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.

 
His Eminence Gangchen Rinpoche is a real lama, with great knowledge and incredible healing abilities, who has benefited thousands around the world. He is a tireless supporter of Buddha Dharma, H.H. Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, our lineage, our practices, our monasteries, world peace, and our protectors Dorje Shugden and Palden Lhamo.

He has a beautiful large monastery called Gangchen Monastery in Shigatse, very near Panchen Rinpoche’s Tashi Lhunpo Monastery. His current and previous incarnations are very close to the line of Panchen Lama incarnations. In fact, Gangchen Rinpoche is the incarnation of the famed Panchen Zangpo Tashi, the 2nd throne holder (abbot) of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, and was recognized as his unmistaken incarnation by the previous Panchen Lama. The relics of this great master are still enshrined within a stupa in Tashi Lhunpo Monastery till today where many pilgrims visit to receive blessings.

Lama Gangchen Rinpoche is the holder of an ancient and unbroken lineage of Tantric Masters dating from the time of Shakyamuni Buddha. He is also a famous and renowned practitioner of Kurukulle, Oserchenma, Kalachakra, Yamantaka, Heruka and Vajra Yogini tantras, among many practices, and is a master of the construction of their mandalas.

Gangchen Rinpoche has tremendous healing powers and his line of incarnations are known to be powerful healers. When Rinpoche built his current healing and meditation centre in Nepal, there was no water. Upon Rinpoche’s arrival at the site, a spring naturally sprung forth and until this day continues to provide water for the whole meditation and healing centre. They make their own medicines there, they have a free school, guest house, and also a traditional Tibetan furniture-making workshop.

Biography

His Eminence Lama Gangchen Rinpoche was born in Western Tibet in 1941. He was recognized at an early age to be a reincarnate Lama healer and was enthroned at Gangchen Choepeling Monastery at the age of five.

When he reached the age of twelve, he received the “Kachen” degree which is usually conferred after twenty years of study. Between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, he studied medicine, astrology, meditation and philosophy in two of the major monastic universities of Tibet – Sera and Tashi Lhunpo.

He also studied in Gangchen Gompa, Tropu Gompa and Neytsong Monastery. He was a disciple of some of the most important Gelugpa Lamas like H.H. Trijang Rinpoche. In 1963, he went into exile to India where he continued his studies for the next seven years at the Varanasi Sanskrit University in Benares. In 1970, he received the Geshe Rigram degree (similar to a PhD) from Sera Monastic University situated in South India.

After his graduation, he worked as a Lama healer among the Tibetan communities in Nepal, India and Sikkim, during which time he saved the lives of many people and was named private physician to the Royal Family.

In 1981, Lama Gangchen visited Europe for the first time and has since become a resident and Italian citizen. In the same year, he also established his first European center: Karuna Choetsok in Lesbos, Greece, where he planted a bodhi tree in the ‘Buddha Garden’, and where he consecrated what was to become the first in a long line of world peace Buddha statues, thangkas and images. Since 1982, he has traveled extensively, both healing and teaching worldwide, leading many pilgrimages to some of the most important holy places of different religious and spiritual denominations in the world.

At present, H.E. Gangchen Tulku Rinpoche, the healer, has more than 100 Inner Peace Education centres or Self-Healing Study Groups worldwide. His huge organization includes schools, prayer halls, guest houses, incense/woodwork factories also, and Gangchen Rinpoche has many devotees and strong sponsors who 100% support and serve him.

The Healing Lama

H.E. Gangchen Tulku Rinpoche

Gangchen Rinpoche comes from a long line of Healing Lamas. His lineage started originally from the Indian Mahasiddha Darikapa. He has a very special connection to the healing practices for many types of diseases, and for many years, Lama Gangchen has promoted a very important project: the integration between Tibetan Medicine (an incredible and still-unknown treasure of humankind) with allopathic medicine.

Gangchen Rinpoche’s Ngalso Tantric Self Healing method is based on Buddha’s teachings but it is suitable for modern people. The practices that he has conferred on people in the past have expedited the healing of certain cancers, among other diseases. He is famous for his pills as well as healing skin pills for skin ailments.

Gangchen Rinpoche mentioned that before he started these healing exercises, he consulted Dorje Shugden through his medium. Dorje Shugden said it would be very beneficial and that he should definitely make known, speak, teach and write regarding these practices. It would benefit many. With that, Rinpoche has embarked on his highly successful body and mind tantric healing exercises.

Those of you who have great fortune should receive healing practices from the Lord of the Healing Yogis, His Eminence Gangchen Rinpoche of Sera Mey and Gangchen Monastery in Tibet directly. It is highly efficacious and powerful. Having a strong body and long life can very much allow us freedom to practice the holy Dharma.

So many people with difficult diseases have been healed and helped by this great healing Lama. I have met Tibetan, Western and Chinese students who attest to His healing. Lucky for Europe, His Eminence Gangchen Rinpoche primarily resides in Italy. If one has the great fortune to be in Italy, one must visit Rinpoche at his retreat centre there situated near a lake.

From time to time for those fortunate to request, H.E. Gangchen Rinpoche also bestows the life entrustment initiation of Dorje Shugden. He will confer upon request. It is best you have one of the Annuttara Tantra initiations prior as a prerequisite to receive.

Gangchen Rinpoche has many teachings, videos and books that he authored specifically for modern day healing; incorporating ancient tantric meditations with modern exercises. One can view Gangchen Rinpoche’s wonderful videos on YouTube or you can search online.

Gangchen Rinpoche and Dorje Shugden

H.E. Gangchen Rinpoche has been true to the lineage of H.H. Kyabje Zong Rinpoche and faithfully practices Dorje Shugden. He is open and honest about it. For this, he is considered an enemy of Tibetans by the Tibetan Government in Exile.

Gangchen Rinpoche has been on the Tibetan Government’s top ten list of ‘state enemies’ since the whole Shugden affair started over 10 years back. Rinpoche has even received a few death threats. And for his practice of Dorje Shugden, he has been expelled from Sera Mey Monastery to which he has brought much financial benefit in the past. He is not allowed back into his Ladrang in Sera Monastery.

The buildings, prayer hall and monk rooms he has built in his Tsangpa Khamtsen, Sera Mey, are there but he is not allowed back. Yet the money he donated for building it was not returned to him at all. The Monastery kept the money, the buildings, the statues, the rooms and all the items inside, but asked Rinpoche not to return to it! Why doesn’t the Tibetan Government ask all the Three Great Gelugpa Monasteries to return all items, monies and donations made by all Dorje Shugden-practicing Sangha? Why throw them out but keep their offerings?

Just think, Gangchen Rinpoche is not allowed back to Sera or be involved in any of the Tibetan religious gatherings in India at all. His crime is that he practices Dorje Shugden. He refuses to give up the commitments he has received from H.H. Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang who is his root guru. He is open with regards to keeping his commitments to Trijang Rinpoche. Other countries count criminals as people who kill, rape, and rob. But in Tibetan society, you are a criminal if you practice Dorje Shugden. How is that possible in the current century?

Gangchen Rinpoche is brave and is the model of true guru devotion and of keeping religious commitments received from one’s sacred lineage master. He doesn’t hide or say he has given up the practice received from Trijang Rinpoche for political ‘cleanliness’. Nor does he practice Dorje Shugden to bring harm to H.H. the Dalai Lama or the Tibetan Government in Exile. Gangchen Rinpoche believes that Trijang Rinpoche gave that practice to help spiritual practitioners to overcome their heavy ‘Kaliyuga‘ obstacles, not something to harm H.H. the Dalai Lama with. Trijang Rinpoche would have no such intentions. Dorje Shugden practice originally was not intended for that purpose at all. And it remains the same now.

Gangchen Rinpoche has practiced Dorje Shugden since he met his root guru Trijang Rinpoche in Tibet prior to 1959, for aid and spiritual support of his work. Is that a crime? Is it a crime to follow Trijang Rinpoche’s holy instructions as Gangchen Rinpoche does with great devotion?

Also, to stop a practice given by a lama, you must ask the permission of the lama you received it from. Any lama CANNOT OVERRIDE THE COMMAND OF YOUR LAMA or any other lama from whence you received the practice. Since Trijang Rinpoche gave the practice and he has passed, Gangchen Rinpoche would not have the chance to ask Trijang Rinpoche to be excused from it. But since H.H. the Dalai Lama is advising not to worship, and he is alive, then it would make more sense that Gangchen Rinpoche requests the Dalai Lama to allow him to continue practicing.

H.E. Gangchen Rinpoche with H.H. Trijang Chocktrul Rinpoche

Gangchen Rinpoche also mentions that H.H. the Dalai Lama is the guru of all Tibet, so how can we go ‘against’ him? And why would we? We would not think of that. In fact, Gangchen Rinpoche has tremendous faith and respect for H.H. the Dalai Lama. However, any attempt to meet the Dalai Lama is blocked and not allowed. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the Dalai Lama met up with all the Dorje Shugden Lamas, sangha and practitioners in the world and became ‘friends’ and had dialogue? Open, honest, direct, face-to-face dialogue, the good old-fashioned Buddhist way?

In any democratic society, one will have the chance to meet and express one’s concerns to one’s leader if one goes through the proper channels. It would never not be allowed due to religious convictions. Being able to meet your leader and him listening to your concerns is THE HALLMARK OF A GOOD LEADER AND GOVERNMENT.

Gangchen Rinpoche and the Tibetan Government

On the Tibetan Government’s websites, they have a whole section with videos trying to defame and denigrate His Eminence Gangchen Rinpoche, and often speak and write derogatory messages against him. His healing practices are vehemently ridiculed. Any move he makes is twisted around. He is accused of being friends with the Chinese government so he is ‘ASSUMED TO BE ON THEIR PAYROLL.’ Payroll for what? The Tibetan Government accuses him of receiving money from China to incite disharmony within the Tibetan communities. The ridiculous point is that Rinpoche HAS BEEN PRACTICING DORJE SHUGDEN EVEN BEFORE 1959!

It is amazing that a government would do so much to suppress their own people. It’s shameful actually. Why are they against Gangchen Rinpoche? What was his alleged crime? Why is he at the top of their ‘hit’ list to defame? Gangchen Rinpoche’s only ‘crime’ is to worship Dorje Shugden. It reflects the immaturity of the Tibetan Government. They have so few in their exiled population already, yet they wish to isolate more people from within their community.

So, the Tibetan Government criticizes Gangchen Rinpoche for going to Beijing to ‘pay respects’ to the Chinese-endorsed Panchen Lama. They say Gangchen Rinpoche has very close ties with the Chinese Government. Well, that should be their cue to make friends with Gangchen Rinpoche and through Gangchen Rinpoche, make better relations with the Chinese Government for the sake of the six million remaining Tibetans in Tibet! Wouldn’t that make more sense?

H.H. Panchen Rinpoche with H.E. Gangchen Rinpoche

When Gangchen Rinpoche was asked why he does that, he mentions:

Don’t antagonize China further. We are a small group of people against the might of all China. We cannot win, so it is better to make friends with them. The important issue is to have some autonomy in Tibet to save the culture and the spiritual practices while there is time, otherwise it will be lost.

So, Rinpoche’s motive to meet the China-endorsed Panchen Lama was to make China ‘happy’ so their stance in Tibet would be less harsh. He mentions he has no intention of disrespect toward H.H. the Dalai Lama nor the Panchen Lama that H.H. Dalai Lama endorses.

Gangchen Rinpoche has said, it doesn’t matter if the Panchen Lama of China is real or not. If we are friendly towards him, then China will soften their stance and there is hope for the Tibetans within Tibet. He said, Tibetans outside Tibet are safe and prosperous, but we have to be concerned for the Tibetans within Tibet. So being on good terms with the China-endorsed Panchen Lama doesn’t mean we are against the Panchen Lama recognized by H.H. the Dalai Lama.

Gangchen Rinpoche has 100% conviction in the Dalai Lama’s choice. But we have to look at the bigger picture. It is not about the Dalai Lama’s choice or Beijing’s choice of the Panchen Lama, it is simply about making Beijing’s stance on Tibet softer so there can be real dialogue between the exile government and China BEFORE THE DALAI LAMA PASSES AWAY. Tibetans inside and outside Tibet revere the Dalai Lama, so he, while alive can motivate true dialogue with results.

Gangchen Rinpoche has also said that, instead of the Tibetan Government branding him as an enemy only because of his religious convictions, wouldn’t it be better if they made him and all Tibetan Lamas around the world friends of the Tibetan Government regardless of their religious practices? After all, in Tibet, Dorje Shugden was never a national or political issue. It is strictly a religious practice of the highest lamas to the simplest nomads. No one in Tibet practiced Dorje Shugden to gain in the political arena or with the wish to bring harm to the Dalai Lama or Tibetan Government. Why is it turned around to be like that now? That has never been the case and never will be.

Gangchen Rinpoche should be made the Tibetan Government in Exile’s Ambassador to China. When the Tibetans have so few people as it is and so few qualified people as it is, they should rope in these qualified persons. Why does Dorje Shugden’s practice have to be paid by the Chinese government to practice? This practice was going on for 350 years before 1959. I myself practice Dorje Shugden and he is my only protector and the foundation of my faith, but the Chinese Government doesn’t pay me any money to practice.

Gangchen Rinpoche also mentions he can better serve the Tibetan Government and Tibetans in general if the Tibetan Government treats him as a friend and citizen, and not ostracize him as a traitor simply because he practices Dorje Shugden. Where in the world can that happen today?

The Tibetan Government really alienates people to their own detriment. Whatever they have tried to do against Gangchen Rinpoche has no effect. It would make more sense for them to make ‘friends’ with Gangchen Rinpoche. The more friends the Tibetan Government have, the better it will be for them in the long run. I don’t think they can think on such a long term basis. Even their name is now changed to the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA). They have been demoted from a government to an administration. Shameful, sad, embarrassing and a sign of their demise or decline.

H.E. Gangchen Rinpoche with H.H. Pabongka Chocktrul Rinpoche

We are very fortunate to have a brave Bodhisattva warrior among us, who is very committed to the practice his gurus have passed to him. Gangchen Rinpoche has been the target of so many verbal and written attacks from the Tibetan Government for over 10 years now. Never once has Rinpoche shown anger.

H.E. Gangchen Tulku Rinpoche of Italy is equally brave, honest and does not bend to political pressure like Kyabje Dagom Rinpoche. Being in Rinpoche’s presence, one can feel great love and high wisdom. He is one of the kindest, most generous and devoted lamas which belong to the last generation of Tibet-trained masters. He holds guru devotion supreme. He has never spoken one ill word of another religion let alone another school of Buddhism. He works very hard in the Religious Affairs of The United Nations to bring about religious harmony in the world. How fortunate we are that Rinpoche’s powerful incarnation is among us. Seeing him truly is healing.

May some of my life be taken away to add to the lifespan of this great incomparable and compassionate healing lama! May his works further grow and may his aspirations come true! May H.E. Gangchen Rinpoche live very long! May H.E. Gangchen Rinpoche have dialogue with H.H. the Dalai Lama soon. May my guru Gangchen Rinpoche continue to be a shining example of true inspiration for the Buddhist community.

More Pictures and Videos

These are just some of Gangchen Rinpoche’s incredible activities around the world. They are just the tip of the iceberg of all that he has done.

Two great enlightened masters meet and share a light-hearted moment. The great Ganden Shartse Kensur Jampa Yeshe Rinpoche with His Eminence Gangchen Rinpoche of Sera Mey. 

These great Masters both share the same root teachers: Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche and Kyabje Zong Rinpoche. 

These are the last great Masters to have escaped from Tibet

Gangchen Rinpoche in front of the stupa containing the relics of Zangpo Tashi (Gangchen Rinpoche’s own predecessor) housed in Tashi Lhunpo.

March 1, 2003: H.E. Gangchen Rinpoche together with H.H. Kyabje Trijang Choktrul Rinpoche inviting the Buddha’s relics to be viewed in Switzerland. Many ambassadors, United Nations representatives and representatives of the different schools of Buddhism were there also

Holy healing lama, holder of Lord Losang Drakpa’s Lineage, Brave and Courageous with your commitments, may we have the fortune to come under your joyful care and one day meet you

His Eminence the Mahasiddha of Healing, Gangchen Tulku Rinpoche. Viewing, seeing, remembering, hearing and listening to the Lama brings waves of benefit and plants seeds of enlightenment to the mindstream. Prostrations to the Mahasiddha Gangchen Rinpoche!

H.E. Gangchen Rinpoche is a very devoted disciple of His Holiness Kyabje Zong Rinpoche and Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche.

Indian Mahasiddha Darikapa

Powerful rituals done by powerful Tulkus. What a superb example of a lionheart: devotion to his Lama, and not backing down due to political pressures.

Healing Lama Visits Tibet

A beautiful video of His Eminence Gangchen Rinpoche visiting his personal Gangchen Monastery in Tibet and other sacred sites. I find him to be a spectacular being.

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

Disclaimer: This article was submitted by a third party author and does not necessarily reflect the official opinion of DorjeShugden.com. We accept submissions from the public, please send in your articles to ds@dorjeshugden.com

Start by visualising Dorje Shugden in front you an arms length away, similar to visualizing Buddha or Tsongkapa during other visualizations.

Visualize and belief strongly that Dorje Shugden is one with your lama. This is very important and one should have great faith in this. If one believes this, it will carry on through our actions, as we get off the meditation cushion and into our daily affairs. If we had great faith in this, we would never break our guru samaya, break our promises, forget our commitments, etc.

Why? Because to visualise that our lama and protector is of the same nature, and then to break our samaya to our lama is contradictory. How can we break our commitments to a being we take refuge in? It is a false refuge from our side then. Therefore we gain no realizations even after millions of mantras have been recited. So if we believe all the time and not just during prayers that our lama and Protector are one and indivisible, we would conduct ourselves accordingly. This is one of the foundations of gaining attainments from our dharma practice.

Visualizing our Lama and Protector as one and reciting the mantra while visualizing the blessings in form of lights entering our body is a tremendous blessing to gain realizations. But we have to think of our Lama as the protector in nature even when our meditation is finished. We spend more time out of meditation than during meditation, so our view of our lama while not meditating is more important. How can we break our samaya to our lama during our daily lives, then during our meditations visualize blessings coming from a being we consider ‘ok’ to break our samaya with? Not logical.

So we must respect, listen to and follow the instructions of our lama and then only during meditations we can solicit his true nature as the protector to bestow healing and realizations upon us. Then when the lights come forth and bless us, we will gain healing and realizations due to our correct view of our Lama.

Next, start the mantra recitation. As you recite, visualize bright golden lights coming from Dorje Shugden’s heart entering the crown of your head and filling your body with bright golden wisdom light. Your body you visualise should be the same shape and size as your current body, but clear and vacuous, without your bones or internal organs or anything inside. See your body as light and clear.

These golden wisdom lights fill you up completely and bring you the power to easily understand the Dharma. They bring you the power of gaining attainments from the understanding of the Dharma. And they bring you the ability to overcome your negative habituations from your realization of the attainments. The golden lights are the blessings, attainments and transcendent abilities of your lama and protector.

The golden wisdom lights are also healing lights. Visualize the light that fills your body to heal your body of its problems. In particular, visualize the golden light going to the parts of your body that cause you problems eg your head if you suffer from headaches, your stomach if you have problems there, your heart if you have heart problems, etc. Visualize that these lights remove your problem and you are healed. Trust and believe.

If you feel tired at any time during the meditation, you can stop your visualisation for a moment. And once you are ready, you can start again from the beginning or continue where you left off.

Why do you need to visualize that you are healed although your body is vacuous? Because despite your visualization of a vacuous body, in reality you are not yet healed therefore the visualization is necessary.

Now that your body is healed and repaired to youthfulness, meditate on the fact that you did not get your human body for hedonistic life or for pleasure. Our body is a result of much prayers and merit accumulation from previous lives. It should not be wasted for empty pleasures that get us nowhere. Our bodies are the vehicles by which we can gain merits and benefit others tremendously. The potential is great. The healing meditation creates a body that is ready to collect merit. Ready to be used for others. Thus we should not waste it.

Of course we can still have occasional fun and indulge ourselves as we are still attached. But that is not the primary reason that we have acquired our rare human life.

Realising the above strongly activates the potency of Dorje Shugden’s mantra. The mantra is Manjushri’s mind and the power of mantra is activated by the correct motivation as explained above. Without the correct motivation and by merely reciting the mantra, it does not activate the power.

Although this meditation is for healing, do not just visualise the golden light from Dorje Shugden as just healing light. This reduces the power of your meditation. As Dorje Shugden is one with Wisdom Buddha Manjushri, the golden light has the wisdom of the Buddhas that takes you all the way to Enlightenment.

Other prayers that you recite along with your mantra are e.g.: Serkyem or Kanshag should also be recited sincerely, and not merely reciting for the sake of it. Motivation is everything. Focus is important to develop. Reciting without thinking will not bring even enlightenment to just your mouth since you are using your mouth to recite. Enlightenment is within the mind, therefore your mind must be excercised during recitations.

TK

This was written in accordance with the teachings my lama gave me to do while reciting the sacred mantra of Dorje Shugden daily. It is a method to expedite healing of illness both physical and mental.

Watch this video of beloved Lama Gangchen Rinpoche, the holder of an ancient and unbroken lineage of Tantric Masters dating from the time of Shakyamuni Buddha. His Ngalso Tantric Self-healing is based on Buddha’s teaching but it’s suitable for modern people.

The founder of The Lama Gangchen World Peace Foundation (L.G.W.P.F.)

Since 1982, Lama Gangchen has traveled extensively, both healing and teaching worldwide, leading many pilgrimages to some of the most important holy places of different religious and spiritual denominations in the world.

Since many years Lama Gangchen promotes a very important project: the integration between Tibetan Medicine (an incredible and unlikely still unknown treasure of humankind) with allopathic medicine.

Lama Gangchen is the holder of an ancient and unbroken lineage of Tantric Masters dating from the time of Shakyamuni Buddha. His Ngalso Tantric Self-healing is based on Buddha’s teaching but it’s suitable for modern people.

Click to download this video