Monday, October 19, 2009

A biography of the 13th Ganden Tritul Rinpoche


"In the darkness of war during this degenerated age,
welcomed by the kindness of white dawn,
who puts reddish yellow robes, having glory of power,
who will run the administrations.
By the treasure knowledge of Manjushri,
the main teachings of Je Tsong Khapahas flourished in all directions
We offer the owner of celestial bodies,
the secret deeds of Lama for others’ well being,
uncountable even by Sarasvati.
So our child-like mind has no power to express
the lama’s whole life history here,
but we express few words which embodies our firm faith to him."


The first to fourth reincarnations were Tamphel Gonpo, Tenpa Rabgye, Jamyang Choedak and Lodo Rabphel. They were pure practitioners of wind, channel and drops and attained high spiritual levels of realisations. They were practitioners of the Nyingmapa and Kagyudpa traditions.
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Tritul Choephel, the fifth incarnation, was born at Nyangdo-tse in U-Tsang province in 1569, the Ninth Rabchung Iron Bird year. During his birth, there were many miraculous signs. He was ordained in Sera-Je monastery and learned the five treatises of Buddhist philosophy and all related studies in both India and Tibet. According to the tradition of the monastery, he took the Geshe Rabjampa degree and entered both Upper and Lower tantric colleges where he practised every tantric teaching. During his daily practices, he frequently saw personally Manjushri, Lord Maitreya and many other deities. Under the guidance of these deities, he diligently contemplated, practised and realised the vast ocean of Buddhadharma, becoming an outstanding scholar. When he was 60 years of age, he became the thirty-second supreme Ganden Throne Holder of Je Tsong Khapa in 1620, during the Tenth Rabchung Iron Monkey year. Once, Ganden Tritul Choephel Rinpoche and Kunchok Choephel Rinpoche accompanied Panchen Rinpoche when the latter was requested to save lives in the Tsang war. Spending his entire life to benefit sentient beings, Rinpoche consummated his practice and having fully accomplished his activities for the propagation of dharma, he rested his intent at the age of 63 in the year 1623.
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Lobsang Namgyal, the Sixth Tritul, completed his studies of the sutric teachings at Sera Monastery and entered the Upper Tantric College where he studied all the tantric teachings. He was renowned for his mastery of both the sutras and tantras. He was recognised as the emanation of Bakula, one of the sixteen Arahats, and was deeply respected as such. In 1659, the Fifth Dalai Lama appointed him as the head of Ganden Monastery. Rinpoche proceeded with the construction and renovation of the monastery and upheld the monastic discipline and precepts strictly.
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Khedup Phakpa Tenzin, the Seventh Tritul, was born in Nak-Phu-Palstang. He was recognised by the Seventh Dalai Lama. He was endowed with extraordinary abilities even as a child. He was very active in propagating the dharma, reconstruction of monastery, commissioned the making of statues etc. Many people deemed him as an extraordinary Lama.
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Lobsang Tenpai Nyima, the Eighth Tritul was born at Kerang Rakra Tsang. He had exceedingly deep realisations in both the sutras and tantras and accomplished the benefit of others mainly through the practices of tantra as well as the dharma. He perceived visions of many deities and had lots of devotees. He prophesied the birthplace of his next rebirth and passed into parinirvana at the age of 42.
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Dak Nyak Wangpo was the Ninth Tritul. Fulfilling the prophecy of his predecessor, he was born in the Chu Shung Dangpa Pontsang family. He studied the sutras and tantras in the Sera Monastery and Upper Tantric College. He became an outstanding scholar, built a meditation centre named Ganden Dru Kang and established within the monastery the tradition of performing the pujas according to the sadhanas of the four classes of tantras. Making no discrimination among beings, he propagates the dharma for the benefit of all sentient beings. He passed away at the age of 70.
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Lobsang Yongkhap Tenpai Gonpo, the Tenth Tritul, was born at Chu Shun Gongjo Tsang. He possessed a strong ability for prophecy since young. He also excels in the 5 treaties of the Buddhist doctrine. Once, on the wall of his bedroom, he drew a picture of himself lying on a bed while his teacher and disciples were showing sad expressions on their faces. When his teacher told him that he was not allowed to draw such pictures, he told his teacher that death comes to all and ask him since that this is the nature of existence, why is it not appropriate to draw that. He added that if he would not like to see those pictures, he would draw other pictures. Then he drew a picture of a young reincarnated lama sitting on a throne chair, with a teacher who was teaching him how to read and write as well as giving dharma teachings etc. He also predicted the location and family of his next rebirth.
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Lobsang Gelek Chokley Namgyal, the Eleventh Tritul, was born in a family called Lhathok Phon Naktsang. Fulfilling his predecessor’s predictions, he assumed the abbotship of Ganden Monastery, studied the scriptures diligently, mastered the teachings of sutra and tantra, was well learned and abided by the precepts all his life. In his administration of the monastery, he emphasized the three classes of vows and the four means of assembling discipline. He said that one should guard the precepts as one would guard one’s eyes. He realised emptiness and had total control over his mind. He is full of merits and his fame pervade wide. He is both admired and respected by many people.
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Lobsang Thupten Chokley Namgyal, the Twelfth Tritul was born in Latu Phon Naktsang Family. He was recognised by the Thirteenth Dalai Lama. Since his youth, he studied the wide corpus of Buddhist scriptures and tantra diligently and became a great scholar who was well versed in both Sutra and Tantra. Moreover, he retreated in deep isolated mountains and once retreated for three years on the Chonying Maha Dewa in the Green Ocean Lake. This place was completed isolated with no inhabitants and no means of transportation. It was only during winter when the lake water is frozen that any communication with others was possible. Rinpoche perceived many deities and realised emptiness. He contributed greatly to the reconstruction of the monastery and commissioned the making of new statues and shrines as well as the printing of scriptures for the monastery. As a practitioner, he regarded the flourishing of Buddha dharma as being very important and put much of his effort into activities that propagated the dharma. His devotees came from all three regions of Tibet. When Rinpoche was 37 years old, he and several close disciples went on an excursion. On the way, he expounded a great deal on his own experiences. He talked about the transitory nature of all phenomenon, its interdependent nature and cause-and-effect. One day, he told his disciples: “Today we are laughing because we are happy, yet tomorrow maybe we would be crying in sorrow. Today we may be free and relaxed but tomorrow, we may be busy.” On the next day, without any illness, Rinpoche leant against a large tree, sitting in the vajra posture and entered into pure samadhi. He left notes about his future rebirth and certain important matters about the past and future of Ganden Monastery in a book he kept in a wooden box in his sleeping quarters. This demonstrated his mastery over life and death.

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