Ngawang Mipham Cho-Ki-Dawa, the Yang-Goen Rinpoche

Although it is beyond ordinary beings' expressions of the biographics of the chain of the reincarnations of Yang-Goan lama since the long forgotten aeons; here is a brief one in accordance with the 'Supplications Prayers to the Yang-Goen lamas' reincarnations lineage.

In India, Yang-Goen lama took birth as the boy, Dakpa,at the time of the Lord Buddha and was the kind Palden Set at the period of Konchok Bhangs' Dynasty, Wangchuk Nyima Zin and the great Naropa, one of the most renowned siddhi of India.

In Tibet, the land of snow, he was born as the translator Lotsawa Kawa Peltsek at the time of the religious King Trisong, at the era of earlier spread pf dharma. He was one of the three most popular translators, known as Ka Chu Shang. His works of translation of Kangur(Buddha's Teachings) included Dhulwa Lung-Shi of Vinaya,the Vinaya Sutra of Bhikhuni, the brief Version Wisdom Perfection, Nampar Choepa, one of the Chapters of Kontsek Sutra and in Tantra, Namnang Ngon-Jang,Tantra of Chakdor.

His translations of Tengyur (commentaries of the Indian Masters) included Ngagtoe, Pelduji Zinpai Yang, the comprehensive Commentary of Namnag's Root Tantra, the great exposition of the Two later siddhis of Jawa-Chigyud. He was also a great practitioner himself and a master who helped any others.

And at the era of the later spread Dharma in Tibet, he appeared as Shangnam (Dorji Wangchuk), one of the four principle disciples of Lumey Tsultrim Sherab who in turn was one of the Ten Intellects of U-tsang, who contributed towards reviving Vinaya teachings from the southern part of Tibet.

The master Dorji Wangchuk was born in the year 967 AD to father Namnang Joesey and mother Shangchen Dolma. He became monk under the guidance of the master Lumey and began his intensive studies and contemplation after receiving teachings on Vinaya from the said master.

Just as prophesied by the Lord Buddha in Dheodhe Dham- Ngak Shakpa (Sutra of giving Essential Instructions) as :

"The temple named Gyal"

Will be established by an emanation of the lord Maitreya." He founded Gyal-Lhakhang Monastery, the center of learning, and established the profound three practices of Vinaya and also the wonderful tradition of learning Vinaya.

Not being contented with his learning still, he sought the tutorship of the master Dorji Dhenpa who went to India in search of the authentic teachings of Vinaya, he received from him (the master Dorji Dhenpa) teachings on the Oral transmission of the Four Sections of Vinaya, and became a great master himself. Dromtoenpa, the principle Kadampa master received his layman precepts from this master Dorji Wangchuk and was given the name Gyalwai Jungney-Source of Buddhas-by the same.

He met with the lord Atisha while he went to Ngari Mangyul to receive the later to Central Tibet. He became one of the chief disciples of the master Atisha and received the full lineage teachings from him. He then set for intensive meditation. In the year 1060, he assumed his state of passing away for the sake of others. when referred to the "Life Stories". he then took birth as the great master Kyokgay Chenpo and then as Bhen Tsultrim Gyalwa, one of the four principle disciples of the great Kadampa master Goenpa Tsultrim Bhar.

Bhen Tsultrim Gyalwa was born in Phenpo region of Tibet. He lived as a beggar throughout his childhood. As he grew, he had a big plot of land enough to produce as much as forty khels of crops and yet he used to be a burglar at the hill side in the day times and in the nights used to to go out stealing. As such, he was called 'The Mischeif with Forty'. He had rather rough and untamed behaviour as well, and lived a lonely life.

At one time, he was engaged in thought of examining himself to see if he could become a monk or not. So he stayed in a room with an ordained monk for few days, his desire of becoming monk increased. He thus became a monk under the guidance of the great seer Pelgoen and was given the name Tsultrim Gyalwa. He gave away all his land and belongings to others and lived his life on alms food. When he faced shortage of food for few days he used to persuade himself towards Dharma by saying:

"There is no meaning, oh! Tsultrim Gyalwa! To prepare oneself today of tomorrow's concerns"

He had been so careful and sincere in his practice that he put a small pebble for every Virtuous thought arisen and put a different one on another side for every unwholesome thought that arose in him. In the evenings, after counting the pebbles, he used to rejoice in himself if the pebbles for the virtuous thoughts were more and accused and scold himself if the pebbles for the unwholesome thoughts were more. He was always mindful of impermanance of death and devoted his life in strict meditation. He became highly enlightened. The great master Potowa used to praise him by saying that it was only Bhen Gyung Gyal who perfectly remembered death.

He then stayed in Kotay region giving Dharma instructions to the public and thus came to be known as Geshe Kotay. At Gyal Lhakhang, he gave extensive teachings and did meditation on the Six Intructions of Kadampa and alike.

He felt no adherence to this life as he had high realisation of impermanence of death, he freed himself of the root of Samsara by the virtue of this much familiarity with the concept of emptiness, he would always view self and others equal, having been trained in the practice of Bodhicitta.

And according to the "life Stories" his incarnation lineage includes Reychung Lama Solraychen , Lodoe Selwa, Drimed Lhumpo- the treasure discoverer, Chakrelpa- the one who achieved siddhi of long life, Arya Jangchub Tsultrim, Lobsang Dhondup, the great Yang-Goen- the Dharma Sun (The Successive Lineage seemed to have acquired the title Yang-Goen after him), Yang-Goen Choephel Namgyal, Yang-Goen Jamphel Namgyal, Yang-Goen Lodoe Rinchen, Yang-Goen Ngawang Lobsang Choephel Namgyal Pelsangpo.

Reference: The Life Stories Of Yang-Goen Lama.
(The Biographies of the other Yang-Goen Lama's couldn't be traced. They will be added as we get them.)

The reincarnation of XIX Gyalpa Yang-Goen was born on 8th June 1980 to the family called Drakshol Rabphel Shiga which lies closely to the Gyal temple, a place prophesied by the Lord Buddha in Dham Ngak Shakpa (Giving Essential Instructions Sutra). This place is located in the western side of Gang-Shar Dhak-Ngang Goen, the great master Sharawa Yonten Drakpa's retreat place, which belongs to Phenpo region in U-tsang province of Tibet.

The new incarnation's family consists of father Lodhen Sangpo, mother Yangkyi, four elder sisters, one elder brother and a younger sister and himself.

Upon earnest request made by the faithful devotees of the XIX Gyalpa Yang- Goen from Phenpo region, Tibet, including the monks and nuns and lay devotees to kindly recognize the reincarnation of the XIX Yang-Goen lama, His Holiness the Dalai lama, after careful investigation, recognised the boy named Jordhen from the family run by the Lhoden Sangpo residing in Tibet as the XX Gyalpa Yang-Goen Rinpoche on 28th December 1994.

In July 1995, the Young buy was given monks vow by the most revered master Gen Lamrimpa, the great saint-scholar of Drepung Monastery, Tibet and the boy was given a new name Ngawang Mipham Choeki Dawa.
The same year on 27th August, he was invited to Phenpo-Gyal Lhakhang monastery, the center where his predecessors had studied and later had proliferated the dharma teachings extensively. He stayed there for a year learning some important rites and rituals.

And in the year 1997, he set out to Drepung monastery, Tibet, in order to undergo deeper training in the Buddhist philosophical studies and to receive various traditional Oral Transmissions and Empowerments. However, due to the Chinese restrictions imposed, he was unable to get admission in the monastery, so he remained a day-scholar and sought the helpful guidance of the most venerable master Jetsun Lamrimpa and U-zed Topchu la.

Under further strict restrictions imposed by the Chinese that the day-scholars were not allowed to study and even remain in Drepung Monastery, the young reincarnation found no other alternative to remain there. So, on 28th December 1998, he set out to escape to India and in thirteen days he reached Nepal.
On 13th February 1999, he reached Dharamsala, India and next day, he got the holy audience with His Holines the Dalai Lama. He stayed in Dharamsala to receive the teachings from H.H. The Dalai Lama was giving at that time.

Following the advice given by H.H. The Dalai lama, he moved and reached Drepung Monastic University in South India. On 1st march 1999, to continue with his further studies in Buddhist Philosophy and to receive other Lineage transmissions.

Although the venerable Ngawang Mipham Choeki Dawa is a bonafied tulku, he faced financial problem for organizing such a ceremonial party for getting enrolment as a Tulku in the Monastery.

We, all the members of Gyaepa Khangtsen Group, admire you with prayers for your kind help, towards his ceremonial enrollment.