Tenga Rinpoche
Encyclopedia
Tenga Rinpoche is a Tibet
an teacher (lama
) in the Karma Kagyu
tradition.
Born in Kham
in 1932, Tenga Rinpoche was recognized as a reincarnation
of Lama Samten at the age of seven.
As he grew older, he studied at Benchen Monastery
and was eventually given the name
Karma Tenzin Thinle Namgyal from Situ Rinpoche
. Soon after, he was given ordination by Situ Rinpoche and entered a three-year retreat.
He is an expert in mandala painting and sculpture.
In 1959
, Tenga Rinpoche left Benchen for Lhasa
and then eventually traveled to northern India. In India, he settled at Rumtek Monastery
, the main seat of the 16th Karmapa. Tenga Rinpoche served the 16th Karmapa for seventeen years, nine of those years in the position of Dorje Lopön
.
In 1986, Tenga Rinpoche established the new Benchen Monastery
in Kathmandu.
Video
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
an teacher (lama
Lama
Lama is a title for a Tibetan teacher of the Dharma. The name is similar to the Sanskrit term guru .Historically, the term was used for venerated spiritual masters or heads of monasteries...
) in the Karma Kagyu
Karma Kagyu
Karma Kagyu , or Kamtsang Kagyu, is probably the largest and certainly the most widely practiced lineage within the Kagyu school, one of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. The lineage has long-standing monasteries in Tibet, China, Russia, Mongolia, India, Nepal, and Bhutan, and current...
tradition.
Born in Kham
Kham
Kham , is a historical region covering a land area largely divided between present-day Tibetan Autonomous Region and Sichuan province, with smaller portions located within Qinghai, Gansu and Yunnan provinces of China. During the Republic of China's rule over mainland China , most of the region was...
in 1932, Tenga Rinpoche was recognized as a reincarnation
Tulku
In Tibetan Buddhism, a tulku is a particular high-ranking lama, of whom the Dalai Lama is one, who can choose the manner of his rebirth. Normally the lama would be reincarnated as a human, and of the same sex as his predecessor. In contrast to a tulku, all other sentient beings including other...
of Lama Samten at the age of seven.
As he grew older, he studied at Benchen Monastery
Benchen Monastery
Benchen Monastery is a Buddhist temple in Kathmandu, Nepal. It is the seat of the Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoches.Benchen Monastery was founded by the 4th Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche, Gelek Gyamtso in the Kham region of Tibet. During the Cultural Revolution, both the main monastery as well as the summer retreat...
and was eventually given the name
Dharma name
A Dharma name is a new name acquired during a Buddhist initiation ritual in Mahayana Buddhism and monk ordination in Theravada Buddhism. The name is traditionally given by a Buddhist monastic, but is also given to newly ordained monks, nuns and laity....
Karma Tenzin Thinle Namgyal from Situ Rinpoche
Tai Situpa
In Tibetan Buddhism the Tai Situpa is one of the oldest lineages of tulkus in the Kagyu school. According to tradition, the Tai Situpa is an emanation of the bodhisattva Maitreya, who will become the next Buddha, and who has been incarnated as numerous Indian and Tibetan yogins since the time of...
. Soon after, he was given ordination by Situ Rinpoche and entered a three-year retreat.
He is an expert in mandala painting and sculpture.
In 1959
1959 Tibetan uprising
The 1959 Tibetan uprising, or 1959 Tibetan Rebellion began on 10 March 1959, when a revolt erupted in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, which had been under the effective control of the Communist Party of China since the Seventeen Point Agreement in 1951...
, Tenga Rinpoche left Benchen for Lhasa
Lhasa
Lhasa is the administrative capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China and the second most populous city on the Tibetan Plateau, after Xining. At an altitude of , Lhasa is one of the highest cities in the world...
and then eventually traveled to northern India. In India, he settled at Rumtek Monastery
Rumtek Monastery
Rumtek , also called the Dharmachakra Centre, is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery located in the Indian state of Sikkim near the capital Gangtok...
, the main seat of the 16th Karmapa. Tenga Rinpoche served the 16th Karmapa for seventeen years, nine of those years in the position of Dorje Lopön
Dorje Lopon
In Tibetan Buddhism, Dorje Lopön is a title given to high-level monks who preside over tantric rituals. The equivalent Sanskrit term is vajracarya . Dorje is the Tibetan equivalent of the Sanskrit vajra and therefore the term appears frequently in Tibetan Buddhist terminology relating to Vajrayana...
.
In 1986, Tenga Rinpoche established the new Benchen Monastery
Benchen Monastery
Benchen Monastery is a Buddhist temple in Kathmandu, Nepal. It is the seat of the Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoches.Benchen Monastery was founded by the 4th Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche, Gelek Gyamtso in the Kham region of Tibet. During the Cultural Revolution, both the main monastery as well as the summer retreat...
in Kathmandu.
External links
Video