The real test of his attainments, to me, is when he said that he was able to keep his mind peaceful and even happy by practicing the teachings he had learned due to the kindness of Lama Dorje Chang [Pabongka Rinpoche].

To read that it was His Eminence Ribur Rinpoche who recovered the two most precious statues of Shakyamuni Buddha: the Jowo Chenpo and the Ramo Chenpo which were originally brought to Tibet by the Chinese and Nepalese wives of King Songsten Gampo (ca 617-698). To think that despite being taken to Beijing during the Cultural Revolution and kept in various warehouses along with thousands of other statues for 17 years, Rinpoche found them and returned them to their respective temples in Lhasa.

Such skill in re-establishing the destroyed stupa of Lama Tsongkhapa, which contained some of Lama Tsongkhapa’s bodily relics in Tibet.

May Tenzin Pasang Rinpoche, the current incarnation grow up to continue the works of His Eminence Ribur Rinpoche.

He was also deeply involved in helping the Panchen Lama in the restoration of many lost spiritual treasures of Tibet. His particular accomplishment was the recovery of the two famous statues of Buddha Shakyamuni: the Jowo Chenpo and the Ramo Chenpo and their restoration to their respective temples in Lhasa. He also re-established the destroyed stupa of Lama Tsongkhapa, which contained some of Je Tsongkhapa’s body relics.

Later, when he left Tibet(in 1987)and resided in India, he wrote biographies of great lamas and an extensive history of Tibet(at the request of the Dalai Lama). He also spent many years living in California and visiting foreign countries , like Australia, New Zealand, America and some European countries. In California, he gave teachings and led retreats. Elsewhere, he focused on giving teachings to spread the pure Dharma of Je Tsongkhapa all over the world.

However, despite his many accomplishments, he says (in his ‘A Memoir of Pabongka Rinpoche’ ):

“The only thing that matters to me is that I was a disciple of Pabongka Rinpoche”.

His love and devotion to this great master whom he considers “the most important Tibetan Lama of all times” can be seen throughout his own life story. For example, he says he was able to endure all the hardship and torture in the hands of the Chinese Communist because he had put into practice the teachings of Pabongka Rinpoche. He had learnt much about mind training from Pabongka Rinpoche; so he was able to keep his mind peaceful and happy during these terrible times of great trial and tribulations by putting all of it into practice.

May his incarnation continue his great work as a teacher to spread the teachings of Je Tsongkhapa and the Gelugpa lineage everywhere, for the benefit of all beings.