The Abbot of Horthang Tashi Monastery - His Eminence the 3rd Kyabje Kunde Rinpoche
河喇嘛寺主持：尊贵的第三世贡德仁波切
The Sucessive Lineage of H.E. Kunde Rinpoche
Horthang Tashi Monastery (1814-)
河喇嘛寺
(也称“霍唐吉祥院”)，青海省玉树州曲麻莱县秋智乡
OM May all enjoy peace and prosperity!
Video clip: Enthronement Ceremony at Horthang Tashi Monastery:
The reincarnation of H.E. Kunde Rinpoche
His birth story is like the golden rosary
The Dringtrul Kunde Rinpoche (1st Kunde Rinpoche) was born on 8th day on the 8th Tibetan month, 1867, in the area of Dotod, eastern Tibet. Medicine Buddha appeared and blessed the child. His births brought along various auspicious signs such as radiant rainbow, gentle light that illuminated the sky. Equally astounding was appearance of beautiful medicine flowers of unique taste and smell. Some were sweet, some sour. They were of different colors, shapes and types. They could cure all kinds of diseases.
Even as a child, he already was wise and naturally had sutric and tantric knowledge, especially Tibetan medicine. One of his extraordinary abilities was that when a patient could not meet him personally, he could still diagnose the patient’s illness via the stone that the patient had touched before. Just by feeling the stone, he could feel the pulse of the patient. In this way, he helped to heal many of illnesses and sufferings. He treated all sentient beings like his own mother. Like a bright sun, he taught Buddhism in Tibet and spent his life in retreats. He passed away at the age of sixty.
The 2nd Kunde Rinpoche – Kar Ram Rinpoche, was born with auspicious signs on 10th April Tibet month 1933, Eastern Tibet, Domey-Malung. His father was Pema Gyaltsen and his mother was Drog Nyin. He was recognized as the incarnation of Dringtrul Kunde Rinpoche by the 6th Dzogchen Rinpoche Orgyen Jitral Jhang Chub Dorje, H.E. Kar De Rinpoche, Khenchen Chotsa Rinpoche, Songtrul Dawa Woser Rinpoche and other holy masters. Since childhood, he was full of compassion and wisdom. He was able to recollect past lives and could read and write without being taught. His great contribution was in spreading dharma in the monasteries of Drunwa, both the upper and lower Drunwa. Unfortunately, he left the world at the age of seventeen accompanied by melodious music and beautiful rainbow, leaving behind these words as the prophecy of his rebirth:
Ah! All phenomena is empty and clear
I will return with the dharma name
And benefit all sentient beings
Driving away all darkness
By the age of eight, he enrolled into school and was tutored by Pamadechen in the practices of lineage chanting. At the age of fifteen, he was ordained by and took his novice monk vows under Archun Tokden Lama Lodoe Gyatso. Hence forth, his dharma name is Thubten Lodoe Sangpo.
When he turned sixteen, he entered Dzogchen Shriseng Institute. There, he received the sutric and tantric teachings and dharma philosophy, including the three years, three months & three days solitary retreat. Due to his breadth and depth of his knowledge, he was appointed as the Khenpo of Horthang Tashi Monastery. During that time, he saw Guru Rinpoche with his bare eyes. Despite such accomplishments, he still studied the texts of Yeshi Lama and the Six Bardo, the common and uncommon tantra from Archun Tokden Lama Lodoe Gyatso (Token Lama Lodoe Gyatso). Besides, he received initiations, transmissions and explanations from H.H. Pema Kalsang Rinpoche, and H.E. Karde Rinpoche. At age of twenty-three, Kyabje Pema Kalsang Rinpoche enthroned Kyabje Kunde Rinpoche as the master of all the Nyingma monasteries at Chumar region.
Kunde Rinpoche and Karde Rinpoche have very close relationship since their past lives, They had in succession, recognized each other’s reincarnations. They hold equal honor of being the golden throne holders in the monastery. Both played the main role of teaching dharma in Dumpa settlement’s monastery. It was Karde Rinpoche whom recognized Sonam Gawa Rinpoche as the reincarnation of Kunde Rinpoche. In his dream, as he saw Amitayus Buddha whom said that Sonam Gawa Rinpoche is the reincarnation of Kunde Rinpoche. Therefore, Karde Rinpoche recognized him as the pure lineage of reincarnation of Kunde Rinpoche. This recognition is supported by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, H.H. the 7th Dzogchen Rinpoche, H.H. Penor Rinpoche, H.H. Pema Kalsang Rinpoche and Nyidrak Galpo Tulku. Since then, he shoulder the responsibility of teaching sutra and tantra outside and inside the Drunwa Upper and Lower Monasteries.
He went to Dzogchen Orgyen Samten Monastery in India when he was twenty-four, where he received initiations and transmissions from H.H. Dalai Lama, H.H. Pema Norbu Rinpoche and H.H. Talung Tsetul Rinpoche.
One shining light in the land of snow
To drive away the darkness
The power of Tibetan medicine
To cure various illness
The sufferings of sentient beings
Shrouded in the darkness
May this lamp help all
Enlighten the dark minds and blesses all.
[this Original draft of the biography was written in Tibetan by HTM. Initial draft of this translation into English by Karma Khenpo and Jangchub Dorje in Singapore,] *see also: p.8, abid.
More details of the biography could be read from "The Lineage of Kyabje Kunde Rinpoche: A short accounts of the author*.
*A Garland of Flowers: Questions and Answers on the Highly Secret Clear Light Great Perfection / Kunde Rinpoche; translated by Geshe Lhakdor and Dr. Chok Tenzin Monlam. (ISBN: 978-967-10552-0-5).pp.2-8.
In December 2012, His Holiness the 7th Dzogchen Rinpoche officially announced in the (Biennial) Dzogchen Congregation that His Eminence the 3rd Kyabje Kunde Rinpoche was appointed the Vajra Master of Dzogchen tradition in Himalayan region.
Compiled by student, sonam yeshi. Last updated: 6 March 2014.
(Note: Any error/mistake herein was the responsibility of the appointed admin solely. Besides, any additional updated information herein had been sourced and approved by His Eminence)
