Kyabje Dagom Rinpoche was recognised by Kyabje Trijang Dorjechang, tutor to His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama, as the 12th incarnation of the lineage of Dagom Rinpoches. He took novice ordination at the age of nine and full ordination (Bhikshu) at the age of 21 years old.

From the age of eight until 25, Kyabje Dagom Rinpoche studied all of the major and minor Tibetan sciences in Drepung Gomang Monastery in South India. After completing these studies, for many years, he continued to receive further teachings from such masters as H.H. Kyabje Trijang Dorjechang, H.H. Ling Dorjechang, Kyabje Gyara Dorjechang, Kyabje Zong Dorjechang, Kyabje Zimey Dorjechang and Yongzin Kunchok Gyatso. He received all the teachings, empowerments and oral transmissions.

In 1983, after completing his studies, he received the degree of Geshe Lharampa, the highest degree in the Tibetan monastic system. In 1987, Rinpoche passed the tantric examinations and served as the Headmaster of Gyume Tantric College in Hunsur, India. Since then, he has given sutra and tantra transmissions to over 100,000 disciples in Ladakh, India, Nepal, the United States, Canada, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, France, Germany, Singapore and Mongolia.

Starting on April 3, 1989, at Samtenling Monastery in Nepal for the commemoration of the passing of H.H. Panchen Lama, for 22 days, Kyabje Dagom Rinpoche gave instructions on the stages of the path to Enlightenment called The Blissful Path and The Swift Path as well as the initiation of Vajrabhairava to 260 disciples including Gangchen Chogtrul Rinpoche, Lingka Chogtrul Rinpoche, the abbot of Samten Ling Monastery, the abbot of Shelkar Monastery, the master of Chozang Monastery and the master of Segyu Monastery.

Then, from March 26 until May 3, 1990, for a month and twenty seven days, Rinpoche gave the profound oral instructions of Liberation in the Palm of Our Hand to 780 monks, nuns and lay disciples including Gaden Jangtse Serkong Chogtrul Rinpoche, Drepung Loseling Drubtob Rinpoche and the masters of seven different monasteries in Nepal. At Gaden Jamgon Ling Monastery near Swayambu, Nepal, on May 4 and 5 of this year, Rinpoche gave Avalokiteshvara initiation and advice to more than a thousand Tibetans.

In 1991, from March 3 to April 23, at Drepung Gomang Monastery, Rinpoche gave oral transmission of ten volumes of the collected works of Je Tsongkhapa, Thirteen Deity Yamantaka initiation, as well as the 13 Mahakala initiations and transmission of the five major fields of studies root texts to Kyabje Sharpa Chje Lobsang Nyima, Kyabje Trijang Chogtrul Rinpoche, Kyabje Gyara Chogtrul Rinpoche, Kyabje Zong Chogtrul Rinpoche, Kyabje Lakha Chogtrul Rinpoche and Kyabje Yongzin Tulku as well as many Geshes, over three hundred monks and lay people.

In the same year, from May 28 for about one month, at the Ladakh Zanskar Duzing Podrang, Dagom Rinpoche gave instructions on the Eight great commentaries on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment to more than 300 disciples. On June 30, he also gave teachings on generating Bodhichitta (the altruistic mind of Enlightenment) and the White Umbrella initiation to more than 4000 people of Zanskar in India. Rinpoche has a very close relation with the people of Zanskar and, at people's requests, has travelled to 68 different regions there again and again, undergoing great hardship of journeying on foot and horseback over rivers and through dangerous passes in order to kindly give Dharma advice for the alleviation of suffering.

In 1992, Rinpoche established the Gaden Monlam Chenmo Dharma Center and Dagom Migtsema Dharma Centre in Nepal. On that same occasion Kyabje Dagom Rinpoche presided as throne holder of Nepal Gaden Monlam Chenmo for five days over the gathering of more than 800 Sangha members from Nyanang Phegya-Ling Monastery, Samten Ling Monastery, Gaden Jamgon Ling Monastery, Shelkar Monastery, Segyu Monastery, Drupthok Monastery, Thukjech Ling Nunnery and Kopan Nunnery. Kyabje Dagom Rinpoche also gave teachings on Legends of Buddha's Birth and performed prayers for all deceased and living beings. From that time on, the Gaden Monlam Chenmo Festival has been held every year.

In India, Dagom Rinpoche established Jangchub Tensung Dorje Center in Lingshed and the Lhasa Monlam Festival in Zanskar.

In 1996, Rinpoche established Dagom Gaden Tensung Ling in Bloomington, Indiana and Dagom Tsongkhapa Dharma Centre in Massachusetts (USA).

In 1997, Rinpoche toured Mongolia for six months, giving teachings and tantric initiations to thousands of monks and lay people. During the month of May in Hentic Almic, Mongolia, the local practitioners requested Rinpoche to bring rain and, when it rained, they were filled with joy, faith and devotion.

In 1999, Rinpoche founded Dagom Choling Dharma Centre in Minneapolis, USA.

After being a fully ordained monk for ten years, Rinpoche started to give ordination to other people according to the rules of the Vinaya, which is an important basis of Buddha Dharma. Since then, Rinpoche has bestowed novice ordination on more than 500 people and Bhikshu ordination on several dozen people.

Thus, for a long time Kyabje Dagom Rinpoche taught the Buddhadharma and gave spiritual advice to thousands of students throughout the world, always with love and compassion. Rinpoche did not at all like to deal with politics. He only gave spiritual and truthful advice. It was because of this that his blissful Dharma activities have continued to flourish purely year after year.

Rinpoche's faith and respect in the Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden remained firm and unchanging from early childhood until his passing. In every country he traveled to, he put forth great effort in solely spiritual means, for the happiness and peace of everyone. If anyone wishes to know more about Rinpoche's extensive activities, they are described in the Tibetan volume called The Jewel Garland of Precious Activities.

by Geshe Jangsem, Secretary of Dagom Ladrang

Source: Dagom Gaden Tensung Ling