Biography of Shangpa Rinpoche

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Biography of Shangpa Rinpoche

Ven. Shangpa Rinpoche

Shangpa Rinpoche was born on 12 September 1960 at the Dolpa District of Nepal. At the age of two, he was recognized as an incarnation of the Great Yogi Shangpa Rinpoche, who was a disciple of His Holiness, the 15th Gyalwa Karmapa. After going through many hardships, he and his mother finally arrived in Pokhara, Nepal.

His Holiness, the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa, ordained him when he was 9 years old.

From this tender age, he studied all the ritual arts and memorized scriptures under the guidance of the late Drubsing Rinpohe and other learned teachers. When he was 16 years old, he joined the Tibetan Higher Institute of Buddhist Studies in Varanasi and mastered Buddhist Philosophy, literature, poetry, the history of Buddhism and Sanskrit etc. He also received many teachings and empowerment from many great teachers, particularly His Holiness, the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa, Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche, Ugyen Tulku Rinpoche, Tenga Rinpoche, Khunu Rinpoche and Khenpo Rinchen. He has both conducted and participated in many retreats at his monastery and other places.

While Shangpa Rinpoche was studying in his fourth year, Drubsing Rinpoche passed away and His Holiness, the 16th Karmapa instructed him to assume the responsibility as the abbot of the Jangchub Choeling Monastery in Pokhara, Nepal.

In his continuous efforts to benefit sentient beings, Rinpohe has undertaken several works within Pokhara and beyond in other parts of Nepal and the South East Asian region. Some of these works bear indications of the continuation of the works of his pervious incarnation. He also traveled frequently and extensively, particularly throughout Southeast and East Asia to propagate Buddhism.

In 1982, Kunzing Shamar Rinpoche asked Rinpoche to take the responsibility of being spiritual leader of Karma Kagyud followers in Singapore. He accepted and since then he has been the religious adviser to the Singapore Karma Kagyud Buddhist Center, teaching and advising its members and devotees.

In 1991, Rinpoche initiated the search for and purchase of the current premises of the Center. In 1997, he had appointed abbot of the Center by its member.

INTRODUCTION TO JANGCHUB CHOELING MONASTERY

In 1963, H.H. the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa asked Lama Drubsing Rinpoche to leave Kathmandu and go to Pokhara, in order to meet the spiritual needs of the Tibetan and Nepalese population present there. At first, a small monastery was established for performing Buddhist services and ceremonies. Over the time, as the number of devotees grew, parents began to ask Lama Drubsing Rinpoche to ordain their sons as monks. For a long time, there were 35 monks at the monastery.

In 1967, H.H. the Dalai Lama named the monastery “Jangchub Choeling Monastery” and officially recognized the monastic community under the guidance of Lama Drubsing Rinpoche. Three years later, Lama Drubsing Rinpoche, aware of the need for expansion, moved the monastery to its present location. He planned to erect a larger building and improve the facilities. Sadly, he passed away in 1976 without being able to fulfill his dreams and left the newly inaugurated monastery without a leader to run the monastery.

In 1978, H.H. the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa appointed Shangpa Rinpoche, then 23 years old, as Chief abbot of the monastery. A few years later, H.E. Kunzing Shamar Rinpoche requested Shangpa Rinpoche to be the resident Rinpoche at Singapore for its followers were there. Since then Shangpa Rinpoche started traveling to Singapore and many Karma Kagyud Centers in South East Asia.

In Singapore, Shangpa Rinpoche quickly established the Karma Kagyud Buddhist Center and initiated the purchase of permanent premises for regular teachings and ceremonies. Rinpoche also travels regularly to Karma Kagyud Centers throughout Southeast and East Asia. His disciples in the region generously contributed towards the maintenance of both the centers in Singapore and Pokhara.

Over the last 20 years, Shangpa Rinpoche has continually expanded and improved the facilities at the monastery.

In 1991, the present shrine hall was built and H.E. Kunzing Shamar Rinpoche inaugurated the monastery. Yet, a place for prayer is not enough for a monk to develop a complete understanding of the Buddhist faith. Thus donations were sought to establish a Buddhist educational institute, and in December 1996, the Vikrama Shila Buddhist Institute was completed. The next project is the construction of new and larger dormitory rooms for the increasing monk population, the building of which was intended to be completed by early 1998, now it is in full shape.

JANGCHUB CHOELING MONASTERY

The architecture of the shrine hall is true to traditional Tibetan design, although it is entirely constructed with modern building materials. Inside the main hall there is a 7-foot copper and gold plated statue of Lord Buddha.

On the far back wall, on either side of Buddha, are 1000 small Buddha figures representing the 1000 Buddha’s believed to exist in this “Fortunate Era.” The wall paintings, by the Tibetan artist Mr. Dhawa, portray the life of Buddha from birth to Nirvana, or Great Enlightenment. On the walls to the right and left of the entranceway, are images of the six ornaments and the two supreme ones who beautified Buddha’s teachings and made them accessible to all through their commentaries. On the walls facing the Buddha figures are portraits of the 16 Arhats who upheld Buddha’s teachings after he passed away.

The second floor of the shrine hall is reserved as the residence and meeting place of the Chief abbot Shangpa Rinpoche. The third story is home to a chapel for the Lineage Masters. Thus clay figures and images of the Lineage Masters of the Kagyudpa Traditions decorate the inside of the chapel. The chapel also holds 102 volumes of the Kagyur (Buddha’s word) and 215 volumes of the Tengyur (commented by the Indian Buddhist Masters.)

The Vikrama Shila Buddhist Institute

This educational facility is intended to provide the monks with the opportunity to expand their knowledge of Buddhism in a formal academic setting. After completing nine years of full-time study, monks will be qualified to teach at other institutions. The course of studies focuses on the five major texts: Buddhist Logic (Pramana), Middle Path (Madhyamika), Miral Ethics (vinaya), Wisdom/Ultimate knowledge (Prajna Paramita) and (Loosely translated) Buddhist Science (abhi Dharma). The monks also attend English, Nepali and Tibetan Grammar classes, and a computer class has recently been introduced for the older monks. Formal education at the Jangchub Choeling Monastery only began two years ago, and all monks depend on disciples in order to cover the cost of food, teacher’s salaries and general maintenance.

The Monastic Community: A total of 80 monks live at Jangchub Choeling Monastery. Usually, male children are brought to the monastery at the age of ten by their parents who want them to be monks. It is necessary that the child also wishing to be ordained. The monks are from various origins, some being Tibetan, Nepali and others. They live and study within the monastery complex under the guidance of Chief abbot Shangpa Rinpoche.

A day for the monks begins with a Morning Prayer Session at 6:00 A.M. During which they chant two prayers: Manjushree (Deities for Wisdom) and Green Tara (Deities for Removing Obstacles). School begins at 8:00 A.M. And ends at 3:30 P.M. There are designated periods outside of class for self-study. At 4:00 P.M. The evening prayer session begins, and the Mahakala Prayer (to the Guardians of the Buddha’s teachings) is recited with musical instruments. With this schedule they are able to do prayers with study.

Jangchub Choeling Monastery,

P.O. Box No. 56 Pokhara, Nepal

Tel : 977-61-27029

Fax : 977-61-27028

E-mail : rinpoche@jcm.mos.com.np

World Wide Web :

http://www.shangpa.org

E-mail:- shangpa@kagyu-asia.com

Shangpa Foundation

PCN No; 160,

G.P.O. Box : 5741

Kathmandu, Nepal