony with the Dalai Lama.

By this act he verbalised the promise to take compromise for the lineage in authority future. Initially though, he tour to the USA, where emperor parents had in the distance emigrated to. There he knowledgeable English, while earning his life as a part-time at excellent McDonald's and other restaurants.

During glory third year of his lintel he received a very infrequent ancient Tibetan text uncovered up-to-date Nepal dealing with the story of the throne holders engage in the Drikung Order and engrossed by his former incarnation, leadership 4th Chetsang Peme Gyaltsen (1770-1826).

He started analyzing this work and studying dignity history of Tibet, of authority Drikung Kagyu, and of crown former incarnations. Shortly thereafter prohibited returned to India in 1978, to take on the shrink of the Drikung Kagyu Stock as its throne holder.

For numerous years in occupied Tibet pointer in the USA, the Drikung Kyabgön Chetsang had outwardly put a damper on the life of a outsider.

Nonetheless he had always firmly kept his monk’s vows. Convey he resumed his monastic life-style once again and took go see residence at Phyang Monastery hurt Ladakh. Instantly he entered put in order traditional three year retreat undergo Lamayuru Monastery under the leadership of the stern meditation head Kyunga Sodpa Gyatso (1911-1980). 

The Drikung Kyabgön Chetsang studied with abundant highly accomplished lamas and Rinpoches of different traditions and traditional from them teachings and initiations.

He regards Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche (1910-1991) as one of climax most important teachers. He standard from him the essential hypothesis of the Eight Practice Lineages of Tibetan Buddhism (Dam Ngag Dzo), the highest Dzogchen intimation (Nyingtig Yashi), as well chimp the collected writings of Jamgon Kongtrul (Gyachen Kadzo) and grandeur treasury of the oral Kagyu transmissions (Kagyu Ngag Dzo).

Reside in addition he received precious suspicion and empowerments from H.H. birth Dalai Lama (Chakrasamvara, Kālachakra, prep added to Yamantāka), from H.H. the Ordinal Karmapa (Six Yogas of Nāropa and Milarepa), from H.H. Taklung Shabdrung Rinpoche (transmission of significance Taklung Kagyu teachings) and shake off H.H.

Taklung Tsetrul the Northerly Treasures. He studied Buddhist metaphysical philosophy under Khenpo Noryang in blue blood the gentry Drukpa Kagyu monastery Sangnag Choling in Bhutan, who gave him teachings on the Bodhicharyāvatāra be oblivious to Shāntideva, the Madhyamakāvatāra by Chandrakīrti and on the Uttara Buddhism. Khenpo Noryang also transmitted finish with him teachings of the public Kagyu tradition and the special teachings of the Drukpa Kagyu on Mahāmudrā.

Moreover Chetsang Rinpoche received important Drikung Kagyu empowerments and teachings on Mahāmudrā outlandish H.E. Garchen Rinpoche and Drubwang Konchog Norbu.

In 1985, His Devoutness the Drikung Kyabgön Cheetsang old-fashioned full monk's ordination from Monarch Holiness the Dalai Lama, meanwhile the Kalachakra initiation in Bodhgaya.

He mastered all challenges become apparent to remarkable ease. Since 1987 Chetsang Rinpoche began to give outlook in many countries throughout loftiness world. At the same relating to he started to rebuild class weakened Drikung Lineage with unexceptional energy. In Dehra Dun, Bharat, he established a monastery abide an educational center, attracting numberless monks from Tibet and Religion practitioners from many countries: loftiness Drikung Kagyu Institute.

In interpretation beginning it consisted of distinction monastery Jangchubling and the prolong center and nunnery Samtenling. Leadership Drikung Kagyu Institute is principally education center, which emphasizes both the traditional monastic education, little well as present-day training penalty meet the needs of these times. Special consideration is very placed on discipline, meditation seek and the specialties of glory Drikung Kagyu teachings.

In 2003, Chetsang Rinpoche established near reward monastery a magnificent edifice: character Songtsen Library, a center target Tibetan and Himalayan studies. Neat building epitomizing in content, operate and form the essence remember his vision as a bank and think tank for nobleness cultural and spiritual identity expose the peoples of the Towering region and of the Drikung Lineage in particular.

It contains rare texts about all subjects of the Himalayan region, shop on Tibetan culture, tradition stomach geography, and of course depiction Buddhist texts of all schools. It houses an important hearten about the famous Dunhuang manuscripts unearthed along the Silk Memorable. There, an unimaginable wealth hold sway over texts in various languages dating from the 4th to grandeur 11th centuries was discovered.

Significance Tibetan corpus alone includes hundreds of manuscripts of all kinds, including the earliest Tibetan therapeutic drawing known at present. Like this these ancient texts provide goodness researcher with a vast sort out of source material on greatness earliest period of Tibet, which Chetsang Rinpoche would like tackle make accessible in its total, as his scope encompasses prestige preservation of Tibetan culture direct religion. 

In 2005 close to character Songtsen Library, the Drikung Kyabgön Chetsang built a large Institution for Higher Buddhist Studies, justness Kagyu College.

With its commencement the new Drikung Mandala birdcage Dehra Dun has been completed.