His Eminence the 1st Dromo Geshe Rinpoche
Eminence the 1st Dromo Geshe Rinpoche born in Emagang, in Tsang region of Tibet. He was born to Tsetan Dorjee (father) and Duchung Lhakpa Bhuti (mother) in the year 1868. At the age of 8, he was admitted to the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery. He was ordained in the presence of His Holiness Panchen Rinpoche and was offered the name Ngawang Kelsang. As a true dharma practitioner, he meditated and practiced fully what he had learnt. He studied at Tashi Lhunpo for some twenty years, where he completed the "Kachen" degree, Tashi Lhunpo's equivalent of the Geshe degree in Tibetan Buddhist philosophy.It is said that on the circumambulation path around Tashi Lhunpo Monastery an emanation of Tara advised him that it was time to seek his root Guru. Eventually, he found his root guru in Rangjung Lama Lobsang Zopa from whom he received many teachings and initiations. When the Guru conferred upon him the great empowerment of the five-deity Heruka Chakrasamvara mandala of the Ghantapada Tradition (Demchog Trilbu Lha-nga) in Milarepa's temple at Lapchi, the mandala and deity actually manifested and entrusted him with the future of the Demchog Tantra. In different holy places along the Himalayan snow mountain range, in caves and ' solated places Dromo Geshe Rinpoche received teachings from the (Guru , practiced, and had vision of different deities (yidam) on more than one occasion, receiving their blessings, teachings, guidance, and predictions.
Once while Going on a pilgrimage to many holy places, the Guru and several of his disciples, including Geshe Ngawang Kalsang, went to Kathmandu in Nepal in the 1890s to renovate the great Stupa at Boudhnath .It is said that the Guru Rangjung Lama received assistance from divine beings to complete this difficult task and several wondrous occurrences took place.
When Dromo Geshe Rinpoche received Vajra Bhairava (Dorje Jigje) empowerment, he had the direct vision of the Yidam and the thirteen deities. While meditating near Gangring in Lower Dromo region, Geshe Rinpoche lived on fruits, berries, and herbs found in the deep, dense forest surrounding the cave. In southern Tibet, he had survived by the practice of “taking the essence" (chü len), taking the essence of flowers, and in Sikkim, by taking the essence of stones. He also meditated many years in Changling a place in the Upper Dromo region located in a remote cave among crystalline mountains. The saying goes that wild animals including Yetis came to serve him by bringing firewood and water.
His gurus also include the Great 13th Dalai Lama and the Panchen Rinpoche Chökyi Nyima. Geshe Rinpoche enjoyed as well a very close relationship with the great Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche Dechen Nyingpo, from whom he had received many transmissions, initiations and teachings with Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche.
Dromo Geshe Rinpoche was the first of the Tibetans to go on pilgrimage repeatedly to the Buddhist holy sites in India when this was not yet an established tradition. For some time he went every year. The Hindu Raja controlling Bodh Gaya was very impressed with Domo Geshe Rinpoche and trusted him completely. At that time Hindus were in complete control and Buddhist practice was not welcome at all. Only Dromo Geshe Rinpoche and theSri Lankan Anagarika Dharmapala, founder of the Mahabodhi Society, represented Buddhist interests and regularly performed Buddhist practices at the great stupa.
In the Indian Himalayan region, especially today's Himachal Pradesh formerly the principalities and kingdoms of Khunu, Lahul-Spiti, Bashar,etc.Dromo Geshe Rinpoche established Gelugpa monasteries and temples where there were none at all. Upon the request of the King of Spiti, for example, Geshe Rinpoche gave Lamrim teachings to thousands of people who had come from near and very far away and conferred long-life and other empowerments. Since Drom0 Geshe Rinpoche introduced and spread the Buddhist teachings in the Himalayan regions like Je Tsong Khapa himself, His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Rinpoche had special respect for him.
Dromo Geshe Rinpoche's name is known throughout Tibet from the remotest regions of Changthang to the easternmost outposts of Amdo and Khan. He was revered by the people of all walks of life. Dromo Rinpoche’s fame spread beyond Tibet including India, Mongolia, and Sri Lanka. In Tibet and the Indian Himalayan region he is also known as "the Great Doctor"-as he heal people through a variety of methods.
In 1932 as per the request of his followers and benefactors, he paid a visit to Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Korseong Pedong. He gave religious discourses and sermons to all the devotees at Tharpa Cho Monastery in Kalimpong, Goom Gun Yiga Choeling Monastery in Darjeeling and Tashi Choeling Monastery in Kurseong.
The well-known sacred pill named "Dromo Rilbu" prepared by Rinpoche himself with hundreds of holy medicinal ingredients from the Himalayan mountains were of unequalled potential to heal many sicknesses and many severe cases. The pill is also considered very wonderful unique since they continue to multiply themselves.
Thereafter he returned to Dromo and became ill. It is said that at that time as per his wishes, a big ox and a rat peeping out of hole to be drawn on the eastern side of his room. It is believed that it signified
the prediction of his death in the year of the rat (Tibetan year) and his rebirth in the year of the Ox (Tibetan year). In order to show the Impermanence nature of life to all his disciples, he passed away in the year 1936.
Tharpa Choeling Monastery
Kabug Gaden Tharpa Choeling Monastery, located in northern part of India was founded by the first Kyabje Dromo Rinpoche Lama Ngawang Kalsang Pal Zangpo in 1922. Presently, there are about 47 monks in this monastery. The practice of sand mandala related to thirteen Diety Yamantaka or Yamantaka Vajrabhairava and its related ritual are the core practice of the monastery and are performed every year.
The young reincarnation of Kyabje Dromo Rinpoche, TENZIN JIGMEY LHUNDRUB was officially recognized as reincarnation of the previous Dromo Rinpoche by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. During his hair cutting ceremony at the private residence of His Holiness at Sera Jey Monastery. His holiness regarding advised the officialsb from Kabuk Tharpa Choeling Monastery regarding the need for establishment of traditional Debating system of Buddhist education in the monastery.
Eventually the monastery started the studies of philosophical debating classes and memorizing of scriptures. The teachings of Tibetan grammar to young monks and introductory Buddhism to the general public were also undertaken by the monastery and at present the monastery is stepping ahead in the field of educations.
The 3rd reincarnation of Kyabje Dromo Rinpoche, TENZIN JIGMEY LHUNDRUB is currently focusing mainly on the memorizing of the Buddhist scriptures which is very important for a young Tulku. Apart from that, he is also studying Tibetan language, grammar, English and other needed studies. As he progresses, he will soon join the main monastic debate classes where he will start the philosophical education.
After many years of studying Buddhism He will complete the course on all the five major scriptures of Buddhist philosophy at the monastery. Then he will return to his own monastery to take all the responsibility of carrying out the administration of the Kabuk Tharpa Choeling Monastery and will impart many teachings and initiations to the monks in the monastery, as done by his previous Incarnation.
