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Letter from Ven Tenzin Zopa
Photographer Ven Tenzin Zopa
Letter from Ven Tenzin Zopa to Kyabje Lama Thupten Zopa Rinpoche about the search for the reincarnation and the miraculous signs around the events. July 31 2005
With great devotion and countless prostrations to the lotus feet of The Three Times Supreme Object of Refuge, The most venerable Kyabje Lama Thupten Zopa Rinpoche
On your holy advice, in July 8th, 2005 I wrote a letter relating pertinent information about the Tsum boy, Tenzin Nyudrup, who is a candidate to be recognized as the late Great Mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog’s reincarnation.
5 years ago the great mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog passed away. Since then, with great devotion hundreds and hundreds of true devoted Sangha and lay disciples of the late great mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog from all over the world who have extracted the nectar of the late yogi’s Holy teachings, especially the communities of Omin Jangchup Choe Ling (Kopan Monastery), Kachoe Gyakyil Ling (Kopan Nunnery), Daychen Lhundrup Monastery and Rachen Jangchup Choeling Nunnery in the Himalayan region called Tsum, plus overseas Dharma centers and Sangha and lay communities have strongly prayed for great benefit for Buddha Dharma and numberless sentient beings so desperately needed by praying for the swift return of the true un-mistaken reincarnation of the late great mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog.
Therefore I, a simple minded and deluded disciple of the late great yogi, have searched for the actual reincarnation and in the process been able to gather some valid, true, and obvious observations as follows.
Some weeks before the great yogi passed away, while I was serving Him, He talked about a young man called Apey from the place where Geshe Lama Konchog did strict retreat for over 25 years. During those 25 years He sustained His body by doing chulen (taking the essence) practice which means sustaining the body by extracting the nutritional essence from wind (or other substances). He stayed in a holy remote Himalayan valley where the ancient Tibetan saint Milarepa’s cave is located. As well, He did strict retreat under a tree without any protection from outer elements, snow, or wild animals. The environment surrounding this holy hidden happy valley called Tsum is said to have been established by the Lotus Born Buddha, Padmasambava.
The great mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog constantly talked about this farmer named Apey from this holy valley saying repeatedly, “Now I have a great wish to meet Apey.” Especially one week before the great yogi passed away, His main conversation is about Apey. One day the great yogi said, “How come this year Apey never appeared to see me? Before I die, I must see him. Is there anyway to send a message to him to come down to see me?” While saying this the great yogi also showed the aspect of being very nervous and urgent. Then I asked what is the reason it appears so important to see him? I had never seen the great yogi act like this before, so I asked why? The great yogi Geshe Lama Konchog replied, “You people will not understand what I mean! It would be best if I could meet Apey directly.” While we were earnestly trying to understand what the great yogi meant, suddenly, a man from Tsum Niloe, who used to be one of the the great yogi’s benefactors while he was in Tsum, appeared to see Him. His first words to this Tsumpa were, “Is Apey coming down to town?” He replied that this year Apey would not be able to come down to town; the reason being that this year Apey had lots farming at the one time and he didn’t have manpower in his family. For this reason Niloe was sure that Apey would not come. Then he asked why the great yogi needed to see him? The yogi replied, “I need to give him a very important message.” The great yogi said, “Anyway when are you going back to Tsum?” He replied, “I am going back tomorrow morning.” “Oh! That’s very good.” The great yogi said, “Can you be sure to pass my message to Apey? Ask him to come down to see me as soon as possible and at the same time ask him to bring a small piece of butter, and a bit of tsampa, and a bit of new cheese (shoesha-somar).” “Sure Geshe la, I’ll pass the message to Apey. But I am quite sure that he doen’t have fresh shoesha this time. Can I send fresh shoesha from my family for you?” the great yogi said “NO! This time he must bring it from his family.” After this conversation, Niloe man left from the great yogi’s room at Kopan. Unexpectedly, about ten minutes later, he returned back because he forgot his hat in Geshe la’s room. When the great mahasiddha saw him again, the great mahasiddha said, “Oh, you came back. I would like to reconfirm with you, please make sure that you don’t forget my message to Apey.”
We found out that, unfortunately, this Tsumpa was unable to return to Tsum before the great mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog passed away. Therefore, Apey didn’t get the message.
Miraculously though, on October 16th, 2001, at nine in the morning Apey suddenly appeared at great mahasiddha’s room in Kopan. Unfortunately, he didn’t get a chance to meet the great mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog directly as the great yogi Geshe Lama Konchog had passed away on the previous day, October 15th, 2001, at 8:50 PM. So, Kopan’s abbot, Khen Rinpoche Lama Lhundup, and myself asked Apey, “Did you receive Geshe Lama Konchog’s message?” “No,” He replied. “Did you hear about Geshe la’s situation?” “No.”, Apey replied. “Then why did you come down to Kathmandu even though it is a very long way from Tsum? Do you have any job to do in Kathmandu?” “No.”, Apey replied. “Then how come you are here?” “Since last week while I was working in the fields, I couldn’t settle my mind. I don’t know why. I was almost going crazy. I couldn’t concentrate even for a moment on my work in the fields. I suddenly felt like going off, and so three days ago left without even informing my wife and my children. I just came off to Kathmandu. I also don’t understand myself how I was able to walk from mountain to mountain to reach Kathmandu within 2 days when it is supposed to take at least 5 days to walk here from Tsum.”
Then we asked why he wasn’t able to reach last night before our guru Geshe Konchog la passed away? He said, “Unfortunately, I was unable to get a bus from Arugar, and, at the same time I didn’t know about Geshe la’s situation. In Tsum we all don’t know about the great yogi’s situation. No one has heard about it”.
Then we asked him, “What have you brought from Tsum?” Amazingly, he had brought just exactly the things Geshe la had desired from him, butter, tsampa, and cheese (shoesha) in the exact amounts wished for. Kopan abbot Kyen Rinpoche Lama Lundrup and myself and many of us who knew the story of the great yogi’s and the Tsumpa Niloe’s conversation about Apey and the things to be brought from Tsum were all amazed and shocked! It was so amazing for things to happen in this way without any verbal communication. This was truly direct mental communication. Apey brought these three things for the great mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog so that in case Geshe la was staying at Kopan then, he might get a chance to see him and offer those foods. These three things were the great yogi’s favorites, he knew.
Because of this amazing incident, Kopan’s Abbot Khen Rinpoche Lama Lundrup asked Apey to arrange these three offerings into beautiful bowls and offer them in front of the great mahasiddha geshe la’s holy body. Khen Rinpoche Lama Lundrup said to Apey, “Because the great mahasiddha is still alive he can see you, he can talk to you, he will accept the offerings. Khen Rinpoche Lama Lundrup continued, “He is in clear light meditation. He is not like us normal people, he is buddha. From a material view, it appears to us he is dead, but in reality he is not dead. He is still alive and he is in clear light meditation. So you make three prostrations and offer as an auspicious offering and please pray strongly. I have a great hope in you.”
On another occasion, a few days before the great mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog passed away, a committee representing Kopan monastery, Kopan nunnery, and other overseas students made extensive mandala offerings with many requests to the Great Mahasiddha to return as a reincarnation. The Great Mahasiddha replied, “Whether I return as an incarnation or not depends on the Sangha communities and students prayers and wishes.
On the following day, Khen Rinpoche Lama Lundrup, and Geshe Lobsang Jam-yang on behalf of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche, made extensive mandala offerings with symbols of Buddha’s body, speech and mind, and requested The Great Mahasiddha to return as a reincarnation. The great Mahasiddha again replied, “It depends on the Sangha communities and students prayers. Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche will know where I will be.
The day before The great Mahasiddha passed away, I also made strong prayers and offered body, speech, and mind and requested many, many times to The Great Mahasiddha to return as a reincarnation. He replied, “Don’t cry. Don’t be sad. We will be seeing each other very soon. I have full trust in you. The only thing you have to be careful about is not to be too aggressive. I truly trust Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche. You just make sure you finish your Geshe studies and be sure to serve Rinpoche in whatever way required. And also, whenever you need advice just refer to Rinpoche. Rinpoche will know where I will be, just refer to Rinpoche. Also, one thing, before I stop my breath, make sure all the offerings and money I have is divided into two portions. With one portion make charity and offerings to all the monasteries, temples, holy places etc. without any discrimination. Make equal charity and offerings to them. The second portion, offer for the teachings at Bodhgaya by HH Dalai Lama. The teachings should be arranged with Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s advice and should be suitable to be received by all levels of people. Just keep 50 rupees as a purse keeper.” He gave a very sweet smile then carried on saying, “After I pass away, for some time don’t let anybody touch the body. Don’t make noise. Don’t light butter lamps near to my body. Don’t burn incense near my body and don’t cry; and make sure to cremate my body on Monday. The cremation puja is to be performed through the Yamataka fire puja, and do Medicine Buddha puja. So just make it a simple one okay. I have done everything in my life, I have no regret, I am very happy about everything.”
About ten minutes before The Great Mahasiddha stopped his breath, Kopan Khen Rinpoche Lama Lundrup and myself each held one of The Great Mahasiddha’s holy hands and finally made extensive requests for Him to return as a reincarnation for the benefit of the Buddha Dharma and all sentient beings. We requested extensively and with very loud voices to show us clear indications from where his reincarnation would appear. With so much compassion The Great Mahasiddha replied to our request by showing two obvious indications. First, by saying the first syllable of the parents name, the syllable AH. Second, by pointing his finger to the north-east from Kopan, showing a clear indication of the direction where he was going to descend. At that moment Khen Rinpoche Lama Lundrup and myself already felt greatly relieved and had confidence and joy in the certainty of His reincarnation. But we both kept this clear indication to ourselves until December 17th, 2005 when Tenzin Nyudrup was recognized as an unmistaken true reincarnation of the late Great Mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog by HH the 14th Dalai Lama.
In fact in 1999, I was in the Great Mahasiddha’s room at Kopan serving butter tea for him and his classmate, the Abbot of Samdeling Monastery. They were teasing each other in many ways, and suddenly the abbot said to The Great Mahasiddha, “Remember, since childhood we were together at Sera University in Tibet. You have been very different from us since we were young. You have done serious practice in all the Sutra and Tantra paths. You have always been one of the most enthusiastic and favorite to receive Tantric initiations and do serious retreats. You would never miss out on all these things. It is kind of your hobby isn’t it?” “Remember we used to stay next to each other and the whole night you would never let us have a peaceful sleep. The whole night you would make noises of Cho offering practices and the exercises of the Six Yogas of Naropa, banging here and there ha ha…. And as well you were one of the best philosopher/debaters; and you are especially excellent in Madhyamika / The Middle Way and the theory of emptiness. Remember you always used to be a discussion leader and even senior scholars came to you to extract your extraordinary knowledge and yet you used to be very humble. Therefore, our seniors gave you the nickname, Lama Konchog (Lama Refuge). When we think of our past it is with very joyous memories and is amazing isn’t it? And now we are already old.” Ho!Ho!Ha!Ha! “Lama Konchog if you die surely you will come as a reincarnate Rinpoche won’t you?” The Great Mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog gave a big smile and a huge laugh and said, “Of course, for sure I will come back with so much promotion Ha!Ha!”
On another occasion during 2000, the great mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog was seriously ill in Singapore such that He almost passed away. At that time Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche was in Hong Kong. Rinpoche gave a call to the Great Mahasiddha and requested Him to live long, but if due to the lack of disciples’ merits if the Great Mahasiddha felt is more beneficial to leave this body then, “You still have to make sure and promise that You will return to Kopan as a reincarnate lama. You need to help and support me as you have done during this life.” The Great Mahasiddha replied, “For sure I will.”
After this conversation with Rinpoche, the Great Mahasiddha showed me a very delightful face and said, “If I get well, I really need to use my full time to help Rinpoche, especially to actualize Rinpoche’s heart project, the Maitreya Statue. You know, whatever Rinpoche does, there is no mistake! Rinpoche never fears problems, He only reflects on what is of benefit. If the action is beneficial for Dharma, and even if it benefits just one sentient being, even if there are lots of obstacles, Rinpoche will still do it. He will never give up. It is cause for much rejoicing, and it is very courageous, and it is wonderful isn’t it? In fact, we all should be like Rinpoche. There is no waste of time if serving Rinpoche and it is very meaningful. Whatever He does, is truly pure Dharma.”
I remember that after Rinpoche called, from the very next day the great mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog started to recover. Unfortunately though, he never fully recovered until the end of his life.
So I am very hopeful, and I pray days and nights and have full faith that all the late Great Mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog’s wishes to help Rinpoche and Dharma and sentient beings will be fulfilled by holy reincarnation Tenzin Nyudrup (Tulku Tenzin Phuntsok Rinpoche).
On one occasion, before the Great Mahasiddha returned to Kopan from Singapore, He again relapsed and almost passed away.
Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche suddenly flew to Singapore and visited the Great Mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog, at that time. Rinpoche asked myself and my brother, Thupten Lundrup, and the resident geshe and everyone to stay out of the Mahasiddha’s room, and the door was closed. Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche and the Great Mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog, just by themselves, spent more than an hour. I presume that they made serious conversation and confirmation of the Great mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog’s reincarnation and so on. Since then, whenever people talked to him about His holy reincarnation, most of the time He would reply that, about this Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche knows.
Now, recalling all these incidents, it seems really amazing how Buddhas communicate through their omniscient mind. It is really beyond we ordinary being’s perceptions. It is truly amazing.
The year after the great mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog passed away, I was on a fundraising tour in Singapore for the 1000 Buddha Relics Stupa at Kopan, commemoration for the late Great Mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog. On the day after a fundraising lunch, I happened to call Kopan Khen Rinpoche Lama Lundrup, but accidentally the call went to Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s room. Coincidentally, Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche Himself picked up the phone. I was shocked and very happy to hear His voice and so took the chance to report the success of the fundraising lunch for the 1000 Buddha Relics Stupa. Which Rinpoche had advised me to build a Wheel Turning Stupa especially motivated and dedicated to the swift and unmistaken return of the great mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog’s reincarnation. When Rinpoche heard the success of the fundraising, He sounded very pleased. Suddenly Rinpoche added a few words saying, try to get as many blessings pills, such as mani pills, as possible, and send them to your brother’s wife. Ask her to take them regularly. Take as many as possible. After this conversation with Rinpoche, we hung up the phone and my head was full of questions? Why did Rinpoche ask me to send blessing pills to my sister-in-law and ask her to take them regularly? I was even wondering how Rinpoche knew about my sister-in-law? On that occasion, Rinpoche was pausing at Kopan on the way back from a pilgrimage tour in Tibet.
When I recall this incident now, I am very sure that Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche had already predicted Tenzin Nyudrup to be the late Great Mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog’s reincarnation even just after He was conceived in my sister-in-law, Drolma Choezom’s, womb. It’s amazing isn’t it?
On another occasion, a few months after the Great Mahasiddha passed away, during Tibetan New Year’s Great Prayer Festival in Kopan, the great and revered lama, Kyabje Denma Locho Rinpoche, the ex-abbot of HH the Dalai Lama’s monastery, was present at Kopan Monastery. With the holy advice of Kopan Khen Rinpoche Lama Lundrup, I took the opportunity to offer one complete set of new (fully ordained) Gelong’s robes, which had belonged to the late great mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog, to Kyabje Denma Locho Rinpoche. I asked for his omniscient mind observation about the late great mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog’s reincarnation. His omniscient reply was that at the moment the Great Mahasiddha is in Vajrayogini Pure-land, and He has already made a prayer to descend to this world to benefit numberless beings and to serve Buddha Dharma. So, we just wait for the right time for Him to descend. From our side, we just rejoice in his great and numberless realizations, and keep pure samaya, and make strong prayers, then our wish will come true. ” I will pray strongly from my side for the swift return”.
The following year, Kyabje Denma Locho Rinpoche again visited Kopan Monastery for the Great Prayer Festival. I made strong prayers, prostrations, and offerings, and asked the same question. His omniscient mind replied, “Now it seems the great yogi Geshe Lama Konchog has already descended. Now it is very important for us to find the unmistaken reincarnation. For that, you must seek advice from the Omniscient Compassionate Buddha Chenrezig, HH the Dalai Lama. Then we will be able to find the unmistaken true reincarnation of the great yogi the great mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog.”
Rinpoche even advised me, “Now you must study hard and complete your geshe studies. Once we have found the unmistaken reincarnation, you must look after him. It is very meaningful and very fortunate to be able to serve Him again. One will accumulate great vase merits, you will be one of the most lucky ones, because it is the same person, having the same realizations, and with an equal power of blessing. The only difference is in different form.” After hearing Rinpoche’s advice, i couldn’t wait to serve the Great Mmahasiddha again in a different form.
At the beginning of 2005, I went to meet Kyabje Denma Locho Rinpoche in Dharamsala with the great mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog’s reincarnation film project crew. Rinpoche declared, “Now you should try to make an appointment to meet HH the Dalai Lama and request His omniscient observation on the great Yogi’s reincarnation. It is already coming on five years since The Great Yogi passed away. I am sure He has already descended into our world by now.” I replied to Rinpoche that Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Khen Rinpoche, and Kyabje Dagri Rinpoche are taking full charge of the search for the unmistaken reincarnation of the late Great Mahasiddha and they are referring everything to HH The Dalai Lama. As well, Ii got a call from Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche saying that He is going to arrange an appointment to see HH The Dalai Lama either in Switzerland or the U.S. this year about our late great mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog’s reincarnation. Kyabje Denma Locho Rinpoche showed a very delightful face and said, “That’s very good! Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche will be the most appropriate to do this. I am very happy about it because it is very important! I will make strong prayers to clear the obstacles to finding swiftly the unmistaken reincarnation of the late great yogi Geshe Lama Konchog.”
In the beginning of 2003, after I had completed the 1000 Buddha Relics Stupa, Ii returned to Sera Je University and went to pay respects to my teacher, the ex-abbot of Sera Je University, Khensur Losang Tsering Rinpoche. We had a serious conversation on the late great mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog’s life and reincarnation. Khensur Rinpoche made an observation and said it is 100% sure that the Great Mahasiddha’s reincarnation already exits. Then I asked where Khensur Rinpoche thinks He is now? Rinpoche replied, “In my observation He seems to have taken rebirth in the place where Geshe la meditated in the past 25 years.” Khensur Rinpoche even advised, “If you happen to visit that place, it is good that you should start to observe, but you have to be very careful and skillful, and very low profile. The best way is to take one of the mahasiddha’s malas, mix it with other malas, and you wear it on your wrist or on your neck. Then go around that village, especially analyze the children around age one to two.” Then He changed the subject and said, “I know Geshe Lama Konchog (the great mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog) better than you people know Him. We were very close friends since Sera University from Tibet. His name is Lama Konchog and He is really Lama Konchog. The label was given to the right base, I see Him as truly omniscient. He is not only a scholar in philosophy, but He is truly a scholar in all fields of Sutra and Tantra. He mastered everything that we’re supposed to know which many of the other scholars don’t, and truly put everything in to practice. He is very humble, very courageous, and very supportive. When I did 3 years Great Yamantaka Retreat in my old room in Sera, He is the one who sponsored my retreat and all the fire pujas. I am very thankful to Him. I feel and have 100% faith that He is truly a highly realized lama, that’s no question at all. Just looking at the signs after He passed away, like the relics and the rainbows etc, these are not signs an ordinary being can achieve, no way!!!!!. Such signs can only achieved by very highly realized holy beings. It is not that I am just saying this to you, it is as Buddha taught 2500 years back. Sometimes, when I think of Him and past yogis such as Milarepa, I wander how they were able to get such courage to do such great practices. It is truly something worth rejoicing in. Nowadays many people still study very well and know quite a lot but to put in to daily practice and make that practice the full cause of liberation is very very very difficult. Is very very very rare to find precious beings like the great yogis like Milarepa and Lama Konchog nowadays. If we want to become Buddha in this lifetime, we should be doing like them. But it is really, really a great task. Unbelievable isn’t it? I rejoice, I rejoice. We are very, very fortunate to have connections with these holy realized beings, even just to get a moment to be together and have connection and blessings and especially to be a disciple of him is truly fortunate”
After this conversation, Khensur Rinpoche asked me to have lunch with Him and we ended the meeting.
Every time I returned from Nepal, Khensur Rinpoche would always ask me about the late great mahasiddha’s Geshe Lama Konchog’s reincarnation. For the past few years I have had no confirmation for Khensur Rinpoche. But this last time, when I returned from Nepal, I had the best news for Him. When I saw Him on December 27, 2005, on entering His room, before i could even prostrate, He asked me,” What is the update on Geshe Lama Konchog’s reincarnation?” I immediately answered that the Great Mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog’s reincarnation is already found and recognized by HH the 14th Dalai Lama on 17th of December 2005 and the Reincarnation is a 3 and half years old boy from Tsum, the same boy Khensur Rinpoche used to talk about. Khensur Rinpoche was so pleased to hear this news. He said, “Now we are very relieved, very happy, and very fortunate to have found the unmistaken reincarnation. Since His Holiness recognized Him, that’s the most accurate and most important. So now even though there is the same continuum of the same person and the same realizations, but for the benefit of deluded beings, He has chosen to manifest in a new form to manifest like us in our world, just manifest like us for our full benefit. So now we should concentrate to offer Him the best education, we have to create very pure and best environment and take good care of His health and everything, they are not like us for them they will learn very fast and very easily, from our side we just need to create the best environment . He will bring great benefits for the Buddha Dharma and numberless beings, having one holy being like this in our world is much more worthwhile then having hundreds and hundreds of like us. Now we should treasure Him and take good care of Him.”
And also before Tenzin Nyudrup was ordained, Khensur Losang Tsering Rinpoche so kindly came to pay respect to the little holy boy Tenzin Nyudrup on 11/1/06 at Amarvati during HH The 14th Dalai Lama’s Kalachakra, and that is the first time they met in different form. While Khensur Rinpoche offered kata and full sets of ordained Sangha robes to the holy boy, Khensur Rinpoche asked Tenzin Nyudrup whether he remembered him or not and the holy boy reply that he did, and they bowed to each other and offered kata to each other and they touch their forehead for about 5 minutes and Khensur Rinpoche said “I request you to live long and have to be the great wisdom eye for the benefits of all the beings and have to turn the great wheel of Buddhadharma till samsara ends and I can see that you have the ability to do that, I am very very very happy that you have returned very fast and in a great form.”
On 12/1/06 after the holy boy Tenzin Nyudrup was ordained by HH the 14th Dalai Lama at 8 am in Amarvati in the Kalachakra Mandala House, the most holy site where the Buddha Shakyamuni gave the teachings on the Kalachakra tantra for the first time in this world. The greatest auspicious holy site Amarvati Holy stupa, the greatest auspicious holy Guru the living compassionate Buddha Chenrezig HH The 14th Dalai Lama, the greatest auspiciousness of holy teaching, the great tantric teaching the Kalachakra initiation, the greatest month day and hour and moment – with all this incredible auspicious occasions the holy boy Tenzin Nyudrup was ordained and given a holy ordination name – Tulku Tenzin Phuntsok Rinpoche. When HH the Dalai Lama gave this holy name to the little boy Tenzin Nyudrup His Holiness said “Since you have changed your form I wish to give you a new name, so half my name and half your past life’s name. I have great hope in you, may you be auspicious to the Dharma, I give you a name TENZIN PHUNTSOK.” (Tulku Tenzin Phuntsok Rinpoche)
After the ordination on 12/1/2006 we had an ordination ceremony for Tulku Tenzin Phuntsok Rinpoche at 1.30pm in Amarvati and over 800 students of the late great mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog attended from all over the world (who were attending the Kalachakra initiation), as well many Sangha and abbots and ex-abbots and of course Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Khenrinpoche Lama Lundrup and so on. On that very day everyone had a most wonderful, most happy, most auspicious moment when everyone rushed to offer kata and offering of toys and so on and once again got the chance to be so close to the the great mahasiddha Tulku Tenzin Phuntsok Rinpoche (the holy reincarnation of our late Guru the great mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog).
On that day Khensur Rinpoche came to the auspicious gathering and said to Tulku Tenzin Phuntsok Rinpoche “We all have great hope in you and you are our future and you have to turn the great wheel of Dharma to the all world. We all have faith in you and we have full trust that you will be the great opening wisdom eye for numberless blind poor mother beings. You brighten our coming days.”
And also Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche keep sharing with the ex-abbots and Khenrinpoche that when our little Lama went to get blessing from His Holiness, His Holiness showed a very pleased expression to our little Tulku Tenzin Phuntsok Rinpoche. Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche is very pleased with all the occasions related to Tulku Tenzin Phuntsok Rinpoche.
On the same day Tulku Tenzin Phuntsok Rinpoche met his old past life close friend the ex-abbot of Seraje Khensur Rinpoche Jampa Thechog in Amarvati and Khensur Rinpoche offer kata and offerings and asked to 3 and half year old Tulku Tenzin Phuntsok Rinpoche, “Rinpoche do you remember me? We were very very close Dharma friend”. Then our little rinpoche replied in a very unique and very special way to Khensur Rinpoche and Khensur Rinpoche right away said that is true Geshe Lama Konchog, our late Geshe Lama Konchog especially used to behave in the same way like this to me whenever we were together. I am so happy that you returned quite fast, we all waited to see this auspicious day. We all are very glad and we have great hope in you and you are our future”.
On the same day he met Kyabje Dagri Rinpoche and Rinpoche said “Now we all feel so happy and so grateful, the most important thing is that we were able to find the unmistaken reincarnation of our late great master and at the same time we were able to get such a fortunate chance to get blessing and ordination and recognition from HH the 14th Dalai Lama. It is all truly amazing and tooooo fortunate and toooo auspicious for all of us”.
On 21 Jan 2006 while Tulku Tenzin Phuntsok Rinpoche was on the pilgrimage to Ajanta and Ellora (80 Mahasiddhas’ Caves in India) Tulku Tenzin Phuntsok Rinpoche for the first time met his old past life friend the ex-abbot of Samdeyling Monastery Khensur Jampa Tseten. Khensur Rinpoche was very very happy and offer kata and offerings to his past life friend in a different form, the 3 and half years old Tulku Tenzin Phuntsok Rinpoche. And his first words to him were “I heard the great and very very auspicious news about your return in Amarvati during HH the Dalai Lama’s Kalachakra initiation, I did try to find where you were staying but unfortunately I was unable to. But I had full faith in our past karma and I did strong prayers that we must meet soon. My prayers and our past karma are answered. Rinpoche you are truly wonderful, do you remember me?” Then they touch their forehead and Khensur Rinpoche said “Now you have to come back to Sera University soon and have to return to Lhowa Khamtsen, and I have full faith in you that you will be one of the greatest lamas in the coming days and you have to turn the wheel of Dharma all over the world and have to live long and take good care, as for me I am already too old and soon will have to leave the world”.
Then Khensur Rinpoche talked to me and said “in fact I was there the day before Geshe Lama Konchog passed away in Kopan and the great yogi said that in his coming life he will return in the child of Tenzin Zopa’s brother, I have kept this to myself till today because I can see Kyabje lama Zopa Rinpoche and Kopan Khenrinpoche Lama Lundrup and Dagri Rinpoche are taking full charge of this so I just watch from afar and if this auspicious day didn’t happen by now, in fact I thought to raise my voice about our late yogi’s reincarnation because we also have full responsibility, especially me from Sera Lhowa Khamtsen, the Khamtsen has full responsibility about this, anyway thanks to all the buddhas and thanks to His Holiness and thanks to Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Kopan and you and so on for finding the unmistaken true incarnation of my late great friend, Tenzin Zopa you just have to remember that in this world you will never find such a great true lama, a true yogi like the late Geshe Lama Konchog. I knew him for 27 years so I know the true facts about him, I tell you the truth he is fantastic in everything, a true living Kadampa geshe, a true yogi, and true scholar, and true Lama Konchog, however much you people know about him you people don’t know anything about him. Anyway you are still one of the fortunate ones. OK you made my day and life of letting me and my long time close friend Tulku Tenzin Phuntsok Rinpoche be here together for a moment. Anyway I don’t mean to take too much time of you all, you might need to leave from this place? Please take good care of Rinpoche”.
Tulku Tenzin Phuntsok Rinpoche has many inborn qualities and I would like share one or two.
A few hours after Tulku Tenzin Phuntsok Rinpoche was ordained by His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama we had an ordination ceremony at Amarvati, during the ordination ceremony attended by over 800 students and Sangha and many new faces; not only the students who were already connected with the late great mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog were overjoyed and blessed but also the new faces were also truly in great joy just by hearing the name of Tulku Tenzin Phuntsok Rinpoche and just to see his face everyone is totally subdued and gave them great joy and blessing, as many of those who attended said, and I think so too. I am 100% sure that in coming days this precious Tulku Tenzin Phuntsok Rinpoche will be like pure honey, by the sweetness of his compassion, wisdom and blessing numberless beings in this world will be able to be satisfied and everyone’s wishes will be fulfilled by granting the nectar of pure Dharma and blessing just like pure honey satisfies all the bees. Even with the cuteness of the look of his holy face and the way he looks at things and the way he smiles at people and the way he interacts with different people and different things and his compassion of giving and concern for sick people and poor people and his thoughtfulness to everyone and his respectful and affectionate thought to holy objects, especially for Buddha images and stupas. The amazing thing is he never satisfied or gets tired of being with stupas and buddhas images even at this age of 3 and a half, and also since he was two years old he prefers to sleep alone and before he sleeps he like to recite Om mani peme hum. Especially after everyone has fallen sleep and if he can’t sleep he will chant the mantra till he can sleep, and every night he will wake up at 3am and will ask any of the family sleeping around him whether the sun has risen or not. If we don’t want him to get up by that time we just have to reply to him that the sun has not risen and then he will say I want to rise fast so I will chant JANGCHUP SEMCHO RINPOCHE till the sun rises and then he will chant this holy bodhichitta prayers till he can get up.
And he likes to use only red and yellow colour cloths. Plus the firmness in his decisions and he really knows what is good and what is not good. Whenever he gets close with the different things and also within my stay with him for the last few months he has shown many many sign of predictions, such as if there is going to be an accident or some bad things are going to happen he will scream and direct us in the safe direction. A few times at the beginning when I started to travel and stay together with him I just ignore him and find he was very stubborn, and sure enough some bad things will happen – it has happened every time he reacted like that. So then whenever he react this way I try to follow as he wants and then he stops crying and screaming and nothing bad will happen. If things around are very good and auspicious and something good or auspicious is going to happen he will act very happy, very enjoying and very relaxed. Just this much itself is already too amazing for a little 3 and half year old child. There are many many inborn amazing qualities in him.
In 2003, Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Khen Rinpoche advised myself, Gelek Gyatso Rinpoche, and Kopan manager Ven. Tenpa Choden to visit Tsum valley for the purpose of taking over the Mu Monastery and Rachen Nunnery on behalf of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Kopan Monastery. I took the opportunity to investigate Geshe la’s reincarnation in Tsum valley in accordance with the advice of Kyensur Losang Tsering Rinpoche, Kopan Khenrinpoche Lama Lundrup, and Kyabje Dagri Rinpoche. A few days after the great mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog’s cremation with the request of Kopan Khenrinpoche Lama Lundrup through Kyabje Dagri Rinpoche, HH the Dalai Lama made several predictions to the late Great Mahasiddha’s reincarnation there is a reincarnation .
2-he will come more from the Tibet side, more in the east – north east direction.
Geshe Jam-yang’s astrology predicted the structure, surrounding layout, height, and color, of the reincarnation’s house, and the first syllable of the parent’s names, syllable (AH) “Apey” and the first syllable of the village name, syllable (TSA) “Tsum”.
As well, the late great mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog himself had clearly indicated, just before He passed away, the direction where his reincarnation would appear – the direction north east direction and the first syllables of the parents’ names, syllable (AH) “Apey”. However, my first efforts at checking were made using malas as Khensur Losang Tsering Rinpoche had advised. I brought along to Tsum one crystal mala which belonged to the late great mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog, and the mala which He used everyday for torma offerings. I wore one of Geshe la’s actual malas on my wrist together with a few others which did not belong to the great yogi Geshe la. Going through the villages, I showed these to children around the age of one to two years old. Until reaching Apey’s family, I didn’t see unusual indications from any of the children. When I saw Apey’s boy, a one year old named Tenzin Nyudrup, he straight away grabbed all the malas from my wrist. He wore them on his neck and gradually threw all the other malas from his neck except for the crystal mala, which had belonged to the late great mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog. This one he wore around his neck. We all tried our best to get the crystal mala back from him, but he grabbed it with his left hand and wouldn’t let go. Six of us were new to him but we were amazed by the response the boy gave to all of us, and the monks and nuns from Rachen and Mu monasteries, including the family, we all tried to be smart to get the mala back by giving him brand new toys like cars, balloons, and saying nice words to him etc. He gave us a big shock by screaming violently, throwing toys, and even crying so badly that all of us failed to retrieve the mala. That was around 6 PM. Around 10 PM, he went to bed. Even then he was still holding the mala tightly around his neck. We tried our luck at getting the mala back after he had gone to sleep. We asked his grandmother Butri to try gently to take it off his neck while he was sleeping. But he knew and he screamed and cried. For three days and nights, he never let the mala separate from his neck. He held it very dearly. We had to fly back to Kathmandu having totally failed to retrieve the mala. In that instant reaction of the little boy, in all our minds, without any choice, faith arose. We had a great suspicion that this child may well be the reincarnation. Thus, we felt a spontaneous joy. We all hoped to spend more time with him, but unfortunately we had to leave the valley. We returned to Kopan with great joy and great hope.
In accordance with the strong advice of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Kyabje Dagri Rinpoche, Khenrinpoche Lama Lundrup and H E Trulshig Rinpoche and so on for the swift return and to clear all the obstacles to find the unmistaken reincarnation of the late great mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog- for the past five years I have had many pujas performed in different great monasteries such at Sera, Kopan and other monasteries and nunneries. Especially the one thousand recitation of the Snow Lion Face Dakini prayers, one hundred thousand sets of Tara pujas, one hundred thousand recitations of the long Manjushri Dharani prayers, hundreds of Medicine Buddha pujas, one thousand recitations of the Heart Sutra, one thousand sets of White Umbrella prayers, hundreds and thousands of recitations of the Vajrasattva mantra, one hundred thousand recitations of 21 Tara prayers, full recitations of the Kangyur and Tengyur texts, four million recitations of Compassionate Buddha’s mantra, hung hundreds of prayer flags in the Himalayas, had hundred sets of Nyungnye Retreat (fasting retreat) offered, one hundred thousand torma offering pujas, many Vajrayogini and Yamantaka self-initiations, built a wheelturning 40 feet 1000 buddha relic stupa, made one hundred thousand Tsa Tsas of Guru Lama Tsongkapa, made a statue of the great guru Lama Tsongkapa and his two disciples, made a statue of three deities of highest Yoga tantra, made an 11 face life size statue of the Compassionate Buddha Chenrezig and Buddha Maitreya, liberated hundreds of animals, sponsored retreats for the holy Sangha, etc.
After doing these pujas Kyabje Dagri Rinpoche and other lamas asked me to go up to Tsum again and visit Apey’s family in order to make further enquiries about the child. So, in a very low-key manner, I visited just after Tibetan New Year in 2004. I had the opportunity to spend three days with Apey’s family interacting with the potential reincarnate child. Also, I made some enquiries with the parents and neighbours. Especially important were several conversations with Ven. Ani Choedron, who was one of the Great Mahasiddha’s closest attendants while He was in Tsum. Also, she is the grand-aunt of the boy. Ani Choedron declared many clear indications about the boy, such as when the boy reached two, many times over many days, the little Tenzin Nyudrup always called to go up to the cave where Geshe la did strict retreat and always looked up to the cave and always screamed and asked them to bring him there. And also everyday he looked up to the cave and always said Gompa Gompa, at the same time pointing his finger towards the cave. Later Ani Choedron even had to bring little Tenzin Nyudrup to late great mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog’s cave and even had to stay there for weeks because the boy insisted on going to the cave and even on staying there. She had to do this a few times. Besides that even at the age of one, whenever he passed by a text box, the box in which he late Great Mahasiddha himself locked up all his antique scriptures about 20 years before, whenever the little Tenzin Nyudrup passed by this box, he paid special attention and grabbed the box. And not only that, he used to search for and hold the vajra and bell of the late great mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog, the vajra and bell which the late Mahasiddha kept with the family, and would even ring the bell loudly and was very attached to it. And also late Great Mahasiddha kept one big wool sangha coat (dagam) at Apey’s house. Tenzin Nyudrup always liked to use that coat and liked to sleep in that coat. The one year old Tenzin Nyudrup from one year old up to now paid special attention and had a liking for all the things which belonged to Geshe la and which He kept in Apey’s house. Ven Ani Choedron was amazed to see all this incredible extraordinary behaviors in this little Tenzin Nyudrup but not in other kids. Not only Ani la but also many villagers, they saw this little boy Tenzin Nyudrup as extraordinary and very special.
After I came back from Tsum and visited the boy Tenzin Nyudrup , I went to see one of the most respected Nyingma lamas called H E Trulshig Rinpoche in Boudha a few times and requested his omniscient observation in particular about the little boy Tenzin Nyudrup from Tsum village in the Himalayas, and Rinpoche’s observation came out that Tenzin Nyudrup is the unmistaken reincarnation of the late Guru, the great mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog.
In beginning of 2005, I again visited Apey’s family and got the chance to spend three days in their house. The amazing thing was every morning around 6-am Tenzin Nyudrup, this little boy, would come and wake me up and force me to follow him to the back of his house to water the apple tree. The apple tree which was planted by the late great yogi Geshe Lama Konchog Himself about 20 years back. I would hesitate to get up because it was very cold and freezing in the morning, even the water was frozen. To touch and play with the ice water is very tough for me. But he never let me take a chance to run away while I was staying three days in his house. Every morning I was pulled by his hand with so much screaming I had to get out from the warm blankets! Since there was so much force from him, as well as doing the same thing (watering that particular apple tree) at the same time everyday, I happened to ask the family what is this about? Has he been doing this everyday? They replied that since a year back, almost everyday he would never miss any chance to water that particular apple tree. For this no one needed to lead him and no one needed to ask him. Everyday after he wakes up, he will never forget to water the apple tree first thing. After knowing this, Iwas amazed and I felt very touched and I cried, and my faith in him is unshakeable. Because the time wasn’t ripe I had to keep all this in myself till the day His Holiness declared that the little boy Tenzin Nyudrup is the unmistaken reincarnation of my late great Guru Geshe Lama Konchog.
Another clear indication related to Apey’s family is after the Great Mahasiddha passed away, within 49 days Apey’s wife Dolma Choezom had the same dream fortnightly for a few days. The dream was Geshe la visiting Tsum valley and all the villagers lined up to receive blessing from Him, but when everyone tried to get near to receive blessing from Him, Geshe la only put His hand on Dolma Choezom’s head and blessed her but none of the other villagers received blessing from the great mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog. She had the same dream a few times and every time after the dream, she had a feeling of great joy and bliss. In fact in those 2 years, after the first two children, it has been quite a difficult time of not conceiving any child for Apey’s family. Miraculously around the end of the 49 days after the great yogi passed away, she conceived. The great yogi Geshe Lama Konchog passed away on Monday 15 Oct 2001 and Tenzin Nyudrup was born at 3 am on Monday 28 Oct 2002 which is Tibetan 22nd of the 9th month which is the auspicious day on which Buddha Descended from Tushita Heaven. He was supposed to be born in August, but he delayed two months in the womb. When he was born in Oct, his physical size was huge, but there was not much pain for his mother. When the child was born, he did not cry, the family members declared.
Right after the birth, one of the Kagyu mantra masters did a birth astrology for the new born child. In the astrology it was very clearly stated that this child is not ordinary and is the manifestation birth of one very highly realized lama from the Southern direction and so on.
It is long story but to make it brief, in fact Apey and his wife were matchmade by the late great yogi Himself, the date of the engagement and the date for their marriage were all chosen by late great mahasiddha Geshe la Himself, even the late Great Mahasiddha voluntarily offered a puja on their wedding day. Today when I recall all these incidents, it is really amazing, it all sounds as though the great mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog Himself made perfect arrangements for His next rebirth.
Then also, on the night when the great mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog passed away, Khen Rinpoche Lama Lundrup made a call to Kyabje Dagri Rinpoche, and requested Kyabje Dagri Rinpoche to inform His Holiness that the great yogi Geshe Lama Konchog just passed away and entered into clear light meditation, and to request His Holiness’ prayers and dedication, and request advice about the reincarnation. For this request, His Holiness answered “For sure I will pray and do the dedication for the late great yogi, and as for the reincarnation, there will be a reincarnation, and I feel the direction that he will come from is more towards Tibet.”
Even while the late Great Mahasiddha was in clear light meditation for 7 days, over 200 foreign students and over 700 Sangha saw directly many amazing signs of His great realizations. Not only that, during His cremation rainbows appeared and surrounded the sun, and there was a drizzling of rain and rainbows appeared towards the six different directions. One rainbow appeared from the cremation stupa up to Kopan kitchen. One rainbow appeared above the fire on the cremation stupa. One rainbow surrounded the cremation stupa. One rainbow appeared from the cremation stupa to Kathmandu valley. And one rainbow appeared from the ground to the space in the North-East direction and this rainbow took about an hour to dissolve in the clouds in that direction. This is also one of the very clear indications for the search for the reincarnation.
Also in Tibetan custom when we cremate high lamas, in order to find a sign of their return as a reincarnation or not, normally under the cremation stupa in the centre we put some sand and smoothen it and cover with a big plate. We invite the holy body to sit above that plate and be cremated. After the cremation, after clearing the ashes, we open the plate and check for signs. If there is a footprint, it is a sign that the Lama will return. If the footprint is small, it means that we will be able to recognize the reincarnation from childhood. If the footprint is big, that is the sign that we will recognize the reincarnation when he gets older. To check the direction where the reincarnation will come, we check the direction in which the heel faces. In the late great mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog’s case, there was a very obvious footprint and the heel was directed from the North- East direction and the toes were facing Kopan’s main temple. Plus there was a very obvious inborn print of the Crown of the 5 Dhyani Buddhas as well as a very obvious inborn image of a lotus. All these indications are already very obvious signs for the return of the great mahasiddha’s reincarnation in which direction and so on.
In fact, there were a lot of obvious signs that the great mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog has achieved full enlightenment. The most obvious signs as stated in the Buddha’s teachings such as the 5 color of the relics and the heart, tongue and eyes and the 5 color rainbows and the rain drizzling etc. In fact in the great mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog’s case, from His ashes there were more than 5 colors of the relics not only that, there were 3 colors of the hairs, and the hairs are very smooth, very shiny, and one portion of the hair is very dark black in color and very fine and very shiny and sparkling – actually it is the hair of Vajrayogini. As well as the heart, tongue and eyes were very fresh and very lively left behind without being burnt by the fire, even though they were in the great fire for 72 hours. All these signs were seen and directly perceived by hundreds and hundreds of people from all over the world. Immediately after we invited the relics from the cremation site to the relics shrine, Kopan Khen Rinpoche Lama Lundrup made a call to Kyabje Dagri Rinpoche in Dharamsala and Khen Rinpoche mentioned all the auspicious incidents which happened during the cremation including the amazing information about the relics and requested Kyabje Dagri Rinpoche to make extensive offerings on behalf of late great mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog and inform His Holiness the Dalai Lama about all this, and at the same time seek advice about the late great yogi’s reincarnation. Without delaying a day, Kyabje Dagri Rinpoche did as Khen Rinpoche requested. A few days later Kyabje Dagri Rinponche returned a call to Khen Rinpoche Lama Lundrup and passed the answers from His Holiness. His Holiness said that I am very pleased and very much rejoice about all the signs which the late great Lama Konchog showed of achieving greatly high realizations. At the same time His Holiness advised that “Reincarnation is definite – the great yogi will return in reincarnation. I feel like He will come from the North East direction of Kathmandu or more to the East from Tibet side and will come into the family which He was close in the past when He was alive. In fact, He will come by showing many obvious signs, so you don’t have to put much effort to go and seek him. Anyway, nowadays I feel more comfortable that the reincarnations come by themselves by showing obvious signs that they are the true reincarnation of the past lama”.
In early 2003, Kyabje Dagri Rinpoche visited Kopan for the opening of the 1000 Buddha Stupa to commemorate the late great mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog. The 3rd day after the Stupa consecration, Kyabje Dagri Rinpoche went into retreat. The first night of the retreat, around 3 am, Rinpoche had a very clear dream of the great mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog., that the great yogi Geshe Lama Konchog came to offer a handful of gold to Rinpoche and showed the aspect of being very pleased and had few conversations with Dagri Rinpoche. After Rinpoche woke up, Rinpoche felt very joyful, and very strongly felt that the late great mahasiddha had already returned in new form. Rinpoche went back to Dharamsala after the retreat and performed extensive protector pujas and checked for observations with some other high lamas, whose observations predicted that the great mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog had already returned as a reincarnation. After that Rinpoche continuously did many observations and checked many signs and the results 100% confirmed that the late great mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog had returned as a reincarnation and that the 3rd child of Apey is the unmistaken reincarnation of late great yogi. Due to the time not being ripe, Kyabje Dagri Rinpoche kept this information with himself, Kopan Khen Rinpoche Lama Lundrup and myself till His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s confirmation was announced. Anyway, since that time, Kyabje Dagri Rinpoche and other high lamas already mentioned many many times that the 3rd child of Apey, Tenzin Nyudrup, is the true reincarnation of a very highly realized lama of the past. And even advised the family to take good care of him.
Also after the great yogi Geshe Lama Konchog passed away, Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche asked Geshe Jamyang to check astrology to find out whether there was a reincarnation of the late great mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog or not, if there is, from where he will come and how etc. The astrology predicted that definitely there will be a reincarnation, and clearly predicted the scenery of the area, which is exactly the scenery of Tsum valley. Especially the structure of the house and the surroundings are exactly Apey’s house and surroundings. More than that, the size, height, color and the personality of the father is exactly the marks of Apey. Geshe Jamyang also did the calculation of the astrology of the place, and the name of the parents. In the astrology name of the place, the option came syllable (TSA) and syllable (LA). For Syllable (TSA) -came 90% of the option, for syllable (LA) came 50%. Then the astrology of the father name was syllable (AH). In the conclusion of Geshe Jamyang’s astrology, the name of the place starts from syllable (TSA)- is “TSUM” in the direction of North East at the Himalayan border of Nepal and Tibet. The syllable (AH) is the name of the father “APEY” who lives in the direction of the North East of Kathmandu and in the border of Nepal and Tibet, in the village called Tsum. From the astrological point of view, the 3rd son of Apey, Tenzin Nyudrup, was predicted as the unmistaken reincarnation of the late great mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog.
For the past 5 years after our late Guru the great mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog passed away, I have had various types of clear dreams related to the great Guru Geshe Lama Konchog and His reincarnation. I would like to share some of the dreams here. Two months after the great Guru mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog passed away, on 18 Dec 2001, I was sleeping in the Great Mahasiddha’s room at Kopan. In the morning around 3 am, I dreamt that one small fatty fair boy came out from the dead body of late Guru mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog, the dead body which actually looked similar to the time Geshe la passed away and is outside late yogi Geshe Lama Konchog’s verandah at Kopan. The aspect of the body is lying actually as when Geshe la was in clear light meditation for a week. It was the same feeling and the same image. And that little boy called my name very loudly – Tenzin Zopa – and he passed his hand to me and asked me to bring him inside the room and let him sit on Geshe Lama Konchog’s throne. After that I woke up and I stay in the blanket for about two hours and checked my feeling. My feeling was very joyous and I had the strong feeling that the late great mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog already came back in new form. Since then I never felt my Guru Geshe la had passed away. The feeling is He is always around me and I felt very secure and blessed.
On 27 Oct 2002, since next morning is very auspicious Buddha Descending From Tushita Heaven, I motivated to wake up very early and do light offering and water bowl offering and do some cleaning in the Great Mahasiddha’s house, so I tried to sleep early. Since I am sleeping in the mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog’s room, the room was always very bright even at night, because we always had the lights on the altar. After I lay down, I could see Geshe la’s big picture in front of my face and suddenly felt that I missed him very much, and also without any choice all the past memories with the late kind great mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog came into my mind. I was unable to fall asleep till 3am. Around 3 am I suddenly fell asleep for a short while, and dreamt about the same little boy, his height was about two feet, he was fair and fatty and is very serious yet is very charming and had a small mole on the face and was giving a sweet smile to me, he was surrounded by many people. I went near to him, I scream and shout, saying “this is Geshe la’s reincarnation, this is Geshe la’s reincarnation, this is Geshe la, this is Geshe la….” I suddenly woke up and my heart was beating very fast and again I checked my feeling for a while, and I felt very strongly that the late great mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog truly came back to our world. I even felt that I can never forget the child’s face and that if I happen to see that child, even in a big crowd I would be able to see him even from very far.
A year later, I found out that on the same day and same time, the little Tenzin Nyudrup was born.
On 8 August 2003, I was in Sera, that night when I went to sleep, I was unable to sleep till 3 am because some how, I don’t know why, the whole of my body was unbearably itchy, till the whole of my body was full of marks of the scratches. Around 3 am, I fell asleep and had a dream that the same boy came to me with very wrathful face and straight away hold my hair and turn my head restlessly. And the boy with a very wrathful voice said “Where is my conch shell, where is my conch shell?” I suddenly woke up and I was very scared by the boy’s wrathfulness and my heart was beating very fast, and at the same time, I noticed that my body itchiness was all gone, at the same time I felt very tired and I continued to try to go to sleep, and when I was lying on the bed, I was recalling the dream and suddenly I remembered that one time when I travelled with the late great mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog to Taiwan, before we returned to Kopan Monastery, in Taipei, Taiwan, in the centre of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s room while I was packing for Geshe la, then the great mahasiddha passed me one small conch shell which is normally used for puja, the great mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog specially warned me to “Make sure you pack the conch shell, I need it!” Normally Geshe la will never care of the packing. This is the only time He warned me in many years travelling with Him. When we returned back to Kopan in his room, the first thing he asked me was “Where is my conch shell?” I tried to find it in the luggage, I couldn’t find it at all. Since due to my carelessness or whatever, I am quite sure I did pack the conch shell but I couldn’t find it at all. I even teased him, asking “Why You are so serious about it? The conch shell is not the best quality one, I can get for You better quality and as many as you want from Boudha”. The great mahasiddha replied with very wrathful face I know you will do this, that’s why I ask you! Then he just walked away from me. So when I reflected on my dream with this incident related to the conch shell, when I faced the great mahasiddha Geshe la at that time the wrathful aspect of Geshe la and the wrathful aspect of the child in my dream, that was exactly the same expression. And the fear in my heart, is also exactly the same. A few months later, one of the Western student visited Tsum, and took many photos and sent me the photos of the small Tenzin Nyudrup. When I first saw his face in the photos, instantly, it reflected all my dreams and the face of the child I saw in the dream, the face I saw in the pictures, is 100% the same face. In that moment, I had great joy. But I kept this joyous feelings in myself till 11 Dec 2005 when Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Kyabje Dagri Rinpoche and Kyenrinpoche Lama Lundrup officially did the traditional checking of the candidate boy for the late great mahasiddha’s reincarnation. Even though Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche asked me many time about my dreams and predictions and signs related to the late yogi Geshe Lama Konchog’s reincarnation, I promised myself not to influence from my side any sign for the prediction of the late great mahasiddha’s reincarnation. Even though I might be one of the closest to the great mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog, but I am too ordinary to predict and judge the life and state of mental continuum of somebody who is already enlightened. For the enlightened one, only enlightened beings can be able to judge and predict without any mistakes. Therefore, I wholeheartedly relied about this holy reincarnation issue on Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche and His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Now, I would like to share the greatest joy in my life finding the unmistaken true reincarnation of Our Precious Guru the Late Great Mahasiddha, The Great Yogi, The Great Scholar, The Great Living Kadampa Master, The Living Buddha, Geshe Lama Konchog.
That on 17th Dec 2005, His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama and Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Khen Rinpoche Geshe Lama Lundrup Rigsel, and Kyabje Dagri Rinpoche, and many other highly realized lamas recognized and announced to the world that Tenzin Nyudrup the son of Apey Karsang Phuntsok and mother Dolma Choezom from Tsum Himalaya Valley in the North East direction of Kathmandu, on the border of Tibet and Nepal, was officially recognised as the unmistaken true reincarnation of the Late Great Mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog.
With so much auspiciousness and great fortune for H.E. Tulku Tenzin Phuntsok Rinpoche, at the age of 3 and a half years old from 8 Jan to 16 Jan 2006 He received the commentary on the profound view and the great highest yoga initiation, the Kalachakra initiation and the Long life initiation and he completed pilgrimage to Amarvati Kalachakra stupa, Nagarjuna Konda, the 80 mahasiddhas’ caves at Ajanta and Ellora and to the three great monastic universities – Drepung, Ganden, Sera and so on. With this auspiciousness our precious Rinpoche will be able to receive all the teachings on sutra and tantra and be able to cultivate and be able to meditate and be able to grant the great blessing of the Dharma to all the numberless beings and be able to liberate all beings up to everlasting happiness and able to perform all the virtuous deeds just as all the past buddhas and bodhisattvas have performed.
Just a small note for clarification. In the past 5 years, there were many candidates and many rumours and misunderstandings in accepting the late great mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog’s reincarnation around the world. Tenzin Nyudrup and all the other candidates were equally checked by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche and so on. Except for Tenzin Nyudrup, all the other candidates were failed as the unmistaken reincarnation of the late great mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog.
I Tenzin Zopa on behalf of all the Students of our late great mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog would like to thank countless times His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Khen Rinpoche Geshe Lundrup Rigsel and Kyabje Dagri Rinpoche and all the other high lamas who have put so much effort to find the true unmistaken reincarnation of our late Guru the great mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog.
Also many countless thanks to the parents of the late great mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog’s reincarnation for giving birth to the precious child Tenzin Nyudrup and taking good care of Him up to now and for offering him to serve Buddhadharma and benefit numberless beings.
From now on we will call the precious child Tenzin Nyudrup by the holy ordination name given Him by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama on12 of Jan 2006 at 8am at the most holy place Amarvati during the Kalachakra initiation “TULKU TENZIN PHUNTSOK RINPOCHE”
With so much joy and great devotion to the precious holy reincarnation H. E. Tulku Tenzin Phuntsok Rinpoche of our late great guru the great mahasiddha, the great yogi, the great master Geshe Lama Konchog (the great yogi Losang Phuntsok) with great prayers and auspiciousness of H.E. Tulku Tenzin Phuntsok Rinpoche’s enthronement on 3rd March 2006
Tenzin Zopa, 3rd March 2006
Read More About the Incarnation of Geshe Lama Konchog
- Confirmation Letter from His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama
- Letter from Kyabje Zopa Rinpoche to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama requesting His observation to find the reincarnation of Geshe Lama Konchog
- Letter from Ven Tenzin Zopa about the search for the reincarnation and the miraculous signs around the events