Gyara Rinpoche Visits Yangting Monastery

Reliance on a Dharma Protector is essential and beneficial especially in this Kaliyuga (degenerate) age where practising Dharma can be very challenging due to the immense negative karma and myriad distractions from the spiritual path. Dorje Shugden, the most suitable Dharma Protector for this particular time, has therefore arisen to give a helping hand to those treading the path to Enlightenment. Hence, when Dorje Shugden is practised with sincere motivation, he can provide the necessary swift and effective assistance for practitioners to progress spiritually.

Carrying on the tradition of spreading Dorje Shugden’s practice, His Eminence Gyara Rinpoche Lobsang Tenpai Gyaltsen Gelek Kheldup Pelzangpo has been giving teachings for the past month in various villages within Daocheng County in Sichuan, China (also known as the Dabpa region of Kham, Tibet), accompanied by 10 members of the sangha from Shar Gaden Monastery

Full house teaching at Yangting Dechen Ling Monastery

Gyara Rinpoche was born in Dabpa near Yangting Dechen Ling Monastery. Having been recognised and enthroned as the current incarnation of the Gyara Tulku Rinpoches while in Tibet, he travelled to India to further his monastic studies at Gaden Shartse Monastery in the early 1990s. In 2008, he joined Shar Gaden Monastery and achieved his Geshe Lharampa degree in 2014.

An erudite scholar, Gyara Rinpoche received many teachings, instructions, initiations, commentaries and empowerments of both Sutra and Tantra from his main teacher, His Eminence Kyabje Dagom Rinpoche. He also studied under many other highly accomplished masters including His Eminence Kyabje Yongyal Rinpoche, His Eminence Kyabje Gonsar Rinpoche, His Eminence Kensur Jampa Yeshe Rinpoche, His Eminence Lati Rinpoche, and Venerable Geshe Thubten Trinley.

In 2015, Gyara Rinpoche also travelled to Paris where he received various teachings from His Holiness the 101st Gaden Trisur Rinpoche Jetsun Lungrik Namgyal including the sadhanas and commentaries of Yamantaka and Vajrayogini which were composed by Trisur Rinpoche himself.

Yangting Dechen Ling Monastery

It is definitely a blessing to be able to receive teachings from a master as qualified as Gyara Rinpoche and the people of Dabpa were very fortunate indeed to receive a few days of Lamrim teachings as well as the Guhyasamaja initiation from Gyara Rinpoche in Yangting Dechen Ling Monastery. Yangting Dechen Ling, also known as Shugden Monastery, is the monastery of highly erudite masters such as Kyabje Yongyal Rinpoche, Kyabje Zemey Rinpoche and Venerable Geshe Tendar Rinpoche.

Massive crowds outside Gyara Rinpoche’s teaching at Yangting Monastery

Gyara Rinpoche also conferred the Dorje Shugden sogtae (life entrustment initiation) to a few thousand monks and laypeople who were in attendance. And to cement their faith in this enlightened Dharma Protector through knowledge and understanding, Gyara Rinpoche provided powerful insights on the logic behind the practice of Dorje Shugden through clear explanations on his extremely beneficial qualities and the history of his origins. Gyara Rinpoche’s skilful delivery can be glimpsed from the following video and images which were captured during his return to his homeland.

Not all lamas are willing to brave the hardships of teaching abroad and the difficulties of travelling to Tibet, preferring instead to spend time studying the scriptures and engaging in solitary meditation. Thus, the sacrifices of scholar-monks such as Gyara Rinpoche who take time out from the furtherance of their own practice to venture further afield to spread Dorje Shugden’s lineage is a testament to their great compassion.

H.E. Gyara Rinpoche with a 3-foot Amitayus statue offered by H.E .Tsem Rinpoche