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When he was seven it was thought he was the reincarnation of a Gelupa lama and he was taken to Pashu, the main Gelupa Monastery in that area. His teacher here was a renowned Mongolian scholar. It was with this lama that Panchen Otrul Rinpoche took his refuge vows. At this time he was given the name of Kelsang Chokyi Wangchuk, which means 'Fortunate Lord of the Dharma'. In 1951 Panchen Otrul Rinpoche was taken to Lhasa as a possible reincarnation of the Panchen Lama. However a candidate from Amdo was selected. Panchen Otrul Rinpoche was taken into the care of the Tibetan Government and Tashi Lumpo Monastery and was given the title of 'Panchen Otrul' Rinpoche which means 'Panchen Candidate'. |
The
Venerable Panchen Otrul Rinpoche was born into a nomadic
family in Kham, Tibet, around the year 1939. Because of various
conditions surrounding his birth it was seen that he was probably
the reincarnation of a high lama. As a result of this he was eventually
taken to live at the local monastery of Dolma Lhakhang where he
was cared for by two lamas, who spent their life in meditation.
From then on he lived in Lhasa and studied at Drepung Gomang Monastery. He was ordained when he was 13 years old. In 1959 after the Chinese Communists took control of Tibet, Panchen Otrul Rinpoche, with many others, was put in a concentration camp. In 1960 after being there for twelve months he was able to escape into India. In 1962 he received full ordination from H.H. the Dalai Lama. In 1971 he received his Acharya (equivalent to an M.A. degree in Buddhist philosophy) from Benares University, India. In 1980 he was awarded the highest degree, Geshe Lharampa - which is the equivalent of a Buddhist doctorate. He completed his formal studies of Buddhist Tantra at Gyumed College in Southern India. During that period he helped in the re-establishment of Tibetan monasteries in India by designing programmes of study.
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In 1990 he was invited by Irish students to become Spiritual Director
of
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In
1988 he travelled to the U.K. on behalf of His Holiness the Dalai
Lama to work on interfaith dialogue. Since then he has travelled
extensively teaching in Europe, USA, Canada and the Far East. He maintains strong connections with Drepung
Gomang Monastery
(primarily Gungru
Khantsen) in
Southern India, finding sponsors for monks and fundraising
to help with new buildings. In 2005 he has identified
the need for sheltered accommodation for elderly Tibetans as a priority.
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He now visits there each year working both in Ulaanbaatar, the capital city, and travelling to remote areas where he ordains monks, giving Teachings wherever he can, giving initiations, refuge and visiting prisons, children's schools and camps. In 2001 he founded a Mongolian Charity,
'Asral NGO', which oversees his growing work of practical support
for Mongolian people. Kunjub
Jampa Ling Centre, on the edge of Ulaanbaatar acts as a base
for all his work in Mongolia |
It has always been his wish and prayer to repay
the great kindness of his first Dharma teacher, who was Mongolian.
He helps with the re-establishment of Buddhism in If you can help this happen, please contact us now.