MY GRANDFATHER THE RULER OF XINJIANG
My grandfather Migyur Wang (mom’s side) was the ruler of Xianjiang. He is royalty and was from the Mongol Ruling family of that area. He has descended directly from Genghis Khan. He had left Xianjiang to Tibet and from Tibet immigrated to Taiwan. In Taiwan He settled. I saw him a few times in Taiwan when I was very young and before going to USA. I didn’t have much of a relationship with him. It was his wife, the Queen, Dechen Minh that loved me, was very affectionate towards me. I remember her very fondly and miss her. She is the grandmother every child would love to have. She brought me over to the US from taiwan hoping for a better life for me.
Tsem Tulku
(my grandad, the ruler of Xianjiang) ( He was literally the Last Emperor for that region)
Whenever I read about Rinpoche’s background and history, it always touches me to think about how much Rinpoche gave up and went through even as a small child. To think he was born royalty and could’ve had every luxury afforded to him…it reflects the story of Shakyamuni himself, who willingly gave up such luxuries upon realisation that there was something more to life and no matter how rich a person, death is inescapable. It’s because of great beings like Rinpoche, who have realised the truth of impermanence (and operate from that realisation) that we are lucky enough to receive what little dharma we can in this degenerate age.
I have always been slightly amazed with Rinpoche’s distinguished lineage, both his spiritual lineage as well as his royal birth lineage. Imagine being related to such a recognised historical figure such as Genghis Khan? And being a part of the Mongolian royal family?
Tibetans believe that Tulkus have the ability to choose the time, place and conditions of rebirth i.e. they have full control. So why would an attained master like Tsem Rinpoche want to have such a strong connection with the Mongolian people?
I have no answer to the above, but I feel the key lies in the work that Tsem Rinpoche is planning to accomplish in his current lifetime. Rinpoche’s lineage is known for building huge spiritual institutions and for transmitting and creating knowledge holders wherever he emanates. So it should be no surprise that Rinpoche’s future plans include the founding of Kechara World Peace Centre, which will carry on his incarnations’ tradition of bringing Dharma where there was none before.
Thank you Beng Kooi. I really appreciate your writing.
I have always been puzzled about this matter too.
Anyways, I too am clueless, but here is something to ponder about.
There were studies that Genghis Khan has helped populated the world. He was quite a lady’s guy. He had many sons from different wives. 1 out of 1000 Mongolians can trace their roots back to the Genghis Khan lineage. Some 17 million people in Asia are estimated to be direct descendants of Genghis Khan.
A study in 2003 showed that about 8% of men in Asia are descended from Genghis Khan. That’s like 5% of the world population.
Who knows some of us here in Malaysia can also be descendants of Genghis Khan.
Just to share an interesting anecdote: According to David Minh (Rinpoche’s uncle), Migyur Wang had the good fortune to have an audience with both the 13th and the 14th Dalai Lamas.
David Minh had related that in 1949, their family – consisting of his parents, his sister and himself – had left Xinjiang for good. During their journey, their family visited the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet and had an audience with the 14th Dalai Lama. The Austrian explorer Heinrich Harrer, who wrote “Seven Years in Tibet” was also there at that time. In that popular book, Harrer had mentioned that there was a Mongolian prince with his two wives and the two wonderful children. That was Rinpoche’s family.
From Lhasa, they went to Kalimpong, which is near Darjeeling, and then to various ports before they arrived in Taiwan, where the family settled.
Rinpoche’s genealogy is a fascinating read, and Rinpoche has kindly shared their stories with us – such as his very cultured and exotic great grand aunt, Nirgidma (http://blog.tsemtulku.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/2010/03/this-is-my-great-grand-aunt-princess-nirgidma-she-married-a-french-diplomat-and-lived-in-france-i-had-never-met-her–tsem.html). Thank you Rinpoche.
Dear Cynthia, it is true many in Asia can trace their geneology back to Genghis Khan. But not everyone can trace it back to the direct ruling family as was my family in Xianjiang. Who decended from the ruling family going back to the immediate family of Gehghis Khan not just people that were concubines or he forced himself on.
Tsem Tulku
Elena, when I was reading the posting, I also related Tsem Rinpoche’s story to that of Buddha Shakyamuni who renounced the life of power, luxury and comfort to benefit others. With this realization, I experience deep gratitude that we have a living Buddha amongst us in Malaysia.
From this reading, I see the link between Rinpoche’s worldly life lineage and that of Rinpoche’s spiritual lineage. They are somewhat in parallel:
1) Both lineages are royal (the greatest lineage of Gurus from Pabongka Rinpoche to Trijang Rinpoche to Zong Rinpoche)
2) Both lineages provide the “tickets” required to great achievements and attainments.
If Rinpoche pursued his Royal entitlement, I completely trust that Rinpoche would be able to achieve many worldly successes. However, Tsem Rinpoche chose to forego his personal successes and pursue his spiritual lineage to bring the greatest gift to sentient beings: the key to attaining enlightenment.
Therefore, like what Dumbledore said to Harry Potter, what defines a man is not what he comes from but the choices he makes. May we be inspired by Rinpoche to make the choices, which i) we will be proud of this lifetime and ii) will lead to a better rebirth for future lifetimes.
Just like Elena and Li Kheng, I also thought of Buddha Shakyamuni who gave up His royal privileges and wealth that most people would have died for in order benefit people in the world.
Whenever Rinpoche relates Rinpoche’s story, it never stop to amaze me how Rinpoche had gone against all odds to be who Rinpoche is today!
Being born out of wedlock and sent away to a faraway land, living with foster parents who wanted to mould Rinpoche into what they want had never stop Rinpoche from pursuing Rinpoche’s life time dream of learning and practicing dharma to benefit others.
Despite Rinpoche’s reluctances in coming to this barbaric land called Malaysia when sent by Rinpoche’s Guru and Protector, Rinpoche had came and settled down and created opportunities for us, the fortunate ones, to be given a rare chance to learn dharma from someone as enlightened as Rinpoche.
Just like Rinpoche’s great grandfathers and grandfather, Rinpoche had united people from all walk of lives under one roof called Kechara House. A spiritual home for the ‘lost souls’ who without Rinpoche’s care and guidance, would have gone to ‘ugly places’ and never have a chance to be liberated.
Thank you Rinpoche for all your love, care and guidance.
From royalty to obscurity and now from obscurity Rinpoche is slowly emerging as one of the Gelug Lamas that are actively promoting Buddha Dharma in the Ganden Tradition all over the world now. Applying a myriad of methods and technologies at his disposal Rinpoche is certainly a tour de force in spreading the Buddha Dharma.
Being born to a rich and wealthy family is not absolutely the sign of good karma. Certain children even kill their mothers in the process of birth, or grow up to be completely useless a drain on their families and do not contribute much just harm other people. Rinpoche growing up with so much adversity and difficulty is an example of someone who has made it good. May Rinpoche’s life story inspire many people to practice the dharma and become of benefit to others. Why else should we live if not to benefit others?
Rinpoche ’s maternal ancestral origin is of the Mongolian tribe of the “Old Torgut’ who fled Russia to return to their original homeland, Xinjiang and settled in Wusu. Till today their descendants are still in Wusu. Mingur Wang was the son of Prince Palta, who was one of the most outstanding and prominently influential Mongolian princes of the century. Prince Palta served as an advisor in the Mongolian affairs and confidante in the Manchu Court during the Qing Dynasty.
Not only Rinpoche has a famed historical greatness forefathers that is traced to Genghis Khan, he also has a glorious golden lineage to his line of incarnations. Both of Rinpoche’s lineages are interestingly prominent, powerful, colourful and outstanding.
As I read Rinpoche’s post, the thought of a pure and beautiful lotus flower came to mInd. I liken Rinpoche to this pure and beautiful lotus flower, who’s seed came from the wonderful lotus plant. During his (it’s) passage into the world, Rinponche had to endure much pain and challenges, like the lotus plant fighting its way through the murky dark waters of the lake. In the end, it breaks through, using endurance and persistence. Today we all get to enjoy and admire this beautiful lotus flower name Tsem Tulku Rinpoche and aspire to have virtues like him. Thank you for YOU Rinpoche ~ Love, Nancy