Most Venerable Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Phende visits Tsem Rinpoche
His Eminence Kensur Rinpoche Jetsun Lobsang Phende (Abbot Emeritus of Shar Gaden Monastery) and His Eminence the 25th Tsem Rinpoche
Interviewing H.E. Kensur Rinpoche Jetsun Lobsang Phende
of Shar Gaden Monastery
about H.E. the 25th Tsem Rinpoche
Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/Kensur-Rinpoche-Interview.mp4
Kechara was extremely honoured and privileged to host the visit of His Eminence Kensur Rinpoche Jetsun Lobsang Phende, accompanied by his devoted attendant Gen Wangyal. Kensur Rinpoche, now an abbot emeritus, was the first abbot of Shar Gaden Monastery. It was Kensur Rinpoche who steered the monastery through troubled times when they were first forced to split from Gaden Shartse Monastery. Together with the other monks from Dokhang Khangtsen, Kensur Rinpoche established Shar Gaden Monastery as a Dorje Shugden stronghold where the practice and lineage could be protected and preserved.
In this day and age, few lamas command as much respect as Kensur Rinpoche who is admired for his bravery and courage. Certainly, his smiling face belies the many struggles he has experienced throughout his life. After leaving Tibet in 1959, Kensur Rinpoche stayed for a number of years in Buxa together with over 1000 other monks. There, they fought to preserve the practices and lineages that were at risk of being lost or had been left behind in Tibet. Kensur Rinpoche told us that during that time, all of the monks would do regular Kalarupa (Druchuma) pujas. The pujas were requested by the Tibetan leadership who asked that the rituals be dedicated to the removal of obstacles for the Tibetan settlements.
In the early 1990s, when everyone was still a part of Gaden Shartse Monastery. Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Phende, then known as Geshe Lobsang Phende, is on the far left of the picture. He is the umze (lead chanter) of the puja and wearing the tsoksha hat. He sits behind His Holiness the 101st Gaden Trisur Jetsun Lungrik Namgyal, His Holiness Kyabje Zong Chocktrul Rinpoche and our Tsem Rinpoche.
Thus, together with other monks like Gen Wangyal and Geshe Sopa, Kensur Rinpoche helped to rebuild Gaden Monastery in exile, through both spiritual and physical means. Kensur Rinpoche tells of a time when the monks had to go into the forest and chop down the trees by hand, and transport the logs back to the site where Gaden was being constructed. It was through this arduous process, driven by faith and devotion, that monks like Gen Wangyal today speak excellent Hindi since they had to deal with local Indian contractors.
Yet, when the ban came, none of these efforts mattered. They were in fact conveniently forgotten and in 2008, Kensur Rinpoche and the monks of Dokhang Khangtsen were resoundingly kicked out of Gaden Shartse Monastery because they refused to give up their practice. Kensur Rinpoche said that when His Holiness the Dalai Lama began issuing instructions for Shugden and non-Shugden worshippers to be segregated, Kensur Rinpoche thought long and hard about the decision to follow the Dalai Lama’s instructions and split from Gaden Shartse Monastery. His concern was for the welfare of the monks who were about to be kicked out because they did not want to give up their practice. Without resources, how were they ever going to continue?
The Gaden Oracle in trance of Dorje Shugden. Dorje Shugden grips Kensur Rinpoche’s robes, a sign of his great happiness and appreciation for Kensur Rinpoche’s devotion to the lineage of Lama Tsongkhapa.
In the end Kensur Rinpoche decided separating meant he could also protect those who chose to ‘give up the practice’. If the Dokhang Khangtsen monks did not leave, they were going to be expelled anyway and before things reached that stage, the rest of Gaden Shartse would suffer immense pressure from Dharamsala to harass Shugden monks. Kensur Rinpoche said the environment at the time was such that non-Shugden monks would have been harassed for associating with Shugden monks, and Kensur Rinpoche wanted to protect them from this type of unpleasant, uncomfortable situation.
So even in Kensur Rinpoche’s decision to support the split from Gaden Shartse Monastery, the motivation was compassion for everyone involved. Although he did not agree with the decisions of people who chose to give up the practice, still he did not wish to harm them. How many of us can say we are that deeply practised to think about the welfare of those who might cause harm to us?
Tsem Rinpoche and Kensur Rinpoche meeting for the first time in decades. The meeting stretched for many hours because there was much to catch up on. There is a strong connection here as Gen Wangyal the assistant of Kensur Rinpoche is the nephew of Tsem Rinpoche’s previous incarnation (Kentrul Thubten Lamsang).
But the worst was yet to come and in fact, the highest insult arrived in the form of Gaden Shartse Monastery doing the previously-unthinkable. Soon after the split, they erected a wall between themselves and the newly-established Shar Gaden. Consider the fact Kensur Rinpoche has devoted his life to his monastery, then imagine what it must have felt like as Kensur Rinpoche watched this wall being constructed, brick by brick.
Imagine the monastery that you helped to build by hand, telling you in such an obvious and degrading way that they no longer want you nor wish to be associated with you. This is exactly what the Tibetan leadership forces their community to do, and how much hurt and insult they instigate by driving people apart with a total disregard for their feelings and their contribution to Tibetan society and the welfare of the Tibetan people.
Tsem Rinpoche shows Kensur Rinpoche his personal 5ft Vajrayogini statue.
When Kensur Rinpoche tells this story, he does it without any bitterness or anger. But one can only imagine the pain, anguish and humiliation that many of the other monks also experienced at that time. As a result, Kensur Rinpoche as the first abbot would have had to counsel many monks who were hurt, confused and finding themselves unable to make sense of the event. In the early years of Shar Gaden’s establishment, it was Kensur Rinpoche who raised the funds, educated the young monks, and guided and trained them so that the monastery would have a firm grounding for its longevity and survival.
These days, Kensur Rinpoche has retired from the abbotship. He now spends most of his time in India where although Kensur Rinpoche is the abbot emeritus, he continues to be involved in monastic affairs. Such is his ongoing concern and unflagging devotion for the welfare of the Sangha. During part of the year, Kensur Rinpoche also travels to Europe where he conducts pujas to raise funds, again for the Monastery. This harkens back to a time when the Dorje Shugden ban first started and Kensur Rinpoche found himself travelling to Europe to conduct pujas to raise funds for the Dorje Shugden Society in Delhi, so they could carry out their important works. It is known by all who have met Kensur Rinpoche that everything he raises is directed straight to the monastery.
While many claim to be great, few are truly great and have their greatness recognised by so many others. Theirs is a greatness developed through their actions, their devotion and their commitment to carrying out their promises. Throughout Kensur Rinpoche’s time in Malaysia, what moved me the most is that although he is such a grand lama, Kensur Rinpoche is totally without airs and graces, and lives very simply with his devoted attendant Gen Wangyal. While his actions make him deserving of the highest throne, yet he asks and demands for nothing, and thinks only for the monastery and its welfare.
For almost every day that Kensur Rinpoche was with us in Malaysia, he did pujas for the success and growth of Tsem Rinpoche’s work, and for Tsem Rinpoche’s long life.
On his visit to Kechara, Kensur Rinpoche performed many long life pujas dedicated to our guru, His Eminence the 25th Tsem Rinpoche. Kensur Rinpoche expressed that he understood the importance of Rinpoche’s work for the lineage, and he wished to contribute to Rinpoche’s works in this way. He has wanted to offer tenshug (long life requests and official pujas) to our Tsem Rinpoche in the past, but Tsem Rinpoche humbly declined. Kechara was truly honoured that such a distinguished guest and practitioner performed these rituals for our teacher. Kechara also had the opportunity to serve Kensur Rinpoche, taking him for medical check-ups with the best doctors to get his diabetes under control. All of this was overseen by our Rinpoche who wanted to take care of Kensur Rinpoche in his old age, in the same way Kensur Rinpoche has taken care of so many people throughout his life. For Rinpoche, such practitioners who are reservoirs of learning, knowledge and practice grow more and more precious as time passes and this lost generation of perfect masters who were educated in Tibet continues to dwindle in number.
Kensur Rinpoche also performed a soongdroop and rabney consecration puja for all of the statues and images throughout the Kechara Forest Retreat land.
When you ask Kensur Rinpoche how he dealt with the problems he has experienced throughout his life, Kensur Rinpoche’s answer is very simple:
“Pray to your lama for blessings. Pray to Dorje Shugden for material help. Then relax and trust, and don’t worry.
When you have your lama’s blessings and Dorje Shugden’s help, you have no reason to worry.”
Though Kensur Rinpoche’s words may appear simple, because they are uttered by someone who has successfully weathered storm after storm, it is then you realise even simple words can become an immense inspiration when they are backed up by actions that have borne fruit. They are especially more powerful when uttered by someone who has kept his monk vows intact for the last 70 years, for Kensur Rinpoche entered the monastery when he was just seven years old and at the time of writing, is currently 77 years old.
So in the interview above which was recorded while Kensur Rinpoche he was here with us, you will find that Kensur Rinpoche is speaking about our Rinpoche, and talking about what he thinks about our Rinpoche’s works and what he has accomplished.
May Kensur Rinpoche a long life and may all of his wishes swiftly come to fruition. May Kechara always be able to host such practitioners, to create the causes to develop such practitioners ourselves.
Pastor Jean Ai
Attendees bow as Kensur Rinpoche arrives for one of the pujas dedicated to Tsem Rinpoche, his long life and his works.
The biography of His Eminence Kensur Rinpoche
Jetsun Lobsang Phende
His Eminence Kensur Rinpoche Jetsun Lobsang Phende was born in 1941 in Lhasa, Tibet, not far from Gaden Monastery. Born into a very poor family, Kensur Rinpoche joined the local monastery after a monk that the family knew requested for their son to join the sangha. Rinpoche was just 7 years old at the time and he fondly recalls this as one of the best decisions his parents ever made for him.
Five years later, at the age of 12, Kensur Rinpoche entered the great prayer hall of Gaden Shartse Monastery where he received his Getsul (novice) vows from the incomparable His Holiness Kyabje Zong Rinpoche. He began his education with the Five Great Treatises under the tutelage of renowned masters such as H.H. Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, H.H. Kyabje Zong Rinpoche and H.E. Kyabje Zemey Rinpoche.
In 1959, Kensur Rinpoche followed His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and many others into exile in India. Like many other Tibetans, Kensur Rinpoche found himself in Buxa located in Northeastern India. There he remained for some time where his studies of Sutra and Tantra resumed. Kensur Rinpoche remembers those times as difficult but happy ones, where over 1000 monks from all traditions were gathered. During that time, all of the monks would engage in regular Kalarupa (Druchuma) pujas requested by the Tibetan government, for the removal of obstacles for the Tibetan settlements which were just being established.
A Tibetan monastery is an institution of great learning, diffusion and development of Buddhist philosophy, art and culture. It forms the core of religious and political life in Tibetan society and so when the Tibetans first arrived in India, rebuilding their great monasteries was one of their priorities. They focused first on the Three Great Pillars of Gaden, Sera and Drepung Monasteries. Kensur Rinpoche himself was one of the early pioneers who restored the monastic universities in India, and was directly involved in the reestablishment of Gaden in Mundgod, South India. Drepung would later come to be reestablished in Mundgod too, while Sera was reestablished in Bylakuppe, Mysore.
Throughout his life, Kensur Rinpoche has been so highly respected that he has always been requested to hold many positions and offices. Kensur Rinpoche was appointed General Secretary for the Lama Society, an organization in support of Gaden and Drepung Monasteries. Upon the completion of his tenure, he was requested to extend his service but Kensur Rinpoche declined, citing that he had to focus on his studies as advised by His Eminence Kensur Lati Rinpoche. When Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Phende finally completed his studies with due honours, he was awarded the Geshe Lharampa degree. This is equivalent to a Doctorate in Buddhist Philosophy. With his expertise and knowledge in pujas and rituals, and known for his beautifully sonorous chanting, Kensur Rinpoche was then appointed the Umze (lead chanter) of Gaden Shartse Monastery.
Amongst Kensur Rinpoche’s many literary contributions was the reorganisation of the common and uncommon rituals and recitation traditions, in order to make them comprehensive and accessible to many. This was made possible with thorough analyses of the original compositions, in collaboration with and guided by none other than His Holiness Kyabje Trijang Dorjechang and His Holiness Kyabje Zong Dorjechang.
In addition, Kensur Rinpoche also served the monastery and laity as secretary to the Oracle of Dorje Shugden at Gaden Monastery. In this position, the sangha and laypeople relied on Kensur Rinpoche as the main scribe to record the proclamations and prophesies of Dorje Shugden in trance. When in trance, Dorje Shugden would speak in an archaic form of the Tibetan language, which is only understood by erudite scholars. Kensur Rinpoche bearing this position successfully for many years thus reflects and highlights his incredible knowledge and skill.
In February 2008, as a result of the ban on Dorje Shugden, Dokhang Khangtsen (a subdivision of Gaden Shartse Monastery) separated from the rest of Gaden Shartse to became an autonomous Gelug monastic institution on its own right. Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Phende was appointed as the Abbot to lead this newly-formed monastery, which was given the name Shar Gaden Monastery. Under Kensur Rinpoche’s guidance and leadership, the monastery reestablished its routine and systems, educating and training the monks as they would have been trained in Gaden Shartse. Only, as part of Shar Gaden, the monks also had Dorje Shugden included as one of their practices.
In 2013, after a highly successful five-year term as Abbot, Kensur Rinpoche retired from office, thus taking on the title of ‘Kensur’ or Abbot Emeritus*. Today, Kensur Rinpoche maintains his residence at Shar Gaden Monastery while continuing to serve the monastic community there. To this day, he continues to be highly revered at the monastery, and by countless Dorje Shugden practitioners everywhere.
*When one becomes an abbot (khenpo), they are known as Khen Rinpoche. Upon their retirement, the khenpo becomes a kensur and henceforth becomes known as Kensur Rinpoche. Therefore, until Lobsang Phende became Khen Rinpoche (and now Kensur Rinpoche), he would have been known to all as Geshe Lobsang Phende.
Addendum
After the unfair ban against Dorje Shugden practitioners was forcibly instituted by the Tibetan leadership onto the people and monasteries, the monasteries split. Over 600 monks from Gaden Shartse Monastery left and set up Shar Gaden Monastery. The Tibetan leadership did their best to get the authorities to close Shar Gaden Monastery but Shar Gaden had registered with the Indian authorities so there was nothing the Tibetan leadership could do. It was very sad. Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Phende left Gaden Shartse Monastery to be the abbot of the newly formed Shar Gaden Monastery in South India where they can continue Dorje Shugden practice. Prior to the ban Lati Rinpoche and Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Phende could meet up, share and be close as they all had been very close. After the ban this was not allowed anymore. Dorje Shugden and non-Dorje Shugden people had to be segregated. They cannot mix. The previous prime minister of the Tibetan government in-exile said that Dorje Shugden people and non-Dorje Shugden people are like the moustache and the mouth and it has to be separated. You can see in the 2nd photo, Kyabje Lati Rinpoche blessing a child and Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Phende standing next to the child. The monasteries were happy, united and had good samaya with each other prior to the ban. The ban destroyed everything including unity and harmony. It is very sad to see this. These pictures are from Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Phende’s collection.
Tsem Rinpoche
For more interesting information:
- Assisting Khensur Rinpoche Jetsun Lobsang Phende
- Dorje Shugden Retreat: A powerful practice to fulfill wishes
- Dorje Shugden: My side of the story (多杰雄登：我这方面的说法)
- The Buddhist Divide – An Unholy Campaign against Religious Freedom
- Kentrul Thubten Lamsang
- Venerable Geshe Namgyal Wangchen of Drepung Loseling Monastery and Tsem Rinpoche
- To Sum It Up
- Dorje Shugden – The Protector of Our Time
- Dorje Shugden Trakze to Dispel Black Magic & Spirits
- Can Tibetan Lamas Make Mistakes?
- How My Protector Healed Me
- Meeting Kyabje Yongyal Rinpoche in New York
- The Abbot of Gaden Shartse Supports Us
- The Fourteenth Dalai Lama & Dorje Shugden | ༧གོང་ས་ཆེན་པོ་སྐུ་འཕྲེང་བཅུ་བཞི་པ་མཆོག་དང་རྡོ་རྗེ་ཤུགས་ལྡན། | 十四世达赖尊者与多杰雄登
- Dorje Shugden Shize: A practice for healing and long life
- Our Lama vs the Dalai Lama – The Underlying Reasons For the Ban
- They were not wrong
- Music Delighting the Ocean of Protectors – A Definitive Guide to Dorje Shugden by Trijang Rinpoche
- Badge of Shame
- The Puja of Following an Enlightened Being’s Advice
- Dorje Shugden Wangze for Power and Influence
- Who is Kache Marpo
- Dorje Shugden Gyenze to Increase Life, Merits and Wealth
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Yes is a great honour to have an abbot emeritus, who was the first abbot of Shar Gaden Monastery visiting Kechara to meet Tsem Tsem Rinpoche in Malaysia. His Eminence Kensur Rinpoche Jetsun Lobsang Phende, accompanied by his devoted attendant Gen Wangyal came visiting Kechara Forest Retreat at Bentong. Kensur Rinpoche had established Shar Gaden Monastery as a Dorje Shugden stronghold where the practice and lineage could be protected and preserved. Kensur Rinpoche have not met Tsem Rinpoche since 20 years ago in Gaden Shartse Monastery. That’s was before the Dorje Shugden ban was enforced. Meeting up again here Malaysia are beautifully arranged and the precious pictures in this post paints a thousand words. Each of them having each uniqueness, and their life experience are very special. Compassion conquers all.
Thank you Rinpoche and Pastor Elena Khong Jean Ai for this sharing.
It’s a privilege to have a highly Master Kensur Rinpoche Jetsun Lobsang Phende visiting our Guru, Tsem Rinpoche at Kechara Forest retreat. And even attending the many long-life pujas conducted for Rinpoche. He is one high lama who devoted his whole life to the Dharma. After leaving Tibet into exile in 1959, he helped in rebuilding of monasteries and nunneries throughout India and Nepal. Kensur Rinpoche is one brave , courage and respected Lama . Since retirement he continues to be involved in monastic affairs and travelling to raise funds for the monastery.
During Kensur Rinpoche’s stays in Kechara, Malaysia, he was interviewed about his life story and shared his thoughts and feelings about our Rinpoche. He give teachings to some fortunate Kecharians and did join in Kechara Soup Kitchen’s (KSK) rounds, offering foods to the poor.
May Kensur Rinpoche stays healthy and live long to continue turning the Dharma wheel for the benefits of all beings.
Thank you Rinpoche for this wonderful sharing of a Great Lama.
What strikes my mind the most is that at his age, Kensur Rinpoche can recollect the memories of the past so vividly, and is still so sharp and alert. His aura is extremely at peace, with no signs of all that he had to go through before.
It is sad that the ban on Dorje Shugden practice had sidelined him from his home he laid brick by brick. Not only him, but the many who chose to continue their practice proudly. It is sad to see how the ban had destroyed relationships, relationships he had built throughout the years in the monastic community, with the local community, with his fellow countrymen and women and practitioners from around the globe.
Also, again, another proof of reincarnation! Kensur Rinpoche remembers Rinpoche’s past incarnation as Kentrul Thubten Lamsang, who was devoted to his lamas and performed many auspicious deeds where he was, had many disciples and helped the community very much. Just like Tsem Rinpoche’s deeds today.
The Arya sangha is one of the representation of the Three Jewels, and the community of monks of our time is a representation of that spirit and energy. Venerable Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Phende has gone through so much since leaving tibet. The split amongst Gaden and Shar Gaden, was not something that was arrived at a whim, it was after much thought by the leadership of Shar Gaden.
It was done to protect the Dorje Shudgen lineage of practices and also all the monks that wanted to carry on practicing the Dorje Shugden practices. I hope future generations can appreciate the monks of Shar Gaden, to split from their spiritual community was and remains one of the hardest decisions they could have ever taken before. I pray the ban on Dorje Shugden will lift soon and the monks of the Gelug order can come together again in harmony and as a spiritual community once more, united to bring dharma to all corners of the world.
It is always good to read about extraordinary Lamas such as Kensur Rinpoche. Reading about Kensur Rinpoche’s tireless struggles as a Shugden practitioner helps me appreciate my Protector practice even more. If a high Lama like Kensur Rinpoche is courageously practising Dorje Shugden in the face of so many adversities, it is a clear sign that this Protector is extremely beneficial and powerful.
Thank you for this well-written write-up, Pastor Jean Ai.
I met Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Phende in 2013 during our pilgrimage to Shar Ganden. It was awesome to be so near to such a pure and holy monk. I had this opportunity to be in Kensur’s presence was on behalf of my Guru, in requesting for him to go for a thorough medical check-up and also for a long life puja to be conducted for him. Kensur Rinpoche went for the checkup sponsored by Tsem Rinpoche but declined the Long life puja as he told me he needed permission from his Guru who lived in Europe.
It was such an honour for Kechara that Kensur Rinpoche visited us and be with us at Kechara Forest Retreat.
During Kensur Rinpoche’s stay with us, he did not waste any time but conducted numerous pujas for Tsem Rinpoche’s long life and for the blessings on Kechara Forest Retreat and every sentient beings in the space.
Kensur Rinpoche is truly a humble pure monk and whenever he walked into Wisdom Hall to conduct the numerous pujas and when we bowed in his presence, he would say “Thank you”. Amazing when it is us who should say “Thank you” for all the holy prayers conducted by him to bless us.
The opportunities to meet such learned and great Masters like Kensur Rinpoche are getting more and more rare as the monks of that era are getting older and we must all take this opportunity of this article to learn and emanate their thoughts and words of wisdom.
I encourage my friends to read about this great pure monk.
Thank you Rinpoche,Pastor Jean Ai and blog team for the beautiful post. It’s wonderful to see this puja event on pictures conducted by H.E. Kensur Rinpoche Jetsun Lobsang Phende for Tsem Rinpoche’s long life and Dharma growth of Kechara. And also the lovely interview with H.E. Kensur Rinpoche Jetsun Lobsang Phende,which i find very sweet, friendly and humble. I wish Kensur Rinpoche a very long and healthy life together with my Guru,Tsem Rinpoche. May The Wheel of Dharma keep turning until samsara ends._/\_
Thank you Pastor for writing such a wonderful and inspiring article. His Eminence Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Phende and His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche are living examples of true greatness of human character, who teach us to be just like them. I feel very inspired and motivated to increase my practice. Many blessing to all of Kechara, you all are amazing!
It was indeed a rare honour and privilege to have received teachings from such a highly realised Master as Kensur Rinpoche Jetsun Lobsang Phende during his recent visit to our Guru, Tsem Rinpoche, and to attend the many long-life pujas he so graciously conducted for Rinpoche.
As a Lama and Master of such vast knowledge and high attainments, he is yet so humble. His simplicity and directness draws you instantly into his warm circle of compassion and spirituality so naturally and spontaneously. When we learned that he had been there hands on to help in the construction of Gaden Monastery in Mundgod, and that he rose above the conflict created by the ban on the Dorje Shugden practice and helmed the Shar Gaden as abbot in its early tumultuous years, protecting both monks who had broken away to continue to practise Dorje Shugden and those who had ‘given up the practice’, we realise how great is the Bodhi mind that resides in such a rare holy being.
You are inspired not to waste your time. One who has lived his life as a sangha, serving others, since the age of seven, he still continues at this high age to serve the monastery wherever he goes,spreading the Dharma and raising funds for the Monastery.
Thank you Pastor Jean Ai for this blogpost on such a precious holy being and his visit to our Guru, who never fails to teach us , by fine example, about appreciating great Sangha like Kensur Rinpoche.
Thanks Rinpoche, Pastor Jean Ai and blog team for the beautiful post.
After reading the post, I found that Kensur Rinpoche’s smile is especially beautiful, for someone who been through all these and yet find every reason to rejoice and be happy. Not only the bravery, but the strong motivation the go through hardships to benefit others really blow my mind.
I am fortunate to have chance to see him closer during some video shoot. I respect Kensur Rinpoche so much that he rarely tell us he is tired even it has been long hours filming some times. He always smile and when he wave his hand saying “Thank you”, I feel ashamed that we should thank him more than he thanks us.
I wish Kensur Rinpoche a very long and healthy life together with my Guru, Tsem Rinpoche, may The Wheel of Dharma keep turning until samsara ends.
Thank you.
This is the story of a remarkable high lama who devoted his whole life to the Dharma. I believe his success in establishing Shar Gaden Monastery was due to his great faith in the Protector. In spite of his advanced years, Kensur Rinpoche is still able to travel and perform pujas to benefit others. I shall always remember his words of advice: “Pray to your lama for blessings. Pray to Dorje Shugden for material help. Then relax and trust, and don’t worry. When you have your lama’s blessings and Dorje Shugden’s help, you have no reason to worry.” May Kensur Rinpoche live long and continue to turn the wheel of Dharma.
Venerable Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Phende is a very courageous perosn and so full of faith. He trusts the Buddhas and the Dorje Shugden to do take care of him and his flock. To be abbot of Shar Gaden in the early must is so monumental that it would have broken a lesser person. And, yet his thoughts were for the confused young monks and how to ensure that they are able to keep their commitments to Dorje Shugden and their root Gurus.
We, in Malaysia are so fortunate and honored by the presence of kensur Rinpoche.
Dear Pastor Jean Ai,
It is so humbling and meritorious to read this beautiful posting and sharing of Kensur Rinpoche’s visit to Malaysia and close relationship between HE Tsem Rinpoche and Kensur Rinpoche.
Both are such high erudite masters of the Dharma who only think of benefiting others out of samsara. We are indeed very, very fortunate to meet and have the merits to attend so many pujas in KFR during His Eminence’s visit to Malaysia.
Of the innumerable teachings here, the most outstanding advise that I will always hold close to my heart is this:
“Pray to your lama for blessings. Pray to Dorje Shugden for material help. Then relax and trust, and don’t worry.
When you have your lama’s blessings and Dorje Shugden’s help, you have no reason to worry.”
This is the only way for us all to bring ourselves and others out of samsara’s cycle. Guru devotion and following the Guru’s instructions are paramount in our practice.
I pray and wish and dedicate to the long life, stable health to Kensur Rinpoche and we all be connected to Him life after life and may His teachings and our Guru’s teaching flourish far and wide.
Humbly yours,
Lum Kok Luen
This is a powerful picture of Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen, Kensur Kyabje Lati Rinpoche and the current incarnation of Trijang Rinpoche meeting together in the year 2000 when Trijang Rinpoche was 18. All three lamas are Dorje Shugden practitioners. In fact Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen was the one that first encouraged my practice of Dorje Shugden when I was 16 years old when I joined his beautiful Thubten Dhargye Ling centre in Los Angeles. I lived with Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen for 8 years before proceeding to Gaden Monastery in South India. Later Kyabje Zong Rinpoche came to our Los Angeles centre and granted sogtae (permission ceremony) to practice Dorje Shugden for life as requested by Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen. Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen had tremendous faith in Trijang Rinpoche.
Kyabje Lati Rinpoche was innovative, dedicated and very much focused on bringing dharma to many. He had tremendous faith in Dorje Shugden as I had the honour to meet him many times. He would seek advice from Dorje Shugden many times via the oracle of Gaden Monastery. Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen and Kensur Kyabje Lati Rinpoche have since passed away while the current Trijang Rinpoche is a perfect lineage holder and practitioner of Dharma while he keeps Dorje Shugden as his personal protector as he has done so for many lifetimes.
This is a powerful and beautiful picture of three great lamas of Buddha’s lineage and also of Gaden Monastery. ~Tsem Rinpoche
Thanks Rinpoche for sharing this beautiful and historical photo.
These 3 great masters are definitely not common beings who dedicate their lifes for the benefit of all sentient beings. Despite many obstacles arise from the unethical Dorje Shugden’s ban, these lineage holders are especially strong and brave to upkeep the lineage and Dorje Shugden practise.
May Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen and Kensur Kyabje Lati Rinpoche come back soon to continue the great works, may Trijang Rinpoche and all great lineage holders continue to carry the lineage and practice to spread light of hope to dispel the darkness of suffering.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing.
Thank you Rinpoche for the sharing of the history of the three great and important highly respected lamas that have hold strongly to the DS practice.
Also, thank you Rinpoche and the Kechara team that have brought Kensur Rinpoche and Gen Wangyal to Kechara Forest Retreat to conduct many pujas to benefit so many sentient beings. Kensur Rinpoche’s persistency in holding strongly to DS practise really inspires a lot of people and motivates all the DS practitioners around the world.
We pray the DS ban to be lifted soonest. We hope more voices will be raised via social media to lift the DS ban.