The 20th Denma Gonsar Rinpoche

On the 6th of October 2013, a very special and propitious event took place in Tsampehling Monastery in Chatreng, the home monastery of the illustrious Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche. That auspicious day marked the enthronement of the new incarnation of one of the most extraordinary lamas of our time, the erudite Kyabje Denma Gonsar Dorje Chang.

The late Denma Gonsar Rinpoche, who entered clear light in the year 2005, was an outstanding student of both Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche and Kyabje Pabongka Dechen Nyingpo, and went on to become a highly regarded senior lama and one of the most important figures within the Gelugpa sect. Denma Gonsar Rinpoche was also a prominent lineage holder of various important teachings including the practice of Dorje Shugden.

A few months before Denma Gonsar Rinpoche entered clear light, during a lecture he was giving at Tsampehling Monastery, Rinpoche stated clearly that his next reincarnation would be born in Chatreng, a place famed for its strong devotion to Lama Tsongkhapa and the enlightened Protector Dorje Shugden.

In addition, Denma Gonsar Rinpoche instructed that his next incarnation would be a boy who could recite the root tantra of Guhyasamaja perfectly from memory. This warrants significant note because the root tantra of Guhyasamaja is an advanced, complicated practice with extensive literature consisting of seventeen chapters with tremendous amount of details. That the late Denma Gonsar Rinpoche pre-empted his students to only recognize and enthrone the incarnation with such an incredible ability speaks clearly of his high attainments and clairvoyance. Only an authentic, attained master who has achieved the enlightened mind could return with his attainments intact, to continue to turn the wheel of Dharma again.

And so, as this great Master had prophesied and instructed, his incarnation – the 20th Denma Gonsar Rinpoche was officially enthroned in his Guru’s monastery. The boy by the name of Dorje, who is seven years old today, was born to a prominent family in Chatreng just as the late Denma Gonsar Rinpoche had predicted. Interestingly, it is the same extended family to which Rabten Tulku Rinpoche (reincarnation of Geshe Rabten) also belongs.

A few months before Dorje was recognized, the monks who were charged with the responsibility of looking for Rinpoche’s incarnation consulted the Dorje Shugden oracle who advised that Rinpoche’s incarnation had already been born in eastern Tibet where Chatreng lies, and that the search should begin. The boy they found showed many miraculous signs and one clear indication was the visible symbols of the sun and moon on the boy’s forehead. The sun and moon are symbols of wisdom and compassion indicating the attainment of enlightenment, and from the first Denma Gonsar Rinpoche to the present 20th incarnation, the sun and moon marks have always been visible on their foreheads.

The boy, Dorje bearing visible symbols of the sun and moon on his forehead as had all previous incarnations of Denma Gonsar Rinpoche

And so began the examination and confirmation process. The current Pabongka Choktrul Rinpoche, who frequently travelled to Denma Gonsar Rinpoche’s monastery in Kham to receive teachings and commentaries from the late Master, confirmed Dorje as the current incarnation of Denma Gonsar Rinpoche by divination. The octogenarian Purbu Khuten of Sera Monastery in Lhasa, who was personally trained and authorized by the late Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, also examined the boy, Dorje, and confirmed him as Denma Gonsar Rinpoche’s incarnation. [See Note 1]

In addition, the very well known Nirtue Rinpoche, regarded as the highest and most respected lama in Denma, Kham, journeyed to Chatreng to test the candidate and concurred that the boy was indeed the correct incarnation of Rinpoche. Also of great import is the official recognition of this boy by His Holiness the Panchen Lama, whose lineage can be traced back to Subuthi, one of the original disciples of the Lord Buddha himself. Upon confirmation, His Holiness the Panchen Lama issued an official letter formally recognizing this incarnation of Denma Gonsar Rinpoche.

The official letter of recognition issued by His Holiness the Panchen Lama. A rough translation of the letter reads: “The search party of Dharmaraja Gonsar Choje Thubten Gelek Gyatso, who have been praying to The Three Jewels these few years, have found the incarnation of Rinpoche in Chatreng, Ganzi. The child born to the father by the name of Tenzin Ngyape and Tzirin Yongchen the mother, is hereby recognized as the reincarnation of the 19th Gonsar Choje Dharmaraja”

The late Denma Gonsar Rinpoche, who entered clear light in the year 2005, was an outstanding student of both Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche and Kyabje Pabongka Dechen Nyingpo, and went on to become a highly regarded senior lama and one of the most important figures within the Gelugpa sect. Denma Gonsar Rinpoche was also a prominent lineage holder of various important teachings including the practice of Dorje Shugden.

A few months before Denma Gonsar Rinpoche entered clear light, during a lecture he was giving at Tsampehling Monastery, Rinpoche stated clearly that his next reincarnation would be born in Chatreng, a place famed for its strong devotion to Lama Tsongkhapa and the enlightened Protector Dorje Shugden.

In addition, Denma Gonsar Rinpoche instructed that his next incarnation would be a boy who could recite the root tantra of Guhyasamaja perfectly from memory. This warrants significant note because the root tantra of Guhyasamaja is an advanced, complicated practice with extensive literature consisting of seventeen chapters with tremendous amount of details. That the late Denma Gonsar Rinpoche pre-empted his students to only recognize and enthrone the incarnation with such an incredible ability speaks clearly of his high attainments and clairvoyance. Only an authentic, attained master who has achieved the enlightened mind could return with his attainments intact, to continue to turn the wheel of Dharma again.

And so, as this great Master had prophesied and instructed, his incarnation – the 20th Denma Gonsar Rinpoche was officially enthroned in his Guru’s monastery. The boy by the name of Dorje, who is seven years old today, was born to a prominent family in Chatreng just as the late Denma Gonsar Rinpoche had predicted. Interestingly, it is the same extended family to which Rabten Tulku Rinpoche (reincarnation of Geshe Rabten) also belongs.

A few months before Dorje was recognized, the monks who were charged with the responsibility of looking for Rinpoche’s incarnation consulted the Dorje Shugden oracle who advised that Rinpoche’s incarnation had already been born in eastern Tibet where Chatreng lies, and that the search should begin. The boy they found showed many miraculous signs and one clear indication was the visible symbols of the sun and moon on the boy’s forehead. The sun and moon are symbols of wisdom and compassion indicating the attainment of enlightenment, and from the first Denma Gonsar Rinpoche to the present 20th incarnation, the sun and moon marks have always been visible on their foreheads.

Pictures of the enthronement of the 20th Denma Gonsar Rinpoche

The enthronement ceremony of the present Denma Gonsar Rinpoche at Tsampehling Monastery, Chatreng

A happy 20th Denma Gonsar Rinpoche

The enthronement ceremony was well attended by senior monks of Chatreng and Chinese officials