H.E. Kensur Rinpoche Jetsun Jampa Yeshe (1928-2011)
In 1927, Kham (Tibet), His Eminence Kensur Rinpoche Jampa Yeshe was born. When he turned 16, he entered Gaden Shartse Monastery where he excelled in his Buddhist studies under many renowned masters, such as Geshe Lobsang Rinpoche, H.E. Lati Rinpoche and Geshe Lobsang Palden.
During the Chinese invasion in 1959, H.E. Kensur Rinpoche went to India with His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. There, he continued his studies and in 1971 was conferred the Lharam Geshe degree (Ph.D equivalent) in the presence of H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama and many other senior lamas. This was during the Grand Prayer celebration and many Sangha applauded his intelligence and humility.
In 1984, Kensur Rinpoche was appointed as the Abbot of Gaden Shartse Monastery by H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama, which he served as for 7 years. It was then that I had the honour of being the secretary and translator for Kensur Rinpoche.
H.E. Kensur Rinpoche is a renowned Dharma scholar and highly realized meditation master. He was known to hold his vows very strongly and under his abbotship, the excellence in Buddhist studies within Gaden Shartse Monastery grew.
Yesterday I got news that my 82 year old teacher, His Eminence Kensur Rinpoche Jetsun Jampa Yeshe entered into clear light. As I type this, Rinpoche still is in clear light meditation. The monks of Gaden Shartse Monastery are doing chanting of sacred texts, prayers, self initiations 24 hours daily non-stop. A Highly accomplished master like this stays in clear light in this manner. His body does not decompose, or lose heat yet clinically passed. His passing strikes me deeply with sadness and a tremendous sense of loss. I have sent two people to represent me to Gaden already. Beng Kooi and Bryan will do the appropriate offerings on my behalf and Kechara.
Tsem Rinpoche
My sadness and memories of you great teacher swirls in my mind, I’m numb for the moment,
I have not fulfilled everything you have commanded, but I will. I will.
Your speech, knowledge, patience, and example leaves indelible marks
upon my soul,
I cannot forget you, but will honour your presence in my life
with further hard work to bring Dharma to many more.
There is no physical distance between your mind and mine,
but as a child blinded by samsare, I miss you. I love you. I will always long for you.
I entreaty you to forgive me of my transactions that has disturbed your
holy mind in any way known and unknown manner during our relationship,
as they were without intent. May those karmas be purified.
Some say Guru devotion takes away from clear self freedom and entraps
us to another. But your trap is much better than the prison of samsara I falsified freedom within.
Some think Guru devotion is outdated and not for the educated, but
what education in samsara can release me from my mind? Why am I not
released?
My Lord Guru, my burdens, responsibilities, work, and directions for the dharma are a long and lonely road,
without you physically it makes everything more empty, I can only sustain
knowing you are no other than Yamantaka, and my childless attachment to
your physical form deletes my true understanding of your real unchanging nature for the moment. I will rise and do my work harder in your memory.
I have served you, sponsored you, offered you food, residence, and dedications recognized or not, but those are just the outer and simple services which are my duty. But I will serve you by continuing to destroy my self clinging mind that is the source of all my problems. I will serve you by benefitting others courageously even more. This I promise.
May I have the clean samaya to meet you again and again in whatever form you choose to manifest in future incarnations. May I enjoy your Manjushri like speech, your courage equal to Lokeshvara and your unchanging natural mind of Yamantaka. May I again take rebirth as your Dharma servant so that I may gain the attainments you accomplished aeons ago.
~Your silly and worthless student, Tsem Rinpoche
Kensur Rinpoche and myself having audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
My Guru Kensur Jampa Yeshe Rinpoche introduced me as the reincarnation of the 72nd Abbot of Gaden Shartse to H.H. the Dalai Lama here. H.H. confirmed my recognition as a Tulku (Rinpoche) and then this picture was taken on top of Gaden Lachi Prayer Hall. I offered His Holiness a Vajrapani statue with other items pictured here…
My two students, Henry Ooi and Dato’ Ruby Khong, paying a visit to Kensur Rinpoche Jampa Yeshe.
Whilst in Gaden, I served as a secretary and translator to my Guru. We’re both pictured here together when he was then the Abbot of Gaden Shartse Monastery. He was very well known in the monastic community as a pure monk who holds his vows immaculately. I was walking him back after prayers in the Gaden Shartse Prayer Hall. Kensur Rinpoche lived in a house in the Monastery that I built and offered him. I also lived in the same house with him.
Kensur Rinpoche and I
When Tsem Ladrang was built in Gaden Monastery (sponsored by my birth father, Lobsang Gyatso), I invited Kensur Rinpoche to live with me there. I offered him the biggest room while I happily occupied room in the house below to serve him. I also became the house master where I trained and disciplined the monks in Tsem Ladrang to serve my Guru well. When I left Gaden to reside in Malaysia, I offered Tsem Ladrang Gaden to Kensur Rinpoche and hence, Tsem Ladrang has since been renamed Kensur Ladrang.
Kensur Rinpoche Jampa Yeshe during his prayers in his room.
Kensur Rinpoche Jampa Yeshe with Khensur Kunchok Tsering Rinpoche (the ex-Abbot of Gaden Monastery)
His Holiness Zong Rinpoche offering long life to Kyabje Lati Rinpoche and His Eminence Kensur Jampa Yeshe Rinpoche
Photos from Kensur Rinpoche’s funeral at Gaden Monastery
Dear Rinpoche, my deepest sympathy to you. May His Eminence, return soon to continue and guide all sentient beings.
Dear Rinpoche, we all share your sadness. we pray for the swift reincartion of H.E Kensur Jampa Yeshe Rinpoche to continue to turn the wheel of Dharma and benefit more snetient being in his next future rebirth. Om Tare Tutare Ture So Ha.
Dear Rinpoche
Thank-you so much for sharing this. .
wishing you all the best at this time (my thoughts are with you-~)
what a wonderful looking monk ~ (it makes me so happy to know that there are extraordinary people who are able to hold their vows so purely in this world. for some reason that I can’t explain.-
with best wishes
Very sorry to hear this. Kensur Rinpoche Jampa Yeshe is a direct part of Rinpoche’s mind and wisdom which benefits so many. I pray that Rinpoche experiences no sadness, sense of loss, or pain whatsoever, and that Kensur Rinpoche Jampa Yeshe quickly attains his nirmanakaya body to benefit others.
It is with extreme sadness that we learn of the passing into clear light of his Eminence Kensur Rinpoche Jetsun Jampa Yeshe. Undoubtedly, it is also an irreparable loss for many of his devotees and followers who have gone under and greatly inspired by his learned teachings and guidance, which many will miss dearly. We join in collectively with the multitude of these people to mourn for his passing away into clear light, and the immensed loss of such a great renown dharma scholar and teacher, but we constantly will pray hard for his swift rebirth to return to guide and benefit all sentient beings. ‘OM MANI PADME HUM.’
It is with great sadness to hear of the passing of a great master His Eminence Kensur Rinpoche Jetsun Jampa Yeshe.
May His Eminence take a swift rebirth to continue and guide all sentient beings.
It seems like only yesterday that Dato’ Ruby Khong and I had the great fortune to be in the presence of H.E. Kensur Rinpoche Jetsun Jampa Yeshe in Kuala Lumpur to make offerings on behalf of H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche and Kechara.
May H.E. Kensur Rinpoche make a very swift return to continue teaching the holy dharma.
extreme sadness to hear the news of the passing of a great guru,Jampa yeshe Rinpoche.May Rinpoche come back swiftly and teach us again to be liberated from our sufferings.
Your student in full prostration,
Teo chee Keong (Singapore)
Dear Rinpoche,
We are all deeply saddened by the passing of Rinpoche’s Guru, the great Master Kensur Rinpoche Jetsun Jampa Yeshe.We sincerely hope and pray that his incarnation will return quickly to turn the wheel of Dharma and continue his great work in teaching and spreading the Dharma.
Even in passing, this great compassionate Holy Being continues to manifest teachings on Death, Impermanence and Karma to us. (As his mind remains in clear light, his body shows no sign of decomposition, although this is seven days after his passing.Kensur Rinpoche is currently in death meditation and will decide the time when his mind will leave his body.As an attained Master, he will choose his own reincarnation where it will benefit beings most).
He shows us that our body is separate from our mind. When we die our body will decay and be no more. Our mind (consciousness) will go on to another rebirth in this or another samsaric realm of existence. Our next rebirth will be dictated by our Karma. Hence, he sends us a strong reminder about the importance of the practice of Dharma.
All the monks in the monastery miss Kensur Rinpoche because Kensur Rinpoche loved and cared for everyone. I hope his incarnation will return soon.
_/\_ _/\_ _/\_
Many of us who are new to Gaden would not be familiar to who Kensur Rinpoche is but the older students of Rinpoche would definitely remember who this grand master of Gaden is!
Tsem Rinpoche has in many occasions recounted His experience with his Guru and the then Abbot of Gaden Monastery. Tsem Rinpoche worked closely with Kensur Rinpoche serving Him as his private secretary and Tsem Rinpoche even offered his own house, the then Tsem Ladrang for his Master’s use. Tsem Rinpoche’s stainless devotion towards this master has even earned the recognition of the succeeding Abbots of Gaden.
At one time, when Kensur Rinpoche retired as abbot, another Geshe took up abbotship of the monastery. Tsem Rinpoche was outside running errands and heard from the Ladrang’s monks that the Abbot was at Tsem Ladrang to see Tsem Rinpoche! In tradition, monks of the monastery would meet the abbot at his quarters but as the Abbot was moved by Tsem Rinpoche’s devotion to his Guru, Kensur Rinpoche, the Abbot decided to meet Tsem Rinpoche in his house.
It was a great honor and Tsem Rinpoche felt humbled and received the Abbot with great humility.
These and more stories were living testaments of Rinpoche’s faith and devotion to his Gurus. If you notice well enough, some of Tsem Rinpoche’s gestures when Rinpoche teaches and His passion, enthusiasm of the Dharma are similar if not the same as Kensur Rinpoche.
The passing of such an illustrious master of our time, one of the last living treasures of Old Tibet is definitely a loss to humankind. We are definitely fortunate to have HE Tsem Rinpoche with us now. Let us continue to work hard towards Rinpoche’s goals and visions in which will create causes for the Gaden Lineage to prosper and grow here in our Land!
Kensur Rinpoche Jampa Yeshe, you are always in my heart.
I’m sorry to hear about the loss of this great guru. All my sympathy to you Tsem Rinpoche, and to all the students who had the chance of meeting him. May H.E. Kensur Jampa Yeshe Rinpoche have a swift reincarnation and come back as soon as possible to keep turning the wheel of dharma for the benefit of all the sentient beings.
Wow I have not seen the bottom pictures of H.E. Kensur Rinpoche’s cremation and the pictures of the sign he has left pointing to the direction of his rebirth location?
These are the real qualities of highly attained Lamas! And I am so amazed by Kensur Rinpoche humility that Rinpoche has shared so much with us… how he has not a single bone of ego in him and even he is in his 80′s he would still do water offerings himself and give teachings. I am humbled by this living Buddha that we have the great opportunity to encounter in this life!
I remebered Rinpoche used to tell us how Kensur Rinpoche is such a pure humble noble monk that Rinpoche literally had to force Kensur Rinpoche to accept Rinpoche’s house offering. How Kensur Rinpoche did not want to accept is because he said He is a “nobody”. Oh my goodness and high lama like him who was the Abbot of Gaden can say this, what more us and how we are so full of ourselves thinking we’re doing the world a great deed by doing “Dharma work”. And Rinpoche used to tell us that Kensur Rinpoche never have any demands or wants, but just quietly does his Dharma and use to say he does not wish for anything because he does not want to utilise his good karma… I thought oh wow, this is a true Lama that really fully applies the Dharma.
So many elite masters have come from the great Gaden, we are so fortunate to be receiving teachings from this great line of Gelug lineage where it stems back to H.H. Trijang Rinpoche and H.H. Pabongka Dorje Change. We must have done something good in the past to have such a good karma/merits.
I’ve never really met His Eminence Kensur Jampa Yeshe Rinpoche… but I sure heard a great deal about this beautiful Lama who is Rinpoche’s beloved Guru. Some older students have met this highly attained Lama, received Vajrayogini initiation from him and they are truly so fortunate and blessed. But this also shows me how caring and respectful, humble Tsem Rinpoche is towards his own teacher, that He would advice his own students to receive teachings from this Guru… which I realise is in the 50 verses of Guru Devotion. Rinpoche tells us that Kensur Jampa Yeshe is one with Yamantaka… you would expect a really huge wrathful Lama, but in reality they are all so compassionate and all they do is pure Dharma. So I am not surprised that the esteemed Kensur Rinpoche enter in clear light meditation at time of his passing… and this goes to show that He is truly a highly attained Lama! It also gave me more affirmation about incarnation, reincarnations and that they truly do exist.