In early May 2016, the Buddhist world lost a dedicated, sincere practitioner when the abbot of Phelgyeling Monastery in Nepal, Venerable Gen Chodrak, entered clear light. He remained in tukdam meditation for almost two days before his current incarnation left us permanently.
Venerable Gen Chodrak, the late Abbot Emeritus of Phelgyeling Monastery
Gen Chodrak was a great Tantric master and practitioner. Our friends from the monastery shared that, hours before Gen Chodrak entered clear light, he assembled his most trusted monks in his room to give them instructions on managing the monastery in his absence. Gen Chodrak’s funerary ceremony was conducted with much respect and tradition, and prayers were made for the swift return of this accomplished practitioner.
Several weeks later, the new abbot of Phelgyeling Monastery was elected. At the request of the monastery’s administrators and monks, Venerable Geshe Jampa Losang accepted the position and a ceremony to officiate his appointment was held on 30 May 2016. In attendance were representatives from Gangchen Ladrang, Dagom Ladrang, the Manjushri Association of Nepal and monks from Nepal’s Segyu Monastery.
Phelgyeling Monastery, Nepal.
Geshe Jampa Losang was born in 1946 in the Nyanang district of Tibet. At the age of seven, he joined Phelgyeling Monastery in Tibet as a novice monk.
When he was 13 years old, along with many other Tibetans, he traveled south to Nepal, where he continued his monastic studies in the newly established Phelgyeling Monastery in Nepal. For the next four years, he studied under Pemba Geshe Rinpoche from whom he learnt the Lamrim, Tibetan grammar, Tibetan medicine, mathematics, and other essential subjects.
Khen Rinpoche Jampa Losang, the new Abbot of Phelgyeling Monastery, Nepal
Between the ages of 17 to 50, Geshe Jampa Losang focused primarily on his studies, travelling to various places to receive teachings from erudite masters. While in Phelgyeling Monastery, he studied the art of making sand mandalas, thangka painting and throat chanting.
He also traveled to Sera Mey Monastery in India where he studied the five major treatises of Buddhist philosophy – (1) Prajnaparamita or perfection of wisdom, (2) Madhyamaka or middle way, (3) Pramana or valid cognition, (4) Abhidharma or phenomenology and (5) Vinaya or monastic discipline. Upon achieving the Geshe Lharampa degree, he then joined Gyutö Tantric College where he completed his studies on the Tantric path.
His illustrious gurus include His Holiness Kyabje Ling Rinpoche, His Holiness Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, His Holiness Kyabje Zong Rinpoche, His Eminence Kyabje Zemey Rinpoche, His Eminence Rato Rinpoche and His Eminence Serkong Tsenshab Rinpoche, while his philosophy teachers include Sera Mey’s Gyalrong Kensur Rinpoche Ngawang Thekchok, Sera Jey’s Kensur Rinpoche Jampa Thekchok, Venerable Geshe Rabten of Sera Jey Monastery, His Eminence Geshe Yeshe Wangchuk of Sera Mey Monastery, and Drepung Loseling’s Dardo Rinpoche. While in Gyutö Monastery, his Tantra teacher was His Eminence Choje Losang Nyima.
Khen Rinpoche blessing the gompa in Phelgyeling Monastery
As one of the senior monks of Phelgyeling Monastery, Geshe Jampa Losang travelled between Taiwan, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and America between 1996 and 2016, giving many teachings on Sutra and Tantra.
Having Phelgyeling Monastery entrusted to the spiritual guidance of Khen Rinpoche Jampa Losang is a great fortune for the monastery. With his knowledge and practical teaching experience, he is an excellent choice for the position of abbot and uniquely qualified to proliferate the teachings and lineage of Lama Tsongkhapa in Nepal.
Khen Rinpoche Geshe Jampa Losang (second from right) with Phelgyeling Monastery’s administrator and representatives from the Manjushri Association of Nepal
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bengkooi
Posted on June 11, 2016 #1 AuthorIt is very sad to hear of the passing of Venerable Gen Chodrak, who was a gentle and wise abbot and monk. Along with a few other students of H.E. Tsem Rinpoche, I had the good fortune to meet Gen Chodrak just a couple of months before his passing, and to receive his blessings during a short audience.
Gen Chodrak gave powerful advice on just focusing on and following the instructions of one’s teacher instead of being distracted by the advice and words of other teachers. He also told us that the statue of Dorje Shugden in Phelgyeling Monastery, which was given to them by the 5th Dalai Lama many years ago, is a firm indication that the practice of Shugden had been encouraged since the 17th century.
Here’s a photo from that memorable meeting with Gen Chodrak, where he is looking at the latest book published by Kechara – 108 Ways to Grab My Apples 2, which is an illustrated collection of Tsem Rinpoche’s tweets and short teachings.
Wei Theng
Posted on June 13, 2016 #2 AuthorThank you Beng Kooi on sharing the memory of a great lama – Gen Chodak and his advice to just focus on the instruction of one’s Guru. Seem simple yet profound advice.
Attached is a picture of the holy statue of Dorje Shugden which was personally made and offered to the monastery by the 5th Dalai Lama, a solid prove of the 5th Dalai Lama is encouraging Dorje Shugden practice too.
Read more about Phelgyeling Monastery:
http://www.dorjeshugden.org/temples/phelgyeling-monastery
Jace Chong
Posted on June 11, 2016 #3 AuthorI had very good merits to meet Gen Chodrak a few months before his entered to clear light. The experience of meeting Gen Chodrak is like meeting a Bodhisattva. His presence has a great sense of peace and he is always smiling.
For a pure monk that hold his vows for so many decades and being the abbot of Pheygeling monastery, there are both not easy tasks for us as a person that living in this modern society; however from Gen Chodrak, I can tell the path to happiness and peace is real and simple.
I still remember Gen Chodrak told us we should follow what our Guru tells us and we are so fortunate to have His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche as our Guru.
I still remember he walked slowly in the monastery, checking if everything is ok, and the monks who he met have great respect to him and he was so gentle and loving to the younger monks.
May Gen Chodrak come back swiftly continue to shine the world with his Bodhisattva qualities.
Pastor Niral Patel
Posted on June 12, 2016 #4 AuthorIt is sad to hear of great masters and practitioners passing such as Venerable Gen Chodrak. From his practice and achievements during his life, his passing marks another light of the Dharma going out in the world. However his greatness in practice and meditation is made obvious with his staying in tukdam meditation. This just goes to show what an incredible master he was.
On the other hand i rejoice that Phelgyeling Monastery has a new abbot, Venerable Geshe Jampa Losang, who has so much training and knowledge from so many erudite and attained masters as is listed in the article. It is very good news that a Geshe with so much learning has been chosen as the next abbot of the monastery.
I have never visited Phelgyeling, but i have read and heard about the statue there, that was made by His Holiness the Great Fifth Dalai Lama and gifted to monastery. I pray that i have the good merits to be able to make offering in front of such an powerful image of the protector Dorje Shugden. This shows how effective his practice is. H.H. the Dalai Lama would not make an image of an ordinary being and then gift it to a monastery to worship. This is a clear indication of the great power and benefit that the practice of Dorje Shugden bestows on practitioners.
Fong
Posted on June 14, 2016 #5 AuthorAs stated in the article, Venerable Geshe Jampa Losang comes highly qualified to be the new abbot of Phelgyeling Monastery in Nepal. Rejoice that the monastery continues to be guided by attained master.
Though, it is sand that the Venerable Gen Chodrak has entered clear light, the monastery will be well guided moving forward.
Cynthia Lee
Posted on June 15, 2016 #6 AuthorVenerable Gen Chodrak was one of the first few very senior monks whom I met with great attainments in sutra and tantra. It is indeed sad to hear of his passing but at the same time felt fortunate to have met him again a couple of months before his passing to receive his blessings and advice.
As Pheygeling Monastery is one of the very few monasteries in Nepal practicing Dorje Shugden, I rejoice in knowing another sincere practitioner such as Khen Rinpoche Jampa Losang has been elected as the new abbot. May Khen Rinpoche Jampa Losang preserve the teachings of Lama Tsongkhapa and practice of Dorje Shugden in the Nepal region. _/\_
Pic of Venerable Gen Chodrak performing puja.
Sofi
Posted on August 6, 2016 #7 AuthorIt is always sad to learn of the passing of any erudite Masters of Dharma and may Venerable Gen Chodrak swiftly reincarnate and be recognised to continue his work in the near future. It is indeed very fortunate of Phelgyeling Monastery in Nepal to have an accomplished Master like Venerable Geshe Jampa Losang as their new Abbot. May Phelgyeling Monastery continue to flourish under the Abbotship of Venerable Geshe Jampa Losang.
Stella Cheang
Posted on October 3, 2016 #8 AuthorThe world has lost a treasure, Gen Chodrak, who was a great Tantric master and practitioner. It is therefore with relief to learn that the new abbot of Phelgyeling Monastery was elected. At the request of the monastery’s administrators and monks, Venerable Geshe Jampa Losang accepted the position and a ceremony to officiate his appointment was held on 30 May 2016. We are certain to continue to see Buddha Dharma flourish through Ven Geshe Jampa Losang as it was before with Gen Chodrak.