Difference between revisions of "Geshe Gendün Rinchen"
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[[File:Je_Khenpo.jpg|thumb|250px|]] | [[File:Je_Khenpo.jpg|thumb|250px|]] | ||
| − | Geshe Gendün Rinchen (1926-1997), was the 69th [[Je Khenpo]] of Bhutan. | + | [[Geshe Gendün Rinchen]] (1926-1997), was the 69th [[Je Khenpo]] of [[Bhutan]]. |
==Biographical Details== | ==Biographical Details== | ||
| − | Geshe Gendün Rinchen was born in a small cave by the side of the path to [[Paro Tagtsang]], so as a child he was nicknamed "Dragphugpa" (Cave Man). | + | [[Geshe Gendün Rinchen]] was born in a small {{Wiki|cave}} by the side of the [[path]] to [[Paro Tagtsang]], so as a child he was nicknamed "Dragphugpa" ({{Wiki|Cave}} Man). |
| − | At a young age he showed great interest in the Buddhist religion and at seven he received novice ordination at [[Tashichho Dzong]] in Thimphu and was given the name Gendün Rinchen. | + | At a young age he showed great [[interest]] in the [[Buddhist]] [[religion]] and at seven he received [[novice]] [[ordination]] at [[Tashichho Dzong]] in Thimphu and was given the [[name]] Gendün Rinchen. |
| − | When he was twenty-seven he travelled to Lhodrak Lhalung, center of the tradition of [[Padma Lingpa]] in Southern Tibet. There he studied the Thirteen great texts of [[Mahayana]] [[Buddhist Philosophy]] from Khatok Khen Rinpoche. At the age of twenty-nine he went to [[Drigung]] in Central Tibet where he studied classical Tibetan orthography, grammar and poetry; the works of [[Mipham Rinpoche]] and [[Khenpo Shenga]] and received many tantric teachings including those on the [[Mañjuśrīnāmasamgīti]]. Afterwards he went to [[Samye Monastery]] where he received the [[empowerment]]s and instructions of the [[Rinchen Terdzö]]; the [[Nyingthig]] and [[Longchenpa]]'s Dzödun from [[Dudjom Jigdral Yeshe Dorje]]. | + | When he was twenty-seven he travelled to [[Lhodrak]] Lhalung, center of the [[tradition]] of [[Padma Lingpa]] in Southern [[Tibet]]. There he studied the Thirteen great texts of [[Mahayana]] [[Buddhist Philosophy]] from Khatok Khen [[Rinpoche]]. At the age of twenty-nine he went to [[Drigung]] in {{Wiki|Central}} [[Tibet]] where he studied classical [[Tibetan]] {{Wiki|orthography}}, [[grammar]] and [[poetry]]; the works of [[Mipham Rinpoche]] and [[Khenpo Shenga]] and received many [[tantric teachings]] including those on the [[Mañjuśrīnāmasamgīti]]. Afterwards he went to [[Samye Monastery]] where he received the [[empowerment]]s and instructions of the [[Rinchen Terdzö]]; the [[Nyingthig]] and [[Longchenpa]]'s Dzödun from [[Dudjom Jigdral Yeshe Dorje]]. |
| − | After returning to Bhutan, he entered a three-year meditation retreat at the [[Tagsang Palphug]] hermitage, which was followed by another three year retreat he entered when he was forty at Kungachöling in Paro. From Lopon Sonam Zangpo, a disciple of Drubwang Shakya Shri, he received teachings on the [[Six Yogas of Naropa]], [[Mahāmudrā]], and so on. | + | After returning to [[Bhutan]], he entered a three-year [[meditation]] [[retreat]] at the [[Tagsang Palphug]] [[hermitage]], which was followed by another three year [[retreat]] he entered when he was forty at Kungachöling in [[Paro]]. From Lopon Sonam Zangpo, a [[disciple]] of Drubwang [[Shakya]] Shri, he received teachings on the [[Six Yogas of Naropa]], [[Mahāmudrā]], and so on. |
| − | For ten years he was the abbot of [[Tango Monastery]] where he wrote many commentaries on [[Buddhist philosophy]], [[sutra]] and [[tantra]]. | + | For [[ten]] years he was the [[abbot]] of [[Tango Monastery]] where he wrote many commentaries on [[Buddhist philosophy]], [[sutra]] and [[tantra]]. |
| − | In 1990 he was enthroned as the 69th [[Je Khenpo]] of Bhutan and subsequently travelled throughout the country giving religious teachings. At the age of 61 he resigned from the post of Je Khanpo and retired to a life of prayer and meditation at Jangchub Ding in Yangchenphug. In 1997, on the ninth day of the third month according to the Bhutanese calander, he passed away sitting in a straight meditation posture. It is reported that his body remained sitting thus for more than a week or eleven days during which time his body remained flexible and showed no signs of decay. | + | In 1990 he was enthroned as the 69th [[Je Khenpo]] of [[Bhutan]] and subsequently travelled throughout the country giving [[religious]] teachings. At the age of 61 he resigned from the post of Je Khanpo and retired to a [[life]] of [[prayer]] and [[meditation]] at Jangchub Ding in Yangchenphug. In 1997, on the ninth day of the third month according to the {{Wiki|Bhutanese}} calander, he passed away sitting in a straight [[meditation]] [[posture]]. It is reported that his [[body]] remained sitting thus for more than a week or eleven days during which [[time]] his [[body]] remained flexible and showed no signs of [[decay]]. |
| − | His physical remains are now preserved in a gold and silver reliquary [[stupa]] in the Shabdrung Chapel of Tashichö Dzong, Thimphu. | + | His [[physical]] {{Wiki|remains}} are now preserved in a {{Wiki|gold}} and silver reliquary [[stupa]] in the [[Shabdrung]] Chapel of Tashichö [[Dzong]], Thimphu. |
==Works== | ==Works== | ||
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The Collected Works of Gendün Rinchen published in 6 volumes, include: | The Collected Works of Gendün Rinchen published in 6 volumes, include: | ||
| − | * lho 'brug chos 'byung - A detailed account of the religious history of Bhutan | + | * lho 'brug [[chos 'byung]] - A detailed account of the [[religious]] {{Wiki|history}} of [[Bhutan]] |
| − | * dpal 'brug pa rin po che mthu chen chos kyi rgyal po ngag dbang rnam rgyal gyi rnam thar rgya mtso'i snying po - A biography of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal (1594-1651) | + | * dpal 'brug pa rin po che mthu chen chos kyi [[rgyal po]] ngag dbang [[rnam rgyal]] gyi [[rnam]] thar rgya mtso'i snying po - A {{Wiki|biography}} of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal (1594-1651) |
| − | * kyai rdor rgyud kyi tshig don rnam bshad - a commentary on the Hevajra Tantra based on the exegesis of the Ngok tradition. | + | * kyai rdor [[rgyud]] kyi tshig don [[rnam]] bshad - a commentary on the [[Hevajra Tantra]] based on the {{Wiki|exegesis}} of the Ngok [[tradition]]. |
| − | * 'brug pa kun legs kyi rnam thar rgya mtsho'i snying po mthong ba don ldan - A hagiography of the holy madman Drukpa Kunley (1455-1529). This has been translated into English by Keith Dowman and published as The Divine Madman: The Sublime Life and Songs of Drukpa Kunley | + | * 'brug pa kun legs kyi [[rnam]] thar rgya mtsho'i snying po mthong ba don ldan - A hagiography of the holy madman [[Drukpa Kunley]] (1455-1529). This has been translated into {{Wiki|English}} by Keith Dowman and published as The [[Divine]] Madman: The [[Sublime]] [[Life]] and Songs of [[Drukpa Kunley]] |
{{R}} | {{R}} | ||
Revision as of 07:52, 17 September 2013
Geshe Gendün Rinchen (1926-1997), was the 69th Je Khenpo of Bhutan.
Biographical Details
Geshe Gendün Rinchen was born in a small cave by the side of the path to Paro Tagtsang, so as a child he was nicknamed "Dragphugpa" (Cave Man).
At a young age he showed great interest in the Buddhist religion and at seven he received novice ordination at Tashichho Dzong in Thimphu and was given the name Gendün Rinchen.
When he was twenty-seven he travelled to Lhodrak Lhalung, center of the tradition of Padma Lingpa in Southern Tibet. There he studied the Thirteen great texts of Mahayana Buddhist Philosophy from Khatok Khen Rinpoche. At the age of twenty-nine he went to Drigung in Central Tibet where he studied classical Tibetan orthography, grammar and poetry; the works of Mipham Rinpoche and Khenpo Shenga and received many tantric teachings including those on the Mañjuśrīnāmasamgīti. Afterwards he went to Samye Monastery where he received the empowerments and instructions of the Rinchen Terdzö; the Nyingthig and Longchenpa's Dzödun from Dudjom Jigdral Yeshe Dorje.
After returning to Bhutan, he entered a three-year meditation retreat at the Tagsang Palphug hermitage, which was followed by another three year retreat he entered when he was forty at Kungachöling in Paro. From Lopon Sonam Zangpo, a disciple of Drubwang Shakya Shri, he received teachings on the Six Yogas of Naropa, Mahāmudrā, and so on.
For ten years he was the abbot of Tango Monastery where he wrote many commentaries on Buddhist philosophy, sutra and tantra.
In 1990 he was enthroned as the 69th Je Khenpo of Bhutan and subsequently travelled throughout the country giving religious teachings. At the age of 61 he resigned from the post of Je Khanpo and retired to a life of prayer and meditation at Jangchub Ding in Yangchenphug. In 1997, on the ninth day of the third month according to the Bhutanese calander, he passed away sitting in a straight meditation posture. It is reported that his body remained sitting thus for more than a week or eleven days during which time his body remained flexible and showed no signs of decay.
His physical remains are now preserved in a gold and silver reliquary stupa in the Shabdrung Chapel of Tashichö Dzong, Thimphu.
Works
The Collected Works of Gendün Rinchen published in 6 volumes, include:
- lho 'brug chos 'byung - A detailed account of the religious history of Bhutan
- dpal 'brug pa rin po che mthu chen chos kyi rgyal po ngag dbang rnam rgyal gyi rnam thar rgya mtso'i snying po - A biography of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal (1594-1651)
- kyai rdor rgyud kyi tshig don rnam bshad - a commentary on the Hevajra Tantra based on the exegesis of the Ngok tradition.
- 'brug pa kun legs kyi rnam thar rgya mtsho'i snying po mthong ba don ldan - A hagiography of the holy madman Drukpa Kunley (1455-1529). This has been translated into English by Keith Dowman and published as The Divine Madman: The Sublime Life and Songs of Drukpa Kunley
Source
Wikipedia:Geshe Gendün Rinchen
