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Tenzin Rigsel, the recognized reincarnation of Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup
On May 3, 2016, His Holiness the Dalai Lama officially recognized the three-year-old Tenzin Rigsel as the reincarnation of the beloved abbot of Kopan Monastery Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup Rigsel, who died in early September 2011.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche said in a message on May 14, “This news is so great and encouraging to our minds.”
Tenzin Rigsel was born January 29, 2013, to mother Drolma Choezom (Mochung) and father Karsing Phuntsok (Apey), who are also parents of the well-known Tenzin Phuntsok Rinpoche, the recognized reincarnation of Geshe Lama Konchog.
Tenzin Rigsel’s parents, senior Kopan nun Ani Chodron and Tenzin Phuntsok Rinpoche all shared with the search committee several stories that suggested that young Tenzin Rigsel was no ordinary child. The stories include Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup’s encouragement of the parents to continue having children that become Kopan nuns and monks; Tenzin Phuntsok Rinpoche’s prediction at Lama Lhundrup’s cremation that the reincarnation would be born in his family; Tenzin Rigsel’s desire to make prostrations and joy whenever watching video clips of His Holiness or Lama Zopa Rinpoche; the young boy’s consistent statements that Kopan Monastery is “his monastery” and his reluctance to leave once he arrived at Phuntsok Labrang at Kopan; his unhesitating wish to become a monk; his insistence that he already has many robes himself and that he not wear lay clothes; and his report that he remembers the staircase leading to the top of Kopan’s main gompa and that he used to sit in that top room, although he’d never been there as Tenzin Rigsel.
According to Ven. Roger Kunsang, CEO of FPMT, “Lama Zopa Rinpoche has been looking for Lama Lhundrup’s incarnation for some time now. When these stories were shown to Rinpoche by Geshe Tenzin Zopa, Rinpoche presented the name and stories to His Holiness with two other candidates. A few days later, His Holiness replied by letter confirming the recognition of Tenzin Rigsel.” His Holiness said, “Tenzin Rigsel to be recognized as a reincarnation of the late Lhundrup Rigsel comes out extremely positive.” The enthronement will be planned for next year.
Tenzin Phuntsok Rinpoche with his baby brother, Tenzin Rigsel
On September 7, 2011, the beloved abbot of Kopan Monastery Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup Rigsel showed the aspect of passing away. You can read Mandala’s tribute to Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup, an account of his last days, photos, videos and reminiscences from students on our page dedicated to Lama Lhundrup.
Read Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s complete message on the recognition on FPMT.org.
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