A Tribute to His Holiness the 4th Khalkha Jetsun Dhampa

There is no Lama more highly respected and loved within the Mongolian Buddhist community than Khalkha Jetsun Dhampa Rinpoche, in every of his incarnations. (Khalkha is one of the largest regions of Mongolia, and Jetsun Dhampa meaning “Lord of Refuge”).

The first Khalkha Jetsun Dhampa was recognized by the 5th Dalai Lama, whose incarnation lineage and name was itself also given by the Mongolians. Since that time, both have enjoyed a very close relationship that has also contributed to the rapid growth of Tibetan Buddhist lineages and teachings within Mongolia. Today, Mongolian communities throughout the world has as much respect for Jetsun Dhampa as they do for the Dalai Lama.

All incarnations of Khalkha Jetsun Dhampa are strongly remembered for the pivotal role they have played in bringing Buddhism to Mongolia, causing it to grow and keeping it alive to this very day. They have become leaders of the country in their own right, with some of them even leading the country in secular and political affairs.

In remembrance of the late Ninth Khalkha Jetsun Dhampa who passed away recently in March 2012, DorjeShugden.com would like to offer a tribute to this illustrious line of incarnations, particularly the Fourth who was known for his special contribution to spreading Dorje Shugden’s practice. May his incarnations continually return to this world to bring Dharma to innumerable beings.

For more information about this great master’s line of incarnations, check out these links:

Biography of the Ninth Khalkha Jetsun Dhampa
jetsundhampa.com

Jebtsundamba Khutuktu
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jebtsundamba_Khutuktu

9th Jebtsundamba Khutughtu
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9th_Jebtsundamba_Khutughtu

All of us at DorjeShugden.com make this virtual offering of a butterlamp to the incomparable master His Holiness the 4th Kalkha Jetsun Dhampa, requesting his line of incarnations to remain for another 1,000 years to continue turning the wheel of Dharma and benefiting countless beings.

Biography

With highly realized incarnations recognised in all the lineages, Khalkha Jetsun Dhampa’s incarnation lineage traces back to Taranatha, a renown historian and practitioner who is most remembered for his the mastery, teachings and practices of Tantra.

To this day, Khalkha Jetsun Dhampa is respected as one of the revered teachers of the Kalachakra and Tara Tantras, and the practice of Maitreya. Prior to Taranatha, his incarnations trace back to Jamyang Choje, one of Tsongkhapa’s foremost students who had helped to build Drepung Monastery.

Over the centuries, by his powerful practice and dedicated efforts, Jetsun Dhampa rose high and quickly within Mongolia, to assume a strong spiritual leadership that is respected to this day. Some of his incarnations also held prominent leadership roles within a political sphere, in particular the 8th who guided the Mongolian people during the Communist upheavals in Russia and its neighboring countries.

The Jetsun Dhampa lineage formally began during the time of the Fifth Dalai Lama, who officially recognised him as the unmistaken incarnation of Taranatha. It was this “first” incarnation of the Jetsun Dhampas who played a pivotal role in bringing the Gelug lineage and teachings to Mongolian Buddhists. He was so highly regarded that he was even formally recognised by the Chinese Emperor Kang Xi (Qing dynasty) and granted special protection. It was because of this special relationship between Khalkha Jetsun Dhampa and the Chinese royalty that many monastic institutions were built within Mongolia under this Chinese Emperor’s patronage.

Since this time, Jetsun Dhampa and the Dalai Lama are regarded among the Mongolians as the two highest incarnations of Mongolia. Jetsun Dhampa is to the Mongolians what the Dalai Lama is to the Tibetans. He is also reverentially referred to as “Bogdo Gegen”, “Urga” or “Panchen Boghda” which means that he is the head of all Mongolian Buddhists.

Amarbayasgalant Monastery, the location of Kalkha Jetsun Dhampa

The Fourth Jetsun Dhampa, of the 18th Century, rose to fame for creating many Buddhist images and texts, making many offerings in his life and for establishing numerous monastic institutions for learning with specialties in debates and meditation. Jetsun Dhampa also had a connection with the very famous Amarbayasgalant Monastery in Mongolia, having built temples in the area. After he passed away, his remains were also enshrined here.

With a special aptitude for grasping the many teachings of both Sutra and Tantra, this incarnation was known for both strong commitment to his personal practice and for creating the foundation for Gelug teachings to flourish throughout Mongolia. It is now the most widely practiced school of Buddhism throughout the country.

It was around this time too, that Dorje Shugden’s practice was starting to take more prominence within the Gelugpa schools of Tibet. Many notable praises to Dorje Shugden were being written at this time by other Lamas.

Jetsun Dhampa’s contribution to these cannon of texts was unique for the references he made to Shambhala in the texts he wrote. While Shambala is known to be one of the places where Dorje Shugden resides, Jetsun Dhampa’s previous incarnation Taranatha was very famous for having mastered the Kalachakra Tantra and frequently passing on the initiation.

The Kalachakra practice is very closely associated with Shambhala for it is believed that the Tantra was first taught there by Shakyamuni and strongly preserved there. The prayers written by Jetsun Dhampa calls upon this connection that Dorje Shugden has with Shambhala, thus helping practitioners too to create an affinity with this deeply spiritual place and its realized beings.

Below is a short torma offering prayer composed by the 4th Khalkha Jetsun Dhampa which was also included in the rituals of monastic institutions established by him.

OM! Magnificent Buddha of Shambhala,
Ruler of the three worlds with a brilliant red face,
Protectors of the most scholarly beings of Loseling,
Including Dorje Shugden, please come here!

I offer to you pleasing samaya substances which create harmony,
Huge palaces, red tormas and white tormas,
A mountain of flesh and an ocean-wide pile of bones
And all the objects of desires.

As you pleasingly and happily partake in these offerings,
May it cause the increase of study, listening, contemplation and all virtues of theory and practice.
I request you: Please increase conducive conditions and remove hostile circumstances,
Guide us as we walk this path of wisdom and compassion.
Please grant auspiciousness for all Sangha who uphold the three trainings!

Today, the Jetsun Dhampas continue to maintain very close relationship and mutually supportive relationships with the many incarnations of the Dalai Lamas. Even within this lifetime, the current Dalai Lama and 9th Jetsun Dhampa spent much of their childhood together, studying under the same tutors, playing and at family gatherings. It was probably from this long-standing relationship that Mongolia and Tibet has long enjoyed a strong friendship and that Buddhist practices have been able to spread so quickly and firmly among Mongolian communities.

All of us at DorjeShugden.com wish to pay tribute to this great master, and to thank him for his tireless work to help countless practitioners over so many centuries. We eagerly await the return of the next (10th) incarnation, to continue the incredible works of his illustrious and beautiful lineage in Mongolia and beyond.