Difference between revisions of "Thrangu Rinpoche"
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| − | [[Thrangu Rinpoche]] ([[Tibetan]]: {{BigTibetan|[[ཁྲ་འགུ་]]}}, Wylie: [[Khra-'guˈtʰran.ɡu ˈrinpotʃe]] [need tone]) was born in 1933 in [[Kham]], [[Tibet]]. He is a prominent [[tulku]] ([[reincarnate]] [[lama]]) in the [[Kagyu school]] of [[Tibetan Buddhism]], the ninth [[reincarnation]] in his particular line. His full [[name]] and title is the Very [[Venerable]] Ninth [[Khenchen Thrangu]] [[Tulku]], [[Karma Lodrö Lungrik Maway Senge]]. "[[Khenchen]]" denotes great [[scholarly]] [[accomplishment]], and the term "[[Rinpoche]]" is an honorific title commonly afforded to [[Tibetan]] [[lamas]]. | + | [[Thrangu Rinpoche]] ([[Tibetan]]: {{BigTibetan|[[ཁྲ་འགུ་]]}}, [[Wylie]]: [[Khra-'guˈtʰran.ɡu ˈrinpotʃe]] [need tone]) was born in 1933 in [[Kham]], [[Tibet]]. He is a prominent [[tulku]] ([[reincarnate]] [[lama]]) in the [[Kagyu school]] of [[Tibetan Buddhism]], the ninth [[reincarnation]] in his particular line. His full [[name]] and title is the Very [[Venerable]] Ninth [[Khenchen Thrangu]] [[Tulku]], [[Karma Lodrö Lungrik Maway Senge]]. "[[Khenchen]]" denotes great [[scholarly]] [[accomplishment]], and the term "[[Rinpoche]]" is an [[honorific title]] commonly afforded to [[Tibetan]] [[lamas]]. |
=={{Wiki|Biography}}== | =={{Wiki|Biography}}== | ||
===Early [[life]] and exile=== | ===Early [[life]] and exile=== | ||
| − | [[Thrangu Rinpoche]] was installed at [[Thrangu Monastery]] in [[Kham]] ([[eastern Tibet]]) after his identification by [[His Holiness]] the [[Sixteenth Karmapa]] and [[Tai Situ Rinpoche]] at age five. He is one of the principal [[lamas]] there, although [[Traleg Rinpoche]] is the supreme [[abbot]] of the complex. He fled to [[India]] following the {{Wiki|Chinese}} {{Wiki|communist}} invasion in 1959 | + | [[Thrangu Rinpoche]] was installed at [[Thrangu Monastery]] in [[Kham]] ([[eastern Tibet]]) after his identification by [[His Holiness]] the [[Sixteenth Karmapa]] and [[Tai Situ Rinpoche]] at age five. He is one of the [[principal]] [[lamas]] there, although [[Traleg Rinpoche]] is the supreme [[abbot]] of the complex. He fled to [[India]] following the {{Wiki|Chinese}} {{Wiki|communist}} invasion in 1959 |
| − | At the age of thirty-five [[Thrangu Rinpoche]] took the [[geshe]] examination in {{Wiki|Bengal}} and was awarded the [[degree]] of [[Geshe]] [[Lharampa]], the [[highest]] [[degree]] conferred in the [[Gelug]] [[transmission]] (it is not uncommon for [[monks]] of other [[lineage]] to pursue studies in that [[tradition]]). He was subsequently awarded the [[Khenchen]] [[degree]] of the [[Kagyu tradition]]. He played a critical role in the recovery of important [[Buddhist texts]] that had been largely destroyed by the {{Wiki|Chinese}} {{Wiki|Communists}}. He was named [[Abbot]] of [[Rumtek monastery]], the home [[monastery]] in exile of the [[Karmapa]], and also of the [[Nalanda]] Institute for Higher [[Buddhist Studies]] at [[Rumtek]]. | + | At the age of thirty-five [[Thrangu Rinpoche]] took the [[geshe]] {{Wiki|examination}} in {{Wiki|Bengal}} and was awarded the [[degree]] of [[Geshe]] [[Lharampa]], the [[highest]] [[degree]] conferred in the [[Gelug]] [[transmission]] (it is not uncommon for [[monks]] of other [[lineage]] to pursue studies in that [[tradition]]). He was subsequently awarded the [[Khenchen]] [[degree]] of the [[Kagyu tradition]]. He played a critical role in the recovery of important [[Buddhist texts]] that had been largely destroyed by the {{Wiki|Chinese}} {{Wiki|Communists}}. He was named [[Abbot]] of [[Rumtek monastery]], the home [[monastery]] in exile of the [[Karmapa]], and also of the [[Nalanda]] Institute for Higher [[Buddhist Studies]] at [[Rumtek]]. |
===Establishment of [[Buddhist]] {{Wiki|institutions}}=== | ===Establishment of [[Buddhist]] {{Wiki|institutions}}=== | ||
| − | As [[Abbot]] of the [[Nalanda]] Institute, [[Thrangu Rinpoche]] and [[Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche]] trained all the younger [[tulkus]] of the [[lineage]], including the [[Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche]], who was in the first class. He was also the personal tutor of the four principal [[Karma Kagyu]] [[tulkus]]: [[Shamar Rinpoche]], [[Tai Situ Rinpoche]], [[Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche]], and [[Gyaltsab Rinpoche]]. [[Thrangu Rinpoche]] established the fundamental {{Wiki|curriculum}} of the [[Karma Kagyu lineage]] taught at [[Rumtek]]. In addition, he taught with [[Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche]], who had been a [[teacher]] at [[Thrangu Rinpoche's]] [[monastery]] in [[Tibet]] before 1959, and who is now head of [[Karma Triyana Dharmachakra]] in Woodstock, {{Wiki|New York}}, the seat of [[His Holiness]] [[Karmapa]] in {{Wiki|North America}}. | + | As [[Abbot]] of the [[Nalanda]] Institute, [[Thrangu Rinpoche]] and [[Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche]] trained all the younger [[tulkus]] of the [[lineage]], [[including]] the [[Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche]], who was in the first class. He was also the personal tutor of the four [[principal]] [[Karma Kagyu]] [[tulkus]]: [[Shamar Rinpoche]], [[Tai Situ Rinpoche]], [[Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche]], and [[Gyaltsab Rinpoche]]. [[Thrangu Rinpoche]] established the fundamental {{Wiki|curriculum}} of the [[Karma Kagyu lineage]] [[taught]] at [[Rumtek]]. In addition, he [[taught]] with [[Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche]], who had been a [[teacher]] at [[Thrangu Rinpoche's]] [[monastery]] in [[Tibet]] before 1959, and who is now head of [[Karma Triyana Dharmachakra]] in [[Woodstock]], {{Wiki|New York}}, the seat of [[His Holiness]] [[Karmapa]] in {{Wiki|North America}}. |
In 1976, after twenty years at [[Rumtek]], [[Thrangu Rinpoche]] founded the [[Thrangu Tashi Choling]] [[monastery]] in [[Boudhanath]], {{Wiki|Kathmandu}}, [[Nepal]], and later also founded a [[retreat centre]] and {{Wiki|college}} at [[Namo]] [[Buddha]]; [[Tara Abbey]], which offers a full [[dharma]] [[education]] for [[Tibetan]] [[nuns]] leading to a [[khenpo]] [[degree]]; a school in [[Boudhanath]] for the general [[education]] of [[Tibetan]] children and young [[monks]] in {{Wiki|Western}} [[subjects]] and [[Buddhist studies]]; and a free {{Wiki|medical}} clinic in an impoverished area of [[Nepal]]. [[Thrangu Rinpoche]] recently completed a large [[monastery]] in [[Sarnath]], [[India]], overlooking the [[deer park]] where the [[Buddha]] gave his first [[teaching]] on the [[Four Noble Truths]]. The [[monastery]] is named [[Vajra]] [[Vidya]] in {{Wiki|honor}} of the [[Sixteenth Karmapa]]. It is now the seat of the major annual [[Kagyu]] conference. | In 1976, after twenty years at [[Rumtek]], [[Thrangu Rinpoche]] founded the [[Thrangu Tashi Choling]] [[monastery]] in [[Boudhanath]], {{Wiki|Kathmandu}}, [[Nepal]], and later also founded a [[retreat centre]] and {{Wiki|college}} at [[Namo]] [[Buddha]]; [[Tara Abbey]], which offers a full [[dharma]] [[education]] for [[Tibetan]] [[nuns]] leading to a [[khenpo]] [[degree]]; a school in [[Boudhanath]] for the general [[education]] of [[Tibetan]] children and young [[monks]] in {{Wiki|Western}} [[subjects]] and [[Buddhist studies]]; and a free {{Wiki|medical}} clinic in an impoverished area of [[Nepal]]. [[Thrangu Rinpoche]] recently completed a large [[monastery]] in [[Sarnath]], [[India]], overlooking the [[deer park]] where the [[Buddha]] gave his first [[teaching]] on the [[Four Noble Truths]]. The [[monastery]] is named [[Vajra]] [[Vidya]] in {{Wiki|honor}} of the [[Sixteenth Karmapa]]. It is now the seat of the major annual [[Kagyu]] conference. | ||
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===Worldwide [[activities]]=== | ===Worldwide [[activities]]=== | ||
| − | In 1976, [[Thrangu Rinpoche]] began [[teaching]] [[Buddhism]] throughout {{Wiki|Asia}} and in the [[West]]. He founded [[Thrangu]] House in {{Wiki|Oxford}}, {{Wiki|England}}, in 1981, then in the [[United States]] and {{Wiki|Canada}}, he established centres in {{Wiki|Crestone}}, {{Wiki|Colorado}}, Maine, {{Wiki|California}}, {{Wiki|Vancouver}} and {{Wiki|Edmonton}}. He has another fourteen centres in nine other countries. He is the [[Abbot]] of [[Gampo Abbey]], a [[Karma Kagyu]] [[monastery]] in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, founded by his [[dharma]] brother [[Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche]], reflective of his close ties the [[Shambhala]] [[Buddhist]] {{Wiki|community}}. | + | In 1976, [[Thrangu Rinpoche]] began [[teaching]] [[Buddhism]] throughout {{Wiki|Asia}} and in the [[West]]. He founded [[Thrangu]] House in {{Wiki|Oxford}}, {{Wiki|England}}, in 1981, then in the [[United States]] and {{Wiki|Canada}}, he established centres in {{Wiki|Crestone}}, {{Wiki|Colorado}}, Maine, {{Wiki|California}}, {{Wiki|Vancouver}} and {{Wiki|Edmonton}}. He has another fourteen centres in nine other countries. He is the [[Abbot]] of [[Gampo Abbey]], a [[Karma Kagyu]] [[monastery]] in {{Wiki|Cape Breton}}, {{Wiki|Nova Scotia}}, founded by his [[dharma]] brother [[Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche]], reflective of his close ties the [[Shambhala]] [[Buddhist]] {{Wiki|community}}. |
[[Rinpoche]] currently resides in [[Nepal]] where he serves as senior tutor to [[Urgyen Trinley Dorje]]. | [[Rinpoche]] currently resides in [[Nepal]] where he serves as senior tutor to [[Urgyen Trinley Dorje]]. | ||
| − | On 25th July, 2010, [[Thrangu Monastery]] was opened by [[Thrangu Rinpoche]] in Richmond, {{Wiki|British}} Columbia, {{Wiki|Canada}}. It is the first [[traditional]] [[Buddhist monastery]] in {{Wiki|Canada}}. It contains a six metre tall gold-plated statue of [[Shakyamuni Buddha]] and the [[shrine]] hall can seat 500 [[people]]. | + | On 25th July, 2010, [[Thrangu Monastery]] was opened by [[Thrangu Rinpoche]] in Richmond, {{Wiki|British}} [[Columbia]], {{Wiki|Canada}}. It is the first [[traditional]] [[Buddhist monastery]] in {{Wiki|Canada}}. It contains a six metre tall gold-plated statue of [[Shakyamuni Buddha]] and the [[shrine]] hall can seat 500 [[people]]. |
{{R}} | {{R}} | ||
Latest revision as of 19:53, 1 February 2016
Thrangu Rinpoche (Tibetan: ཁྲ་འགུ་, Wylie: Khra-'guˈtʰran.ɡu ˈrinpotʃe [need tone]) was born in 1933 in Kham, Tibet. He is a prominent tulku (reincarnate lama) in the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism, the ninth reincarnation in his particular line. His full name and title is the Very Venerable Ninth Khenchen Thrangu Tulku, Karma Lodrö Lungrik Maway Senge. "Khenchen" denotes great scholarly accomplishment, and the term "Rinpoche" is an honorific title commonly afforded to Tibetan lamas.
Biography
Early life and exile
Thrangu Rinpoche was installed at Thrangu Monastery in Kham (eastern Tibet) after his identification by His Holiness the Sixteenth Karmapa and Tai Situ Rinpoche at age five. He is one of the principal lamas there, although Traleg Rinpoche is the supreme abbot of the complex. He fled to India following the Chinese communist invasion in 1959
At the age of thirty-five Thrangu Rinpoche took the geshe examination in Bengal and was awarded the degree of Geshe Lharampa, the highest degree conferred in the Gelug transmission (it is not uncommon for monks of other lineage to pursue studies in that tradition). He was subsequently awarded the Khenchen degree of the Kagyu tradition. He played a critical role in the recovery of important Buddhist texts that had been largely destroyed by the Chinese Communists. He was named Abbot of Rumtek monastery, the home monastery in exile of the Karmapa, and also of the Nalanda Institute for Higher Buddhist Studies at Rumtek.
Establishment of Buddhist institutions
As Abbot of the Nalanda Institute, Thrangu Rinpoche and Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche trained all the younger tulkus of the lineage, including the Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, who was in the first class. He was also the personal tutor of the four principal Karma Kagyu tulkus: Shamar Rinpoche, Tai Situ Rinpoche, Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche, and Gyaltsab Rinpoche. Thrangu Rinpoche established the fundamental curriculum of the Karma Kagyu lineage taught at Rumtek. In addition, he taught with Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche, who had been a teacher at Thrangu Rinpoche's monastery in Tibet before 1959, and who is now head of Karma Triyana Dharmachakra in Woodstock, New York, the seat of His Holiness Karmapa in North America.
In 1976, after twenty years at Rumtek, Thrangu Rinpoche founded the Thrangu Tashi Choling monastery in Boudhanath, Kathmandu, Nepal, and later also founded a retreat centre and college at Namo Buddha; Tara Abbey, which offers a full dharma education for Tibetan nuns leading to a khenpo degree; a school in Boudhanath for the general education of Tibetan children and young monks in Western subjects and Buddhist studies; and a free medical clinic in an impoverished area of Nepal. Thrangu Rinpoche recently completed a large monastery in Sarnath, India, overlooking the deer park where the Buddha gave his first teaching on the Four Noble Truths. The monastery is named Vajra Vidya in honor of the Sixteenth Karmapa. It is now the seat of the major annual Kagyu conference.
Worldwide activities
In 1976, Thrangu Rinpoche began teaching Buddhism throughout Asia and in the West. He founded Thrangu House in Oxford, England, in 1981, then in the United States and Canada, he established centres in Crestone, Colorado, Maine, California, Vancouver and Edmonton. He has another fourteen centres in nine other countries. He is the Abbot of Gampo Abbey, a Karma Kagyu monastery in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, founded by his dharma brother Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, reflective of his close ties the Shambhala Buddhist community.
Rinpoche currently resides in Nepal where he serves as senior tutor to Urgyen Trinley Dorje.
On 25th July, 2010, Thrangu Monastery was opened by Thrangu Rinpoche in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. It is the first traditional Buddhist monastery in Canada. It contains a six metre tall gold-plated statue of Shakyamuni Buddha and the shrine hall can seat 500 people.
