Born Michel Calmanowitz in 1981, Lama Michel has been recognized by Lama Gangchen and many great lamas as a Tulku – the reincarnation of a Tibetan Buddhist Master. He was born to Bel and Daniel Calmanowitz who are both students of His Eminence Lama Gangchen Rinpoche. Just like many other Western Tulkus, Lama Michel chose to reincarnate in Brazil, not only to benefit the whole country and South America, but all of contemporary society.

Lama Gangchen visited Brazil for the first time in 1987, invited by Lama Michel’s parents. From this encounter was born a strong connection between the great healing lama and the Calmanowitz family, who founded the first of many Dharma centres in the West under the guidance of Gangchen Rinpoche: the ‘Shi De Choe Tsog’ Center.

A young Lama Michel with his teacher, H.E. Gangchen Rinpoche in 1988.

At the age of twelve, Lama Michel spontaneously decided to leave the trappings of lay life behind and began his monastic education in southern India, where the great Gelug monasteries are located. Throughout his youth, he repeatedly visited many sacred sites in India, Nepal, Indonesia, Cambodia, Mongolia and Tibet. During these pilgrimages, he had many intuitions, dreams and special visions. Lama Michel’s previous life imprints and altruistic mind had begun to manifest themselves in the traditional Buddhist manner.

Great lamas including Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Dagyab Rinpoche and Gelek Rinpoche have confirmed that Lama Michel is the reincarnation of Drubchok Gyalwa Sandrup, a 15th century yogi and lama from Gangchen Choepel Ling Monastery in Tibet. This monastery was founded by Panchen Zangpo Tashi, one of Lama Gangchen’s previous incarnations. His successor, the second regent of the throne, was none other than Drubchok Gyalwa Sangdrup.

Lama Michel and Gangchen Rinpoche have a very close student – teacher relationship from many lifetimes.

Lama Michel is really a special young tulku, and many people have noticed his pure energy – similar to the energy of Maitreya, the future Buddha of Love. His Tibetan name, Jangchub Choepel Lobsang Nyendrak, means the ‘Wise and famous mind of Enlightenment, who spreads the peace message of Dharma successfully’.

Under the close tutorship of Lama Gangchen Rinpoche, Lama Michel attends Buddhist studies and practice in Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, the seat of the Panchen Lamas, for up to three months each year. It is through Lama Michel’s devotion to his Guru and dedication to his studies that he is able to present the Dharma in English, Italian, and even quote from Tibetan scriptures at the same time.

Lama Michel continues to serve Lama Gangchen Rinpoche by spreading Lama Tsongkapa’s tradition in the ten directions. His young, dynamic and charismatic demeanor has enabled people from all walks of life to connect with the Dharma more effectively.

We at DorjeShugden.com would like to offer our prayers for the manifestation of Lama Michel’s vision in bringing the Dharma to more people so that they can benefit further.

Listen to Lama Michel’s Teachings

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Source : http://www.lgpt.net/bios/lamamichel.htm

This was a talk given by H.E. Gangchen Lama and translated into English by Lama Michel on the subject of the benefits of pilgrimage and getting to know one’s lineage.

Lama Michel Rinpoche and his entourage came to Shar Gaden on the 17th November 2010 for a 5 day-long visit for their Documentary project. Later, they will be visiting Serpom Monastery in Mysore. This filming is most likely related to the documentary project called ‘Lineage’.

For more information about ‘Lineage’, check out the site’s previous coverage on this documentary The Gaden Lineage.

His Eminence the renowned Gonsar Rinpoche has been a firm and strong practitioner of Dorje Shugden since day one. He is the root and heart student of Geshe Rabten and Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche among other teachers. He hails from Sera Je Monastery. He has wonderful centres in Switzerland, Mongolia and Austria.

Gonsar Rinpoche has recently built a beautiful Monastery in the Birthplance of our Lord Buddha in Lumbini, Nepal.

We rejoice another great monastery by Dorje Shugden practitioners has come up. This Monastery is in one of the holiest pilgrimage sites for the Buddhist World-The Buddha’s birthplace. A site visited by thousands per month. What a auspicious site to build a Monastery.

Gangchen Rinpoche, Laka Rinpoche, Domo Geshe Rinpoche, Rabten Rinpoche, Shugden Oracle Tenzin Chophel, Lama Michel Rinpoche

His Eminence Domo Geshe Rinpoche

Rabten Rinpoche (incarnation of Geshe Rabten) and His Eminence Gonsar Rinpoche

The sacred Shrine where Buddha issues forth from his holy mother Mayadevi. Beautiful.

His Eminence Gonsar Tulku Rinpoche. The builder and Abbot of this great Monastery.

Rabten Rinpoche

The abbot of Shar Gaden Monastery also attends. He is sitting on the right

Lama Michel Rinpoche, Gangchen Rinpoche, Domo Geshe Rinpoche and the Current Dorje Shugden Oracle Tenzin Chophel

Laka Rinpoche, Gangchen Rinpoche, Domo Geshe Rinpoche, Shugden Oracle Tenzin Chophel

Click on video below and watch the Inauguration video Part 1

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Click on video below and watch the Inauguration video Part 2

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(Portuguese with English Subtitles)
Note: at 2:58 in the video, there is a thangka of Dorje Shugden

Nothing comes from nothing and nothing comes to nothing.

To know and understand this better, the reality we live in, we need to know and understand the past and the present that surrounds us. Increasingly, we live without connecting with the relation of cause and effect, interdependence.

We look to see the fruits without the roots. This means that we have a superficial and not well-understood reality in which we live. Living almost everything as a fad, passing by and aimless.

By knowing the root, you will value the fruit and their seeds.

In Buddhism, the roots are important and manifest themselves through the lineage. The lineage is the uninterrupted transmission of knowledge, feelings, blessings and accomplishments. Moving on from master to disciple. From father to son.

Like a big family, which arises from a root with many distinct branches, Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha Shakyamuni, began this lineage. By His great compassion and wisdom He taught and showed the way for people in different ways, with different qualities.

So then began the different traditions, each following a path shown by Buddha. Each tradition, school, or philosophical views may seem in direct contradiction with another, but are in perfect harmony to the extent that they lead to the same result by different means.

The Ganden Gelug Nyengyu – the Whispered Lineage of Ganden, is a branch of this vast spiritual family. It was brought to Tibet from India by Atisha Dipankara, and then passed down to Lama Tsongkhapa, the 4th Panchen Lama Losang Chökyi Gyaltsen, passed to lineage masters like HH Pabongkha Dechen Nyingpo, HH Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche and from them to the present generation of teachers who maintain and transmit these teachings excellently in both the East and West.

To convey the preciousness of this lineage, this film aims to connect us with our roots and appreciate them. Thus creating value of the principles, values and knowledge we have and to be grateful for those handed down to us.

A comment about this part of the video – Our lineage has produced a massive number of great masters since the time of Lama Tsongkhapa. This lineage has also been engaging in the Dorje Shugden practice for the past 350 years.

The last 350 years saw the Gelugpa lineage in an uninterrupted fashion still producing great masters like His Holiness Trijang Rinpoche, His Holiness Pabongka Rinpoche and many others too many to be named here who relied on Dorje Shugden as their main protector. Hence the Dorje Shugden practice is proven to be beneficial and valid for our times.

The name of the documentary this trailer was made for is called ‘Lineage’. Read about what Lama Michel says about this documentary below.

‘Lineage’

LAMA MICHEL Rinpoche – “A spiritual tradition is kept alive not only by knowledge, but mainly for the inner transformation that comes as a result of spiritual practice based on transmission of knowledge and experience between master and disciple.

The documentary will tell the story of the lineage of Ganden Nyengyu, beginning with Shakyamuni Buddha, transmitted via many other great eminent masters before getting to His Holiness Trijang Rinpoche and contemporary masters like Lama Gangchen Rinpoche.

The value of this documentary is that it is important to all who are and still part of this spiritual family, all who are following this lineage. I ask everyone to believe in the value of the lineage and the importance of telling their story, to contribute and participate at making this project a success.

The first phase will be filming in Tibet, in August, and then there will be other phases of filming in India, Nepal, Europe, USA, Brazil, and the editing and completion.

I believe that with the help of the Sangha we will do it without any obstacle! I deeply appreciate the dedication, effort and affection of everybody!”

Cheers, in Dharma, Lama Michel