Homage to Kunkhen Tsonawa The 13th Tsona Rinpoche

 

Remembering His Eminence Late Tsona Gontse Rinpoche

Tsona Gontse Rinpoche

    The Tsona Gonpatse Rinpoche, His Eminence Jetsun Tenzin Jampal Wangchuk was regarded as the 13^th reincarnation of the great Tsonawa Jetsun Sherab Zangpo. He was born on 19^th August 1967 at Nyesar Zhungpa Tse, Mon Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh to father Sri Karma Lobsang and Mother Smti. Tashi Lhamo. He was recognised as the reincarnation of Lama Thupten Jampal Wangchuk by His Holiness The 14^th Dalai Lama. He started his education at Drepung Loselling Monastery, south India and in due course became well versed in all the Buddhist treaties. He graduated with the degree of Geshe Lharampa (Degree equivalent to Doctorate in Buddhist Philosophy) from Drepung Loselling Monastery.

Rinpoche committed his life towards the development of mutual relationships between various cultures and religions of India and endeavoured towards preservation of flora and fauna to maintain a environment of co-existence of all sentient beings. Furthermore, he assumed the great responsibilities of developing the religious shrines and cultural practices and activities in the Mon region. Gontse Gaden Rabgye-ling Monastery at Bomdila, renovation Of Gorzam stupa at Jeimithang, 75 feet Drolma statue at Lungla. establishment of Shanti Deva Vidyalaya and establishment of Central Institute of Himalayan Culture Studies at Dahung and Balika Vidyalaya at Lhau village are testimonies of his accomplishments. Rinpoche also founded Himalayan Buddhist Culture Association and then Buddhist Culture Preservation Society at Bomdila in 1987. Rinpoche has also, to his credit, the telecasting of the Buddhist programme on television through Sherab Sangpo Society. New Delhi, which aimed in spreading world peace and humanitarian services the world over.

               Rinpoche joined state politics and became Member of Legislative Assembly in the year 1995. Since then, served as Minister of State, Industry, Textile and Handicrafts and Cabinet Minister of Tourism. Chairman of Advisory Council for Tourism Development (ACTD)) and Arunachal Pradesh Hydropower Development Cooperation (APHPDC). Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh during his different tenures respectively.

Tsona Gontse Rinpoche

               He also held the position of Chairman, Department of Karmik & Adhyatmik (Chos-rig) Affairs, Government of Arunachal Pradesh. He was internationally recognized as an excellent social worker and fully accomplished spiritual master. He has received several national and international awards for his tireless efforts and social work for the well-being of people around the world. Rinpoche also had the privilege of attending the Millennium UN World Peace Summit at the United Nations Assembly Hall as the first ever Buddhist representative from the entire Himalayan region.

               It was Rinpoche and Sri Pema Khandu, the then Tourism Minister who were able to bring 4 of 22 holy relics of Buddha from National Museum, New Delhi to Tawang on 17th November 2013. Rinpoche said that "the "main objective behind bringing the sacred relics to the state is to spread peace, harmony and tranquillity and to inculcate Buddha’s teachings among people”

Rinpoche also spearheaded the movement of Mon Autonomous Region Committee (MARDC) as the Chairman, Rinpoche used to say that, “The demand is Within the Constitution of India for self-rule by the people with a provision to protect our own culture and identity is the outcome of a unanimous resolution adopted by the people on October 2, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi. He who cannot protect his identity and culture is unfit to be a Human being”.

It is believed that during his lifetime the famous teacher Nagarjuna prophesied. “I pray that I may go to Tibet for the purpose of sentient beings there and at that time, you will be among the first group to be trained”.

               Accordingly, when his religious activities attained highest level in Tibet, Khedrubje, the direct disciple of Je Tsong Khapa (the founder of Gelugpa sect) was born as Rigpai Khujug in India. Rigpai Khujug received the profound teachings of Nagarjuna. Je Tsong Khapa Nagarjana are believed to be of one and the same mind but in different manifestations. It has been prophesied in the Sutras that Nagarjuna would be reborn as Jangsem Norsang. Thereafter at the time or early diffusion of Buddhism in Tibet he would be born as Kawa Drimedo. He would invite many expert Pandits from India and translate their teachings into Tibetan and thereby spread Buddhism to a great extent.

Again, during the of the later diffusion of Buddhism in Tibet he was reborn as Nyoton Choebar, who would develop and spread the teachings of Atisha like that or rays of the sun. As prophesied by Geshe Potawa, he erected a great monastery at Yal. He passed away at Ibe age of 63.

It has been said that during the first 21 days his demise, amazing miracles took place. Many self-arising Buddha statues appeared (at his cremation) and the mandala of Chakrasamvara is said to have also appeared inside the Kapala (skull cup) and the 21 Taras outside. Furthermost, a figure of white Miyova is said to have appeared on the right shoulder and Avalokiteshvara on the left. A number of relics were also recovered from his tongue, heart and eyes.

Later he was reborn as Lhari Zinpa. He studied and practised the instructions of Chakrasamvara later had a vision of mandala. In his will, said. "Twenty-one to twenty-two years after I die, the embers of Buddha dharma will flourish a little more”.

Tsonawa Sherab is regarded as the reincarnation or Lhari Denod Zinpa. At the age of twenty-one, he re-invigorated the Buddha dharma as a whole and more particularly insisted on giving importance to the code of discipline laid down in the Vinaya. He became an unparalleled and unrivalled master.

Tsona Gontse Rinpoche

In the Phelchen Sutra it says,” the place called Zhiwa Rinchen Choe-kyi-ling where the lake of three realms lies. Tsonawa will be born. This region will become a place of learning. He will be able to dispel the darkness of ignorance and prove to be a great leader of sentient beings to lead the path of Enlightenment”. It is evident from this text that he derived his first name 'Tsona’ from the name of the place and Sherab Zangpo was his ordination name.

Je Tsong Khapa said. " There is no text written that is better than Tsotrig Nyimay Odzer and there is no need of another text' " Saying so he proclaimed Tsonawa’s as a highly qualified master and called him "dul ba bum SDe mNga bdag Tsonawa " (the master of Vinaya).

His earlier reincarnation are as Tsonawa Sherab Zangpo. Jetsun Sherab Zangpo, Tsultrim Tashi, Lobsang Tenzin, Tenpa Gyaltsen, Khantse Wangchuk, Tenpa Gyaltso, Lobsang Paljor, Lobsang Wangchuk, Ngawang Choekyi Wangchuk, Thinley Jampal Tenzin Wangchuk and as Thupten Jampal Wangchuk.

The famous Tibetology Claude Arpi in one of his articles, said that, “Late Rinpoche was one of the most dynamic young lamas of his generation. He always wanted to give the Dharma a concrete shape. For him, Buddhist teachings had to materialized in present world. Rinpoche had always a new project in mind and what admirable, he had a capacity to concretely realize his plans.”

However, on May 2014, Rinpoches untimely demise at the age of 47 left shock waves across the Himalayan region. It is indeed a great for the Monpa people and the Buddhist world.

With utmost prayers for his swift rebirth, I bow to the great of Vinaya his seventh Mahasamadi.