Buddhism

Buddhists believe that human beings have the potential to become free from suffering by practicing meditation and cultivating a lifestyle prescribed by the Buddha. The Buddha gave many lectures before his death. His teachings are referred to as the Dharma.

The wheel is a very important symbol in Buddhism because it depicts the cycle of life and death. Buddhists believe that after beings die, they are reborn or reincarnated into a new form. This new form could be a deity, human, animal, some lower creature like a hungry ghost (a being with a small head and huge stomach, and therefore always hungry), or an inhabitant of hell. It is believed that all positive thoughts and actions cause good karma and may direct one into being reborn in a higher form. The consequences of one’s negative deeds, bad karma, may result in rebirth in a lower form. This endless cycle of rebirth, called reincarnation, reflects the impermanent nature of human existence.

LAMA CHORAP RINPOCHE

Lama Chorap Rinpoche was a remarkable monk who was born in 1870 A.D. At a very young age, Lama Chorap Rinpoche was sent to Mendong monastery in Chokchu, where he studied Buddhist philosophies and all the great treasures of Buddhism. Then, under the supervision of the 15th Karmapa Khagyab Dorjee, Lama Chorap Rinpoche completed his 3 years retreat of Naro Cho Duk and obtained all the empowerments from H.H. Karmapa himself in Tsurphu Retreat Centre. A few years later due to his excellent practices and potential to help sentient beings, he was sent to act as the substitute throne holder of the Gegye Tashi Choling Monastery since the previous head lama of the monastery Gegye Tsampa Kunga Tashi Rinpoche went to parinirvana. Until the end of his life, he served and helped the people of Gegye, Gyertse, and other nearby towns of Ngyari (Mount Kailash). During his last days, Lama Chorap Rinpoche felt very burdened with the guilt that he couldn’t fulfill his responsibilities towards his people in Gegye since he was very sick. On 23rd July 1918 A.D Lama Chorap Rinpoche went to parinirvana in Gegye Tashi Choling Monastery. He showed remarkable signs of a true bodhisattva during his pass away due to which his skull (Kapala) was preserved in the monastery and is still found preserved in the monastery. Due to the final aspirations of Lama Chorap Rinpoche and the supplication of the Gegye people, the 2nd Lama Chorap Rinpoche was born in the same place Gegye as the younger brother of 2nd Gegye Tsampa Kunga Tashi Rinpoche.

SECOND GEGYE YONGYAL RINPOCHE

On 19th July 1920, the 2nd Lama Chorap Rinpoche was born to the Gegye family where the 2nd Gegye Tsampa Kunga Tashi Rinpoche was born, as his younger brother. Many monks from the Mendong monastery had requested H.H. the 15th Karmapa to find the reincarnation of Lama Chorap Rinpoche, and H.H. the 15th Karmapa prophesied that Lama Chorap Rinpoche was born as the younger brother of the 2nd Gegye Tsampa Kunga Tashi Rinpoche. All the monks of the Mendong monastery, overjoyed and hopeful at this prophecy went to Gegye to the mother of the 2nd Gegye Tsampa Kunga Tashi Rinpoche. At that moment, the mother of 2nd Gegye Tsampa Kunga Tashi Rinpoche denied having had any other son besides Tsampa Kunga Tashi Rinpoche’s reincarnation and the monks of the Mendong monastery returned without their Lama Chorap Rinpoche’s reincarnation (The main reason why the mother couldn’t reveal her second son as the reincarnation of Lama Chorap Rinpoche was because of Lama Chorap Rinpoche’s previous life’s dharma connection with the Gegye people). In Gegye, they enthroned Lama Chorap Rinpoche’s reincarnation as the 2nd Gegye Yongyal Tulku Rinpoche. He attained all his monastic education in Gegye Tashi Choling monastery and later, he also completed his 3 years retreat in Tsurpu retreat center under the supervision of H.H. the 16th Karmapa Rigpe Dorjee. The two Gegye Tulku rinpoches were very dear to H.H. the 16th Karmapa. During H.H. Karmapa’s first invitation to Bhutan, H.H. took both the Gegye tulku rinpoches along with him. A few years later, 2nd Gegye Yongyal Tulku Rinpoche passed away during the cultural revolution on 19th August 1972 A.D.

THIRD GEGYE YONGYAL RINPOCHE

The 3rd Gegye Yongyal Rinpoche is entitled to the throne of Gegye Tashi Choling Monastery in Ngyari (Mount Kailash).

3rd Gegye Yongyal Rinpoche was born to a very religious Gegye family living in the holy mystic land of Nepal near the great Boudhanath stupa in the year 1992 (Water Monkey Year). Rinpoche showed many auspicious signs during his birth. His first name was given by H.H. Drubwang Penor Rinpoche, at that very moment, H.H. Penor Rinpoche also mentioned that this is a very special child to the 3rd Gegye Yongyal Rinpoche’s mother. At the age of seven, Rinpoche was recognized as the reincarnation of the previous Gegye Yongyal Rinpoche by a wandering Terton Lama of Kham. When the Terton Lama had an encounter with Lama Jinpa, the manager of Gegye Tashi Choling monastery, he informed about the existence of Gegye Yongyal Rinpoche’s reincarnation. 3rd Gegye Yongyal Rinpoche completed his high school education in Nepal and in the year 2010, he was enrolled in the disciplinary of Bokar Monastery under the guidance of Kyabje Bokar Khenchen Lodoe Donyo Rinpoche. During the same year, Rinpoche got his Buddhist hair-cutting ceremony by H.H. the 17th Karmapa. Rinpoche also completed his enthronement ceremony in Gegye Tashi Choling Monastery in the presence of Lama Chokdup Rinpoche, Lama Gen Jinpa, and all the monks in the monastery. Rinpoche took his getsul vow from Kyabje Bokar Khen Rinpoche and joined Bokar University in the year 2011 to study the philosophy of Buddhism. Rinpoche excelled in all the sutras traditions of Parmana Sutra, Prajnaparamita Sutra, Madhyamika Sutra, and Abhi-Dharma Sutra. In 2023, Rinpoche conducted World Peace Prayer Program in all three Buddhist stupas of Nepal – Boudhanath, Swayambhunath, and the stupa in Namo Buddha with more than 300 monks from all different lineages of Nyingma, Gelug, Shakya, and Kagyu sectors.

Along with carrying out religious activities, Rinpoche is greatly concerned and interested in the ongoing and rising concerns about global environmental problems hence he engaged himself in activities such as planting more than 10,000 trees for the environment and continues to support ideas for waste management. He envisions the well-being of all human beings and helping as many of them as possible and has sponsored unprivileged children in primary, secondary, and high school education.

Currently, Rinpoche is on a dharma tour to help people through Buddhist remedies and methods.