The story of Tenga Tulkus starts
at the time of the 7th Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche.
One of his students was the highly realised Lama
Samten. He was also known as "Gönkhen
Samten", signifying that he was a specialist
of protector practices (Gönpo = Protector).
He spent most of his life in retreat, meditating
on his yidam Karma Pakshi and on the main Kagyu
protectors. He practised mostly Dorje Bernagchen
and Shing Kyong. The power of his blessing was
such that he could cure all kinds of sickness
instantly and he was widely known throughout the
region. Many people came to receive his blessing
At the time of the 8th Sangye Nyenpa, Tenzin Drupchok,
Lama Samten had grown old and sometimes displayed
physical unease and sickness. However, one day
he seemed to be very well and happy. On that day,
he told Sangye Nyenpa that he felt very happy
because soon he would be going away to a beautiful
land, a wonderful, peaceful garden. Among other
things, he gave his thigh bone trumpet to Sangye
Nyenpa and asked him to take good care of it until
he came back. Soon afterwards he passed away.
Some years later, Tenzin Drupchok
went on a pilgrimage to Lhasa and Central Tibet.
As was customary at that time in Tibet, a high
Lama could not just travel quickly from one point
to another, but had to accept invitations to monasteries
and villages on his way in order to give empowerments,
teachings and blessings. On one such occasion,
Tenzin Drupchok was invited by a local government
official called Drungpa. He spent some days in
Drungpa's house and met a small boy, who was the
youngest son of the family. The boy was very alert
and inclined towards the Dharma and liked him
very much. One day when Tenzin Drupchok was alone,
the child came to him and asked him whether or
not he still had his thigh bone trumpet as he
would like to have it back soon.
Tenzin Drupchok was amazed and
overjoyed as he realised, that this boy must be
the incarnation of his former teacher Lama Samten.
He talked to the family about it and they readily
agreed to give the boy to him after some time
when the boy would be older. A few years later,
when he was on his return journey to Kham, he
went to see the family again and took the boy
with him to Benchen Monastery.
Back in Benchen, the boy was
enthroned as the incarnation of Lama Samten and
Tenzin Drupchok gave him the name Karma Tendzin
Chögyal. He soon started the traditional
monastic education and also practised extensively.
After some years, Tenzin Drupchok told him that
it was time to do the traditional three year retreat
and advised him to go to Palpung Monastery in
Derge - the seat of the Situ Rinpoches and of
Jamgon Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye, also know as
Jamgon Kongtrul The Great. Tendzin Chögyal
went there and eventually was admitted to the
retreat center, Tsamdra Rinchen Drag, which was
situated a few miles away from Palpung Monastery.
It was here that the great Jamgon Kongtrul spent
most of his time, away from the distractions of
the huge Palpung Monastery.
Tendzin Chögyal did his
retreat under the guidance of Jamgon Kongtrul
himself and was very successful. Having reawakened
his former propensity for practice, he did a second
three year retreat. He completely realised all
the practices and after the completion of the
retreat, Jomgon Kongtrul declared:"Now you
are equal to me in realisation". He told
Tendzin Chögyal, that he was planning to
go on a pilgrimage to central Tibet and asked
him to take charge of the retreat centre during
his absence. Jamgon Kongtrul being one of his
Lamas, he could not refuse and so he became the
retreat master for a number of years. When Jamgon
Kongtrul returned to Palpung some years later
he told Tendzin Chögyal that now was the
time to return to Benchen. The 8th Sangye Nyenpa
Rinpoche had passed away and the monastery needed
a capable Lama to look after the affairs and take
over the administration. Tendzin Chögyal,
by now a very realised and well respected Lama,
returned to Benchen and spent most of his time
teaching and giving empowerments to those who
requested it. The later part of his life was devoted
mostly to the education of the incarnation of
Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche, the 9th.
The 3rd incarnation of Tenga
Tulku was born in 1932 in Kham (Eastern Tibet).
At the request of the 9th Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche,
Situ Pema Wangchuk Gyalpo (11th Situpa) profesized
the name of the parents, his birthdate and birthplace.
The present Tenga Rinpoche was found at the age
of 7, whereupon he began his studies. He was given
the name Karma Tenzin Thrinle Pal Sangpo at the
age of 19, when he received his full ordination
vows. He received extensive and thorough Buddhist
training and education in Benchen Monastery and
Palpung Monastery from the 9th Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche,
Gelek Drubpe Nyima, and the former Situ and Jamgon
Rinpoches respectively.
He studied all the tantric rituals and philosophy
with many different masters. From his uncle he
learned about traditional Tibetan medicine. He
completed his studies with a 3 Year retreat. In
1959, after the Chinese invasion, he left Tibet
and after spending one and a half years in Kalimpong
he settled in Rumtek Monastery (Sikkim), the main
seat of H.H. the 16th Karmapa. There he served
His Holiness for 17 years, the last 9 years of
which he acted as Dorje Lopön (Vajra Master).
In 1974 he accompanied His Holiness on his first
tour to America and Europe.
Since 1976, Tenga Rinpoche has
been living in Swayambhu, Nepal, where he founded
Benchen Phuntsok Dargyeling Monastery and a retreat
centre in Pharping. Since 1978, he´s been
touring Europe extensively. Ven. Tenga Rinpoche
is one of the few living meditation masters who
hold the still unbroken lineage of the Karma Kagyu
Tradition.
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