THE ABBOT OF GADEN SHARTSE SUPPORTS US
In Gaden:
I am greeting the then abbot Ken Rinpoche Tenzin Drakpa.
I have always seen him before he was an abbot. He is a simple monk, who doesn't require a lot and very quiet. I had very little next no interaction with him at the time but of course when we passed by each other in the monastery, we would smile and say hello, but that was it.
When he became the abbot, his true colors shined out. He is very devoted to Gaden Shartse and its traditions. He worked hard as the abbot with no self interest to improve the various depts and finances of the Monastery. He showed no personal bias, and he took care of all the monks like his own students.
When I was going to visit Gaden in 2006 with around 62 persons, we had to fly from Kuala Lumpur to Bangalore then from Bangalore take a flight to Hubli (nearest city to Gaden and 1 hour away by flight). Bangalore by bus is 10 hours away from Hubli. The abbot sent a message that he would come to Bangalore to receive me and our group!!! He was representing Gaden Shartse Monastery to come meet us as we have been sponsoring many items in Gaden Shartse and Lachi and he felt great gratitude! I WAS BLOWN AWAY BY HIS HUMILITY AND GENUINE APPRECIATION OF THE SPONSORSHIP TO GADEN MONASTERY FROM US AND ANYONE.
At that moment, I realized that he is a real Geshe, a real abbot and had great concern for Gaden without any personal agenda. My respect for him grew tremendously. I thought, wow, the HH Dalai lama sure picked a great Geshe to be the Abbot of Gaden Shartse. Of course, I felt very humbled and I sent a respectful message to the Abbot asking him to PLEASE DO NOT COME TO BANGALORE TO GREET US. IT IS FAR AWAY AND IT WOULD BE VERY INCONVENIENT FOR HIM. I told him that we would meet in Gaden itself.
He accepted.
His term of abbotship is successfully over now in Gaden after serving the Monastery from his heart. He is now Kensur Rinpoche Tenzin Drakpa. I sometimes send greetings to him as he is retired and is teaching in the Monastery.
Gaden Shartse will improve, grow and secure many supporters for the sake of the monks is solely up to the abbot and his broadminded thinking. If he works from fear, or narrow thinking for himself, then the Monastery will suffer tremendously.
The Abbot must take care of his monks, geshes, tulkus, teachers and patrons for the sake of the survival of the Monastery long term. He must keep in good contact with all the Gaden Shartse Monks that are not living in Gaden but abroad. Because these are the monks that will have great loyalty and wish to support the Monastery further. If the Gaden Shartse monks living abroad are neglected, not contacted, or not appreciated by the abbot and his current administration, then the Monastery will suffer many setbacks. It is in the hands of a good abbot that is selfless.
I never realised the Abbot of Gaden Shartse Monastery had such a heavy responsibility on his shoulders. Yet he is such a humble monk that he was willing to travel out of the Monastery to greet Tsem Tulku Rinpoche and the rest of the Kechara pilgrims! This was during the pilgrimage to Gaden in 2006 and you can read more about it here http://www.kechara.com/travel/travel-with-us/past-pilgrimages/gaden-2006/
Imagine being responsible for all the monks of Gaden Shartse, which number more than 1500. And prior to the Cultural Revolution, there were many many many more monks when Gaden monastery was based in Tibet. One of Rinpoche’s previous incarnations was an Abbot of Gaden Shartse, Gendun Nyedrak. The Abbots of the main monasteries are selected by the Dalai Lama. This is the current practice in India which originated from Tibetan tradition and hence, Gendun Nyedrak would also have received the Dalai Lama’s seal of approval.
I remembered being part of that group of 62 when we all travelled to Gaden in 2006, with much fondness. Rinpoche made such wonderful and extensive arrangements for all of us to ensure that we had a thorough tour of Gaden – from visiting Rinpoche’s cowshed house, to having audiences with all the great Lamas. It was a truly valuable learning experience, especially meeting with the great Lamas in Gaden. I felt very priviledged and much blessed. This post makes me realize that all great leaders are not just born great. They have to work hard to become great. So much is dependent on the leader of any organization – be it a corporate entity, a country or a monastery – the same principles and qualities apply. Hence, the Ex-Abbot of Gaden Shartse, Kensur Rinpoche Tenzin Drakpa, sets a very good example on how a great leader should be – one who cares for the greater whole, well and above himself. After all, when a leader is elected, it is really his or her chance to serve others. That is truly a precious opportunity to give back, although it does not come with a bed of roses. I think what Rinpoche mentioned about keeping in contact with all monks abroad and local is very crucial. Again, I do not see this as different in our secular world. Keeping in contact with related parties only serves to strengthen ties and friendship. Hence, continued support will flow. Thank you for sharing so much, Rinpoche. Now, I have a deeper respect for all the Abbots in the monastery. Much more than the very first time I met them. Thank you.
I think it is quite cool that we have an abbot of a real and great monastery that supports us. Gaden monastery is a great monastic university that people can learn the Dharma. It was founded by the great saint that liberated Tibet at the time, Lama Tsongkhapa. Just like the Abbot, we must not try and ask for to many things or else that will just be plain selfish. It is best to remain quiet to refrain from saying something hurtful or nasty. We should also have no personal bias at all.
I really wish I could visit Gaden Shartse one day for pilgrimage if another pilgrimage will be held and also possibly during the school holidays. I really want to see a real traditional monastery.
We always have humility and we must always appreciate what people give us.We must never work for the Dharma or anything our of fear or narrow mindedly!
Because of such a great abbot. Gaden Shartse will continue to flourish gracefully and flower beautifully.
May the Abbot live for a long time. OM ARA BATSA NA DHI!
It is very inspiring to read about a real leader: one that serves the people rather than demanding the people to serve him, and Kensur Rinpoche is a really beautiful example. I am extremely touched to read on how he wanted to come all the way to Bangalore just to greet Rinpoche for sponsoring for Ganden! how humble! Anyone else in samsara in that position would not have been that humble and would rather the visitor visit him and all.
It is posts like these that really do give hope for me that righteous people still exists, and that there are people out there that really deserve our support not only because they do but so that they can serve so many other people out there!
During my second Lamrim recitation recently, I was assign to recite “Day 2” for N numbers of times to made up to 100 recitations collectively of “libration is in the palm of you hand”.
In this chapter it mentioned the greatness of the authors to shows the teaching comes from a immaculate source. The Lamrim that we know today by Je Tsongkhapa can be trace back to”lamp on the path to Enlightenment” wrote by Atisha upon request by Tibetan King Jangchub Oe to teach simple, easy to practice and complete path that Atisha him self practice. This profound teaching later passed down to Atisha main Tibetan disciple Dromtoenpa. From Drom Rinpoche to three Kamdampa lineages 1.) Kamdampa Classiccal Tradition 2.) Kamdampa Lamrim tradition 3.) kamdampa Oral Instructions. Later Je TsongKhapa combine these three Kadampa lineages into one. From it, it comes down to more great contemporary teachers like Pabongka Rinpoche to HH Trijang Rinpoche HH KyabjeZong Rinpoche HE Tsem Tulku Rinpoche.
To me, due to Rinpoche’s kindness in arranging for this retreat to be done so that lazy people like us can have the opportunity to read the Lamrim, grasp some of it essence to prepare us for further teaching in the future. Participating in Lamrim recitation retreat really is like create a course for us to receive Lamrim teaching from him and it also to be able to immediately benefit those beings in the others realm who does not had the means to do so.
I was one of the lucky ones that were with the pilgrimage trip to Gaden in 2006. This was my first experience of India and monasteries.
Though the sky was still dark when we reached Gaden Shartse, the monks were lining up waiting for our arrival. When the sun shone on the building’s façade, my first impression of Gaden Shartse was, ‘WOW! It’s big!’
There was sea of maroon robes all around us doing their morning prayers while we move around amongst them offering incense, Manjushri statues, robes and kuyong. This is one experience that I’ll never forget.
Kensur Rinpoche is such a modest and humble monk. There was a very cute moment in the gompa when Rinpoche wanted to offer khata to Kensur Rinpoche who was then the Abbot of Gaden Shartse, Kensur Rinpoche insisted that He offer to Tsem Rinpoche first. This tussle went on for a while in the end, Tsem Rinpoche gave in.
The group had an audience with Kensur Rinpoche at the end of the day, though it was late night, Kensur Rinpoche waited up for us. He shared with us that He is very happy with Tsem Rinpoche’s dharma works in Malaysia and is glad that we are doing well in spreading Lama Tsongkhapa’s teaching.
Kensur Rinpoche said that we can count on His support for our projects. This materialized with Kensur Rinpoche endorsing a few of our books published by Kechara Media & Publication.
It is really a great honour being able to meet such a highly attain Lama who always out others before himself. A good example for everyone to learn and emulate!
When the then Abbot Ken Rinpoche Tenzin Drakpa before he became Abbot was a very simple monk. Tsem Rinpoche had very little contact with him. And whenever Tsem Rinpoche and Ken Rinpoche pass by each other, they would just smile. When Ken Rinpoche Tenzin Drakpa became Abbot. His true personality appeared. He seems to have more responsibility with selflessness and worked very hard to take care of all the monks as though they are his student. In 2006 when Tsem Rinpoche led a group of people on a pilgrimage to Gaden Monastery. Ken Rinpoche Tenzin Drakpa wanted to represent Gaden Monastery to go Bangalore to welcome Tsem Rinpoche but Tsem Rinpoche told Ken Rinpoche he will meet him in Gaden instead As it is not polite to have the Abbot of Gaden Monastery to receive him. At that point Tsem Rinpoche realized that Ken Rinpoche is a real Geshe, a real abbot and had real concern for Gaden without any personal agenda. Kensur Rinpoche Tenzin Drakpa has successfully finished his Abbotship. Gaden will grow and improve due to the broad minded thinking of the Abbot.
Time really flies but memories live on.I can recall , relive the experience of that trip in 2006. I had joined Kechara only a few months ago and was fortunate to be able to make it, thanks to my merits holding up.
What impacts me most was the deep respect Rinpoche and the monastic community had for each other.The Abbot and a few of the senior Lamas we had audience with exudes such warmth, wisdom and benevolence that being in their presence is one huge blessing.The welcoming ‘ party’ of thousands of monks filling every space in the monastery and making offerings to them, is a privilege and experience I will treasure forever.
How fortunate I was to be included in this auspicious trip, made possible by my guru whose compassion and generosity know no bound. I indeed feel deeply grateful for this second chance to visit gaden but this time I was able to witness on such special and rare occassion the meeting of two great Holy devine minds; that of H.E.Ken rinpoche Tenzin Drakpa and our guru H.E.Tsem Tulku rinpoche. Our guru was full of admiration for Ken rinpoche, for his humility in wanting to meet him at Bangalore, and for his genuine gratitude towards this sponsorship trip of KH and last but not least for Ken rinpoche term of successful abbotship of Gaden Shartse. Our guru has also joyfully exclaimed “Wow H.H. The Dalai Lama sure picked a great Geshe to be the abbot of Gaden Shartse” .