Kunsang Dhamchoe Gyatso Thupten Choe Kye Gyaltsen (Shartul Dhamchoe Rinpoche)
The Present Shartul Rinpoche, Kunsang Dhamchoe Gyatso Thupten Choe Kye Gyaltsen (Tulku Dhamchoe) was born amidst miraculous signs on the 10th day of the fourth Tibetan month of wooden tiger year. Rinpoche was recognized as the reincarnation of the Second Shartul Rinpoche by the omniscient Khandro Kunsang Rinpoche, His Holiness Penor Rinpoche, H.E. Seventh Dzogchen Rinpoche and H.E. Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche.
The night before his birth, his mother dreamt she saw a bright lamp in the shrine shining in all thedirections, revealing a golden vajra, carrying a bundle of blazing wood on the back radiating the whole village.
On the very morning of his birth, people witnessed a raven (believed to be the messenger of Mahakala) guarding the house, miraculous transformation of water into nectar, a cuckoo singing from top of the house and above all, a streak of colorful rainbow overhead.
Even before reaching the age of one, he sat upward and pronounced the name and mantra of Guru Padmasambhava. Every now and then, he would perform the Mudra teachings. When asked upon, he answered, "I am Shartul". He is believed to have committed to memory the long text of Dhugkar in as short time as it takes to consume a cup of tea. At the age of nine, he received vow of refuge and Bodhichitta from H.E. Dzogchen Khenpo Khenchen Thupten Namgyal Rinpoche, the Abbot of Dzogchen Monastery.
At the age of ten, Shartul Rinpoche received empowerment, initiation and instructions of Ka-Gyae, Gongdue and Phurpa from Great Terton Master Namkha Dorje Rinpoche. At the age of eleven, he received instructions on the Three Roots of Jatson” and preliminary practice from the Great Drukpa Kagyu Lineage Master Jamyang Rinpoche. At the age of thirteen, Shartul Rinpoche received many teachings such as the empowerment, initiation and pith instructions on Ngondro, Dzogchen Longchen Nyingthig (Great Perfection), and pith instructions on the sTsa-Lung (Winds and Channels), from Great Master Phurtse Rinpoche. He not only received these teachings but also practiced them perfectly. At the age of fourteen, Rinpoche started the three-year three-month retreat while engaging into the practice of “Chod” and “Nyung Ne. During the retreat he perfectly completed “Nyung Ne” 108 times.
At the age of nineteen, Rinpoche traveled to India. In 1993, under H.E the Seventh Dzogchen Rinpoche, Tenzin Jigdral Thunpo, his enthronement ceremony was held in Orgyen Samten Choeling Monastery in South India.
At the age of 20 to 26, Rinpoche continued receiving numerous teachings from His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama, H. E. Terton Namkha Drimed Rabjam Rinpoche, Kyabjé The 7th Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche, including “Rinchen Terzod ” from Kyabjé Drubwang Pema Norbu Rinpoche, and many other great Nyingmapa masters.
With the encouragement from His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Penor Rinpoche, Shartul Rinpoche established the “Ngagyur Garwang Drodul Ling” in Kathmandu, Nepal in 1999. The following year, the Taiwan Nyidrak Drodul Ling center was established. Rinpoche has since then traveled abroad regularly to the United States, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, China and Hong Kong to fulfill vast teaching activities.
Shartul Rinpoche’s teachings filled with wisdom, depth, clarity and Humor. His students often praise for his clear, detail instructions and easy to understand teaching methods. He continues to engage in nurturing the Dharma with unceasing compassion.
Concerns that the rare and precious Nyidrak” lineage will be lost, His Holiness the Dalai Lama kindly offered Shartul Rinpoche a piece of land in Bir, India to build a monastery to continue the” Nyidrak” Treasure Dharma. Rinpoche and members of his congregation purchased additional land. Since 2001, Rinpoche has been working tirelessly to raise fund to build the Zabsang Choekhor Ling Monastery.
For more information: http://shartulrinpoche.org/
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