Tsem Ladrang – The House of Devotion
A lama’s ladrang refers to a lama’s private residence. Due to the nature of the lama’s work and responsibilities, the ladrang plays a much bigger role than just being a place of residence. It also functions as the lama’s private office, and is the place where he grants audiences, gives teachings, performs rituals and conducts pujas. It is essentially the main venue of much of the Dharma work the lama wishes to engage in, in order to benefit others.
This was Tsem Rinpoche’s private bedroom and personal office in Gaden Shartse Monastery. Rinpoche would sit on his bed and write hundreds of correspondences to raise funds for the monastery.
Needless to say, the work that a lama typically engages in is huge. This would be too much for the lama to do all by himself, as his time would be better put to use by giving teachings, commentaries, initiations and empowerments, performing rituals, pujas and retreats, and all manner of Dharma work, and shouldn’t be wasted on mundane affairs. That is why the lama has personal attendants (sopön) to handle his personal affairs; and personal assistants (chagzöd) to handle various aspects of the running of the ladrang as well as managing the Dharma works that the lama wishes to engage in.
In addition, the lama’s personal assistants make all the necessary arrangements for the lama’s appointments and audiences. They also maintain contact and relations with the lama’s sponsors, students and friends. When the lama passes into clear light, the ladrang is responsible for the arrangement of funerary rites, the construction of reliquary stupas and the various instructions that would have been given for such a time. The ladrang is also responsible to identify the lama’s incarnation, recognise him and enthrone him as the genuine reincarnation. Hence, the ladrang is the main avenue through which all this work is accomplished.
This brief description gives an overview of what the ladrang does. The work differs depending on the direction and disposition of the particular lama. In the case of His Eminence the 25th Tsem Rinpoche, one of Rinpoche’s main practices was his devotion to his teacher and in that way, Rinpoche benefited the monastery and the preservation of the teachings. Rinpoche exemplified his devotion in the manner in which Tsem Ladrang in Gaden Monastery was established.
The Establishment of Tsem Ladrang
The original Tsem Ladrang of Gaden Monastery was established and sponsored by Rinpoche’s birth father, named Lobsang Gyatso, who was a disciple of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and His Holiness the Panchen Lama. It was through the efforts of the Mongolian Lama, His Eminence Guru Deva Rinpoche, that in 1990, Tsem Rinpoche reconnected with his birth father whom he had never known. His half-brother, Phuntsok, also came to visit him in Gaden Monastery a couple of years later.
The monks in the monastery immediately recognised Phuntsok as Rinpoche’s sibling because of their striking resemblance. Phuntsok witnessed the squalid conditions that Rinpoche was living in at the monastery. At that time, Rinpoche was not yet recognised as an incarnate lama and was still living in a small leaky cowshed which belonged to Zong Ladrang. His brother also noticed that he was emaciated as he barely had enough to eat. Phuntsok took note of all these details and upon his return to Taiwan, where he lived, he reported what he had seen to his father. Lobsang Gyatso eventually personally came to visit Rinpoche at Gaden Monastery.
A picture taken when Tsem Rinpoche’s father, Lobsang Gyatso came to visit his son at Gaden Monastery. Click on image to enlarge.
After Lobsang Gyatso saw the living conditions for himself, His Eminence Kensur Jampa Yeshe Rinpoche (Tsem Rinpoche’s main guru at the monastery) took the opportunity to inform Rinpoche’s father of Rinpoche’s recognition as a tulku (incarnate lama) and the impending enthronement. So, Lobsang Gyatso offered to sponsor the construction of Tsem Ladrang and also sponsored all of the offerings needed for the enthronement ceremony. The first floor of Tsem Ladrang in Gaden was sponsored by Rinpoche’s father and later, more funds were raised to build the second floor.
Tsem Rinpoche was the secretary and translator to Kensur Jampa Yeshe Rinpoche. Tsem Rinpoche’s relationship with his teacher began when he was assigned to Kensur Rinpoche as a ‘house monk’ when he first arrived at Gaden Shartse Monastery. At the time, Kensur Rinpoche was known as Khen Rinpoche because he held the office of the Abbot of Gaden Shartse Monastery. Once he completed his term as abbot, he was known as Kensur Rinpoche (Abbot Emeritus). Within the monastic community, Kensur Rinpoche had a stainless reputation as a pure monk who held his vows so immaculately that he was affectionately known as ‘the bodhisattva abbot’.
Inviting Kensur Rinpoche to Tsem Ladrang
After Tsem Ladrang was built, Tsem Rinpoche officially invited Kensur Rinpoche to live with him, so he would be better able to serve his teacher. Tsem Rinpoche offered Kensur Rinpoche the biggest room while he himself occupied a smaller room downstairs. Tsem Rinpoche also took on the role of ‘house master’ of the ladrang, and he trained and disciplined the monks of Tsem Ladrang in order to serve his guru well.
A portrait of Tsem Rinpoche with his teacher Kensur Jampa Yeshe Rinpoche at the main entrance of Tsem Ladrang.
Click on image to enlarge.
Kensur Rinpoche suffered from diabetes and so Tsem Rinpoche researched the best dietary means to combat this condition, arranged for the monks to cook the healthiest meals, and ensured Kensur Rinpoche had plenty of exercise. Tsem Rinpoche also did his best to ensure Kensur Rinpoche’s teaching schedule was not too taxing and that he had enough time to rest.
In addition, Tsem Rinpoche also ensured that the ladrang’s big garden was planted with lots of fruit trees and flowers so it would be a pleasant environment for his guru. Tsem Rinpoche made plenty of improvements to the ladrang including a way of cooling the building during the hot Indian summers, by collecting water on the roof catchment above Kensur Rinpoche’s quarters.
Tsem Rinpoche did all this as an offering to his teacher and gradually, Kensur Rinpoche’s condition improved and he was able to teach more and benefit the monastery even more than he already had up to that point. Thus, Tsem Rinpoche’s guru devotion became legendary, especially amongst the older generation of monks who witnessed all this and are grateful and inspired by Rinpoche to this day.
Later, following the advice of his teachers to remain and reside in Malaysia, Tsem Rinpoche offered Tsem Ladrang to Kensur Rinpoche and henceforth, Tsem Ladrang became known as Kensur Ladrang. Later, whenever Tsem Rinpoche moved into a new ladrang in Malaysia, he recalled this offering and would sometimes say that the merits generated from it had culminated in his being able to reside in a comfortable environment and have the necessary facilities and resources for practice and Dharma work.
Tsem Rinpoche improved Tsem Ladrang in Gaden Shartse Monastery by having awnings installed to shade the windows of Kensur Rinpoche’s room from direct sunlight, and had beautiful trees, flowers and shrubs planted to shade the compound and beautify the lawn for Kensur Rinpoche to enjoy. Click on image to enlarge.
For more interesting information:
- The Dorje Shugden category on the blog
- Dorje Shugden – The Protector of Our Time
- Great Masters Speak about Tsem Rinpoche
- The Thirteenth Dalai Lama, Tubten Gyatso
- Dorje Shugden: My side of the story | 多杰雄登：我这方面的说法
- Dalai Lama’s sudden change of mind about China-backed Panchen Lama
- Dalai Lama, China & Dorje Shugden | 达赖尊者、中国和多杰雄登
- The Buddhist Divide – An Unholy Campaign against Religious Freedom
- Dorje Shugden people
- The Truth About Who Saved the 14th Dalai Lama
- Badge of Shame
- Who is Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen?
- Dorje Shugden Retreat: A powerful practice to fulfill wishes
- Largest Dorje Shugden in the world
- Panglung Ritroe – The Rising House of Power
- Beginner’s Introduction to Dorje Shugden
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Interesting stories behind of this Tsem Ladrang – The House of Devotion at Gaden Monastery . Established and sponsored by Rinpoche’s birth father, Lobsang Gyatso. Tsem Rinpoche offered Tsem Ladrang to Kensur Rinpoche his teacher after leaving for Malaysia as advice by Kensur Rinpoche who was affectionately known as ‘the bodhisattva abbot’.
Thank you Pastor David for this sharing.
How wonderful it would be if we all can have strong guru devotion mindset as Rinpoche did for all his gurus when Rinpoche was young. This is a very good article and reminder for all of us. It is also very good to always bring up Rinpoche’s name and teachings in our daily lives like my mum and i always talk and joke about Rinpoxhe’s videos ….it really brings a lot of blessings in the family. It seriously does if we always keep Rinpoche in our minds. 😘❤️. Thank you Rinpoche and Pastor David for this lovely article 🙏😍
Thank you Pastor for sharing.🙏🙏🙏