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See more historical details under [[Kathok Monastery]]
[[Image:Lama_Kunga_Rinpoche.jpg|right|Lama Kunga Rinpoche]]


In the [[Nyingma]] Tradition, there are [[six principal Nyingma monasteries]]:
=='''Lama Kunga Thartse Rinpoche''' ==
     
Resident Teacher at [[Ewam Choden Tibetan Buddhist Center]]
Lama Kunga (Lozang Kunga Gyurme), Thartse Rinpoche was born into a noble family in Lhasa in 1935, the son of [[Tsipon Shuguba]], Treasurer in the Dalai Lama's government.


1 [[Kathok Monastery]] 2 [[Palyul Monastery]] 3 [[Dzogchen Monastery]] 4 [[Shechen Monastery]] 5 [[Mindroling Monastery]] 6 [[Dorje Drak Monastery]]
At the age of 7, he was recognized as a reincarnation of [[Sevan Repa]], a heart disciple of [[Milarepa]], Tibet’s great 11th century poet-saint. Rinpoche entered [[Ngor Monastery]] at eight and was ordained as a monk at sixteen. In 1959, he was Vice-Abbot [Shabdrung] of the [[Sakyapa]] Ngor Thartse Monastery, of which his older brother Sonam Gyatso, Thartse Khen Rinpoche, was abbot. He escaped Tibet with his countrymen at the time of Chinese invasion.


The sub-tradition of [[Nyingma]] Kat'hok is the source of all the other sub-traditions and historically, it is the oldest of all traditions of Buddhism in Tibet.  
In 1972 Rinpoche came to America and at the request of His Holiness the Dalai Lama joined Geshe Wangyal in New Jersey. Later, at the requests of students he came to Kensington, California and established the Ewam Choden Tibetan Buddhist Center. Lama Kunga has also taught in New Jersey, New York, Washington, D.C., Wisconsin, Oregon, Florida, Utah, Minnesota, and Arkansas.  


http://www.kathok.org.sg/images/freq_used/Mona/01.jpg
Over his years in America Lama Kunga was hosted the great masters of many traditions of Tibetan Buddhism at Ewam Choden. These masters include:
 
Great [[Kat'hok Dorje Den]]
 
http://www.kathok.org.sg/images/freq_used/Rinpoche/HHTampa/01.jpg
 
Location
 
The main monastery of Kat'hok is located in the [[Si Chuan]] Province, [[White Jade County]] - [[Ho Po]] region ([[Derge]]), a pure land where all the people embrace the Teachings of [[Lord Buddha]]. The monastery is situated at the middle of the [[Bai Long Gou]] ([[White Dragon Channel]]) on [[Do-Nian]] Mountain.
 
It was found by the great Nyingma Master [[Tampa Deshek]] in Year 1159.
 
The full name of the monastery is Kat'hok Dorje Den ([[Ga Tuo Duo Ji Dan]]) named so because the monastery is built on top of a naturally-arisen "Ga" letter on a huge and smooth white-coloured stone.
 
"[[Dorje Den]]" in [[Tibetan]] means "[[Vajra Seat]]", [Vajrasana] the holiest place for Buddhists all over the world, the very place where [[Lord Buddha]] manifested the Great [[Enlightenment]].
   
   
Great [[Guru]] [[Padmasambhava]] declared that the blessings of Kat'hok would reign supreme and is equivalent to that of the [[Vajra Seat]] in [[Bodhgaya]] on which [[Lord Buddha]] attained [[Enlightenment]]. [[Guru Rinpoche]] personally consecrated Kat'hok Monastery 13 times and prophesied Kathok to be The Supreme Holy Place of the Snowy Lands, The Ultimate Source for the Dissemination of the [[Vajrayana]] Teachings of the Great [[Dakini]] [[Yeshe Tsogyal]].
* [[the Dalai Lama]]
 
* [[Chobgye Trichen]]
100,000 Rainbows of Kat'hok
* [[Sakya Trizin]]
 
* [[Dudjom Rinpoche]]
Relying upon the unique Kat'hok's esoteric practices of the [[Dzogchen Zuktor Sangwai Mengag]], [[Dzogchen Semde Deun Poa]] and 13 other great volumes of precious Teachings, there have, from the founding of Kat'hok to the present time of [[Ya La Bai Ma Deng Du]], been 100,000 practitioners who have attained the highest enlightened stage of [[Rainbow Body]]. The holy place containing the foot-prints of 100,000 dakinis are still clearly visible on Mount [[Duo Nian]] today. The unsurpassable blessings of the holy Kat'hok [[Nyingma Tradition]] are unique.
* [[Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche]]
 
* [[Kalu Rinpoche]]
http://www.kathok.org.sg/images/freq_used/Mona/eatgrass.jpg
* [[Dezhung Rinpoche]]
 
* [[Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche]]
Golden Kat'hok [[Nyingma Lineage]]  
 
The Kat'hok [[Nyingma Lineage]] is analogous to the essence of the most refined gold. In the centuries of Kat'hok's history, there have been a total of 123 accomplished masters from the time of the Kat'hok Great founder [[Tampa Deshek]] to:
 
the 80th Throne-holder [[Kat'hok Tai Situ Chokyi Gyaltsen Rinpoche]], Situ Rinpoche's students, include the great [[Khenpo Lei Xia Deng]], [[Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Lodro]] Rinpoche, [[Geze Rinpoche]], [[Deng Be Namjia Rinpoche]], great [[Khenpo Gyaltsen Ozer]] and other great masters.
 
From the great [[Khenpo Gyaltsen Ozer Rinpoche]], the Holy Throne-holder of Kat'hok was passed on to [[Mocha Rinpoche]] and [[Dimed Shing Kyong Rinpoche]], the 83rd Throne-holder of Kat'hok.
 
Now, the glorious seat of the Kat'hok [[Nyingma Lineage]] is occupied by the [[H.H. Lhoga Rinpoche]] as the 84th Supreme Throne-holder of Kat'hok.
 
http://www.kathok.org.sg/images/freq_used/Rinpoche/HHLhoga/08.jpg
 
H.H. Lhoga Rinpoche -- Nyingma Kat'hok 84th Lineage Throne Holder


From the great [[Guru Padmasambhava]], the [[H.H. Lhoga Rinpoche]] could be considered as the 99th Absolute Lineage-holder of the [[Nyingma Tradition]].
With unparalleled patience and generosity Lama Kunga has responded to the heartfelt supplication of his students and taught, line by line, word by word, week after week, many of the great jewels of the Sakya tradition including:
Presently, many rinpoches from the main Kathok Monastery are diligently spreading the Kathok Nyingma's Teachings of Lord Buddha for the benefit of mother sentient beings everywhere and are duly recognised through the precious instructions of the:


..great Khenpo Jamyang and other great masters
From the [[Lamdre]] tradition
..the noble Dimed Shing Kyong Rinpoche
* The Triple Tantra (rgyud gsum) of [[Ngorchen Konchog Lhundrup]]
..H.H. Mocha Rinpoche
* The Later Eight Cycles (lam skor phyi ma brgyad) of [[Jetsun Dragpa Gyaltsen]]
..Ge Ze Rinpoche
* Many commentaries on the practice of [[Hevajra]]
..Chadral Rinpoche
..Jiang Yang Tulku and so on.


http://www.kathok.org.sg/images/freq_used/Rinpoche/HHMocha/02.jpg
Commentaries on the Tradition of [[Vajrayogini]] (Naropa's Khecari) by
* [[Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo]]
* [[Dragpa Gyaltsen]] (rtsa dbu ma khrid yig)
* [[Thartse Khen Ngawang Palzang]]
* [[Jamyang Khyentse Wangchuk]] (The Six Summaries (sdom drug) also known as the "Seven Day Teaching"
* As well as many smaller works by [[Losel Tankyong]], [[Ludrup Mangtho Gyatso]], and others.


Father of Kathok Monastery H.H. Mocha Rinpoche
Lama Kunga is also an avid golfer and has been featured in Golf Digest magazine and on ESPN.


However, owing to the great number of affiliated monasteries of Kathok, it is virtually impossible to list out of all the great masters.
===Primary Teachers===
Ngor Pan De Khen Rinpoche (ngag dbang mkhas grub rgya mtsho)
Ngor Abbot Dampa Rinpoche Ngawang Lodro Shenphen Nyingpo (ngag dbang blo gros gzhan phan snying pop) (1876 - 1953)


Nevertheless, accomplished prominent masters of Kathok who propagated the Dharma overseas are as follows:
===Primary Lineage===


..Chatral Rinpoche ..Bairo Tulku Rinpoche
===Publications===
(the younger brother of H.H. the Mocha Rinpoche; the father of the present H.H. Gyalwang Drukchen Rinpoche, the supreme head of the Drukpa Kagyu Tradition)
Lama Kunga has published two collections of Songs of Milarepa
..Kathok Tai Situ Rinpoche
''Drinking the Mountain Stream : Songs of Tibet's Beloved Saint, Milarepa'', Lama Kunga, Brian Cutillo, Wisdom Publications, 1995.
..Weng Chu Rinpoche
..Yanpan Sherap Gyaltsen (Karma) Rinpoche
(the present 85th Kathok Lineage Throne Holder, - previous life was Xire Jiangcan, one of the 3 Immediate Enlightened Ones.)
..Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche .. Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche .. Wei Yin Tulku and other noble masters.


http://www.kathok.org.sg/images/freq_used/Rinpoche/HHKarma/01.jpg
''Miraculous Journey: New Storys and Songs of Milarepa,''
 
Lama Kunga, Brian Cutillo, Lotsawa, 1986.
Kathok Monastery at present
 
For hundreds of years, the Kathok Nyingmapas had monasteries all over Tibet, Bhutan, India, Sikim, Mongolia as well as China. During the ancient times, there were over 300 monasteries but many were in ruins. However, thanks to diligent reconstruction efforts in recent years, there are now a total of 130 monasteries still existing. The great Khenpo Gyaltsen Ozer; Mocha Rinpoche; Kyong Jung Rinpoche as well as H.H. Lhoga Rinpoche have been incessantly working hard to revive the once extremely vibrant Kathok Tradition. They are rebuilding many Kathok holy temples, monasteries, Buddhist colleges and meditation retreat centers.
 
In particular, they oversee the reconstruction of the magnificently spectacular holy mandala of the Auspicious Copper-Coloured Mountain, the Pure-land of Padmasambhava, so that it can once again be a holy place for everyone, everywhere.
http://www.kathok.org.sg/images/freq_used/Rinpoche/misc/HHKJ.jpg


H.H. Kyong Jung Rinpoche
''In the Presence of My Enemies: Memoirs of Tibetan Nobleman Tsipon Shuguba,'' Sumner Carnahan, Lama Kunga Rinpoche, Heartsfire Books.
One of the greatest masters in the Kat'hog lineage


The [[Kathok Buddhist University]] is the highest institution of learning in the Kat'hok [[Nyingma Tradition]]. The entire course stretches for a period of 5 years. Monks who aspire to continue their studies at [[Kat'hok Buddhist University]] have to first graduate from their own local Buddhist institutions before they are allowed to pursue their post-graduate studies at [[Kathok Buddhist University]].
===Internal Links===


===External Links===
*[http://www.ewamchoden.org/ Lama Kunga's Center: Ewam Choden]


[[category:Sacred Sites]]
[[Category:Tibetan Buddhist Teachers]]
[[category:Nyingma Lineages]]
[[Category:Sakya Masters]]
[[Category: Six Main Nyingma Monasteries]]

Latest revision as of 20:54, 18 January 2012

Lama Kunga Rinpoche

Lama Kunga Thartse Rinpoche

Resident Teacher at Ewam Choden Tibetan Buddhist Center Lama Kunga (Lozang Kunga Gyurme), Thartse Rinpoche was born into a noble family in Lhasa in 1935, the son of Tsipon Shuguba, Treasurer in the Dalai Lama's government.

At the age of 7, he was recognized as a reincarnation of Sevan Repa, a heart disciple of Milarepa, Tibet’s great 11th century poet-saint. Rinpoche entered Ngor Monastery at eight and was ordained as a monk at sixteen. In 1959, he was Vice-Abbot [Shabdrung] of the Sakyapa Ngor Thartse Monastery, of which his older brother Sonam Gyatso, Thartse Khen Rinpoche, was abbot. He escaped Tibet with his countrymen at the time of Chinese invasion.

In 1972 Rinpoche came to America and at the request of His Holiness the Dalai Lama joined Geshe Wangyal in New Jersey. Later, at the requests of students he came to Kensington, California and established the Ewam Choden Tibetan Buddhist Center. Lama Kunga has also taught in New Jersey, New York, Washington, D.C., Wisconsin, Oregon, Florida, Utah, Minnesota, and Arkansas.

Over his years in America Lama Kunga was hosted the great masters of many traditions of Tibetan Buddhism at Ewam Choden. These masters include:

With unparalleled patience and generosity Lama Kunga has responded to the heartfelt supplication of his students and taught, line by line, word by word, week after week, many of the great jewels of the Sakya tradition including:

From the Lamdre tradition

Commentaries on the Tradition of Vajrayogini (Naropa's Khecari) by

Lama Kunga is also an avid golfer and has been featured in Golf Digest magazine and on ESPN.

Primary Teachers

Ngor Pan De Khen Rinpoche (ngag dbang mkhas grub rgya mtsho) Ngor Abbot Dampa Rinpoche Ngawang Lodro Shenphen Nyingpo (ngag dbang blo gros gzhan phan snying pop) (1876 - 1953)

Primary Lineage

Publications

Lama Kunga has published two collections of Songs of Milarepa Drinking the Mountain Stream : Songs of Tibet's Beloved Saint, Milarepa, Lama Kunga, Brian Cutillo, Wisdom Publications, 1995.

Miraculous Journey: New Storys and Songs of Milarepa, Lama Kunga, Brian Cutillo, Lotsawa, 1986.

In the Presence of My Enemies: Memoirs of Tibetan Nobleman Tsipon Shuguba, Sumner Carnahan, Lama Kunga Rinpoche, Heartsfire Books.

Internal Links

External Links