A Brief Biography of the VENERABLE 3rd DRIKUNG ONTÜL RINPOCHÉ
Rinpoché's previous incarnations are connected with Drikung Orgyen Nuden Dorjé, a great hidden teachings discoverer (tertön) of the last century. He was well known as an emanation of Nyang Ban Tingdzin Sangpo, a great master at the time of the 8th century Tibetan emperor, Tri Song Deutsen.
The elder brother of Nuden Dorjé and first Ontül was Kunzang Drodul. He was born into a noble family lineage in the village of Zalmo Gang in Kharn province of Eastern Tibet.
The 5th Drigung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoché Thugje Nyima (1828-1889) recognized him to be the emanation of Drog Ban Khiu Chung Lotsawa, one of the twenty-five main disciples of Guru Padmasambhava. Since Kunzang Drodul was the elder brother of Orgyan Nuden Dorjé, his successive incarnations are known as Ontül, which means "the incarnation of the elder brother."
The present Ontül was born in Kham Nangchen in Eastern Tibet in the year 1950. Ontül Rinpoché's family lineage is called Göpé, or also Pebön Thogtrul, which is one of the thirteen noble family lineages which are again explained as stemming from the inner lineage of Lodan Nyingpo, one of the four ancient Tulkus of the Bön religion, before Padmasambhava's time.
In 1954, His Holiness the 7th Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoché and His Holiness the Gyalwa Karmapa Ranjung Rigpé Dorjé recognized Rinpoché as the incarnation of Ontül, and he was given the name Konchog Tenzin Thrinlé Rabgyé Palzangpo. Accordingly, in the same year Ontül Rinpoché was enthroned in Dong Med Ogmin Thubten Shedrub Ling monastery. Lama Kalsang Namgyal, the attendant of his previous incarnation, took the responsibility for giving him basic education such as in reading and writing, reciting texts, etc.
In 1959, when the Chinese Communist army occupied Tibet, Ontül Rinpochéand his tutor Kalsang Namgyal left their home monastery and, together with many monks and people of their village, they began their flight from Tibet to India. On the way they experienced terrible thirst and hunger, and were constantly threatened by the Chinese soldiers. In spite of many difficulties, they managed to cross the Tibetan border and arrived in India through Nepal. Life in India was also not easy because they did not have a place of their own to settle down. They were forced to wander from place to place for almost fourteen years.
In India, again Ontül Rinpoche met with Drikung Khandro Neni Rinpoché (mkhn' 'gro or dakini signifies a highly realized female yogi). She introduced Ontül Rinpoché to Ven. Khenpo Thubten, a great Nyingmapa teacher. The first teaching which Ontül Rinpoché received from the Khenpo was an extensive instruction on the Longchen Nyingthig Ngöndro practice. Later, Ontül Rinpoché received teachings from Khenpo Thubten on several other important texts.
On different occasions Ontül Rinpoché received Mahamudra and Dzogchen teachings from H.H. Dudjom Rinpoché, Khunu Lama Tenzin Gyaltsen, H.H. Dilgo Khyentsé Rinpoché, the 3rd Kalu Rinpoché and others.
From the Yogi Khyunga Rinpoché, Ontül Rinpoché received teachings and his personal instructions on the five-fold profound path of Mahamudra. In the years which followed, Ontül Rinpoché went to Ladakh where he received most of the important empowerments, instructions and oral transmissions of the Drikung Kagyu tradition from H.E. Chöjé Togden Rinpoché. Ontül Rinpoché spent several years traveling with Togden Rinpoché extensively in Ladakh to visit several Drikung monasteries.
After coming back to India, in 1971 Ontül Rinpoché bought a piece of land at Tso Pema (in Rewalsar, Himachal Pradesh) from the donations which he received from the people of Ladakh. With the help of resident monks, Ontül Rinpoché managed to construct a monastery on this piece of land. Tso Pema means the "Lotus Lake," and this is one of the sacred places where Guru Padmasambhava demonstrated his miraculous powers.
The purpose of Padmasambhava exhibiting miracles on that place was to subdue the king and the people of that region, which was then known as Sahor. It took many years for Rinpoché to complete the monastery with the sacred objects, ritual instruments, and other necessary things. Now the monastery is almost complete and nearly thirty monks are residing there, maintaining the tradition of the Drikung Kagyu.
In 1978, H.H. the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoché recognized the 7th incarnation of the Tertön Ogyen Nuden Dorjé and gave him the name Konchog Lhundrub Nyendrag Namgyal (Lho Bongtül Tendzin Nyima). At that time, the young Tulku was only three years old. In 1980, he was enthroned as the spiritual head of Dong Med Ogmin Thubten Shedrub Ling monastery. At present he is studying at the Drigung Kagyu Institute in Dehra Dun, Uttar Pradesh, India.
In 1983, Ontül Rinpoché made a journey to central Tibet and Kham, his first visit to Tibet after escaping in 1959. First stopping in Lhasa and then after making a short visit to Drikung Til, Ontül Rinpoché traveled to his main monastery in Eastern Tibet. It was one of the bigger Drikung monasteries in that area and is located close to his birth place.
During the Cultural Revolution the main monastery was completely destroyed. Through the effort of three tulkus (Tulku Thupnying, Gyaltsep Tulku, Tulku Phuntsog), Lopon Gonjam, monks, and the local people, it is being rebuilt now and some parts have already been completed. There are about one hundred monks, some of them in retreat for "Chagchen Ngaden." Since Yogi Pachung Rinpoché passed away, they are guided by his main disciple, Ven. Gelong Tenzin Nyima.
In this area Ontül Rinpoché spent almost six months attending several ceremonies in our monastery, giving empowerments and teachings to the monks and local people. Ontül Rinpoché also initiated "Vajrakilaya Düpa" (an annual ritual) in our monastery and since then it is done for ten days annually. Dong Med Ogmin Thubten Shedrub Ling has several branch monasteries, among them Bumang monastery, whose preceptor passed away during the Cultural Revolution. The reincarnation, now eleven years old, was recognized by H.H. Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoché and at present is studying in Drikung Kagyu Institute, Dehra Dun, U.P., India. Ontül Rinpoché's main monastery also has one branch nunnery which was destroyed completely by the Chinese Communists. Since 1993, it is under reconstruction and some nuns are practicing Dharma there.
From Kham, Ontül Rinpoché returned to Drikung in Central Tibet in autumn of the same year. At Drikung Til monastery he had the opportunity to meet Yogi Pachung Rinpoché. From him Ontül Rinpoche received oral transmissions and teachings, which he, together with Ven. Gelong Tenzin Nyima, repeated thoroughly and then practiced.
During this time, Ontül Rinpoche met H.H. Drikung Kyabgon Chungtsang Rinpoché who was residing at Lhasa. After staying in Drikung for a period of nearly three weeks, Ontül Rinpoché came back to our monastery at Tso Pema in Northern India.
A Brief Biography of