Dakar Rinpoche

Lithang Dakar Rinpoche Lobsang Tenpa Nyima's previous incarnation Kalsang Jampa Phuntsok made a prime request to His Holiness the second Ngawang Lobsang Tenzin Trinley Gyatso that his incarnation be searched by him. He further gave the information that whosoever can unmistakably recognize his religious materials will be the undoubted reincarnation of Dakar Lama. A month after laying the request to search for the true reincarnation of him by His Holiness the second Ngawang Lobsang Tenzin Trinley Gyatso, he passed away into nirvana. In 1937, His Holiness Ngawang Lobsang Tenzin Trinley Gyatso of Shog-drug made a list of all the children with the star sign of tiger from all the villages of Kham. After referring to the oracle, a prediction was made that a twin son was born to Ngawang Lobsang and Dolkar Lhamo of A-pasang family in Tso-sum Khaga village, and that one was the reincarnation of Dakar Rinpoche and the other of Chamdo Phakpa Lha Rinpoche. But as one of the boys died prematurely, there was a minor debate and confusion about who the reincarnation of the boy was.

His Holiness of Shog-drug and Go-sog Rinpoche finally decided that they would present before the child the religious materials of both Dakar Rinpoche and Chamdo Phakpa Lha Rinpoche, and that whatever materials the boy would choose would entitle him the reincarnation of that particular Lama. As the child unhesitatingly choose the vajra, the bell, the drum and the rice-bowl of Dakar Rinpoche's previous incarnation, the boy was declared the unmistaken incarnation of Dakar Rinpoche. The success in finding out the true reincarnation pleased His Holiness of Shog-drug deep within.

In 1940, Dakar Rinpoche was put on the fearless-lion throne of Lithang Jamchen Choekor Ling amidst countless monks and teachers. The all-knowing great master Geshe Lobsang Wangchuk of Yae-ru was then appointed as his root teacher.

Confiding in the great Geshe in both words and deeds from the age of three, Dakar Rinpoche learned from him all the chanting materials, the daily puja, and the ways of making offering to tutelary deities of Jamchen Choekor Ling through tantra. By the age of nine, he had perfected all. At the age of 10, he meditated in the monastery for a year. He took the vows of a novice monk at the age of seven from Gyaluk Lama Lobsang Choedhen and was given the name Lobsang Tenpa Nyima.

In 1947, at the age of eleven, he went up to Lhasa and joined the Sangha community of Jangtse Monastery. Rendering his root teacher as Dogmi Chogtrul Rinpoche and Tashi Rinchen, he learned the studies of the five great treatises. He received the ordination vows from His Holiness Trichang Dorje Chang. He received transmissions of secret tantra empowerments from many great scholars like the root teacher of the Dalai Lama, Ling Rinpoche, and from 'Zong Rinpoche.

At the age of 19, his root teacher His Holiness Geshe Lobsang Wangchuk of Yae-ru send him a letter requesting him to come to his hometown as a necessity. Since, letters that contained about his root teacher aging and his wish to see him were sent repeatedly, he was left with no other option than to visit his hometown.

During his term as the abbot of the dialectics school of Lithang monastery, the Chinese invasion forced him into prison confinement with other Lamas and leaders of Tibet for a period of over 20 years.

In 1979, he was released from the prison. After his release, he went to his hometown in good health. His followers were fortunate enough to feel his radiating presence a time again.

In 1980, during the making of Gaden Golden Stupa in Lhasa, the holder of Ganden throne, Drog-me Chogtrul Rinpoche sent a letter to Dakar Rinpoche mentioning his need of help and advice as much as possible for the construction of the holy stupa. Dakar Rinpoche very gladly donated one kilo four hundred grams of gold, forty kilos of silver, 2800 Yaun, a thousand kilo of butter, ten big corals.

In 1981, when the construction of the Great Golden Stupa was finished, Dakar Rinpoche and his attendant Lobsang Tharchin was invited from Kham to join in the ceremony. Dakar Rinpoche made an offering of 70 grams of gold, thirteen bags of butter, 2300 Yaun, and made tea and money offerings to all the monks present. As a gesture of appreciation, the holder of the Gaden throne and other Lamas and monks rained flowers and offered a mandala of the mind, the body and the speech to Dakar Rinpoche.

Dakar 1983, when he was appointed as the eighty-fifth abbot of Lithang Jamchen Choekor Ling, he thought that it was necessary to have some wealth to built shrines, to improve the inner wisdom, and to preserve the old tradition like oracle dance, mandala making, and chanting tunes as per Buddhist beliefs. To preserve the ancient religious customs, he has worked indefinitely. Without being given the responsibility, Dakar Rinpoche went in all directions to gather money as he felt that the dialectics school should have an investment. He collected some 130,000Yuan and gave it to the dialectics school. The money received was given away in loans and the interest earned on it was used to provide tea and lunch to the monks of the dialectics school on a regular basis.

For a time being, when the loan was not repaid to the dialectics school and the interest too finished with the food provided, Shog-drug Kyabgon requested Dakar Rinpoche to once again take care of the dialectics school like he did before.

Dakar Rinpoche is very kind at heart and has a very good relation with his followers who believe in him. He is a holy being who the poor and the needy can confide in, as his compassion for them is natural. His ability to sacrifice his precious life for the cause of dharma practiced by Gyalwa Sonam Gyatso's Thupchen Choekor Ling monastery is something that makes him the root of Buddhism in Lithang monastery and in Lithang province. He is one master who can liberate the six different sentient beings.

It is almost impossible to narrate all works of Dakar Rinpoche that promoted the preservation of Buddha's mind, body and speech, his help rendered to the sangha community voluntarily. However, to account briefly his doings, he again helped the dialectics school by giving them 1,426,500Yuan which he collected as donation from the farmers and the nomads. From that amount, the expenditure spent for the next five years accounted up to 1,140,000 Yuan. In 1997, the remaining 176,500Yaun was handed over to Shagpa Tulku, the then abbot of the dialectics school.

In the same monastery, a huge silk painting of the Buddha and his two main disciples, an invaluable clanging plate, a gold-brass mask of Damchen Choegyal, five gold painted thangkas, a gold statue of Gyalwa Jampa jeweled of five precious jewels (gold, silver, turquoise, coral, pearl) were given to the monastery.

Since being the abbot of the monastery, he has transmitted the vows of a novice monk to some 3313 monks. There are many thousands of monks and lay people from his province and Dapa province who have attended his teachings and initiations of the Buddha of Compassion.

The famous historical sites of previous Dakar Rinpoche were rebuilt. Having worked hard for some five years, Dhakar meditation grand hall has now the area of 72,898 feet and the area of all the residences measure up to 39,422 feet.

In 1987, when Gaden's Serkong House was being rebuilt, Dakar Rinpoche donated 10,000 Yuan. He has made innumerable donations to Lithang monastery, Rabgye Ling, Yonten monastery.

Dakar Rinpoche is still living his life for the teachings of the Buddha and for the welfare of the sentient beings.