I came across this website on this Panchen Rinpoche who is said to be the "final candidate" of the reincarnation of the Panchen Lama. His teachers included HH Trijang Rinpoche which always leads me to think - is he another Dorje Shugden practitioner?
In the absence of the Panchen Lama who was identified by the Dalai Lama, wouldn't this chap be the next best thing? I'm just curious that the politics referred to here allows this Panchen Lama to be ignored. Perhaps it's a Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen vs Fifth Dalai Lama thing.
Anyway, have a read below and see what you think?
Venerable Panchen Ötrul Rinpoche
Panchen Ötrul Rinpoche was born in Kham, Eastern Tibet, in 1939 to nomadic parents.
He was immediately recognised as a re-incarnate Lama due to the many auspicious signs that surrounded his birth. When he was three years old the search had started all across Tibet for the re-incarnation of the Panchen Lama.
As a result of the conditions accompanying his birth Rinpoche was included in the first stage of the selection procedure and recognised as a possible candidate. At the age of 5 he was taken to the local monastery of Dolma Lhakang. Here he was cared for by two lamas, Lama Thuka and Lama Atsoe. Part of this period was spent in a small cave as the two Lamas spent their lives in meditation in a hermitage.
When he was 7 years old he was chosen as a candidate of the re-incarnation of the Panchen Lama and taken to the main Gelugpa monastery in the area at Pasho. During his time at Pasho, his teacher was Venerable Lama Kelsang Choedak, a renowned Mongolian Lama. In 1949 he was taken to Lhasa to Kundaling monastery. He was escorted by High Officials from Tashi Lhunpo monastery, the seat of the Panchen Lamas, a General representing the Tibetan government and a military escort. Rinpoche took his novice vows a year later.
In 1951 Rinpoche was selected as the final candidate of the re-incarnation of the Panchen Lama who had died in 1937. However due to the political situation at that time a candidate from Amdo was selected. Rinpoche was then given a new title, conferred for the first time by the Tibetan Government, that of Panchen Ötrul, which means 'Panchen Candidate'. From then onwards Rinpoche was taken into the care of the Tibetan Government and Tashi Lhunpo Monastery. He was taken to Drepung Gomang where he was able to continue his Dharma studies.
His personal teacher for seven years was the Ven. Lama Ngawang Tharde Lharampa, who was the Senior Geshe at Drepung Gomang Monastery. He also received teachings from His Holiness the Dalai Lama and from Ven. Ling Rinpoche and Ven. Trijang Rinpoche, the junior and senior teachers of His Holiness. In 1959, after the Chinese Communists took control of Tibet, Panchen Ötrul Rinpoche was placed in a concentration camp. In 1960 he was able to escape to India, where he continued with his studies, receiving teachings from His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the two venerable teachers of His Holiness.
In 1961 he received monk's full ordination from His Holiness. He eventually completed his formal studies, being awarded the highest degree of Geshe Lharampa (equivalent of a doctorate) in Tibetan Philosophy. He also studied Sanskrit and Hindi at Varanassi University. During this time he helped to design programmes of study for Sera, Ganden and Drepung, the biggest Gelugpa Monastic Universities which were being re-established in India, and also for The Institute of Tibetan High Studies at Sarnarth.
In 1987 he travelled to the U.K. on behalf of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to work on interfaith dialogue. Then, in 1990, he was invited by Irish students to become Spiritual Director of a new centre in West Cavan, Ireland, to which he gave the name Jampa Ling Tibetan Buddhist Centre. The Tashi Khyil Trust was established in Northern Ireland at the same time as a fund raising charity for Rinpoche`s growing activities abroad.
In 1995 Panchen Ötrul Rinpoche travelled to Mongolia with His Holiness the Dalai Lama who asked him to stay and teach Dharma to the Mongolian people. Since 1995 he has travelled there each year for two months in order to help with the re-establishment of Buddhism in Mongolia.
Panchen Ötrul Rinpoche maintains strong connections with Drepung Gomang Monastic University (primarily with Gungru Khangsten) in Southern India, finding sponsors for monks and fund raising to help with new buildings. Panchen Ötrul Rinpoche has also travelled to Malaysia, Singapore and Europe in order to teach.
In 2001 he established Asral Charity in Mongolia and Maitreya Charity in the USA.™
