His Holiness Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang
His Holiness Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche was the Junior Tutor to H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama
Coming from a devout family, Trijang Rinpoche’s father Tserin Dondrub, descended from the uncle of the 7th Dalai Lama, Losang Kelsang Gyatso, and was knowledgeable in religion. His mother, Tsering Drolma, came from the village of Gungtang Nanggong.
Considered an emanation of Vajrayogini, Trijang Rinpoche’s first incarnation was that of chariot driver Chandra. It was Chandra who escorted Buddha Shakyamuni out of the palace for the final time, to renounce his worldly position to become a Buddha. Chandra exchanged his clothes with Shakyamuni before bidding him goodbye, thus leaving him to begin his spiritual path.
Trijang Rinpoche’s early life follows that of many other reincarnated great beings. Miracles were witnessed at the time of Trijang Rinpoche’s birth in Gungtang in the winter of 1901 – it is said that an apricot tree flowered and bore 30 apricots at his birth even though it was deep winter. Before he could walk, he showed great interest in religious paintings, statues, and Tantric ritual implements; and would make as if he was reciting prayers.
News of his precocious actions reached Ngarampa Losang Tendar and Geshe Gendun Dragpa Chen. They were responsible for finding the reincarnation of Losang Tsultrim Palden, who was the Ganden Tripa and former Trijang Rinpoche. Upon hearing of the child, they travelled to his birth place of Gungtang – on seeing them, he yelled out: “Gendun Dragpa!” and later asked him to wash his feet. Gendun Dragpa used to wash the feet of Losang Tsultrim Palden when he had rheumatism. The child also correctly identified the former Trijang Rinpoche’s private Buddha statue, rosary and bowl from among a selection. This and other signs led the search party to conclude that they had probably found the correct incarnation. Upon being given a list of names of several boys who had shown encouraging signs, the 13th Dalai Lama said:
It would be best to recognize the boy born to the Gungtang girl Tsering Drolma in the Iron Bull year as the reincarnation of the former occupant of the Ganden throne.
He was invited by the 13th Dalai Lama to the Lhasa Trijang residence in 1904. Although only 3 at the time, Trijang Rinpoche showed signs of swift learning, quickly and easily learning to read, study and comprehend what he was taught, from the alphabet onward.
In 1906, aged 5, he moved to the Trijang Residence at Chusang Ritroe, where he met Pabongka Rinpoche. It was from Pabongka Rinpoche whom he received his first teaching, Set of Initiations into Manjushri from the Secret Lineage of Tsongkhapa. Pabongka Rinpoche took great delight in caring for the young child. Their strong connection was to last a lifetime and he became Pabongka Rinpoche’s closest disciple.
One year later, Trijang Rinpoche moved to Gepel Ling Monastery at Reteng. At this auspicious place, the birthplace of the Kadampa teachings, Trijang Rinpoche took the five lay Pratimoksha vows and the ten novice vows of a monk. He received the name Losang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso Pelsangpo. More signs of his swift learning were shown – it was at Gepel Ling where he memorised and analysed the meaning of many Buddhist texts, including over half of Madhyamakavatara by Chandrakirti. Later that year he visited Ganden monastery, where he was received by the abbots of Shartse and Jangtse, whom he apparently recognised, along with the main temple, without introduction.
He spent the next 12 years studying the classical texts for the Geshe degree – Pramanavartika, Madhyamaka, Prajnaparamita, Vinaya and Abhidharmakosha – principally according to the textbooks by Panchen Sonam Dragpa. He also studied the collected works of Je Tsongkhapa, the 1st Dalai Lama, and the Panchen Lama Chokyi Gyaltsen.
Diligent and devoted, in Gaden, Trijang Rinpoche would debate all night outdoors in the bitter cold, even though it meant his hands would chap so badly that they would crack and bleed. He was the top student in his class. When he was 7 years old, Trijang Rinpoche received Kalachakra initiation from Serkong Rinpoche, as well as empowerments into Manjushri, Avalokiteshvara and Vajrapani. Later he received empowerments of Guhyasamaja, Yamantaka, Heruka and Vajrayogini. He also continued to receive instructions and initiations from Pabongka Rinpoche, including the Collected Works of Gyalwa Ensapa, the Collected Works of Panchen Chokyi Gyaltsen, and a Guru yoga of Je Tsongkhapa called Ganden Lha Gya Ma (“Hundreds of Deities of the Joyful Land”).
Trijang Rinpoche continued to receive tantric empowerments. He received the Empowerment into the Six Ways to Revolve the Chakras of Heruka (including the full initiation costume of bone ornaments) as well as all the Action Tantra empowerments from Khyenrab Yonten Gyatso, the 88th Ganden Tripa, in 1915, aged 14. In 1916, aged 15, he studied the complete Tibetan grammar and from then on composed thousands of acrostic verses, such as:
Ah Friends! While the spittle drools from the Death Lord’s smile, bleaching your head as white as falling snow, ould this tedious life yield aught but chaff? Dharma from my Guru is what I’ll practice!
He found different ways to express his devotion, composing chants for spiritual practices and ceremonies. Trijang Rinpoche also composed scores for their music for use by Ganden Shartse monastery, some of which are still used today.
When he was 9 he contracted smallpox and did long-life retreat. The illness did not become serious.
Thus Trijang Rinpoche showed that he was a learned scholar and master debator. In 1919, when he was only 18, he debated before the Geshes of the three major Gelugpa monasteries for his final examination. His young age and the fact he had only been studying for a short time led the Geshes to wonder if he would be intellectually prepared for such rigorous examinations. There was no cause for concern however, and they “praised him to the skies” for the answers he gave. The 13th Dalai Lama awarded him third place, and he received the highest Geshe degree, the Lharampa.
Shortly afterward Trijang Rinpoche received the 253 ordination vows of a fully-ordained monk from the 13th Dalai Lama. He was admitted to the Upper Tantric College, Gyuto, in 1919, where he studied the Root Tantra of Heruka and its commentary by Je Tsongkhapa, Illuminating all Hidden Meanings (Tib. Be dön kun säl).
From the ages of 20 to 22, Trijang Rinpoche received many teachings and empowerments from his root Guru Je Pabongka, including the initiation into the sindhura mandala of Vajrayogini according to Naropa, the Heruka body mandala empowerment according to Ghantapa, teachings on Lama Chopa (Offering to the Spiritual Guide), Gelugpa Mahamudra, the Lamrim Chenmo (great stages of the path) by Je Tsongkhapa and Seven Points of Training the Mind by Geshe Chekhawa.
Trijang Rinpoche was in Gyuto for one year before he went to Chatreng in Kham province where he received more teachings. In his spare time, he engaged in meditative retreat on the deities of the teachings he received, including Yamantaka, Heruka Five Deities, Vajrayogini, Hayagriva and Avalokiteshvara. He also did his preliminary practices (Tib. ngon dro) of purifying the mind and accumulating merit in conjunction with Lama Chopa; and he meditated on Lamrim and Lojong (training the mind).
Quickly becoming renowned for his mastery of the texts, in1924, Geshe Yonten of Ganden Shartse College requested him to teach. Trijang Rinpoche was just 23 years old when he gave the oral transmission of the Collected Works of Je Tsongkhapa and His Main Disciples to about 200 monks, followed later by granting the empowerment of Vajrayogini according to Naropa to about 60 Lamas, incarnate Lamas and monks. At the request of Artog Tulku, Trijang Rinpoche then travelled to Sera Je Monastery. There, he gave empowerments of Heruka Five Deities and Hayagriva to about 200 people.
One year later, at the age of 24, Trijang Rinpoche taught Lamrim to 2,000 monks and lay people and gave Avalokiteshvara empowerment. He also taught extensively on the practice of Guru Puja (Lama Chopa). He then received an invitiation to give empowerments of Guhyasamaja, Avalokiteshvara and Vajrayogini at Gongkar Monastery.
For the next three years, Trijang Rinpoche travelled and taught extensively at many Gelugpa places of learning all over Tibet. At their request, he also taught at Sakyapa and Nyingmapa Centers. He became increasingly well known, and taught many thousands of monastics and lay people.
Travelling west to Jampa Ling monastery in Litang, Trijang Rinpoche gave Avalokiteshvara empowerment and teachings on Lamrim to about 3,000 monks, as well as most of the local people. In the foothills of Kambo, a place sacred to Chakrasamvara, he granted initiation and led a long retreat.
Trijang Rinpoche was 27 years old before he returned to Chatreng in 1928. There, he was invited by the Tantrists of Chagra Gang to give initiations into the Peaceful Form of Padmasambhava and the Six Forms of Padmasambhava According to the Old Concealed Texts. He also encouraged and helped them to repair the Chagra temple.
Trijang Rinpoche was tireless in his work and unending in his devotion. On his return to Lhasa later that year, he continued to visit monasteries to grant initiations and teachings, including the valleys and plains of Gyaltang. According to the author of Gangkar Rinpoche’s secret biography, Gangkar Rinpoche at this time had a vision of Trijang Rinpoche as being the reincarnation of Padmasambhava; and he performed ceremonies in his honor and presented a large number of offerings, including a sacred Heruka statue.
When he reached Lhasa he had audiences with the 13th Dalai Lama and Pabongka Rinpoche. He made offerings of silver coins, grain and tea to all the monks of Ganden, and also set up a fund for them. The following year, aged 28, he also donated gifts to all those attending Monlam, the Great Prayer Festival; and made many offerings to the Tantric colleges.
During the next few years, until 1932, he received profound teachings from Pabongka Rinpoche, including the oral instructions of many secret Gelugpa lineages; and he also engaged in Tantric retreats. In 1932 he gave more extensive teachings at Ganden Shartse and Jangste monasteries.
In 1933, the 13th Dalai Lama died, and Trijang Rinpoche helped Ling Rinpoche and other great Lamas from Sera monastery and Namgyal monastery consecrate the body and the reliquary. Three years later, aged 35, Trijang Rinpoche granted Heruka empowerment to the monks of Ganden monastery before he embarked on a tour of the southern district of Tibet to make offerings and give teachings. He continued to receive instructions from his root Guru Pabongka Rinpoche and made extensive offerings to both colleges at Ganden.
In 1939, after attending Je Pabongkapa’s teachings on Lamrim Chenmo at Ganden monastery, Trijang Rinpoche toured pilgrimage sites in India and Nepal where he made extensive offerings at each place. He then travelled to Dungkar Monastery in Dromo, where he gave teachings and empowerments on Heruka, Guhyasamaja, Yamantaka, Vajrayogini and Guru Puja. On his return, Trijang Rinpoche visited important sites in Tsang, including Tashi Lhunpo Monastery. In 1940 he taught the Guru Puja and Gelugpa Mahamudra to senior monks of Ganden Jangtse. In the following year, he continued to receive teachings from Je Pabongkapa.
As his Junior Tutor or root Guru, Trijang Rinpoche also gave extensive teachings to the 14th Dalai Lama. The majority of the Dalai Lama’s lineages, teachings, commentaries and practices that he so kindly transmits these days are from Trijang Rinpoche who, in turn, received most of these from Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche. Such is the kindness of our gurus that no matter who we are, we are able to pass the Dharma to others arising from great concern for their welfare.
His Holiness Trijang Rinpoche on the left, centre is His Holiness the Dalai lama and to the right is His Holiness Ling Rinpoche. This was taken in Bodhgaya in the world famous stupa built by Ashoka to commemorate the Bodhi Tree Lord Shakyamuni attained enlightenment under.
Trijang Rinpoche went into exile in India where, from 1960 onward, he continued to teach and initiate the Dalai Lama and many other disciples. At newly-located monasteries in Buxa, Tantric colleges in Dalhousie and a Tibetan monastery in Varanasi, Trijang Rinpoche granted many teachings and empowerments, including the Vajrayogini empowerment in Dharamsala.
In 1967 he taught Hundreds of Deities of the Joyful Land (the Guru yoga of Je Tsongkhapa according to the Segyu lineage) to hundreds of students in Dharamsala, and in 1970 he gave similar teachings in Bodhgaya. In 1969, he gave the major empowerment of Heruka according to Luipa to around 1,000 people at the request of the Tantric colleges. Two years later, in the Fall of 1971, he visited Mysore in the south of India at the request of the monks of the three major monasteries who had settled in the Tibetan camp at Mundgod, and gave extensive teachings and initiations to the monks and to lay people, and ordained hundreds of young monks. On this trip, Trijang Rinpoche also made offerings to the Sangha and donated statues of Je Tsongkhapa and his Two Sons to the main temple of Ganden, along with thangkas.
In 1972 he gave Vajrayogini empowerment and teachings in Dharamsala to 800 monastics and lay people and in Bodhgaya. Later that year he taught at the Tibetan Studies Institute in Varanasi, and the following year he gave empowerments into Heruka and Vajrayogini to 700 people at the Tibetan monastery there.
During this time, Trijang Rinpoche exchanged teachings and initiations with Ling Rinpoche, the other main Guru of the Dalai Lama. In 1969 he taught Ling Rinpoche the Lamrim Chenmo, and in 1970 he granted him Yamantaka empowerment. In return, in 1970 he received from Ling Rinpoche the Action Tantra empowerment of Vairochana and also teachings on Lamrim Chenmo. In 1972 he gave Ling Rinpoche teachings on the Guru Puja and Yamantaka, and in return received a teaching on tormas (ritual offerings) to Yamantaka.
Although respected by Lamas in all Tibetan Buddhist schools, and even invited by them to give teachings and initiations, Trijang Rinpoche taught primarily from the Gelugpa tradition of Je Tsongkhapa. He was also the holder of the Ganden, or Geden, Oral Tradition that was passed to him in its entirety by his root Guru Pabongka Rinpoche. According to Geshe Helmut Gassner, the Dalai Lama’s translator for 17 years and one of only two ordained Western Geshes:
The great master Pabongka was in the first half of the twentieth century the pivotal or key lineage holder of the Oral Geden Tradition. Many other teachers before him mastered certain aspects of the tradition’s teachings, but it was Pabongka Rinpoche’s particular merit to locate and find all these partial transmissions, to learn and realize them, and bring them together once again to pass them on through a single person. In his lifetime there was hardly a significant figure of the Gaden tradition who had not been Pabongka Rinpoche’s disciple. Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche was the one capable of receiving and passing on the entirety of the Oral Gaden Tradition once again.
Such were his attainments and influence on the development of Tibet, both spiritual and secular, that even the current National Anthem used in Tibetan Settlements throughout India / Nepal today was composed by Trijang Rinpoche. Through his tireless work and countless teachings, ninety percent of the great lamas throughout the world today disseminating Dharma are either disciples of Trijang Rinpoche or of his students. It was through his commitment that the major practices and lineages of Kalachakra, Yamantaka, Lamrim, Mind Training, Guhyasamaja, Heruka and Vajrayogini remain pure. In this way, Trijang Rinpoche is the lineage guru for all these practices and many more too numerous to mention.
This is just a extremely brief biography of this illustrious master whose single-handed work to salvage the dharma in this degenerate age brings only tremendous faith, tears and respect from deep within me. Because Trijang Rinpoche existed, I believe the Buddhas exist and there is enlightenment. Trijang Rinpoche wrote an extensive autobiography of himself before he passed away. It is in Tibetan and untranslated. May one day we may have the merits to read through his sacred life to know that such a legendary being actually existed not so far in the past.
I fold my hands and bow my head eternally to the lotus feet of H.H. Trijang Rinpoche whose kindness is that of Atisha, Tsongkapa and Shakyamuni all combined into one.
Tsem Rinpoche.
The previous Trijang Rinpoche, the previous Panchen Lama and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. They were the Tibetan representatives to attend the first session of the first National People’s Congress (China). Date: 1954 September.
His Holiness Trijang Rinpoche teaching in Bodhgaya.
Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/HHTrijangRinpocheTenshug.mp4
For more interesting information:
- Prayers for me by HH Trijang Rinpoche & Kensur Rinpoche Konchok Tsering
- Can Anyone Translate Biography of Trijang Rinpoche?
- Various Aspects of Tantra by His Holiness Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche
- Trijang Rinpoche and Karmapa
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Inspiring read of H H Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche a learned scholar ,master debater and the late tutor to the present HH 14th Dalai Lama was considered by Tibetans to be an emanation of Vajrayogini and is one of the Vajrayogini .Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche was one of the foremost Tibetan Buddhist Masters .Trijang Rinpoche’s early life follows that of many other reincarnated great beings. A direct disciple of the great Pabongka Rinpoche, Trijang Rinpoche edited Pabongka Rinpoche’s Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand which is been use till to this days. It is in fact one of the most-studied Lam-Rim texts in the Gelugpa lineage. The spreading of Dharma in the West is directly and indirectly due to this great Lama.
Thank you Rinpoche for this inspiring sharing.
Reading this inspiring biography of a great Lama , his incredible achievements is truly amazing and inspiring. H H Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche a learned scholar ,master debater and was the Junior Tutor to H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama . Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche was one of the foremost Tibetan Buddhist Masters for his extraordinary method of teachings in the tradition of Je Tsongkhapa. Well known and respected by many in all Tibetan Buddhist schools. The flourishing of the Dharma in the West is strongly connected with him. Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche had travell intensively giving teachings throughout his life to many. Been also a poet and a writer Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche left behind a legacy of his complete works written in a style of rare elegance and many others who had benefited thousands in the Buddhist world. Up to the end of his life, Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche continuously turning the Wheel of Dharma for the sake of all sentient being .
Thank you Rinpoche for this inspiring and interesting read .
His Holiness Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang was one of the foremost Tibetan Buddhist masters of our time. HH Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche was the Dalai Lama’s philosophical assistant and his personal junior tutor for more than forty years. He was said to be an emanation of Vajrayogini. Up to the end of his life, H H Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang continuously turned the Wheel of Dharma for the sake of all sentient beings. The flourishing of the Dharma in the West is strongly connected with him. Trijang Rinpoche was some one very special during his teen age time ,having interests in statues and Holy items. Amazing at aged 15 he studied the complete Tibetan grammar and on composed thousands of acrostic verses. Wow…. Trijang Rinpoche even composing chants for spiritual practices and ceremonies. Trijang Rinpoche has travelled extensively all over Tibet to teach in many monasteries as he was well known at that that of his great teachings. Interesting read.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this interesting biography of such a Great Master .
Thank you Rinpoche for taking the time to compile, summarize and share the biography of Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche for us to learn from this erudite lineage master. The right effort, full concentration and hard work practiced by Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche since His early childhood until His old age in order to preserve the Buddhadharma, has given me a lot of motivations to study, practice and work more for the benefits of people around me through the Buddhadharma. We are truly blessed and fortunate to have the opportunity to study the Lamrim (Liberation In The Palm of Your Hand) through the diligent notes taking by Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche during the oral transmission Lamrim teaching provided by Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche for 24 days consecutively in 1921. In short, the Buddhadharma we are learning and studying during our current degenerate age is mainly because of the kindness and compassion from Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche and our Guru so that we do not lose the authentic Buddhadharma and the unbroken Gelugpa lineage will be preserved for many future generations.
Thank you Rinpoche with folded hands,
kin hoe
Dear Rinpoche thanks alott for sharing this information.May H.H KYABJE TRIJANG RINPOCHE bless us all.
Dearest Rinpoche, Thank you very much with folded hands. As I was reading this, I realised that Rinpoche reminds me very much of Lama Tsongkhapa who brought us all the wonderful teachings of great masters. Like the great Je Tsongkhapa, Rinpoche has brought to us many, many teachings from great master with a modern twist….via this blog and blogchat. Very thankful that I do not need to endure long yak rides on bumpy mountains to get to you for a teaching. 🙂
Having children on my own and having to read that H.H. Trijang Rinpoche remarkable skills in learning and comprehending so many texts had literally put a seal on my mouth( especially in this modern world where in appraising own children is like a norm. Although it may help to boost children’s confidence but often times it serve to boost up parents’ ego the most). On the other hand, although I know some kids with remarkable talent like comprehending maths and physics at an early age but there is no comparison to what H.H have done. For the benefits of all sentient being and to preserve the lineage, H.H have done far exceeded what we are able to. This is what Bodhicita means to me. Without this, Dharma especially Tantra won’t be able to make this far! Imagine the number of initiations that H.H. has taken and especially the commitments….. I mean DAILY commitments! On top of that, H.H. has to TEACH! When I was H.H. age, I was still at my crossroad…having not to know my direction of life. For most of us we will focus intensely on what courses that we are going to take and which road that will leads to success and money. That’s all!
thank you, good family end good friends
my fascination with living buddha Tetsomomkai of the school of Kookai fascintes me to this day regardless of all my many many visits to japan my ability to complete the pilgimage of 88 places and a return to the place of testumonkai have failed as a result of the teachings of my guru reiko
Most Venerable Rinpoche,
I was attracted to your blog spot because you are apolitical,most compassionate and one of the rare precious ones who’praised only the Buddha with his pure deeds’. Today after reading this most profound biography of the Great Kyapche Trijang Dorjechang which you have so kindly given us I prostrate to you in reverence with tears in my eyes.What lovely rare photos almost like as if he is still with us.Thank you,thank you so very much!
Om mani padme hum Om mani padme hum Pm mani padme hum
Om mani padme hum Om mani padme hum Om mani padme hum
Om mani padme hum Om mani padme hum Om mani padme hum
Thank you for this biography. I have heard many stories of Trijang in the past 10 years during my own studies and I am grateful to hear more. I was not aware that he composed a biography before he died. Do you know where this is? I understand that it has not yet been translated, but I would like to assist in any way that I can to see that this is done, if at all possible. He was clearly a Great Master who set a pure example and left many clear teachings for us to follow. He is my Guru’s Guru also, so for this I am grateful. Thank you again Tsem Tulku Rinpoche.
Dharma from my Guru is what I’ll practice!
Thank you Rinpoche!
After reading His Holiness Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang’s biography，I am very inspired what His Holiness Trijang Rinpoche was done for others. This high Lama considered by Tibetans to be an emanation of Vajrayogini and lineage holder of Vajrayogini. He also tutor of H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama.
I am very inspired by His Holiness Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang first incarnation is Chandra. Chandra is the person who helps Lord Shakyamuni left from palace and exchanged his clothes to Shakyamuni. Then Lord Shakyamuni started his spiritual journey and achieved renounce. Chandra is the person who strong support for his choice.
When Trijang Rinpoche only 3 years old, Trijang Rinpoche is extremely smart, learning very fast, quickly and easily learning to read, he memorised and analysed the meaning of many Buddhist texts, including over half of Madhyamakavatara.
Because of Trijang Rinpoche hard work some of the major practices and lineages of Kalachakra, Yamantaka, Lamrim, Mind Training, Guhyasamaja, Heruka and Vajrayogini remain pure nowsday.
All I know before this is that I really like Trijang Rinpoche’s face. He radiates so much peace and compassion. I have no idea what an important figure HH Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche was until having read his condensed biography today … and this is just a condensed biography! It is still difficult to digest each and every accomplishment throughout his life but what strikes me most about his achievements are it’s way beyond extraordinary. It’s almost not human. Alien-like perhaps. Some believes that the aliens came and build the pyramids. This is of similar concept I feel.
Trijang Rinpoche like many of the lineage masters have super advanced mind – an enlightened mind. I am thankful to Trijiang Rinpoche for bringing Pabongka Rinpoche’s Lamrim to Zong Rinpoche, and Zong Rinpoche to Tsem Rinpoche, and Tsem Rinpoche to our centre here in KH. Because of him also, sacred tantra of Vajrayogini. The lineage does not stop here. It will continue to many others for decades to come in KWPC. ☺
Thank you so much Rinpoche for taking up your time to blog on H.H Trijang Rinpoche biography. H.H.Trijang Rinpoche was the chariot driver Chandra, who escorted Buddha Shakyamuni out of the palace. We are connected to the being from 2500 years ago yet so near!
I cannot possibly believe enough that a normal human being can do so much and accomplished almost everything when in his twenties. What a enlighten being. Reading about this, reminded me about how Rinpoche also accomplished all his studies in the monastery in just a few years before Rinpoche was assigned by Lati Rinpoche to come to Malaysia and teach. How could i be more furtunate enough to be Rinpoche’s student receiving the blessing of such a profound lineage. I postrate and humbly thank and pray to all my lineage gurues, may my monkey mind swiftly transformed and commit myself to do a lot of dharma work to benefit others..
The biography of H.H.Trijang Rinpoche and other high lama like H.H.Pabongka Rinpoche and H.E.Tsem Tulku Rinpoche have indicated very cleary of the quality of the high practitioner who attained in highly practice in many life times.
The high lamas who have attained and have same mind with buddha who have great compassion to reincarnate again and again to give and spread buddha teaching in order to release us from suffering and to bring us to feel real happiness. They are the bodhisattva who think only how to help other.
Without these great master, we will be enjoyed in our ignorant world and create more negative karma and waste another 1 life time.
Thank you Rinpoche who committed his whole life to Dharma, patiently and trielessly teach us and make sure we are enter to the spiritual path.
After reading the biography of Pabongka Rinpoche, Trijang Rinpoche, and Tsem Rinpoche, it clearly shows that their lineage are very pure, they have very strong affinity with dharma, and after when they have met their root guru, their spiritual journey has a very outstanding result, they have been keeping the teaching pure handling by a single person. But most important is, all these masters share the same quality, which is their strong guru devotion.
When we have a guru, even if he is the greatest guru in this world, but without good guru devotion, our dharma practice will stay stagnant, we will not achieve anything in our life. Try imagining, if any of these guru did not have good faith with their guru or being lazy and selfish, today we will not be able to have the chance to receive dharma teaching from Tsem Rinpoche and the worst part is, many people who are benefitting from these dharma teaching now, will all gone.
It’s really scary; just one person’s selfishness can actually pull down a lot of people and will speed up the degeneration process.
What the great effect and hard work of His Holiness Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang has dedicate his whole life single handle to preserve the dharma teaching of Gelupa lineage. Now I get the clearer picture why we need to work hard to support rinpoche to get the Trijang Rinpoche biography to be translated in order to preserve his teaching of Gelupa lineage.
Eventually knowing well about our lineage master is the great tool to promote dharma at the future at KWPC. How hard work this elite lama contribute their work without been recognize. I am thankful to Tsem Tulku Rinpoche tirelessly offer his time, kindness and knowledge and to make dharma grown in this region. We are ready fortunate to have our lamas here who is lineage disciple of Trijang Rinpoche.
Thank you for the most insight overview of Trijang Rinpoche’s biography. Trijang Rinpoche’s works are too much to mention into detailed here. Under the care of Pabongka Rinpoche, Trijang Rinpoche blossomed into a Master of his lineage. Trijang Rinpoche was only 19 years old when he won 3rd place in debates with the Geshes of the three major Gelugpa monastries and started teaching when he was only 23! This itself already amazes me! I believe this is hardwork with the opportunity given to you. Its like you have resources and you got to be hardworking to turn resources into money otherwise you lose it.
Through Trijang Rinpoche’s hardwork and many many teaching that Trijang Rinpoche gave, many of his students are now highly acclaimed masters teaching in Dharma. Trijang Rinpoche never wasted any time to benefit others and collect merit through extensive offerings to Sangha or giving teachings. His whole life is just about benefitting others in Dharma, very inspiring.
I found this blog to be very informative as ever. I am more familiar with their biographies now that i have read them. I also found the part where he was tested by the search party for the correct incarnation to be very interesting and authentic. One child will actually be put into a few tests before finally being presented to The Dalai Lama for authenticity.
Reading through the biographies of these great masters made me realize how very important and precious these masters are. Upon receiving initiations and teachings, these masters made the effort to practice and gain realizations into the teachings given to them. Until they themselves were able to further pass down the teachings they were given.
These masters were like vessels whom could hold the dharma safe. Without these masters , where is the dharma ? Rinpoche once said, where there is no guru , there is no dharma . How very true ! If there’s no guru, I could pass hundreds of copies of the Lamrim around, nothing would happen. Rinpoche, as a precious vessel that holds the dharma , may you live long and healthy so that you may be the source of dharma for us for a very very long time. . May all your students quickly quickly gain attainments so that they themselves are able to continue the spread of dharma to benefit all.
I find it interesting to know that H. H. Trijang Rinpoche in his first incarnation was a chariot driver Chandra, to the person who finally became the Buddha. So he played a part, small but nevertheless important to assist the Buddha to fulfill his mission. I kind of like to see us students also as little Chandras, insignificant but nonetheless able to support and contribute to the mission of our Guru, and that mission is no different from that of the first Buddha Shakyamuni.
If even the chariot driver can choose to make a difference and be of benefit to all sentient beings, and then be able to become enlightened, so can we! It is through H. H. Trijang Rinpoche that we have in the palm of our hands the perfectly scribed discourse of H. H. Pabongkha Rinpoche on the Lamrim of Lama Tsongkhapa. It is also through him that H.H. Zong Rinpoche received the lineage of the teachings, who then passed them on to our Guru, H. E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche. Now we are receiving the teachings directly from the source, undiluted, unbroken through the whole long line of Buddhas. What privilege! How much closer can we get to the source than this? May we seize this rare opportunity and privilege and defend it with our life. Will this ever come again?
Your Eminence, Tsem Tulku Rinpoche, may we humbly request you to live long, stay and continue to guide us. May we be worthy vessels to receive these precious teachings through you and may we in turn be instrumental in preserving the Buddha Dharma and be the cause for others to receive them also.
After having read the Lamrim three times, I still cannot grasp the full meaning of the teachings. Each time I read it, new understanding pop out like a 3-D image. It shows how profound the Lamrim is and it is all due to the eloquent elucidation and profound wisdom of H.H. Kyabje Pabongkha Rinpoche, and full understanding of the teachings written down by H.H. Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche. Because of these two great enlightened masters, we have a full commentary of the teachings today.
We at Kechara are very fortunate to receive the Lamrim teachings from H.H. Tsem tulku Rinpoche whose root guru, H.H. Kyabje Zong Rinpoche, was a disciple of Kyabje Trijng Rinpoche.
The simplified Lamrim class currently headed by Mr Ngeow in Kechra House is a good gateway for us to learn how to walk the path to liberate suffering ourselves.
After having read Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand, I truly began to respect both Trijang Rinpoche and Pabongka Rinpoche a great deal. That book truly made a difference in the way I view life and myself.
I consider myself truly lucky because I have a Guru who really cares to explain these precious teachings to us all. Without the Guru’s explanation, I don’t think I would have understood the teachings as clearly and as quickly. Hence, I have always felt that the essence of the teachings penetrates into my mind, faster and deeper with the Guru’s kind guidance.
I did not even know that Trijang Rinpoche’s incarnation can be traced all the way to Buddha’s time, and that he was the Chariot driver, Chandra. That makes Trijang Rinpoche’s line of incarnation very sacred, pure and undisputed. Hence, this Master deserves our greatest respect and reverence.
The very fact that everything we are studying today came from immense kindness and selflessness of this great Master, should be acknowledged and remembered. We do not disparage great teachers who have given up their own lives to learn the Dharma in order for the rest of us to receive them easily and conveniently. In actual fact, we all must pay tribute to the great Masters of the past. Without them, the blessed teachings cannot continue.
Today, we all can learn the Lamrim and many important teachings in a comfortable environment. We are spared of their hardships and pains. Many of them suffered a great deal just to bring the Dharma to us. Hence, it is not something to be taken lightly.
Now I completely understand why Rinpoche would revere the Lamrim so much. When the Guru is no longer with us, the teachings will stand as our Guru.
Thank you for always striving to educate us in so many ways, Rinpoche. Thank you for undertaking all the hard work so that we can learn easily. Thank you.
Tsem Rinpoche gave us a framed photo of HH Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang when we started working in Ladrang and asked us to find out more about this lama from David. We talked over lunch. I remembered that HH Trijang Rinpoche can be regarded as our “grandfather” in the Gelupa lineage.
I learned so much about how Tsem Rinpoche inherited the Gelupa lineage knowledge from the short biography of HH Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche. HH Trijang Rinpoche had created the causes for being the faithful chariot driver of Buddha Shakyamuni and later a learned master of both tantra and sutra to become a junior tutor to HH the Dalai Lama. Thank you, Rinpoche for sharing this wonderful biography of our lineage master.
Thank you for the lovely information of His Holiness Trijan Dorje Chang Rinpoche. I did not know much about him other than him being the tutor of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Thanks to you Rinpoche, now I know more about his past lives and his early parts of his latest life. I did not know that his first incarnation was Chandra, the ever faithful chariot driver, that brought Buddha Shakyamuni on to his first step to become enlightened and the only man to witness the shaving of the Buddha’s hair. I also did not know that one of his guru was Pabongka Rinpoche! I feel that he was one of the Buddha’s of the present day!
Thank your Rinpoche for sifting through many books and resources and summarising everything we need to know about one of the most important lineage Lamas of our tradition. The story of our lineage lamas really help us to develop faith in the lineage and the teachings that have come down through these eminent Lamas. Kyabjye Trijang Rinpoche has accomplished so much in his lifetime, reading about what he has accomplished is inspiring.
I liked the part that he debated until his hands were chap and he was still out in the snows shows the kind of determination he had to discover the truth. Another thing that stands out was that he studied the works of Panchen Sonam Dragpa another immaculate lama of the past. Panchen Sonam Dragpa wrote many of the main curriculum still used in Ganden, Sera and Drepung today. He was also the abbot of Ganden, Sera and Drepung in that incarnation. He also became the Gaden Tripa of his time.
I have been profoundly moved to know the Buddha, enlightened beings and our Lama are always working tirelessly simply for our benefit while they scariface themselves to many hardship to bring the Dharma to us. They do not only do this one life time but they are tenacious, their bodhicitta are stainless and they reincarnate life after life for this one reason that is to bring all to enlightenment.
We have today our Rinpoche who has all the necessary sutric and tantric lineage teaching from great lineage masters like Phabongkha Rinpoche, Trijang Rinpoche and Zong Rinpoche to transmit to us. We must have a fair enough good merits to be able to meet with this conducive condition and perfect lineage masters. Hence we must go all the way to follow closely Rinpoche’s instruction and not to waste this opportunity which is rare to find.
People who still make excuses not to come into Dharma or stay away or not to join Dharma full time they are the ones who are really losers.
Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche another legendary Grand Master. I just finished reading about H.H. Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche and I found that the continuity of these Grand Masters passing on the dharma (from Pabongka Rinpoche to Trijang Rinpoche) was so incredible. Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche find all the partial transmission and bring them together and pass them on through a single person which is Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche which was the one that capable of receiving and passing it on. Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche has all the great qualities and has been giving teaching since his very young age. He is also the 14th Dalai Lama Junior Tutor which majority of the Dalai Lama lineage, teaching, commentaries and practices transmitted from Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche who received from Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche. We have an authentic lineage that the teaching has been passing through by a GREAT GRAND MASTER that work tireless and unending in his devotion to benefit people.
Thank you Rinpoche for posting this brief bio of H.H Kyabe Trijang Rinpoche. This make me understand better of our lineage and who are these great lineage holder. Not sure what I have done to become Rinpoche’s student but I will treasure this lineage and be part of carrying this lineage to the next generation. I pray for this.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing with us this brief biography of H.H. Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang yet contents listed out this great Lama’s achievement which we can see and compare on how much we have accomplished in our life at this point of time. Not a fraction!
After reading H.H. Kyabje Pabongka Dorje Chang, H.H Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang and Rinpoche’s biographies, one should realize how fortunate we all are that our Rinpoche stems from a true and direct lineage with the abovesaid great masters. Having a revered great master, Trijang Rinpoche the direct disciple of Pabongka Rinpoche, recorded and made available to us the complete holy Buddhist ‘bible’ – Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand (Lamrim).
Hi Peter,
Glad to know that your misunderstandings towards HH Trijang Rinpoche has been resolved. Those who are ignorant of the attainments and deeds of this great master have no idea what they are missing out on and is throwing Dharma away for the sake of trivial matters. They did not do any investigation into the deeds of the teacher but rather base their judgement on hearsay. I hope that one day they will be able to know of the importance of one of the main Lineage Gurus of the Gelug linage of this age: HH Trijang Rinpoche and purify their karma.
As you have personally benefited from HH Trijang Rinpoche’s teachings, you can personally be assured that he can never bring harm but only benefit. Therefore this invalidates the shallow opinions of those who try to confuse others when they have not investigated throughly.
Your post reminds me to investigate the words of others instead of just believing blindly!
Thank you Rinpoche for posting this brief biography of H.H. Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche. Even though it is meant to be a “brief” biography, the contents showed vast amounts of accomplishments Trijang Rinpoche has achieved in his lifetime.
It is interesting to know that Trijang Rinpoche’s 1st incarnation was Buddha Shakyumuni’s chariot driver Chandra. The great deeds and merits that Chandra had accumulated by assiting Prince Siddhartha to escape and thus became englightened must have been enormous. How one’s mind of a driver can be cultivated to become one of the great masters of the 20th centruy. It instantly lifts me up to know that nomatter what a monkey mind I may have, there is definitely a chance to improve.
We would all be sinking into a deep deep hole in samsara without the works and teachings from these elucidate masters who are in reality, one with their deity. After studying the biography of Trijang Rinpoche, Pabongka Rinpoche, and our own Tsem Rinpoche, I realize how lucky we all are at Kechara, where all these holy and sacred teachings of pure lineage are preserved and taught to those whose mind are stable to receive them. I will strive to become the suitable receptor to receive these holy teachings one day.
It is also worth taking note that almost 90% of all the great lamas throughout the world today disseminating Dharma are either discipes of Trijang Rinpoche or of his students. Thanks to the commitment of these lineage masters, that the major practices and lineages of Kalachakra, Yamantaka, Lamrim, Mind Training, Guhyasamaja, Heruka and Vajrayogini remain pure.
It is due to the kindness of these beings, such as Pabongka Rinpoche, Trijang Rinpoche, Zong Rinpoche, that the Buddhadharma continues to flourish and the lineage teachings survived, held intact and passed on perfectly. I read this post of Trijang Rinpoche with a heart filled with unexplainable deep respect and adoration. In Tibetan Buddhism, lineage Gurus from whom we receive the teachings play an integral part of ensuring the authenticity and blessings of the teachings. At such, it is very important to take note from this blogpost that the 14th Dalai Lama received many teachings along with the many, many Lamas around the world today who continues to turn the wheel of Dharma. Trijang Rinpoche’s connection with His Holiness goes back many lifetimes…a vajra connection that cannot be broken.
Tsem Rinpoche, a pure lineage holder of Je Tsongkhapa who has realized the essence of the teachings today is spreading these teachings in Kechara House whom he has received from these great masters. I must have done something right to be one of Rinpoche’s student. May I not dissapoint my guru, but to apply the teachings that I too may embody the essence of the teachings and to carry on the lineage for the generations to come.
Thank you Rinpoche for compiling this brief biography of Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche. I hope to read his autobiography one day when it is translated into English. I’m very fortunate to have him as a lineage guru. He has taught many great masters, some of whom have spread Buddhism to other parts of the world or, whose students have. It is interesting to note that he was Buddha Shakyamuni’s chariot driver and could also be the reincarnation of Padmasambhava. His compilation of the Lamrim teachings of Pabongka Rinpoche was a great contribution to the dharma. I think more studies need to be conducted on this great Gelug master, his teachings and the legacy he left behind.
I have always wondered “what if the great Masters never left Tibet, will we have this great opportunity to have all the great works translated and available to us?” Well instead of wondering, I have decided to take advantage of this great opportunity and be in the Dharma to study, learn and be inspired to be a good Buddhist.
How fortunate we (non-tibetans) are to have so much of the writings, and commentaries by Trijang Rinpoche available to us and even more so to have his lineage as our root guru.
It is so amazing to read Rinpoche’s blog on Trijang Rinpoche and how he has cultivated his mind from Shakyamuni’s charade driver to that of one of 20th century greatest masters of the Dharma.
As I read the Lamrim, I can never be more grateful to Trijang Rinpoche for recording the 24 days discourse by Pabongka Rinpoche and made it available to us, now in the 21st century.
It is the works of these great lamas and teachers that make it possible for us sentient beings during this degenerate times to have hope of salvation from continuous sufferings.
Thank you, Pabongka Rinpoch, Trijang Rinpoche, Ling Rinpoche, Zong Rinpoche and Tsem Rinpoche for your never ending compassion to always teach us to be better
LOL self-esteem issues…even within Kechara House, the amount of successes we’ve had because people got over their self-esteem issues testament that self-pity is a very inefficient, ineffective way of living. This has been thanks to Rinpoche’s training…and what absolutely bowls me over is that looking at Trijang Rinpoche’s great deeds, it’s clear that someone of his attainments never needed training from Pabongka Rinpoche. But yet out of his compassion for us, he manifested such that he needed trainings and teachings.
I think the trials and tribulations that these great masters had to go through for the teachings are a lesson for us to appreciate the dharma we receive, little as it may be due to our own obscurations. Maybe it has been made too easy for some of us…we are showered with so many blessings and holy opportunities, to the point where we fail to truly value them. At the same time, if we weren’t given all of these opportunities and were put through the same hardships as say, Naropa for Tilopa, we’d be heading for the hills now!
For a man who achieved so much at a young age, and continued to achieve so much, all the while being so resolute and dedicated to his Guru, and unshakably committed to his development and mastering of the Dharma – Trijang Rinpoche seems such a peaceful, serene and jolly fellow!
I think perhaps a lot of people view commitment to the Dharma and their Guru as such a weary, tiresome task – such a heavy burden of responsibility! However, Trijang Rinpoche is one of the most prominent examples and clear proof that if we can give great dedication to our practice, and absolute devotion to our Guru, we too can achieve great inner-peace and true, long-lasting happiness that Trijang Rinpoche seems to personify. What an inspiration this great man is.
Kind regards,
Sandy
After reading about H. H. Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche, my mind is filled with more amazement and deep respect to learn about another great Master Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche! Both the same lineage and whose teachings transcended to Zong Rinpoche who was the root guru of my Guru. I am truly blessed to be able to learn from Tsem Tulku Rinpoche.
Thank you so much Rinpoche for having this article to educate an ignorant soul like me.
I could not agree more with Jean Mei and Thierry that Trijang Rinpoche’s tenacity and dedication to learn and spread the Dharma at such a young age makes me feel that what I have done with my life really amounts to very much of nothing. This realization is the true gift I learn. It’s a wake up call alarming me to do something special with my life – a Dharma career spreading these great masters teachings through publishing the teachings of my Guru.
Please visit http://www.kechara.com/kmp to discover many books of Rinpoche’s teachings.
Tsem Tulku Rinpoche teaches in such a way that makes it uncomplicated, precise and very applicable for our lifestyles today. One of my favorite teachings is one on Karma made So Simple to Understand. Please see the You Tube on it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nsd64zyTgAs&feature=related
Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche must have been really a special Lama to receive all those teachings and lineages from Pabongka Rinpoche. Pabongka Rinpoche must be surrounded by high Lamas but he chose Trijang Rinpoche says a lot about him. Thus, so much sacred tradition has been preserved through Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche.
Some of the more influential written works by Trijang Rinpoche is the Liberation in the Palm of your Hands. This is a lamrim text composed based upon notes of a historic Lamrim teaching given by his Guru Pabongka Rinpoche. Apparently there were many other students who composed similar notes but when they debated upon all the different notes, Trijang Rinpoche’s notes were particularly note to be the most accurate to Pabongka Rinpoche’s intent.
What I found inspiring about Trijang Rinpoche’s life is his utter devotion to his Lama, his total devotion in spreading and preserving the BuddhaDharma. I find him a thoroughly holy being and one that is instrumental in its preservation. We are very fortunate because we have our teachings and practices today mainly because of him.
I am most amazed by the fact that almost all prominent lamas in the world now, especially in the Gelug tradition, have received teachings directly or indirectly from Trijang Rinpoche (and thus, also from Pabongkha Rinpoche). It is incredible that from just one lama’s hard work, lifetime commitment to Dharma and great compassion, so many others could receive his teachings, and thus pass it on… and on… and on… to what is now millions of students all around the world who have been schooled in this lineage.
Mostly, we think “ah well, what difference can I make in the world, just little old me”. Imagine if Trijang Rinpoche had thought that, got into some self-esteem issues and just sat around not achieving anything because he didn’t believe in himself. What a loss it would be to all of us; we would have none of what we have now.
Every Dharma teacher is fearless and so so so courageous, overcoming all their own personal fears, difficulties and desires just to bring the Dharma to others. Lamas like Trijang Rinpoche (and so many others) had to suffer so much leaving Tibet to India and setting up totally anew in foreign lands. They literally had to chop down trees and rebuild the monasteries themselves; they would just give and receive teachings in makeshift tents outdoor! This is what they willingly went through for the sake of Dharma being preserved and shared with others.
Even our own Tsem Rinpoche went through so so so so many hurdles just to be able to give us Dharma now – all of us just sitting there in a nice aircon room, on comfy cushions, well fed, well clothed and receiving the Dharma for nothing in exchange.
Reading this post really begs the question: so what am *I* going to do about it now to keep it going?…
Trijang Rinpoche is a great master who has dedicated his life to Dharma with exceptional results. Although we have been blessed with many great Dharma masters this century, Trijang Rinpoche especially stands out because of his exceptional qualities and swift mastery in every aspect of the Dharma.
We have Trijang Rinpoche to thank, as it was through Rinpoche’s skill and wisdom that the Dharma remains intact and pure during the toughest time in Tibetan and Dharma history.
We are so blessed to have Trijang Rinpoche as our lineage Guru and have the complete collection of the precious Dharma passed on to Zong Rinpoche and our beloved Tsem Tulku Rinpoche.
The reading of Trijang’s Rinpoche’s biography is very humbling. For sometime, I have thought that re-incarnated teachers had facilities to learn, teach and practice Dharma, their merits made it “easier” to them; for example Trijang Rinpoche did show facilities to learn at a very yong age.
Yet, eventhough he had “pre-dispositions”, he worked tirelessly, to learn and teach and benefit others, he used every minute of his life to benefit others. No matter how much realizations he got, he kept going, making full use of his human life and form to spread and strengthen Dharma and benefit others. Learning more and more, receiving initiations, even using his “free time” to learn and practice further.
That is very inspirational.
Furthermore, the substance of his study and the quality of his teachers is simply amazing! The quality of his students is also truly exceptional! It is a clear indication that Trijang Rinpoche is unmistakably a truly realized master from which we would benefit to learn by reading more on his biography, by studying his works, and by seeking teachings from the masters that have studied under him and that are still remaining with us today.
What stuck out in my mind after reading the short biography of Trijang Rinpoche is he had practiced giving wholeheartedly throughout his life – he gave spiritual teachings tirelessly and made endless material offerings to sanghas and monasteries.
When we are asked to make some small donations to the Centre or any non profit organization, it is so difficult. Compared to great beings like Pabongka Rinpoche and Trijang Rinpoche , it’s a miracle we could take rebirth as humans this life. Now I understand why Rinpoch always encourages to give because this virtue and the observance of pure moral discipline are the main causes of taking human rebirth.
We really should take essence of this miracle and make the most out of what’s left in our life.
Before I read this article on Trijang Rinpoche, I have previously heard before that Trijang Rinpoche’s first incarnation was Buddha Sakyamuni’s chariot driver, Chandra. I was very amazed at that time that someone who has served the Buddha as the Chariot driver could have accumulated so much merit that he can be such an accomplished scholar and master such as Trijang Rinpoche in his future life. Reading it again now, I am still amazed by this story for the same reasons. It is truly inspiring. Trijang Rinpoche is a truly inspirational figure. Almost all the gelugpa masters during his time are his students. In fact to think that we have such a great lineage Lama with all his accomplishments mentioned in his short biography give me goose bumps. It is almost unbelievable.
To know that such a great and attained master is still living and walking and teaching the Dharma is unbelievable! What amazes me H.H. Trijang Dorje Chang line of lineage leads all the way back to Lord Buddha, and that he was Chandra the chariot driver. When I was a child all these seems to be just myths, legends, tales and stories. But it is mind blowing that all this is real and it happened and is still happening! Up till today Buddhism has amazes me that everything we learn is traceable and has a source. It is not just simply plucked from the sky. Hence Buddha Shakyamuni was definitely around and no myth. And to top it of Trijang Dorje Chang incarnation is back. This is a perfect example of the continuity of the mind and an enlightened mind that can control his rebirth to back again and again to benefit so many!
This also clearly shows that every other great Gelug masters must have received teachings from either H.H. Ling Rinpoche or H.H. Trijang Rinpoche which were both also Pabongkha Rinpoche’s students!!!
This is such an important article regarding our lineage lama, HH Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang. Every Gelugpa practitioner should know the biography of this erudite Lama, who was also the junior tutor to HH the 14th Dalai Lama. I liked his strong relationship with his guru, HH Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche (Rinpoche also wrote about HH Pabongka Rinpoche here – http://blog.tsemtulku.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/2010/06/changkya-rolpe-dorje-.html) and that all the practices he received from Pabongka Rinpoche were passed on to the Dalai Lama himself. As one of the key lineage Gurus, HH Trijang Rinpoche personally passed on the major practices and lineages of Kalachakra, Yamantaka, Lamrim, Mind Training, Guhyasamaja, Heruka and Vajrayogini.
I found this blog post very inspirational and educational about such an important personality in our tradition.
I must have read this post about 6 times over the last week and, even though the last few words state that this is a brief biography I still find it quite hard to digest and process it in my mind.
As I read through the post which is written in a somewhat chronological order, I compare it to my what Trijang Rinpoche has accomplished in his life at the given age, and what I had accomplished at that same age. It doesn’t make me feel shameful as I read through the biography until I see what he did at the age of 22 (my current age) and ALLLLL of the other things accomplished before that. I remind myself that he has worked hard in his previous lives to accumulate the knowledge and merits to have been who he was and to have attained what he had attained – thus, I should strive to do as much dharma work as possible to set the conditions in order for me to be re-born surrounded by the dharma in my next life…another step to enlightenment.
This post is inspiring, educating and humbling. Thank you, Tsem Tulku Rinpoche, for taking the time to write a condense and concise biography of Trijang Rinpoche. I feel privileged to be able to receive any teachings coming from this awe-inspiring lineage. I’m glad that I did something in my past lives to be able to have set the conditions right in this life….may it continue 🙂
Ah Friends! While the spittle drools from the Death Lord’s smile, bleaching your head as white as falling snow, ould this tedious life yield aught but chaff? Dharma from my Guru is what I’ll practice!
I don’t know why but this verse leaves me with a deep sense of pointlessness to worldly affairs / samsara. It sends shivers down my spine but at the same time, gives me hope, that there is more to this life and there is a place to get it from. We get it from the Dharma, taught to us by our Guru. I know some of my friends wondered why I decided to up and leave everything behind in NZ to come to Malaysia.
It may not be a theoretical, and scholarly setting such as a monastery, but I can feel the Dharma taught by Rinpoche is Real!
We are so fortunate to be Rinpoche’s students. Rinpoche’s lineage is pure and had spawned great masters and will continue to produce countless masters.
Trijang Rinpoche’s scholarly prowess and attainments are undoubted,commanding the highest respect throughout Tibet, India and the world.
With such renown and qualifications,it would be foolish for anyone to cast doubt on him or to disparage him based on hearsay.
Rinpoche had said that the best way to check if someone is enlightened or not is to read his writings and books. We know Sakyamuni is enlightened from reading his books and teachings.They cannot be ordinary works of ordinary folks. So is Trijang Rinpoche’s works,teachings and commentaries.
If the current Dalai Lama is respected for his knowledge and practice , most of it he owed to Trijang Rinpoche – who was his root Guru.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this article. It is so critical that people have the opportunity to learn more about these lineage Lamas so they can make up their own minds rather than listen to schismatic talk and rumours about the quality of the Lama. I’m glad to read the comment from Peter that from reading ‘Liberation in the Palm of your hand’, he gained great admiration for HH Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche and his mind was transformed.
I’ve taken the liberty of reblogging this article as I would like to share it with my friends too!
On the throne is Venerable Trijang Rinpoche, the root Guru of the 14th Dalai Lama until the Dalai Lama rejected him. Trijang Rinpoche is the source of almost all the Dalai Lama’s popular Dharma teachings in the East and the West. dedicated to preserving and passing on the tradition of Je Tsongkhapa as transmitted through the great Je Phabongkhapa and Trijang Dorjechang.
From the pictures, one can feel that this is a very kind man.
H.H.Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang Choktrul Rinpoche and All The Young Great Masters Arise to Tumultous Times Within the Global Sangha.
Before I came to Kechara, I had read from certain sources of both online and offline quarters that this great Gelugpa lineage master in his former and current rebirths (along with Pabongka Rinpoche) was worthy of one’s scorn and in fact some online places banned any quotes of his teachings and wisdom all because of perceived opinions of one major but unfortunate, infamous and raging incident within Tibetan Buddhism and specifically the ethnic exiled Tibetan community which is not worth mentioning here.
As I had maintained a neutral stand all the while, coming from a non-Tibetan Buddhist Tradition, it did however kept my curiosity and interest on who and what this eminent Master was all about.
Having said that, I experienced a great mind transformation whilst participating in the recent KH lamrin recitation and my mind was opened up in a very illuminating and non-discriminating way that got me further interested in doing further study in HH Trijang Rinpoche’s life and works.
As I have heard once, the mind, like a parachute, works best when opened…
Thank you Rinpoche for this blog post. Sadhu!Sadhu!Sadhu!
Thank you for this very insighful blog on His Holiness Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang!