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Gaden Shartse Lhopa Khangtsen Camp #1, Tibetan Refugee Rehabilitation Settlement, Mundgod, India
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70 New Arrivalls
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\ BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF GESHE THUBTEN TSERING PALSANGPO
In the year1934 to the East of Lhasa about three days of journey in the Gungkar district, on the back of Machu River, in the family of new Zimba Trilzin Sarpa, the mother of the family had a dream that Nagini Maltro Sichien gifting her a son. Thus, a son was born to Mrs. and Mr. Sonam Dorjee after this auspicious dream. The mother named her son "the Gifted Son".
When his parents took the little boy
on a pilgrimage to Lhasa, even though he was only one and half
year, he was able to recite Tibetan letter "Ka". At the age of
nine his own father started teaching him how to read and
Tibetan. He was proving to be a very clever, intelligent boy.
So, his parents decided to put him into a Monastery.
In 1943, he was initiated into
monkhood and enrolled himself as one of the new entrant at Gaden
Shartse Thosam Norling Monastery's Lhopa Khangtsen under the
care of Geshe Gyan Choe Dhar Lak. Then he was initiated into
doctrines of Rabjung.
At about 12 years of age with
Phukhang Geshe Lobsang Choephel and Ngari Geshe Lobsang Tenzin
as his two main tutors. He mastered the logical debating
techniques from the basic color definitions.
At the age of 18 years he gave his
debating examination in " Pharchin" in the main hall. His
understanding of the Buddhist Scripture was such good that even
at this time he was learned enough to teach others. He wasn't
only a learned monk but always a concerned compassionate
companion, a very sincere teacher. During the class of " Central
Path " (Uma)" he was so good in memorizing that in
addition to whatever the general requirement to memorize, he had
memorized thousands of additional scriptures by heart and used
to stand first among his classmates for many years. When the
14th Dalai Lama was giving his debate exam at Gaden, he was one
of the questioners.
In the 1959, when H.H. the Dalai
Lama fled Tibet, he was one of 1500 monks who gathered at
Bhaksa's Thosam Thardot Ling to put an initiative in preserving
and reviving the Tibetan Buddhism. With blessings from H H the
Dalai Lama and the most reverent Szong Rinpoche, Khenpos of the
Monastery, he devoted himself in learning Buddhisms and also
imparting his knowledge and wisdom to all the younger monks. He
has received many doctrines and initiations from H H the Dalai
Lama, Yongzin Ling Rinpoche, Yongzin Trichang Rinpoche, Kyabje
Szong Rinpoche, Kyabje Dorjee Chang Rinpoche, Phara Dorjee
Chang, Rev Zemet Rinpoche, Drelo Geshe Loden Rinpoche, Gashar
Khen Rinpoche Lobsang Choephel, Loselling Khenpo Padma Gyaltsen,
Sharhor Khen Rinpoche Neema Gyaltsen. He received his
endoctrines at most of the holy places, thus he has tried to put
this in writing mainly to keep the old tradition of recording
the lectures he received but also to pay his respect and
gratitude to his masters. In the year 1964, as per the directives from H H the Dalai Lama he was one of the Resource Person in the Dharma Teachers, Teachers' Training conducted at Musssorie, UP, India.
After this he joined and received the Acharya degree in Buddhist Philosophy from Banaras Hindu University, Sarnath. After this he appeared for his Geshe Lharam test at Dharamsala in the presence of monks from all 3 major Monastery. After this, at a Chotrul Monlam at Gaden, he stood first among those appearing for Geshe Lharam at Gaden Monastery.
He joined the Gyuto Monastery to master in Tantric Studies. After this he joined the Banaras University, Sarnath section as lecturer till his last days.
His spare times were spend in
reading the other Buddhist sects' text and teaching the students
who come to him for his guidance and help. His style of teaching
was very simple, clear and precise to the point.
Unfortunately in 1986, he fell ill
and since both Tibetan and Allopathic medicines could not give
out any marked result he was shifted to Mundgod Gaden Monasery
for further treatment and care. But again here also his health
did not improve much, thus he was taken to a good Hospital in
Delhi where he breathed his last on 17th April 1988.
Thus after his demise, the followers
and the disciples prayed and wished for his reincarnation for
the benefit of the all human beings and also for the spread of
the Dharma. Thus prayers were offered, oracles were consulted as
per the prevalent old tradition looked for his Reincarnation. Geshe Thubten Tsering Palsangpo's reincarnate Tulku Tenzin Tsering's
brief biography
In 1993, when Geshe Tsultrim Tengey
lakand Ven. Tsedup Dorjee of Gaden Lhopa Khangtsen requested His
Holiness the Dalai Lama whether H. H. the Dalai Lama sees a sign
for a possible reincarnation. H. H. the Dalai Lama has advised
them to wait, as there is no clear sign showing that the
reincarnation would be in India. Yet these two made an effort to
look out for possible clues among the people in Dharamsala,
Delhi and other Tibetan settlements. Since they did not see any
positive indications they were a little disheartened. But then
in 1995when Drupchen Gowo Geshe Neema was consulted, he
prophesized that the reincarnation was born in Tibet at Yuthog
Zampa (turquoise-roofed bridge) so either one of them
tried to go to Tibet but the permits were restricted. They tried
to contact some people in Tibet to look for this new incarnation
but they were not successful.
In 1996 December, when HH the Dalai
Lama gave the Kalachakra at Salugara ( India), Geshe Tsultrim
Tengay and Gelong Jampa Wangchuk and their Geshe Chophel of
Gaden Hardong Khangtsen and Trulku Tenzin Namdol all went to
receive this Kalachakra sermon. They all stayed lodged together
in one tent during the Kalachakra sermon. Ven. Tenzin Namdol
Rinpoche had some guest from Tibet Mrs. Dicky Dolkar and her son
Tenzin Namkha, when this mother and child came to the tent
deliver some parcel, the boy immediately without any hesitation
asked Geshe Tsultrim Tengay lak with so much of familiarity and
without any inhibition. " Oh! Give me an apple" and he looked
very happy to have meet Geshe TsultrimTengay. Geshe Tsultrim
Tengay was absent-minded and thought it was just a child's
boldness nothing else. Then the boy came repeatedly into the
tent and was showing his happiness to have met Geshe Tsultrim
Tengay. After the Kalachakra, the mother and the son wanted to
come down to Mundgod to meet their relative Ven. Lobsang
Thabkhey of Drepung Phukhang Khangtsen, but she could not find
anyone to visit Drepung from her co-travelers. So the mother was
quite unsure whether she will make it or not to Mundgod without
a good travelling companion. So, finally she decided to come
down with Geshe Chophel and Geshe TsultrimTengay, they reached
Mundgod. As they got down at Gaden Monastery when Geshe Chophel
went to his residence and Geshe Tsultrim Tengay too started
towards his residence the boy insist that he will accompany
Geshe Tsultrim Tengay to his residence. It was good time that
Gaden Lhopa Khangtsen was all cleaned and white washed. On 4th
of January 1997, (24/11/2123 of Tibetan Calendar) as they
arrived to their residence, we offered the food. The boy after
his food went and sat on the cot belonging to late Geshe Thubten
Tsering and said this is my cot. He insisted on getting the
white glass rosary of the late Geshe lak, which was kept on the
altar and after getting it on his hand, he put the rosary round
his neck. While he went to toilet he gave us the rosary (mala)
to be kept with care, when asked, "whose is it?" The boy
replied, "it is his". Not only this he also said that there is a
spectacle of his in the drawer of the table which too was there.
All these things were very surprising incidence to all the Geshe
and their students of this house. Then the Mother and child went
back to Drepung Monastery to stay with their relative. The next
morning at the child's persistent demand that they go to Gaden,
the mother and the child had to come Gaden before they could
have their breakfast. The mother left the child at Gaden and she
went back to Drepung Monastery. Her brother instructed her to
get her son back so again in the afternoon she went to Gaden to
collect her son, but they both stayed that evening there. That
evening they had their dinner at Geshe Tsultrim Tengye's
residence of Lhopa Khangtsen. After the dinner the boy got up
and suddenly went into the inner room and called his mother and
asked his mother " Mother, how is my place?" Mother replied
casually " yes, it is good, but now we must go back to Drepung
". The boy said that mother can go alone, he wants to stay here,
but some how the mother coaxed him to go back to Drepung
Monastery. Then again at Drepung the next two days, the boy had
wanted to go to Gaden, somehow the Mother and the Uncle managed
to hold him back at Drepung.
On 8th of January 1997 (29/11/2123
of Tibetan Calendar), when the mother and the child came to
Gaden, Gaden Lhopa Geshe Tsultrim Tengay, Ven. Tsedup Dorjee,
Hardong Geshe Chophel and Ven. Tennzin Namdol told the Mother of
the child that there are many incidence and happening occurred
with her son when the mother and the child came to Gaden. Some
of which are as prophesied by H. H. the Dalai Lama and Gyen
Neema and the numerous positive sign and indication towards the
positive sign that the child probably could be the reincarnation
of their former Teacher. So they all again went to Gowo Geshe
Neema lak to seek his insight views. Geshe Neema lak sat three
times in Trans meditation and confirmed that his boy in the name
of Tenzin Namkhan, born in Yuthog bridge province is the
reincarnation of former Geshe Thubten Tsering. Geshe Neema said
do not just believe me alone, let the young boy have the dice
cast three and all the three times it was similar prediction as
that of Gyen Neema lak. The child's tongue bears the imprints of
letter 'Aa'. His mother related that when the child was taken to
Drepung Monastery in Tibet, there the Rev. Lamrim Rinpoche
advised the mother to keep the child with all proper sanitation,
as this is an incarnate. Therefore all these has convinced us to
believe that this child is the reincarnate of former Geshe
Thubten Tsering. Another convincing sign is the boy has a
birthmark on the right waist where the former Geshe has been
operated at Delhi.
On 10th of February 1997 (2/12/2123
Tibetan Calendar) on this auspicious day, the first formal
simple ceremony of offering of holy dress was conducted at his
previous birth's residence along with Mandels. When scarves were
being offered with the articles belonging to the previous birth,
the boy showed definite differences and specific sign. About
people whom he had known in his previous life to all those who
had been very friendly in his previous life he not only returned
their scarves but also presented them with fruits. This act of
the young boy has not only surprised all those gathered but also
made our belief stronger that there is no mistake in looking up
to this young boy as the reincarnate of our beloved great
teacher Geshe Thubten Tenzin.
A formal request was forwarded to
the private office of H. H. the Dalai Lama through Kongo Tenpa
Sopa to forward the news, that at Lhubug, near Lhasa to Mr.
Doten and Mrs. Dicky Dolkar a child name Tenzin Namkha was born
at 10 a.m. on 8th of 7th month of Tibetan year 2120 (i.e.
in 1992). Who is recognized as the reincarnate of late Geshe
Thubten Tsering of Gaden Lhopa Khangtsen seek H. H. the Dalai
Lama's blessings and offer the first offering of hair to be
initiated into the monk hood, this request was accepted. His
Holiness granted the occasion on 1st of January 1998 at Sera
Monastery when H.H. the Dalai Lama asked jovially to the young
boy, " your previous life or you, who has the bigger head?" The
boy replied, " I have smaller head now". Again H. H. the Dalai
Lama has asked, " you or your previous birth, who do you have a
shorter small finger?" In his reply, he said, " I have a longer
small finger now". As H. H. the Dalai Lama is familiar that the
late Geshe had a very big head and very short small finger.
After these replies being a positive and correct answer H. H.
the Dalai Lama was all smiles and accepted the child's hair
offered in prayer and named the new reincarnate as Tenzin
Tsering and formally declared and accepted as the reincarnate of
late Geshe Thubten Tsering.
On 18th of January 1998 a special
naming ceremony was conducted at Gaden Norling Shartse
Monastery and ceremoniously conducted into the religious fold of
lama hood. This short write up is compiled by Gashar Lhopa Khangtsen's Geshe Tsedup Dorjee and Geshe Jampa Wangchuk on behalf of all the pupils of late Geshe with respect, gratitude and rejoicing in his rebirth.
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