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Venerable
Panchen Ötrul Rinpoche
Panchen Ötrul Rinpoche was born in Kham, Eastern
Tibet, in 1939 to nomadic parents.
He was immediately recognised as a re-incarnate Lama due
to the many auspicious signs that surrounded his birth.
When he was three years old the search had started all
across Tibet for the re-incarnation of the Panchen Lama.
As a result of the conditions accompanying his birth Rinpoche
was included in the first stage of the selection procedure
and recognised as a possible candidate. At the age of
5 he was taken to the local monastery of Dolma Lhakang.
Here he was cared for by two lamas, Lama Thuka and Lama
Atsoe. Part of this period was spent in a small cave as
the two Lamas spent their lives in meditation in a hermitage.
When he was 7 years old he was chosen as a candidate of
the re-incarnation of the Panchen Lama and taken to the
main Gelugpa monastery in the area at Pasho. During his
time at Pasho, his teacher was Venerable Lama Kelsang
Choedak, a renowned Mongolian Lama. In 1949 he was taken
to Lhasa to Kundaling monastery. He was escorted by High
Officials from Tashi Lhunpo monastery, the seat of the
Panchen Lamas, a General representing the Tibetan government
and a military escort. Rinpoche took his novice vows a
year later |
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In 1951 Rinpoche was selected as the final candidate of the
re-incarnation of the Panchen Lama who had died in 1937. However
due to the political situation at that time a candidate from
Amdo was selected. Rinpoche was then given a new title, conferred
for the first time by the Tibetan Government, that of Panchen
Ötrul, which means 'Panchen Candidate'. From then onwards
Rinpoche was taken into the care of the Tibetan Government and
Tashi Lhunpo Monastery. He was taken to Drepung Gomang where
he was able to continue his Dharma studies.
His personal teacher for seven years was the Ven. Lama Ngawang
Tharde Lharampa, who was the Senior Geshe at Drepung Gomang
Monastery. He also received teachings from His Holiness the
Dalai Lama and from Ven. Ling Rinpoche and Ven. Trijang Rinpoche,
the junior and senior teachers of His Holiness. In 1959, after
the Chinese Communists took control of Tibet, Panchen Ötrul
Rinpoche was placed in a concentration camp. In 1960 he was
able to escape to India, where he continued with his studies,
receiving teachings from His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the
two venerable teachers of His Holiness.
In 1961 he received monk's full ordination from His Holiness.
He eventually completed his formal studies, being awarded the
highest degree of Geshe Lharampa (equivalent of a doctorate)
in Tibetan Philosophy. He also studied Sanskrit and Hindi at
Varanassi University. During this time he helped to design programmes
of study for Sera, Ganden and Drepung, the biggest Gelugpa Monastic
Universities which were being re-established in India, and also
for The Institute of Tibetan High Studies at Sarnarth.
In 1987
he travelled to the U.K. on behalf of His Holiness the Dalai
Lama to work on interfaith dialogue. Then, in 1990, he was
invited by Irish students to become Spiritual Director of
a new centre in West Cavan, Ireland, to which he gave the
name Jampa Ling Tibetan Buddhist Centre. The Tashi
Khyil Trust was established in Northern Ireland at the
same time as a fund raising charity for Rinpoche`s growing
activities abroad.
In 1995 Panchen Ötrul Rinpoche travelled to Mongolia
with His Holiness the Dalai Lama who asked him to stay and
teach Dharma to the Mongolian people. Since 1995 he has travelled
there each year for two months in order to help with the re-establishment
of Buddhism in Mongolia.
Panchen Ötrul Rinpoche maintains strong connections with
Drepung Gomang Monastic University (primarily with Gungru
Khangsten) in Southern India, finding sponsors for monks and
fund raising to help with new buildings. Panchen Ötrul
Rinpoche has also travelled to Malaysia, Singapore and Europe
in order to teach.
In 2001 he established Asral Charity in Mongolia and Maitreya
Charity in the USA.™ |
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