SHIRI CHUSANG CHOKTRUL RINPOCHE LA.
The fifth reincarnation Jetsun Ngawang Losang Thupten Dronme (the present Chusang Rinpoche) was born in 1959 at Ngam-ring Dzong in central Tibet. Innumerable miraculous and auspicious signs occurred at his birth. He was the son of Bardok Chusang Rinpoche.
In 1965, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, confirmed the 5th incarnation of the Venerable Chusang Rinpoche, Ngawang Lobsang Thubten Dronme. Rinpoche began his studies under the guidance of Pelbar Geshe Rinpoche at a small retreat centre in Helambu. Following this, he studied for a further seven years in Dharamsala under the guidance of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Ven. Lati Rinpoche. He received teachings on Sutra and Tantra from late Kyabje Ling Rinpoche and late Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, too. Subsequently Rinpoche studied for 13 years at Sera Mey Monastic University in South India, where he obtained the traditional Geshe Lharampa degree (equivalent to a Ph.D.) in 1990.
Rinpoche is spiritual head and director of Chusang Monastery, based in Boudha, Nepal, and it is there that he spends most of his time. This monastery follows the yellow hat school or the Gelugpa tradition, to which His Holiness the Dalai Lama belongs. In 1991, Shiri Chusang Rinpoche accepted the leadership of another monastery, Zhekar Choedhe Monastery in Kalimpong, India, and has more recently agreed to take on a new role assisting the monks of Sertog Gaden Choekhor Ling Monastery in the state of Sikkim.
In the years that Rinpoche has been directing Chusang and Zhekar Choedhe Monasteries, both communities have seen great changes. Under Rinpoche’s loving guidance, both the spiritual and material wellbeing of his monks have benefited considerably. Chusang Monastery is now a haven of peace amidst the noise and bustle of the Kathmandu Valley and a community of nearly 40 monks now lives there in comparative comfort.
Much of Zhekar Choedhe is now newly built, thanks to Rinpoche’s efforts. But there is still work to do. Nothing stands still and both monasteries are growing fast as new monks are received from Tibet to begin their new lives under Chusang Rinpoche’s careful guidance.
As well as taking care of his monks, Rinpoche has been an active ambassador for them and also for the Buddhist practice and the cause of the Tibetan people. He has travelled widely and is in great demand both locally and elsewhere throughout the world. Amongst many other duties, he is a member of the Human Rights Organisation of Nepal, advisor to the Himalayan Buddhist Culture Association in New Delhi and a spiritual leader to the World Buddhist Cultural Exchange Association of South Korea. Rinpoche was elected as Vice President of the International Gelug Society’s Executive Committee at the first International Gelug Conference held in March 1999. At the third International Gelug Conference in Bodh Gaya, he was appointed President. In 1999, Rinpoche was also awarded an honorary Doctor of Philosophy degree from Trinity College in the USA. In 2002 Chusang Rinpoche was re-elected Vice-President of the International Gelug Society,s Executive Committee. Rinpoche is also the president of Sera Mey Tsangpa Khangtsen Executive Committee.
Venerable Khari Chotrul Rinpoche Tenzin Yonten
The incarnation of the second Khari Rinpoche, the head lama of the Khari Gaden Tenphel Ling monastery was born in 1980 with many auspicious signs. At the age of three, he was admitted to the Tibetan Homes School at Mussoorie. At the age of six, His Holiness the Dalai Lama chosen him as the incarnation of the third Khari Rinpoche Lobsang Tshultrim Palzangpo, the head lama of the khari Gaden Tenphel Ling monastery.
At the age of seven, he got the audience of His Holiness at Bodhagaya, where the ceremonial hair cut was performed. As per the advice of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, in 1990, he seeks admission in the Sera Mey Thoesam Norling monastic university to study Buddhism and fulfill his religious endeavors. In the same year, he received the novice vow from His Holiness the Dalai Lama at Gaden Monastery in Mundgod, South India.
In 1993, he started learning and memorizing root texts of Five Great Sciences of Buddhism, prayers and the ritual texts of the monastery.
In 1994, he entered the philosophical classes and started studying Buddhist philosophy.
By the grace of the His Holiness and the learned teachers, in 1999, he passed the Rigchung examination after completion of Abhisamayalankara class.
In 2003, when His Holiness the Dalai Lama visited Sera Monastery, he received the auspicious audience of His Holiness’s and requested for his invaluable advise on the building of new Khari Monastery. His Holiness advised him to build the monastery at its original place. Accordingly, Khari Rinpoche, with great courage and motivation, built the new majestic monastery on the pattern of traditional Tibetan architecture, which has became the object of veneration by the devotees and wel-wishers. At present Rinpoche is looking after the administration and all the activities of the monastery.
This is issued by the office of the Khari Gaden Tenphel Ling monastery on 13th March 2015
VENERABLE IV SANGTEN CHOKTRUL RINPOCHE
H.E. Sangten Rinpoche was born in 1971 at a village called Tso-Nga in the western region of Tibet. Since he was a small kid he was a special child who even spoke of a desire to go to Shelkar monastery. People naturally believe that he was the reincarnation of Geshy Sangye Tenphel’s third incarnation. He came to Nepal in 1982 and ordained from Pompa Geshe Rinpoche. He studied Buddhism and Tibetan language from him for four years. As directed by Pompa Geshe Rinpoche in 1986. H.E. Sangten Rinpoche went to Sera monastery in south India for futher Buddhist study.At that time he was 16 years under the Tutorship of Geshey Thupten Rinchen. He studied the Buddhist sciences for 13 years. During his time in Sera he is one of the best student in Seramey monastery and all the monks are really impressed with his good character. In accordance with his wishes he stayed for a 3 years retreat in the Yolmo region of Nepal and also stayed 6 years in retreat in the mountains near the Tibetan Children’s village school in[ Dharamsala] Himachal Pradesh, India. Regarding his recognition as the reincarnation, divinations were done to the six-armed Mahakala, which is the main protector deity of Kachen Yeshi Gyaltsen, divination to the Tara statue in Nyanang and the Buddha statue in Ba-Khang monastery. All three confirmed that Lobsang Tendhar is the unmistakable reincarnation of the previous Sangten Rinpoche and recently as requested by the Shelkar monastery H. H. the 14th Dalia lama bestowed the certification letter. He then take the Latul position and Geshe degree in Sera Mey monastery on the same day. At present he is mostly in retreat and teaching Buddhism to the monks of Shelkar monastery in Kathmandu, Nepal.