Enthronement of Three New Khenpos

June 6, 2014

This morning at Thrangu Tashi Yangtse Monastery in Namo Buddha, Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche enthroned three new khenpos, Khenpo Karma Puntsok, Khenpo Karma Gendun, and Khenpo Karma Drodul. Khenpo Karma Puntsok and Khenpo Karma Gendun have both been teaching in the Vajra Vidya Institute for many years. Khenpo Karma Puntsok is popular as a teacher of poetry and grammar, and Khenpo Karma Gendun is a specialist in the Shentong Middle Way and Abhidharma. Khenpo Karma Drodul has taught at the shedra at Thrangu Tara Abbey for seven years and is known for his teaching of the five great texts as well as his own poetry.

At this morning’s ceremony, Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche said that the reason to appoint these three as khenpos is because of their qualities of being learned, venerable, and good as well as because of their dedication to teaching and learning. He also stressed that vitality of Buddhism depends upon the Sangha flourishing, it is important for there to be khenpos and teachers who can guide young monks and nuns in their development. This will ensure that the teachings may remain from generation to generation, benefitting sentient beings. Rinpoche also presented the new khenpos with special Pandita hats as a symbol of their scholarship and status.

The ceremony including the auspicious puja of the Sixteen Arhats, which was done according to the particular tradition of Thrangu Monastery. All of the monks at Thrangu Tashi Yangtse Monastery as well as many from Boudha, nuns from Thrangu Tara Abbey, guests from other monasteries, and several lay people attended and feted the new khenpos by offering them khatas and their best wishes.

More photos

His Holiness Offers Lama Chopa Puja

On March 1, His Holiness Seventeenth Gyalwang Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje led the monastic and lay sanghas in an Offerings to the Gurus puja dedicated to the long life of Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoiche. His Holiness remarked that Rinpoche has dedicated his entire life to practicing the Dharma, and now that he has reached an old age, His Holiness offered prayers that he may live long to continue helping sentient beings.
You can read more about this event at www.kagyuoffice.org

The 2013 Annual Vajra Vidya Seminar Completed

The 2013 annual Vajra Vidya Seminar was held this year from February 18 to March 1. The Very Venerable Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche taught on Atisha’s Lamp for the Path of Enlightenment. Many students came from all over the world, and the students of the shedra also attended the teachings. Everyone present felt it was a great and precious opportunity, made even more special by the presence of His Holiness the Gyalwang Karmapa at the Vajra Vidya Institute during the teachings.

Note: Rinpoche will teach on "The Path of Meditation: Shamatha and Vipashyana in the Mahamudra Tradition" at SMD Boarding School in Boudha, Kathmandu from March 13-17, 2013.