英文版

A brief biography of Tehor Zeekgyab Lineage

The first Zeekgyab Rinpoche, Kachen Lobsang Tsultrim Palsangpo was born on 12thRab Jung (Tibetan calendar) in the year 1721 at a place called Tawu Yobshi, in Kham (eastern part of Tibet). He went to Gaden Monastery (one of the biggest Buddhist University of the Gelugpa sect of the Tibetan Buddhism) in U-Tsang province/Central Tibet to study basic Tibetan and Buddhist studies. After that, he went to Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, the seat of Panchen Rinpoche (the second highest lama in the Tibetan Buddhism) to continue his Buddhist studies. There he completed the study of the five major Buddhist texts and obtained Kachen degree, equivalent to Doctorate degree, Ph.D in accordance with Tashi Lhunpo monastery.   The 6th Panchen Palden Yeshi Palsangpo, directed him to give teachings in Kham. Panchen Rinpoche presented him a Je Rinpoche (Je Tsongkhapa, the founder of Gelugpa sect) statue and advised him to stay at a place where the statue wishes to stay.  Je Rinpoche statue spoke to Kachen Lobsang Tsultrim Palsangpo that he would like to stay nearby the Karze monastery. So Zeekgyab Rinpoche decided to stay at this region later named Zeekgyab mountainous region. Zeekgyab Rinpoche gave teachings, oral transmissions and contributed extensively in the field of Tibetan Buddhism to the disciples of Karze Monastery and to thirteen different Monasteries and the ordinary people around Karze. From that time onwards the Karze Monastery was blessed by the three main Lamas from the three biggest Gelugpa sect (Sera, Drepung and Gaden Monastery). Rinpoche went into parinirvana in his 80s to serve the beings.

The second Zeekgyab Jetsun Kachen Lobsang Palden Palsangpo was born on Wood Bird (Tibetan Calendar) year 1804 at Tra-gor in  Kham region. He was recognized as the second Zeekgyab Rinpoche reincarnation by His Excellency Lamdrag Rinpoche and Trungsar Rinpoche in the presence of deity Yeshi Gompo’s divination with numerous auspicious signs. He was invited to the Karze monastery and enthroned at the age of six. He was invited to Tashi Lhunpo Monastery at the age of thirteen. At Thosam Ling Monastery he studied the five major Buddhist texts where he achieved excellence in the field and obtained the Kachen Degree in the presence of erudite scholars. He went to the Tantric Monastery of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery to study the tantric texts and became the great scholar in the field of Sang Ngag Dorjee Thig Pa (Vajra essential droplet of the Tantric doctrine). He gave several hundred thousands of teachings and oral transmissions to the below mentioned monastery such as Tehor Karze, Tawu, Minyag Garthar, Drag go, Chogri, Zatoe, Dhargyal, Beri with the direction of His Holiness the 7th Panchen Tenpai Nyima and the consideration of the life history of his predecessor to serve the beings. He established the main prayer hall of Karze Monastery and went into parinirvana at the age of 61 in the year 1866 to serve the beings more meaningfully.

At the age of four the 3rd Zeekgyab Rinpoche was recognized by the 8th Panchen Tenpai Wangchuk. He was born on the Fire Mouse (Tibetan calendar) year, 1867 at Dragor in Kham. He was ordained as a monk at the Tsang Tashi Lhunpo Monastic University at the age of 10 to study Tibetan Buddhist philosophy. His Holiness the Panchen Rinpoche performed the hair offering ceremony and named him as Zeekgyab Lobsang Palden Choe-kyi Wangchuk. He studied the five major Buddhist texts and achieved the academic Excellency like his predecessor and obtained Kachen degree amongst all the great scholars of the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery. He went to the Tantric Monastery of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery to study the tantric texts, related rites and rituals, and received its experiential teachings. He received high recognition in the field of Tantra and Sutra. It was prophesied by the 8th Panchen Tenpa Wangchuk that he would be a chief of the army at the time of Shambala in the future. The 8th Panchen Tenpai Wangchuk stated; 

Zeekgyab with a crystal bridle with reins,

Secretly named as Naljor Dorjee (one who attained prefect vajra serenity),

With a vajra on right hand and melong (mirror) on left hand,

Born to remove the enemy of Buddha’s teaching.

He gave many empowerments, initiations and oral transmission to the monks of Karzi, Dra Go and Tawu Nya Tso monastery and people of the area. He contributed immensely in the area to serve the beings. He was directed by His Holiness the 9th Panchen Lama, Thupten Choeky Nyima with a grand stamp as the Vajrayana master of the Tantric Monastery of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery and enthroned as the Vajrayana master. He gave many teachings, empowerments and initiations of the four great commonly well-known commentary of the vajrayana practice. He became famous and well-known after these contributions in the field of Tibetan Buddhism and attained the highly qualified experience and excelled with the highest level of practical experience. It was commonly known as Zeekgyab Dorjee Chang after these highly qualified achievements in the field of Guhyasamaja (King of Vajrayana). He worked tirelessly at Tashi Lhunpo Monastery with immeasurable contributions to create an opportunity for the monks to study and practice the vajrayana Tradition and to serve the sentient beings. Finally, he went into parinirvana with these immense contributions.

His Excellency 4th Zeekgyab Rinpoche, Kachen Thupten Nyendrak Namgyal Palsangpo was born in the year 1916 at Tehor Karze Denang Tsor.  He was born to the son of Mr. Rinchen Tsewang and Mrs. Sonam Dolma. He was recognized by His Holiness the Great 13th Dalai Lama. At the age of five, Rinpoche was enthroned to the Karze Monastery. At the age of ten, he was invited to Lhasa in Central Tibet and ordained as Ge Tsul (Novice monk), and named Thupten Nyendrak Namgyal by His Holiness the Great 13th Dalai Lama. Gradually, he came to Tashi Lhunpo Monastery and began to study the five major texts that were studied by his predecessors. He completed his study and appeared in the grand Kachen examination amongst all the great scholars and monks and obtained the Kachen degree. He went to the Tantric Monastery of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery and studied about the related vajrayana texts, utpattikrama (generation stage), mandala and Traditional Thangka painting etc. He excelled in these fields and became a great qualified master. We can see even today those great works done by Rinpoche at Tashi Lhunpo and Gaden Monastery. He also visited Tehor Karze, Tawu Nya-tso, and Zeekgyab Chak-sil monastery etc to give teachings, empowerments and initiations of the sutra and vajrayana to the monks and lay people around the area. 

Tashi Lhunpo Monastery’s high lamas and monks welcomed His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama with traditional scarf when he visited Dromo and requested for the Chenrezi (Avalokitesvara) empowerment at TashiLhunpo monastery, which His Holiness gladly accepted and Zeekgyab Rinpoche himself would be happy to sponsor the empowerment. On behalf of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, Zeekgyab Rinpoche and government officials went to the border area of Amdo, eastern Tibet to invite His Holiness The 10th Panchen Lama to Central Tibet in the year 1952. The first ever meeting of His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama and His Holiness The 10th Panchen Lama was actualized at that time and was considered as a sunrise in the history of Tibet. 

In the year 1954 Zeekgyab Rinpoche wished to sponsor the Kalachakra (Wheel of time) Initiation and requested His Holiness The 10th Panchen Lama to give this Initiation at Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in Tibet. His Holiness The 10th Panchen Lama gladly accepted his request and gave the Kalachakra Initiation to thousands of people in and around the Shigatse area, and received this precious Initiation. After that, Zeekgyab Rinpoche went to Gaden monastery for his further studies. Later he escaped to India when the Cultural Revolution broke out in Tibet. He was appointed as the Yar-Ney Khenpo (Sumar Retreat Abbot) in Arunachal, Darjeeling and Varanasi in India. He received several precious initiations, empowerments and oral transmissions from His Holiness The Dalai Lama, his senior and junior tutors. He came to South India when Tashi Lhunpo Monastery was re-establishing at Bylakuppe in the then Mysore State, present day Karnataka State.  He went to the Mundgod Tibetan Settlement, Uttar Kannada District of the same state and began to stay at 5th Camp in the settlement for individual practice and meditation. He received a personal letter from His Holiness the 10th Panchen Lama through the Tibetan Fact-Finding Delegation who visited Tibet from India and directed Zeekgyab Rinpoche to look after the administration of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery. He gladly accepted and went there to serve the monastic community. He went into parinivarna after a year.

The 5th Zeekgyab Kachen Tenzin Thupten Rapgyal Palsang was born on 8th October, 1983 to Mr. Phagri Passang Tsewang and Mrs. Zongkar Youdon at Camp no. 3 of Dicky Larsoe Tibetan Settlement (TDL), in Bylakuppe, District Mysore, Karnataka State, India. He was recognized as the reincarnation of the 4th Zeekgyab Rinpoche Lobsang Thupten Nyendrak Namgyal on 8th May, 1985 by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and named him as the 5th Zeekgyab Rinpoche, Jetsun Tenzin Thupten Rabgay Palsangpo. The Traditional Buddhist water blessing ceremony was held at the Gaden Tehor Khangtsen in Mundgod Tibetan settlement in the presence of all the Tulkus and monks of the Khangtsen. After that, he went to Bodgaya to attend the Kalachakra initiation by His Holiness the Dalai Lama where the simple Traditional Buddhist reincarnation ceremony was held and enthroned as the reincarnation of the 5th Zeekgyab Rinpoche. The grand Traditional Buddhist reincarnation ceremony was held at Tashi Lhunpo monastery in the year 1986, where he started learning basic Tibetan language and Buddhist texts. 

He started his basic Buddhist education at Gaden monastery as directed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama under the tutorial guidance of the former Abbot of Gaden Monastery, Khenzur Jetsun Lobsang Choenyi Palsangpo, in the year 1988. He actively participated in a basic course of elementary Buddhist logic and dialectical studies and excelled in the study of five major Buddhist texts: Phar-Chin (Prajnaparamita/perfection of wisdom), U- Ma (Madhyamika/Middle Way), Tsen-  Ma (Paramana/Valid Cognition) and Zoe (Abhidharma/Phenomenology), and received the recognization of erudite scholar in the field of Tibetan Buddhism with three excelled qualities such as Khe (scholar), Tsun (hard working) and Sang (virtue). He actively participated in the Jang- Gunchoe (great ceremony of winter debate) of the four great Buddhist Monastic Universities and his name became famous amongst the Monastic Universities.  

He was ordained as a Ge Tsul (novice monk) and a Gelong (fully ordained monk) by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He gave the supreme U-Ma (Middle way) examination in the year 2000, which was famous at Gaden and Jangtse Monastic University. He also taught monks of the Gaden Jangtse monastery. Rinpoche’s health condition was weak at that time. When he got slightly better His Holiness the Dalai Lama advised him to give his Geshe equivalent to doctorate degree, Ph.D examination which he did in the presence of great scholars of Gaden monastery in the year 2009. He went to the Gyumed Tantric University at Hunsur Rabgayling Tibetan settlement in Mysore District in the year 2010 to study mainly about the Drel Pa Shi Drag (four commonly known commentaries) on Vajrayana Root Text . He also received the oral transmission and the essential practice of Gyud Deshi (four Tantras) and achieved the life history like his predecessors.  In the same year, he gave the grand examination on the Namdrel Li Wu Shi ( four chapters of the Extensive Commentary on Valid Cognition) and the five major Buddhist texts: Phar Chin (Prajnaparamita/perfection of wisdom), U-Ma (Madhyamika/Middle Way), Tsen-Ma (Paramana/Valid Cognition) and Zoe (Abhidharma/Phenomenology) in the presence of all monks of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery and received Kachen degree.  In the year 2011, he went to Tashi Lhunpo Monastery as advised by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Gaden Tri Rinpoche (Throne Holder of Gelug Sect) with requests from Khenpo and the administrative members of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery. He contributed immensely by teaching regular classes to the senior monks on the five major Buddhist texts. At the same time, he received rare oral transmissions and initiations. In the year 2012, he went to Tibet and visited Karze monastery and gave blessing to people assembled around the area. At Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in India Rinpoche donated a seven feet gold and copper statue of the first Dalai Lama, Gedun Drupa as an auspicious sign to the newly constructed main prayer hall of the monastery.  

In the year 2018, he went to Taiwan to learn Chinese language for a year. During that time, he taught Tibetan Buddhism to the Tiawanese Dharma brothers and sisters. He was appointed as the Khenpo (Abbot) of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in the year 2018.  The Traditionl Enthronement Ceremony of Khenpo was held at Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in the year 2019 in the presence of all the Abbots and former Abbots from different Monasteries, Tulkus, Kachens, Geshes, Sponsors, Indian and Tibetan officials, Representatives of Non-Governmental Organizations, Rinpoche’s parents and relatives, and the general publics.  From that onwards, he is taking the responsiblities of monastery including health, education and administration etc and continuing class with the senior monks as before. He is extremely busy to serve the beings specially the monks of TashiLhunpoMonastery.