The mural of Dorje Shugden is prominent on the wall behind the Panchen Lama as he enters the main prayer hall of Denma Gonsa Monastery

The opinion piece below was sent to dorjeshugden.com for publication. We accept submissions from the public, please send in your articles to ds@dorjeshugden.com.

By: Steve Lee

The highest-ranking lama of Tibet, the 11th Panchen Lama Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu officially visited Denma Gonsa monastery on the 19th July 2017. This massive Dorje Shugden monastery is situated in Zhidoi County, Qinghai province of China. In addition, the Panchen Lama also visited a nursing home in the county to grace a charitable event and blessed the elderly residents there.

Denma Gonsa Monastery is situated in Zhidoi County, Qinghai province of China

Denma Gonsa Monastery’s Lama Tsongkhapa statue is 35.32 meters high and this makes it the world’s largest indoor gilded bronze statue

The Panchen Lama visited the monastery following an invitation by the young incarnate lama of the monastery, Denma Gonsa Rinpoche. The Panchen Lama also visited a Sakya monastery, Jyeku Dondrub Ling within the same county as well. As the Panchen Lama’s car approached Denma Gonsa Monastery, Khampas and local nomads on horseback held out prayer flags and khatas to welcome his arrival. On top of that, locals also had several youths ride yaks on both sides of the car to escort the Panchen Lama towards the monastery.

In accordance with Chinese protocol, the approved itinerary of the visit included the Lama Tsongkhapa prayer hall, where the world’s largest bronze Lama Tsongkhapa statue is enshrined. He performed a Rabney consecration ritual to bless the massive Lama Tsongkhapa statue. Following this, the Panchen Lama paid homage at the reliquary stupa containing the relics of the previous incarnation of Denma Gonsa Rinpoche.

Panchen Lama conferred a long life initiation in a tent pitched outside of the monastery

After that, he moved on to the main prayer hall of the monastery to give a Dharma discourse and blessed the public in a traditional manner by placing his hand onto their heads. The crowd was fortunate to have an audience with this great lama, a qualified Geshe who has studied under some of the most prestigious masters of our time. Not only that, but he has received and steadfastly kept the vows of a monk, with no stain on his reputation as a pure monk, and has received many tantric empowerments, practiced the teachings and engaged in many retreats. Even without this title, the breadth and depth of his practice would qualify him as someone more than worthy of bestowing blessings and transmissions. One does not need to be a high ranking lama to be a great teacher of the Buddha’s sacred teachings. After a brief lunch break at midday, the Panchen Lama conferred a long life initiation in a tent pitched on the Tashitan fields just outside of the monastery. Panchen Lama returned to Beijing the next day.

This successful visit cements the close relationship that the 11th Panchen Lama has with Denma Gonsa Rinpoche and this indirectly confirms his approval of Dorje Shugden as an authentic practice and the high lamas, Geshes and sincere practitioners who worship this powerful deity.

The young Denma Gonsa Rinpoche welcoming the Panchen Lama to Denma Gonsa Monastery with a yellow khata

Panchen Lama along with the young Denma Gonsa Rinpoche performing Rabnye consecration ritual on the Lama Tsongkhapa statue

The Panchen Lama is presented with a framed verse of praise composed by Gonsa Monastery monks

Panchen Lama conferring a long initiation in a tent pitched outside of the Denma Gonsa Monastery

The famous statue of Dorje Shugden enshrined in the protector chapel of Denma Gonsa Monastery

Addendum

Whether people accept him as the real Panchen Lama does not make any difference. He is a human, an individual, an ordained monk, and he has received teachings from many erudite masters. He has received tantric empowerments, engaged in retreats, does the prayers; he does what any other Buddhist monk does. So by virtue of being a monk and someone who has practiced for many years, he is a qualified receptacle, teacher and disseminator of the Dharma. Therefore whether you accept him as the Panchen Lama does not matter. Thousands of monks in the monasteries over the 1,000 years did not have titles but they disseminated the Dharma very well.

So do not judge whether he is doing Dharma correctly based on his title but on his merits. This is a democracy. This young man who has been labelled ‘Panchen Lama’ has held the vows of a monk, lived in a monastery, and studied under the most qualified and greatest masters of Tibet, especially of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, for many years. By all accounts, he is a very qualified Geshe. This Geshe just happens to have the title ‘Panchen Lama’ and happens to be the highest ranking lama in Tibet, sanctioned by the Chinese government. Besides the Panchen Lama can emanate in hundreds of forms simultaneously. It is the choice of the Chinese who they want to sanction, and install as their spiritual leader. It is their choice. Nobody should or can take away their country’s choice.

The current Panchen Lama was invited to Denma Gonsa Rinpoche’s monastery in Kham, Tibet, China. Housing thousands of monks, it is one of the biggest monasteries that practises Dorje Shugden. The Panchen Lama, the Chinese government and the Tibetan people in Tibet endorse this monastery and support it. As you can see here in the series of pictures, the Panchen Lama went to this monastery to give his personal support to the young Denma Gonsa Rinpoche who is studying to become a Geshe himself.

Panchen Lama Qoigyijabu Part 1

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

Or watch on server | download video (right click & save file)

Panchen Lama Qoigyijabu Part 2

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

Or watch on server | download video (right click & save file)

Panchen Lama Qoigyijabu Part 3

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

Or watch on server | download video (right click & save file)

Panchen Lama Qoigyijabu’s 20th Enthronement Anniversary

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

Or watch on server | download video (right click & save file)

The great 18th Denma Gongsa Rinpoche

In the midst of the Sino-Tibetan conflict and in the face of unsettling times, Denma Gonsa Rinpoche’s name became synonymous with strength and faith in one’s Guru, the Buddha Dharma and the infallible Dharma Protector, Dorje Shugden. Denma Gonsa Rinpoche chose to remain in Tibet during the years of tremendous unrest in order to preserve the Buddha’s teachings in the high plateaus as well as to be a pillar of strength for the vanquished people of Tibet.

Over the years, Denma Gonsa Rinpoche worked unceasingly and over time won the respect of both Tibetans and Chinese alike. Rinpoche was honored with many titles and positions for representing his people and community in the area of Kham in Tibet. Seeing the need to engage the Chinese authorities correctly, Denma Gonsa Rinpoche entered the political arena with hopes of extending his influence as protection for his people and using his position to look after them spiritually and secularly.

Rinpoche being received by a member of the Chinese army

The most notable position held by Rinpoche was as the representative of the people living in Qinghai province, which Rinpoche held for 4 consecutive terms. Rinpoche was also the representative of the Chinese Congress in the 8th term. Despite these additional responsibilities, Denma Gonsa Rinpoche did not compromise on his main undertaking of spreading the Dharma and at the first available opportunity, Rinpoche began the reconstruction of his monastery that had been destroyed in the conflict.

Throughout the years, it became clear that the great protector Dorje Shugden was always beside Denma Gonsa Rinpoche providing every means to help Rinpoche in all his endeavors. There were signs – for instance during the Qinghai earthquake, many buildings were damaged and yet standing intact amongst all the destruction was Denma Gonsa Rinpoche’s monastery. Neither was Rinpoche’s house damaged, quite miraculously. No doubt, by Rinpoche’s faith and devotion to his Gurus and the Dharma, the Protector saw to every of Rinpoche’s needs and Rinpoche was able to secure the resources required to build his monastery. In his monastery now stands one of the world’s largest Lama Tsongkhapa statues which is 12 storeys high and next to the main temple stands an 18-foot Dorje Shugden statue which itself is a blessing for the people of the entire Kham area.

Denma Gonsa Rinpoche’s influence spread across Tibet all the way to Beijing. Rinpoche’s fame helped him to spread the Gelug lineage far and wide and in conjunction, the lineage and practice of Dorje Shugden grew similarly under this extraordinary Lama. When the Dalai Lama imposed the ban on Dorje Shugden, it did not have any effect on Denma Gonsa Rinpoche. Alarmed, His Holiness the Dalai Lama himself personally made a telephone call to Denma Gonsa Rinpoche to ask Rinpoche to stop the practice of Dorje Shugden. However, Rinpoche refused to compromise on his integrity and the promises Rinpoche made to his Guru, Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang.

Manifesting disappointment in the Dalai Lama for causing monks to break their vows and for the schism within the Sangha that the ban created, it was said that Denma Gonsa Rinpoche rebuked the Dalai Lama for what was clearly an error on the Dalai Lama’s part. Being a contemporary of the Dalai Lama and knowing full well that the basis of and reasons for the Shugden ban were false, Rinpoche felt it necessary to speak his mind. The Dalai Lama, realizing that Denma Gonsa Rinpoche could not be coerced into abandoning the practice, hung up the phone. Such was Denma Gonsa Rinpoche’s devotion to his Gurus and conviction in the Dharma Protector that he would not be bullied into breaking his vows.

H.E. Denma Gonsa Rinpoche

Biography:

Denma Choje Jampa Thubten Gelek Gyatso was born to a family of “Kannier” in Namkha Zong, Tibet in the year of the Iron Horse (1930). His father was a man by the name of Rinchen who was a farmer and mother’s name was Drolma.
At the age of 3, the 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso recognized the boy as the incarnation of the 17th Denma Choje. Upon recognition, the 13th Dalai Lama gave the young incarnation the seal of office and also official documents supporting his recognition. Rinpoche was then ordained by Jepu Rierba who gave him the Dharma name of Jampa Thubten Gelek Gyatso.
Two years later, in the Kham region, he was enthroned in Kelsang Puntsok Ling, home to the line of Denma Choje incarnations. During the enthronement ceremony, thousands flocked the monastery to pay their respects and receive blessings from him.

When he reached the age of 8, Geshe Dammu taught Rinpoche how to read and write Tibetan. Nyima Mentsi taught Rinpoche the sciences and astrology. When he studied under these two masters, he memorized all the texts, which were used in their daily prayers in the monastery.

The year of the Earth Rabbit (1939) was a huge turning point in Rinpoche’s life where in one of the three great seats of Sera Dratsang, the great 98th Gaden Tripa advised Rinpoche to take Rizong Awang Resa as his teacher and to study the 5 Great Treatises under him.

At the age of 20, Rinpoche obtained his Geshe degree and was famous all over Tibet. He then admitted himself to Badeng Mey Drati Dratsang to further pursue his studies in Tantra. There he was able to practice in accordance to both Sutras and Tantras without obstruction. At this point, he studied under Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang and Kyabje Dagri Dorje Chang. He received the Kangyur text transmission and numberless empowerments of various Dharma protectors. He became the lineage holder of various teachings which were essential within the Gelug school of Buddhism.

In the year of the Wooden Horse (1954) at the age of 25, he visited Beijing on the occasion of China’s national day where Rinpoche was received by Chairman Mao and Zhou En Lai with warm hospitality throughout his visit to the capital.

At the age of 28, for the first time in his life, he gave an oral transmission of the Kangyur text.

In the year of the Earth Horse (1958), because of political unrest, Rinpoche faced many obstacles and threats to his life and his endeavors in spreading the Dharma. But because of Rinpoche’s pure motivation, he overcame these obstacles. In the spirit of Bodhicitta, he took on the sufferings of others as if they were his own, and faced obstacles with an open mind.

Until the year of the Metal Bull (1961), he undertook the position as vice-representative of different areas within Tibet. After enduring 10 years of the Cultural Revolution, and with the new implementation of religious freedom from the central government, Rinpoche’s achievements captured the attention of many. As a member of the ethnic minority, he received warm hospitality from Deng Xiao Ping in an audience.

In the year of the Metal Monkey (1980), Rinpoche was chosen to be the the Yushu Tibetan community’s vice president, after which he was elected to be the representative of the people living in the Qinghai province for 4 consecutive terms. Rinpoche was the representative of the Chinese congress in the 8th term, Vice president of the Qinghai Buddhist Association, Vice president of the Yushu County Buddhist Association, Committee of China’s Department of Buddhist Studies, etc.

Kelsang Monastery, the home of all Denma Choejes (Dharma Kings)

After having devoted most part of his earlier life serving his community and the Buddha Dharma, Denma Gonsa Rinpoche started to focus on building a platform for the Buddha Dharma to take root in. Kelsang Monastery was very old and had been destroyed over the years both by the elements and humankind. In order to do repair the monastery, rebuild statues and reinstate Buddhist scriptures for the benefit of those who sought solace and religious services, Rinpoche together with his close students and assistants spent many years raising funds and oversaw the entire project until its completion in 2011. Under the leadership of Rinpoche, the entire assembly of Sangha in the monastery joined in rebuilding the monastery.

As of today, the main Gompa, Tsan Khang, Chapels, Scripture buildings and so on, are of the highest quality and display combinations of different influences of the Gelug tradition. One story to note is that there was a huge earthquake which hit the area where Kelsang Monastery is situated. Many buildings in that area crumbled but the entire Kelsang Monastery complex was left untouched by the mercy of the Buddhas. Many people knew it was the power of Dharmapala Dorje Shugden that protected the monastery. This is another testament that Dorje Shugden is very much a potent force for the Dharma and is definitely not a spirit. Spirits create danger and harm but enlightened beings protect institutions that preserve and spread the Dharma.

Beautiful 18-feet Dorje Shugden statue in Kelsang Monastery

Denma Gonsa Rinpoche in his career as a Dharma master has represented the 3 great seats (Gaden, Sera, Drepung), Reting Monastery, and various monasteries in Lhasa, Shigatse, Shan Nan, and other places in Tibet. The Kangyur is the basic text which Rinpoche used to transmit teachings. Kelsang Monastery has been a seat and a bastion of the Gelug tradition for many high Lamas including His Holiness Kyabje Pabongka Choktrul Rinpoche, who himself received many important lineages and transmissions from Kyabje Denma Gonsa Rinpoche and other high Lamas of the monastery.

Kyabje Denma Gongsa Rinpoche’s holy stupa

Rinpoche entered into clear light in 2005 with many auspicious signs and good omens. Before Rinpoche passed away, Rinpoche gave specific instructions to his students on finding his next incarnation. He said that there would be many boys who would be presented as the next incarnation but to only enthrone the boy who could recite the root tantra of Guhyasamaja from memory. This itself is a significant indication of how high Rinpoche’s realizations were.
The Guhyasamaja tantra is one of the most important scriptures in Vajrayana Buddhism. In its fullest form, it consists of seventeen chapters, though a separate explanation is sometimes considered to be its eighteenth chapter. Je Tsongkhapa considered this work so important and used a tradition of the Guhyasamaja tantra as the basis for interpreting all other tantras. It is also said that if this all-important tantra is preserved, all other tantra traditions would similarly be preserved. Denma Gonsa Rinpoche’s next incarnation would be able to recite this tantra by heart. Such was the depth of Rinpoche’s attainments.

All of us at DorjeShugden.com make this virtual offering of a thousand butter lamps to the very holy master Denma Gonsa Rinpoche, requesting his incarnation to return swiftly and remain among us for thousands of years to continue turning the wheel of Dharma and benefiting countless beings.

The 20th Denma Gonsar Rinpoche

On the 6th of October 2013, a very special and propitious event took place in Tsampehling Monastery in Chatreng, the home monastery of the illustrious Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche. That auspicious day marked the enthronement of the new incarnation of one of the most extraordinary lamas of our time, the erudite Kyabje Denma Gonsar Dorje Chang. The late Denma Gonsar Rinpoche, who entered clear light in the year 2005, was an outstanding student of both Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche and Kyabje Pabongka Dechen Nyingpo, and went on to become a highly regarded senior lama and one of the most important figures within the Gelugpa sect. Denma Gonsar Rinpoche was also a prominent lineage holder of various important teachings including the practice of Dorje Shugden.

A few months before Denma Gonsar Rinpoche entered clear light, during a lecture he was giving at Tsampehling Monastery, Rinpoche stated clearly that his next reincarnation would be born in Chatreng, a place famed for its strong devotion to Lama Tsongkhapa and the enlightened Protector Dorje Shugden.

In addition, Denma Gonsar Rinpoche instructed that his next incarnation would be a boy who could recite the root tantra of Guhyasamaja perfectly from memory. This warrants significant note because the root tantra of Guhyasamaja is an advanced, complicated practice with extensive literature consisting of seventeen chapters with tremendous amount of details. That the late Denma Gonsar Rinpoche pre-empted his students to only recognize and enthrone the incarnation with such an incredible ability speaks clearly of his high attainments and clairvoyance. Only an authentic, attained master who has achieved the enlightened mind could return with his attainments intact, to continue to turn the wheel of Dharma again.

And so, as this great Master had prophesied and instructed, his incarnation – the 20th Denma Gonsar Rinpoche was officially enthroned in his Guru’s monastery. The boy by the name of Dorje, who is seven years old today, was born to a prominent family in Chatreng just as the late Denma Gonsar Rinpoche had predicted. Interestingly, it is the same extended family to which Rabten Tulku Rinpoche (reincarnation of Geshe Rabten) also belongs.

A few months before Dorje was recognized, the monks who were charged with the responsibility of looking for Rinpoche’s incarnation consulted the Dorje Shugden oracle who advised that Rinpoche’s incarnation had already been born in eastern Tibet where Chatreng lies, and that the search should begin. The boy they found showed many miraculous signs and one clear indication was the visible symbols of the sun and moon on the boy’s forehead. The sun and moon are symbols of wisdom and compassion indicating the attainment of enlightenment, and from the first Denma Gonsar Rinpoche to the present 20th incarnation, the sun and moon marks have always been visible on their foreheads.

The boy, Dorje bearing visible symbols of the sun and moon on his forehead as had all previous incarnations of Denma Gonsar Rinpoche

And so began the examination and confirmation process. The current Pabongka Choktrul Rinpoche, who frequently travelled to Denma Gonsar Rinpoche’s monastery in Kham to receive teachings and commentaries from the late Master, confirmed Dorje as the current incarnation of Denma Gonsar Rinpoche by divination. The octogenarian Purbu Khuten of Sera Monastery in Lhasa, who was personally trained and authorized by the late Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, also examined the boy, Dorje, and confirmed him as Denma Gonsar Rinpoche’s incarnation. [See Note 1]

In addition, the very well known Nirtue Rinpoche, regarded as the highest and most respected lama in Denma, Kham, journeyed to Chatreng to test the candidate and concurred that the boy was indeed the correct incarnation of Rinpoche. Also of great import is the official recognition of this boy by His Holiness the Panchen Lama, whose lineage can be traced back to Subuthi, one of the original disciples of the Lord Buddha himself. Upon confirmation, His Holiness the Panchen Lama issued an official letter formally recognizing this incarnation of Denma Gonsar Rinpoche.

The official letter of recognition issued by His Holiness the Panchen Lama. A rough translation of the letter reads: “The search party of Dharmaraja Gonsar Choje Thubten Gelek Gyatso, who have been praying to The Three Jewels these few years, have found the incarnation of Rinpoche in Chatreng, Ganzi. The child born to the father by the name of Tenzin Ngyape and Tzirin Yongchen the mother, is hereby recognized as the reincarnation of the 19th Gonsar Choje Dharmaraja”

Most significantly, the search and recognition committee of Denma Gonsar Rinpoche requested Geshe Tdonsang, the changtso of Geshe Thubten Trinley, to travel to the United States of America and consult H.H. Trijang Choktrul Rinpoche as well as the Ari Khuten (Ganden oracle of Dorje Shugden). Trijang Choktrul Rinpoche confirmed that Dorje was indeed the authentic incarnation of his student from Trijang Choktrul Rinpoche’s previous life. The Ari Khuten took trance of Duldzin and similarly concurred with Trijang Choktrul Rinpoche. Trijang Rinpoche wrote a long life prayer especially for this incarnation of Denma Gonsar Rinpoche and recommended some pujas to be done for the growth of the new Denma Gonsar Rinpoche’s work. Trijang Rinpoche, together with the Dorje Shugden oracle, Ari Khuten, conferred a new and auspicious name on this young and prodigious master, Losang Yeshe Tenzin Gelek Gyatso, the 20th Denma Gonsar Rinpoche. And with that, the return of an enlightened mind, who was also known as Denma Gonsar Kangyur Rinpoche for his adroit grasp of all 108 volumes of the Kangyur, was official.

The enthronement of the present and 20th Denma Gonsar Rinpoche was also attended by officials from the Chinese Government who is presently making preparations for a grand and second enthronement ceremony to be held in Rinpoche’s home monastery. Throughout the Sino-Tibetan conflict, the previous Denma Gonsar Rinpoche worked tirelessly for the good of all people, both Chinese and Tibetan, with complete impartiality void of any personal and political agendas and that won the trust and respect of the Chinese Government. It is from great works such as that of Denma Gonsar Rinpoche that will lend credence and substance to the Tibetan people’s hope to return to their homeland.

The return of a pure and virtuous master such as Denma Gonsar Rinpoche is vastly important not only for the preservation and spread of the holy Dharma but also as yet another undisputable proof that claims of Dorje Shugden practitioners not being able to take a positive rebirth are nothing but baseless lies intended to trick unwary practitioners into giving up a very crucial Dharma practice for this degenerate time.

DorjeShugden.com celebrates the return of Denma Gonsar Rinpoche with Dharma practitioners all over the world and prays for this great Master’s long and auspicious life, spreading the Dharma and the Protector practice in all ten directions.

Note 1: It is strange and most unfortunate that the original Sera Monastery recognizes and propitiates the enlightened Protector Dorje Shugden whilst Sera Monastery in India refuses to due to pressure from the Dalai Lama’s office and the Central Tibetan Administration.

Pictures of the enthronement of the 20th Denma Gonsar Rinpoche

The enthronement ceremony of the present Denma Gonsar Rinpoche at Tsampehling Monastery, Chatreng

A happy 20th Denma Gonsar Rinpoche

The enthronement ceremony was well attended by senior monks of Chatreng and Chinese officials

In this video, Kyabje Denma Gonsar Dorje Chang chants the Prayers of the Lamrim Dedication.

Denma Gonsar Rinpoche is a great senior lama and student of both Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche and Pabongkha Dechen Nyingpo. He transmitted the pure teachings to his district people and 600 monks of his monastery. This great monastery houses a 12-storey high main image of Je Tsongkhapa and has a beautiful Chapel to Dorje Shugden. Dorje Shugden is the main Dharma protector of this vast monastery in Kham.

The current Kyabje Pabongkha Choktrul Rinpoche incarnation travelled often to this monastery to receive rare teachings, practices and commentaries from Kyabje Denma Gonsar Rinpoche.

Kyabje Denma Gonsar Rinpoche passed away in 2005. He told his main attendants before passing away that a few boys will be claimed to be his incarnation. “But the real incarnation will recognize himself. He will recite the Root tantra of Guhyasamaja from memory perfectly. Only enthrone this boy as my real incarnation.”