Patron
His Eminence Kinzang Rigdzin Pema Namgyal, the 9thGangteng Truelku Rimpoche was born in 1955 in Karshong village under Nubi Gewog in Trongsa Dzongkhag. His Eminence is one of three main lineage holders of the Pema Lingpa tradition and is the main abbot of Gangteng Monastery. Rinpoche is also a lineage holder in Nyingma and Kargyu traditions of Vajrayana Buddhism. From an early age, Rinpoche was admitted to Trongsa Dratshang where he learnt the basics of reading and writing, ritual practices and playing religious instruments. Rinpoche was later enrolled in Tango Buddhist College where he received the secret Vajrayana teachings including Sarma and Dzogchen (direct mind perception meditation) teachings from His Holiness the 68th Je Khenpo Tenzin Dondup and 69th Je Khenpo Geshey Geduen Rinchen.
His Eminence also studied Buddhist philosophy including Madhyamaka, Prajna Parameta, metaphysics, logic and debate at the Buddhist Ngagyur Nyingma College in Mysore, India. Rinpoche received teachings, empowerments and transmissions of Pema Lingpa teachings of the Old and New Treasure of Dudjom lineage from His Holiness Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche besides other important teachings such as the Rinchen Terzoed, Dam Ngag Zoed, Nyingthik Yazhi-Ngel so kor Sum, Kama and Terma from the great masters including Jadrel Rinpoche, Kyabje Dodrup Rinpoche, Polo Khenpo Rinpoche, Sakya Khenchen, Khenchen Khedrup, Khenchen Dampe Noryang, Khenchen Dazer, NyoshuKhen Jamyang Dorji Rinpoche and Yanglop Shakya Dorji. Rinpoche completed three years of strict solitary meditation and retreat in Kunzangcholing Retreat Centre at Gangteng. With profound commitment to making Buddhist philosophy and teachings accessible to everyone with genuine interest, Rinpoche founded and established numerous shedra (Buddhist schools & colleges) and hermitages including one at Gangteng, Ugyen Thegcholing in Karshong under Trongsa Dzongkhag, Tsakaling Drubdhey and Aja in Mongar Dzongkhag, Pema Choeling Institute of Nunnery in Tang under Bumthang Dzongkhag, Samdrup Choling Shedra at Chagtshelakha underChukha Dzongkhag, Ugyen Thegcholing in Tingtingbi under Zhemgang Dzongkhag and meditation centers in Gangteng Kunzangcholing.
His Eminence’s passion for dharma not only confines to Bhutan but also goes beyond the border, with numerous Yeshe Khorlo Centers established around the world. Rinpoche has been travelling tirelessly to different parts of the world teaching and conferring empowerments, transmissions, and blessings to students in the United States, Canada, Europe, Taiwan, Singapore, Russia, India and other countries. Currently, there are 36 subsidiary centers affiliated to Gangteng Goenpa. Besides other important religious activities and institutional development, Rinpoche has initiated and undertook the singular responsibility to renovate the more than 400-year-old Gangteng Goenpa in the year 2000. This noble initiative restored the deteriorating splendour of the Gangteng Goenpa, which now stands to the glory of Buddha Dharma. His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo personally graced the formal consecration ceremony of the renovated Goenpa.
