My samaya with Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche

When I was 25 years old, the Shedra at Thrangu Monastery in Yushu, Qinghai Province, was established. Along with roughly twenty other students, we studied under Khenpo Lodro Rangsa for about five years. Then, from the age of 25 to 36, I became Thrangu Rinpoche’s attendant. I tried to complete every task with a virtuous motivation and strived to fulfil my duties as an attendant. Thrangu Rinpoche was delighted and I was also content and at ease, thus we have had a very pure samaya between us.

I travelled with Thrangu Rinpoche to India when I was 36. The road from Tibet to India was harsh and treacherous. I was ready to sacrifice my life for Rinpoche’s safety, and with that in mind we arrived in India safely. It was also because of Rinpoche that I had the opportunity to come to India.

Upon arrival in India, Thrangu Rinpoche was invited by the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa Rangjung Rigpe Dorje to Rumtek Monastery (seat-in-exile of the Gyalwang Karmapa) in Sikkim, becoming the personal tutor to the four heart sons. Since then, for eight years, I stayed in a place called Buxa to continue my education. While studying, I contracted tuberculosis and had to go to Rumtek for treatment. I served as Rinpoche’s attendant intermittently while receiving treatment, and ended up staying in Sikkim for a few years. After that, upon request, I went to Tilokpur Nunnery in Northern India and taught for a year and a half. Subsequently, Bhutan’s monastery required a Khenpo to oversee their Summer Retreat, so I headed there and stayed for a year.

An exhortation from the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa

In 1976, I was sent to the United States by the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa. During the Karmapa’s visit to the States in 1977, he mentioned that a sponsor had offered a piece of land of 300 acres. However, it was not an auspicious affair when we went to examine the site. During the meeting between the Karmapa and the sponsor, Karmapa’s portrait accidentally fell onto the ground; while signing the deed, we tried three pens but they all failed to write; when planting a tree on site, the tree fell on the Karmapa. Although he wasn’t injured, we found threads of his hair on the branches while putting the tree back in place, demonstrating how hard of a fall it was. The sponsor also felt quite disappointed in these inauspicious signs.

The Karmapa mentioned to me that he originally named this place “Norbuling”, meaning a precious grove, hoping that there will be a monastery and a town established. Now he wants to rename it “Norbugang”, which is the name of a type of Tibetan Dzi bead. He especially remarked that he will consecrate the place on the 15th day of the fourth month of the Tibetan calendar. I didn’t quite understand what his intentions were as there was a lot of inauspiciousness involved with this place.

I agreed at that time because there were no other suitable locations. During that period, the 3rd Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche visited the U.S., and when we heard there was a piece of land for sale in New York (the present location of Karma Triyana Dharmachakra, KTD), Rinpoche and I went to inspect the place. We were very pleased with the site and struck a deal with the seller. We purchased the land for two hundred thousand U.S. dollars and began working on the place. Everything materialized exactly as the Karmapa mentioned before; we consecrated the place on the 15th of the fourth month of the Tibetan calendar (Khenpo Kathar recounts melancholically).

The 16th Karmapa came here on a subsequent visit to the States before returning to India. Construction of the monastery had yet to be completed, and he told me with a smile, “You must build a monastery here, however large or small, and hopefully a retreat center for the three-year three-month retreat.” The responsibility of building the retreat center was entrusted to me by the Karmapa. However, when we were planning the construction, there was no space allocated to build a retreat center.

The 16th Gyalwang Karmapa passed into Parinirvana in 1981 in the U.S.. He had many sponsors while alive, most being Americans while two were Asian. Many Americans left after his passing, leaving the two Asian disciples to look after the monastery. With the help of Bardor Tulku Rinpoche, Mr. Tenzin and several others, KTD was finally established after years of assiduous hard work.

There were many administrative and financial tasks at hand after the monastery was established, but the 16th Karmapa’s exhortation to build a three year three month retreat center was constantly on my mind. Due to the blessings of the Guru and the Three Jewels, an American offered 42 acres of land and several Asian disciples with whom I was acquainted sponsored the construction of the retreat center. Until the present (2018), we have conducted seven rounds of three year three month retreats. In addition, the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje has visited three times, sponsoring the maintenance of the monastery and retreat center. All these favorable signs and conditions are extremely auspicious!

The setting sun will rise again

Now that I’m getting old (Rinpoche passed into Parinirvana in 2019), all I can do is eat and sleep (breaks into laughter). There are some other trivial details that I won’t mention here. Next, I will share something about Thrangu Rinpoche, about the present reincarnation (the 9th).

I was still very young so I don’t remember much about the previous reincarnation (the 8th), who was an elderly monk before his Parinirvana. I heard that in Qinghai’s Thrangu monastery, the previous Thrangu Rinpoche went to meet Mipham Rinpoche who had just completed a three year retreat in the mountains. Thrangu Rinpoche was no longer physically fit at that time, so he spent a huge amount of effort to get to the retreat center halfway up the mountain. When they met, Thrangu Rinpoche said he lacked merit and his health was deteriorating, and that there was no opportunity to receive teachings from Mipham Rinpoche even though he had just completed a retreat. Thrangu Rinpoche made many offerings and asked for blessings and aspirations to be made for Mipham Rinpoche’s future reincarnation. Mipham Rinpoche regarded this as an auspicious sign and prophesized, “Even though the sun sets, it will rise again due to its strength.” Rinpoche was happily moved to tears upon hearing. At that time, Rinpoche also had an old attendant with him who did not understand the meaning to his words. Not long after, the previous Thrangu Rinpoche passed into Parinirvana.

Stainless words of the Guru

During the cremation ceremony of the 8th Thrangu Rinpoche, the current 9th Thrangu Rinpoche’s aunt had a dream. She saw an old monk with a long, white beard who removed the golden top of the Thrangu monastery and attached it to the roof of the house belonging to the father of the current Thrangu Rinpoche. Everyone felt that she was speaking nonsense and asked her not to continue further. Later on, the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa saw the same occurrence in a pure vision, with the details matching what she saw in her dream.

When the 8th Thrangu Rinpoche was about to pass into Parinirvana, his attendant made three requests to him: the first was to reincarnate as soon as possible; the second was to reincarnate in their hometown (Thrangu monastery in Qinghai); the third was to reincarnate into a wealthy family. Rinpoche promised to reincarnate quickly and fulfil these requests.

The 8th Thrangu Rinpoche passed into Parinirvana in the year of the Monkey. It was a time of tumult and devastation and the monastery was almost in ruins. While looking for the Thrangu tulku born in the year of the Rooster, many villagers claimed that their child was the reincarnation (Rinpoche laughs). At that time, the abbot of the monastery was the 8th Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche, a teacher endowed with great wisdom. He greeted the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa on his visit from Lhasa and welcomed him with dances and performances at the campgrounds. During the performances, Tragleg Rinpoche asked the Karmapa about the whereabouts of the Thrangu reincarnation, as two years had passed after his Parinirvana.

The 16th Gyalwang Karmapa was still young at that time, but he said the reincarnation had been born in a place called Randa. Traleg Rinpoche again questioned, “There are two places called Randa, one in Derge, the other in Yushu. Which one is it?” The Karmapa replied that he has been to neither, Thrangu Rinpoche’s birthplace has a huge Mani wall, and from there one can see the Randa area. Unable to write yet at his young age, the Karmapa asked Traleg Rinpoche to write the following down and stamped his seal on the paper, “The Thrangu reincarnation is born in the year of the Rooster. His father’s name is Tundrup, and his mother’s name is Kelsang.”

Subsequently, Palpung monastery in Derge invited the 16th Karmapa to visit, and Traleg Rinpoche and others accompanied him there. Tragleg Rinpoche requested the previous abbot, the 11th Situ Rinpoche Pema Wangchuk Gyalpo, “The 16th Gyalwang Karmapa is still young. Please tell us where the Thrangu reincarnation is.” Situ Rinpoche was angry upon hearing this and replied, “You haven’t been honest with me Zhengu (Traleg Rinpoche’s family name) Rinpoche.

“You’ve already asked the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa to clarify this, but because of his tender age you have given rise to doubts. The words of the Kagyu lineage holders are unerring regardless of their age.” Nevertheless, Situ Rinpoche submitted to the request and wrote another letter regarding Thrangu Rinpoche’s reincarnation. It briefly stated, “His father is called Kunga, and his mother is called Kelsang. Their house is three storeys tall and is next to a white road. The door to their black tent faces the east. There is a red dog at its door. This is the place where the Thrangu reincarnate dwells.” The previous Situ Rinpoche added that the current reincarnation will face a big obstacle at the age of three. Just as Situ Rinpoche foretold, when the current Thrangu reincarnation was three, a yak’s horn hit his face, nearly missing his head. Thanks to obstacle-removing prayers made on his behalf, he suffered no life-threatening injuries. If we look close enough, we can still see a scar on Rinpoche’s chin.

Thrangu Rinpoche’s father’s name was stated as “Kunga” according to Situ Rinpoche’s letter, which differs from the name “Tundrup” foretold by the Karmapa. The reason is that his father was named “Tundrup” when young, but used the name “Kunga” as he got older. These two names referred to the same person. Apart from this, other signs and details also matched up perfectly. Based on the prophecies made by the Karmapa and Situ Rinpoche, the current Thrangu reincarnation was found and the wishes made by his elderly attendant were also fulfilled. Forty nine days after the previous (8th) Thrangu Rinpoche passed into Parinirvana, the 9th Thrangu Rinpoche was born. Secondly, his birthplace was a two hour horse ride from Thrangu monastery, and thirdly, he was born into a prosperous family.

I heard that the young Thrangu Rinpoche already knew when the old attendant and his entourage were to visit, so early in the morning he made sure that ample tsampa, butter and tea were ready for them. He was busy making the preparations and said that many guests will arrive. His mother smiled and reminisced that Rinpoche paced up and down the stairs repeatedly; she didn’t know what had gotten into her child that day. Subsequently, she realized the young Rinpoche had known that the monastery had sent people on their way to find him.

Uniting as one

After the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa passed into Parinirvana, Thrangu Rinpoche became responsible for the Shedra at Rumtek monastery, the Karmapa’s seat-in-exile, and in particular, for the education of the four heart sons. Rinpoche’s contribution to the Kagyu school is immense! Just like what Mipham Rinpoche predicted, “Even though the sun sets, it will rise again due to its strength.” Although the Kagyu teachings prospered under the 16th Karmapa, tumultuous times ensued after his passing. Thrangu Rinpoche continued to teach with a relentless perseverance, leading to the untarnished and complete set of Kagyu teachings that we have today.

I am confident that we all know how erudite and knowledgeable Rinpoche is, so I won’t mention much here, nor am I capable of doing so. In order for the teachings to prosper, he has set up monasteries and dharma centers in India, Nepal, Hong Kong, the U.S., Canada and other countries, benefitting countless sentient beings. This is something all of us have witnessed. When the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa visited KTD in New York, during a teaching in the main shrine hall, he stated that Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche has contributed the most to the flourishing of the Kagyu teachings during this era. The teachings of Thrangu Rinpoche are stainless and impeccable like the Karmapa has expressed, and we as his students need to preserve them, regardless of whether we are Nepalese, Chinese or Tibetans.

If we are able to unite together and diligently preserve Rinpoche’s teachings, Rinpoche’s life-long dedication will remain extremely meaningful. Even though we are all right and fine at the current moment, we still need to make concrete plans for the future in order to actually carry out and realize our goals. It is of utmost importance to place our teacher’s words and the lineage close to our hearts! Usually I tear up when thinking about the words of my teacher. I don’t cry when I get angry, although some people do. I become as hard as a rock when I’m angry! (Rinpoche chuckles as he concludes)