Enthronement of our New Abbot

On receiving the appointment letter for new abbot of Loseling Monastery from the office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Venerable Topden Rinpoche left for Dharamsala for an auspicious audience with His Holiness, and fervently solicited him for an enlightened instruction and advice for improving general monks’ education, disciplines, and so on which adorns the Buddha Dharma, to be more conspicuous, serving seed of sustaining the world peace!

On his return to Drepung Monastery, he was received and welcomed by entire monks of Loseling Monastery headed by Administrators and other official staffs. On 18th May, the ceremony of actual enthronement for the new Abbot of Loseling Monastic University was held in the main prayer hall. On that auspicious morning, the Abbot made his first oral recitation (Tse-Shak) from all five major texts attended by thousands of Loseling Monks.

Venerable Topden Tulku Dakpa Lobsang Tenpai Gyaltsen Rinpoche, one of our most revered scholars in the major fields of studies, was born on 5th May 1944 at Sisor Village in Dragyab District which comes under Kham Region in Tibet. Since he was recognized as the reincarnation of previous Topden Tulku at his very tender age, he received basic teachings on Buddhism and Tibetan literature from Gen Rinchen Choedak, one of the chief disciples of his just previous predecessor.

In the year 1952, he set out his long journey towards Lhasa and joined Drepung Loseling monastic university upon his arrival there. He received his novice vow from Ven. Pema Gyaltsen Rinpoche, then Abbot of Loseling Monastery. Soon he initiated his extensive studies at the University receiving teachings from legendary scholars including Denma Lochoe Rinpoche, Phara Khensur Pema Gyaltsen Rinpoche, Shakor Gen Nyima Gyaltsen Rinpoche with proper attitude and prerequisite trainings. He also received comprehensive Sutra and Tantric teachings, oral transmissions and empowerments from His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Ling Rinpoche, and Trijang Rinpoche.

Unfortunately, his studies were temporarily impeded as situation in Tibet turned into unprecedented disaster. Lhasa; capital of Tibet became a center for butchery, espionage, massacres, and bloodbath! In 1959, Rev. Topden Rinpoche followed His Holiness the Dalai Lama into exile in India, the country our ancestors respected as the land of Noble being! He continued his studies at Loseling Monastery reestablished in India. Besides his advanced studies, Rinpoche contributed a lot for this monastery with his exemplary services at Loseling Library and Loseling School. He was awarded Geshe Degree in the year 1981.

As directed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tokden Rinpoche spent his precious times and energy in giving teachings and empowerments to many faithful devotees in the Himalayan Regions including Spiti and Ladakh. The people, especially, around those places borne deep faiths in Rinpoche and respected him as they found his teachings very helpful and inspiring! At persistent public requests, Rinpoche went back to these places several times. Rinpoche was appointed the Abbot of Ratoe Monastery located at Mundgod in the year 1999. He completed the five years term with great success for which he received heaps of applauses from the general monks. He made positive changes in studies, educational system, and monastic discipline.

Topden Rinpoche was appointed for three years’ Deputy Abbot (Lama Uze) followed by another three years service as the Abbot of Gyuto Tantric Monastery. As always, Rinpoche discharged the two responsibilities much to the satisfaction and pleasures of all the monks. This is a brief sidelight about Topden Rinpoche, the new Abbot of Loseling Monastery. The entire members of Loseling monastery offer sincere prayers for his longevity, appraising and rejoicing his outstanding achievements in serving Dharma and the sentient beings!!!