24. May 2023

Dear Friends,
our precious guru H. E. Ladakh Chosjey Togdan Rinpoche Konchok Thupstan Stanpey Gyaltsen manifested to enter into the path of Parinirvana on May 24, 2023 at the late night 11:23 pm Indian time at Phodrang Ugyan Dorjey Choszdong, Saboo, Leh Ladakh.

******

29. May 2023

Dear friends in Dharma in general and the students of His Eminence Togdan Rinpoche across the globe in particular:

As we are aware that His Eminence Ladakh Chos-rje Togdan Rinpoche entered into parinirvana last week on 24 May 2023. And, His Eminence is in the state of Thugs-dam now. As per the direction of H.H. Skyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche, His Eminence’s remains (Skudung) audience will be given as soon as he ends his Thugs-dam. (The dates of audience be updated later.) lt is also notified for your kind information that the cremation ceremony of His Eminence remains will be performed on 12 June 2023. (Time will be updated later.)
Until that the funeral pujas will continuously conduct at Urgyan Choszong Photang at Saboo, Leh Ladakh.

Reincarnation Service Committee

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/shachukul.gonpa
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093134710069

????? ?????????

HIS EMINENCE CHOJE TOGDAN RINPOCHE is the spiritual leader of the Drikung Kagyu Tradition in Ladakh. The title Togdan means “endowed with realization”. The previous Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche Shiwai Lodro recognized the young boy as the incarnation of Togdan Tulku when he was only 18 months old.

The Togden tulku are believed to be the successive incarnations of the Indian Mahasiddha Hungchen Kara (Hungkara), one of the Eight Great Vidyadharas. The other Eight Vidyadharas include Nagarjuna, Manjushrimitra and Vimalamitra.

Rinpoche is also recognized as the manifestation of Nyang Tingdzin Zangpo, the Tibetan minister of religion in the 8th century, and a key figure in the establishment of Buddhism in Tibet. He was one of the few masters in history said to have attained the rainbow body, the highest achievement of Tibetan Buddhism’s Dzogchen practice. He was the first abbot of Samye monastery and the heart disciple of the great guru Vimalamitra.

He was born into a poor family of Konchog Tsultrim and Kelsang Dolma in 1939 in Durbuk, a small village situated 110 km east from Leh in Changthang (Lalok). Only a few months later the young boy lost his mother and was taken care of by his aunt. At the time of his mother’s death, the family goat gave birth to new offspring and Rinpoche could drink its milk.

In 1951, accompanied by his teacher Gegen Sonam, the young Rinpoche traveled through Sikkim over three weeks on horseback on his way to Drikung Thil Monastery in Tibet. There he started his training, receiving teachings from renown spiritual masters and completing many retreats.

In 1960s, he met his root guru H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche in Kalimpong and subsequently organised a great transmission of Rinchen Terdzod by Dudjom Rinpoche in Tso Pema in early 1967. Thereafter, he was appointed by Dudjom Rinpoche as his successor in transmitting this teaching.

Having been recognized by the 36th H.H. Kyabgon Chetsang as the 9th Togdan Rinpoche, Rinpoche was given the leadership of the unbroken Drikung tradition in Ladakh. This included the responsibility for over 50 monasteries and the cultivation of the Drikung tradition in the region.

Rinpoche’s live achievements make him a model example for the dharma practitioner of the modern times; attaining excellence in both worldly and spiritual life.

(Text from https://www.drikungkc.org)