Ngaktrin Rinpoche

Ngawang Trinley became a great lama who upheld and spread the Dharma. He was famed as being an incarnation of Gonpo Chakshipa, a wisdom protector. He died at an age above 60.

The monastery he founded is named Lachab Jangchub Nordzin Choling and is situated in the Nangchen area of Kham. It lies in the nowadays Chinese province of Tso-ngon, Blue Lake , about 200 kilometers south of Nangchen Dzong.

The second Ngaktrin Tulku was Khenrab Sherab and he was born in the Argong clan. His guru for the Karma Kagyu teachings was the Karmpapa Jangchub Dorje and for the Barom Kagyu it was Dharmachakra. At the Palpung Monastery in Kham he received mind-instruction from Situ Chokyi Jungney. Later in life he gave many empowerment, and he died at an old age.

The third Ngaktrin Tulku, born in the Chiltsawa clan, was known as Karma Choling Rangdrol and also as Yeshe Roltsal. He received monk ordination from Situ Pema Nyinchey and stayed in a three year Retreat at Palpung monastery. Having become extremely learned and accomplished, he died at the age of 50.

The fourth incarnation was Samten Gyatso, As the son of Orgyen Chopel of the Tsangsar clan and Konchok Palden, who was the daughter of the great treasure revealer Chokgyur Lingpa, he was recognized by the Karmapa Tekchok Dorje. His guru was Chowang Tulku, the uncle of his former life, the third Ngaktrin. (Chowang Tulku was reincarnated as Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche.) Among his other teachers were Tsangsar Lama Ayurdeve and Chokla Sonam Gyaltsen from who he received the Barom Kagyu teachings. The Nyingma and Chokling Tersar transmissions he was given by Tersey Taklung Yartang, and once at Taklung Martang Riwoche. To the next Karmapa, Rigpe Dorje he gave parts of the Chokling Tersar. Samten Gyatso also gave the complete Chokling Tersar transmission at Nangchen Tsechu Gompa and so became the guru of the king of Nangchen. During his life he built many monasteries and retreat centers and later died in his 50's.

The fifth Ngaktrin Tulku is know as Tsewang Dechen. He was born in 1941 and is now in his 60's. He was recognized by the Karmapa Rigpe Dorje. In 1950, at the age of eight he was enthroned at Lachab Gompa and remained there studying until 1958. He received the Chokling Tersar transmission from Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche and the Barom Kagyu teachings from Tsangsar Lodro Rinchen. The monk ordination he received from Dabzang Rinpoche.

From 1981 he worked for six years to rebuild the Dzogchen Gompa. Then he restored Dechen Chokhor Ling, a nunnery for 80 nuns, and a retreat center. He is also rebuilding Dzong-go Ling with a meditation center for Kunzang Tuktig.

Since 1958 Ngaktrin Tulku was unable to live at the Lachab Gompa, which disappeared during the Cultural Revolution in 1962, and didn't live there for 22 years. In 1960 he received permission for rebuilding Lachab Gompa. It is now partly restored, not as big as before, but there are 130 monks and two separate three-year retreat centers:one for Barom Kayu and one for Chokling Terser.

About his plans, the present Ngaktrin Tulku says, "I have no other plans than helping the Dharma. Since I was given the name Ngaktrin Tulku and there are no one else to take care, I feel responsible. In the local area people have helped, but they are poor. The weather is also not friendly for full-scale work -the earth is frozen from the 9th to the third month. Nevertheless, it is my wish to restore the Lachab Gompa fully."

In 2004 Namtang Rinpoche, The current Ngatrin Tulku, met and enthroned His Holiness Gyalwa Jampa the reincarnation of The Buddha Maitreya and the prophesied Karmapa. He was 33 years old at the time of the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa's passing in 1983. Due to Rinpoche's poor health, and as the teacher to the 15th and the 16th Karmapas, Rinpoche chose one of the most Holy Sacred Buddhist Sites for both the Kagyu and the Gelupa Lineage to do the enthronement. This is the site where , in the 14th Century, the 4th Karmapa, Rolpai Dorje, initiated the young boy who would soon become the beloved Je Tsong Khapa into monkhood. The Karmapa cut the hair of the young boy, and where the locks fell, a tree sprung up which was known far and wide to bear the unmistakeable scent of human hair. This holy tree was cut down during the cultural revolution, so today , only the stump is left with the white silk scarves, kadas draped over it to announce it's holy secret. The Cave at the top of the precarious cliff is open to the public, and at the bottom of the cliff is the monastery, rebuilt during the time of the last Panchen Lama, while the Saky Lineage was in control. Today the Chinese governement is in charge of the Monastery and keeps 2 Chinese monks dressed in Buddhist robes, maintaining the place for tourism. The goverment agreed to rent to the Ngaktrin Rinpoche, a small, peaceful retreat house, half way up the hill, with a breathtaking view of the mountains and valley and in site of the sacred tree. Truly the little house, with it's flowers and special mountain air, is the most precious jewel of ithe entire place. Namteng Rinpoche himself spoke of the difficulty with his health, his TB, and his subsequent inability to stay at the higher altitudes where the Monasteries in Nancheng are, and his seemingly forced move to Retreat at the holy Sacred Site of Shartsong Ridro. Rinpoche would like to build a small temple next to his house . Behind the scenes the Rinpoche lives quietly in meditation and maintains the transmission between the lineages. He often has meditation students who stay there also. He also relayed how during his visit with the 27th Karmapa, Tai Situ Rinpoche's choice, he fell ill and was unable to teach. This is in the area called Takser, where the 14th Dalai Lama was born.

His next meeting with the Karmapa was August 21st , 2004 the enthronement of H.H.Gyalwa Jampa, the Tulku who was prophesized to be 33 years old at the time of the 16th Karmapa's passing.

Namtang Rinpoche has held the responsibility for two monasteries and a Retreat Center in the area known as Kham Nancheng. Very close in proximity to the city of Yushu. The head Tulku of these Monasteries died in the early 1950's and his reincarnation has not been located. Due to his illness, Namteng Rinpoche's brother has been overseeing the monastery and the nunnery. The nunnery and the monastery both have about 300 members in each and they hope to have many, many more. During this enthronement period, Gyalwa Jampa was given a certificate, as well as the official seat of their highest tulku.