In 1941, Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Phende was born near Gaden Monastery in Lhasa, Tibet. Admitted to Gaden Shartse Monastery when he was 12 years old, Kensur Rinpoche received his novice vows from one of the greatest masters of our time, His Holiness Kyabje Zong Rinpoche.
Kensur Rinpoche studied the traditional curriculum of the Five Principal Subjects under the guidance of very renowned masters including H.H. Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, H.H. Kyabje Zong Rinpoche and H.E. Kyabje Zemey Rinpoche.
Following His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and many other Tibetans into exile in 1959, Kensur Rinpoche stayed in Buxa in Northeast India for a period of time where he continued his studies of Sutra and Tantra.
Monastic institutions have always been centres of understanding, sharing and developing Buddhist philosophy, art and culture. Not long after the Tibetans escaped from Tibet, they began to plan the rebuilding of their monasteries and nunneries throughout India and Nepal. Kensur Rinpoche was one of the pioneers who took on the responsibility and engaged in work to restore the monastic universities in India. The two great seats of Gaden and Drepung were finally re-established in Mundgod, South India while Sera Monastery was rebuilt in Bylakuppe, Mysore.
H.E. Kensur Lobsang Phende was appointed the Abbot of Shar Gaden Monastery
Kensur Rinpoche was appointed the General Secretary of the Lama Society, which was founded to serve Gaden and Drepung monasteries. After his term, he was requested to continue. However, Kensur Rinpoche declined in order to focus on his studies of Sutra and Tantra as advised by Kensur Lati Rinpoche.
Kensur Rinpoche completed his studies with excellence and was conferred the prestigious Geshe Lharampa degree, equivalent to a Doctorate in Buddhist Philosophy. With his skill and knowledge of prayers and rituals, he was elected to be the Chant-Master or Umze of Gaden Shartse.
One of Kensur Rinpoche’s many contributions towards the monastic community was to make the common and uncommon rituals and recitation traditions more accessible and comprehensive. This was done through extensive analysis of the original compositions by the ritual masters H.H. Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche and H.H. Kyabje Zong Rinpoche.
Kensur Rinpoche also served as the secretary or scribe of the Dorje Shugden oracle in Gaden Monastery, and was responsible for recording the proclamations, advice and answers as spoken by Dorje Shugden during trance sessions. When in trance, Dorje Shugden speaks in an ancient form of the Tibetan language which is only understood by erudite scholars. Thus, this speaks volumes of Kensur Rinpoche’s learning and experience.
After he successfully completed his five-year term as the Chant Master, Kensur Rinpoche travelled to various countries in Europe as well as Mongolia to give discourses and to promote Lama Tsongkhapa’s doctrine and lineage.
Kensur Rinpoche (seated) conducts an outdoor puja
In February 2008, Dokhang Khangtsen, a division of Gaden Shartse Monastery became a full-fledged Gelug monastic institution. Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Phende was chosen to become the Abbot to lead this newly formed institution – Shar Gaden Monastery. Having recently completed his term as the abbot, Kensur Rinpoche continues to live in Shar Gaden Monastery, serving the monastic community there and is one of the highly respected elders in the Tibetan Buddhist community today.
Please support us so that we can continue to bring you more Dharma:
Fong
Posted on August 4, 2016 #1 AuthorFrom Tibet into India with the Dalai Lama, General Secretary of the Lama Society, which was founded to serve Gaden and Drepung monasteries, His Eminence Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Phende went on to be first Abbot of a new insitution of Shar Gaden Monastery, which was the former Dokhang Khangtsen.
A long and tough road but traversed with love and faith in Dharmapala Dorje Shugden.
May His Eminence Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Phende continue to spread the dharma to the ten directions.to benefit more sentient beings.
Sofi
Posted on August 10, 2016 #2 AuthorThe first thing that came to mind as I read of Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Phende, I can’t but help noticing that he was born in the same year as my father, 1941. Such a contrast of lives, my father so immersed in secular living and accumulating karma with attachment unknowingly. On the other hand, Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Phende started living in Dharma from very young and went on to benefit many people with his activities. Although sad and helpless at my inability to help my father who passed 10 years ago, his death lead me to search for more and finally to find my precious Guru, H.E. the 25th Tsem Tulku Rinpoche. Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Phende is an attained Master who had relied on Dorje Shugden as a Protector. He is able to understand and record the ancient speech of Lord Dorje Shugden during trance. May Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Phende be blessed with good health and long life to continue bringing the dharma to many.
KarenC
Posted on August 22, 2016 #3 AuthorI have great respect towards Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Phende. Few years back the few of us had the great opportunity granted by our guru Tsem Rinpoche to serve Kensur Rinpoche in India. We took care of Rinpoche’s medical and daily needs, had the great fortune to receive some teachings and oral transmission from Rinpoche. Kensur Rinpoche is a supreme ritual master where he served Trijang Rinpoche, Zong Rinpoche and the oracles for decades. I remembered Tsem Rinpoche shared with us before that during our difficult times when the Dorje Shugden ban was imposed, Kensur Rinpoche was the one who stood up and courageously formed and headed Shar Gaden and shed lights to hundreds of monks who did not give up their promise to their gurus. Kensur Rinpoche courageous actions showed us His guru devotion and trust in DS, Rinpoche did not care about how others look at him by forming Shar Gaden because he put Dharma ahead of any other thing, regardless of any form of difficulties entail.
When you’re in the presence of Kensur Rinpoche, you will feel Rinpoche’s compassionate and holy energy.
William Chua
Posted on August 22, 2016 #4 AuthorIt is inspiring to read about Kensur Rinpoche who has devoted his whole life to spread the Dharma. His credentials are top notch and has been under the tutelage of great masters. When Shar Gaden monastery was established, he took up the role as the first abbot to lead the monastery, which is not an easy task as it was a turbulent time the history. He is very highly respected by all. He is someone who we can emulate to have clean guru devotion and dedication to the work he is destined to do.
Su Ming
Posted on August 22, 2016 #5 AuthorI had the great fortune to assist Kensur Rinpoche for his full medical check up in Bombay several years ago as per Rinpoche’s request. Tsem Rinpoche has been extremely concern about Kensur Rinpoche’s health as Kensur Rinpoche has high diabetic readings. Rinpoche has mentioned these older monks are the jewels of the monastery as they have put their whole life in building the monastery physically and also in terms of transmitting knowledge to the other monks. And when they are old, we should always look after them.
U can read more about Kensur Rinpoche and our trip to Bombay from the below article. It was an amazing journey as I learned a lot from this trip especially the hard work of the monks/ lamas which majority of them has passed away when they started Gaden in Mundgod.
http://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/students-friends/whats-a-meaningful-pilgrimage.html
justin
Posted on August 22, 2016 #6 AuthorThis is an inspiring story for me. Kensur Rinpoche has never given up on Dorje Shugden and from what i read, Kensur Rinpoche also led the group of monks and formed Shar Gaden and giving hope to hundreds of monks who did not give up Dorje Shugden practice given by their Gurus. I respect him a lot for this deed itself. He is also one of the few Sanghas left in India who actually fled from Tibet to India. I was also told that he is a great master and possesses complete Dharma knowledge. Such a respected Lama!
Carmen
Posted on August 22, 2016 #7 AuthorHE Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Phende courageously led Shar Gaden monastery to greater heights during a time where many shunned away – it was a difficult period as Shar Gaden was just forming then. If it wasn’t for Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Phende being the abbot at such a crucial time for Shar Gaden, looking after the operations of the whole monastery, getting the funds, teaching, setting up systems etc, Shar Gaden would not be where it would be today, in my opinion. Kensur Rinpoche took on the role as abbot without looking at his own self, but for the benefit of many others, the monk, and for the preservation of the DS lineage.
Kensur Rinpoche is a highly esteemed scholar, a very holy and genuine monk and has alot of knowledge on sutra and tantra. Kensur Rinpoche is one of the last few gems of Shar Gaden monastery who confers initiations, empowerments, and many teachings to the sangha of the monastery, He is the one that transmits the knowledge and keeps Dharma alive in Shar Gaden.
HE the 25th Tsem Rinpoche shared with us that Kensur Rinpoche spent his life learning dharma, practising dharma, meditating, doing higher tantric retreats, holding his vows, teaching the Dharma, serving lamas. He used his whole life being 24/7 in the Dharma and he is like a huge shiny bright solid “diamond”. To be in Kensur Rinpoche’s presence is blessed. Kensur Rinpoche is a supreme ritual master who served Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche Dorje Chang, Kyabje Zong Rinpoche Dorje Chang and the oracle for many decades in Gaden.
Together with Su Ming, Karen, and Vinnie, we were blessed to be able to serve Kensur Rinpoche by taking him for a medical check up in Bombay, kindly arranged by HE Tsem Rinpoche who ensured that Kensur Rinpoche received the best medical treatment available so that he is healthy to continue his Dharma practice. I learnt alot from Kensur Rinpoche during that trip, and it is also because of HE Tsem Rinpoche who taught us how to serve other lamas well and with care, and guide us always. Tsem Rinpoche was renowned for how well he took care of his guru Kensur Jampa Yeshe Rinpoche, with full devotion.
Wylfred Ng
Posted on August 29, 2016 #8 Author堪殊仁波切是一位近代的一位大师。 大师精通显密法教， 也曾经与不少大师学习。
堪殊仁波切另我觉得最敬佩的就是其中一位在印度从新设立甘丹和色拉寺的大师。 如果寺院没有在印度从新设立起来， 那么佛法就不会有今天的蓬勃。 而且上师詹杜固仁波切也是在印度甘丹寺学习。 如果没有印度甘丹寺或许身在马来西亚的我们也没有机会接触到佛法， 没有克切拉团体。
感恩堪殊仁波切。 谢谢