His Eminence Rongtha Gyabgon Rinpoche

Rongtha Rinpoche

Rongtha Rinpoche’s incarnations, as documented in the lineage invocation, can be traced back to the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshwara.

Within his illustrious lineage of incarnations is the First Rongtha Rinpoche Kalsang Trinley Lhundrub of Ra Nyang Monestery, who was an advisor to the Seventh Dalai Lama (Gyalwa Kalsang Gyatso).

The Third reincarnation, Lobsang Dhamchoe Gyatso followed his predecessor, entering Sera Je Monastery for his formal religious and philosophical studies. His collected works cover four volumes and are the text books of the Gyumed Tantric College. Rongtha Rinpoche taught extensively as he advanced in his age.

The Present Rongtha Rinpoche (Lobsang Thubten Jigme Namgyal) was born on 10 July 1913 in Kham and was recognized by the Thirteenth Dalai Lama himself (as well as by numerous other Rinpoches and Lamas) as the reincarnation of the previous Rongtha Rinpoche .

The Ninth Panchen Lama also sent his representatives to the family where Rongtha Rinpoche had taken rebirth. At the age of four, Rinpoche was taken to the native monastery of his predecessor. When he was 10, Rinpoche formally entered Sera Je Monastery, following the footsteps of his predecessors.

Rongtha Rinpoche received his novice ordination from the Thirteenth Dalai Lama and the full ordination vows from the Panchen Lama Choekyi Nyima. In addition to studying the five major areas of Buddhist philosophy and numerous practices pertaining to Guhyasamaja, Chakrasamvara, Yamantaka, Sarvavidya Vairocana, and Amitayus, to name only few, Rinpoche also studied the consecration practices of these meditational deities according to the curriculum of the Gyumed Tantric College. Additional courses in astrophysics, linguistics and poetry complemented these main study programs.

Rinpoche also received extensive instruction, detailed teachings on the lineage, initiations, empowerments, practical guidance and mentoring in hundreds of practices related to the sutras and tantras that are outside the scope of the formal monastic curriculum. He studied at the feet of many incredible, esteemed teachers, including Kyabje Khanser Dorje Chang, Je Pabongkha Rinpoche, Dragri Dorje Chang, Lhatsun Dorje Chang, Regent Taktra Rinpoche, Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang, Youngdzin Lingtreul Rinpoche and His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. With the blessings of these unique masters, Rinpoche subsequently undertook extensive retreats. Rinpoche was a very devoted practitioner of Gyelchen Dorje Shugden his whole life and till the end. He never wavered in his practice and was very skilled in the accuracy of his divinations. He resided in a place called Ladakh Budd Vihar in Delhi for many years with his attendant and their family. Many came to seek divinations from Rinpoche.

Rinpoche is one of the few and rare reincarnate lamas to be fully qualified to undertake the most powerful and complex tantric rituals to benefit beings. Rinpoche graduated from Sera Je monastery in Lhasa in 1950. After his studies at the Tantric College, Rinpoche returned to Kham to his native monastery Ra-Nyag Monastery whose residents comprise some 700 monks.

In August 1958, Rinpoche left for India to undertake a pilgrimage to the holy Buddhist sites. He continues to reside in India today.

Interesting to note that FPMT has a Tushita centre in Delhi and they invited Rongtha Rinpoche monthly to perform Dorje Shugden pujas for years. When the ban came, FPMT immediately became politically correct themselves and stopped invited Rinpoche for Shugden pujas. If CTA found out FPMT was still doing Shugden, then of course they will be defamed and marked. That would cause their reputation to sink and lessening donations of course. It is fascinating to consider that FPMT chose Dalai Lama over their own founding master and teacher Lama Yeshe who practiced Shugden till the end. Politically and economically it seems right to choose the Dalai Lama over Lama Yeshe but spiritually it is incorrect.

Source: http://rongtharinpoche.blogspot.com/