The fourth Ongen Rinpoche

The Fifth Ongen Rinpoche
On the roof of Shedra
Oct. 2005

About "Ongen"

There are three Ongen Rinpoches in Palpung monastery. The name Ongen is from the eighth Kenting Tai Situpa's brothers. He was the eldest son in the family with three younger Brothers, they were Onpo Samphel, Onpo Karma Ngeleg, and Onpo Samten. His three younger brothers were called "Ongen". They made great contribution to Tibetan Buddhism especially to Kagyu lineage, and Tibetan medicine science which benefits people till now.

One of the Ongen is residing and studying in Palpung monastery now. He is the fifth Ongen Samten Rinpoche. In order to have an integrality history of Ongen Rinpoches, the other two Ongen are also briefly introduced here.

Onpo Samphel

The first Onpo Samphel Rinpoche was the incarnation of translator Yongey Jugne, who was the achievement emanation of Terton Rena Lingpa - Rinchen Longsal Nyingpo's reincarnation.

The second Onpo Samphel Rinpoche was the prince of Nazhao. He was recognized by the 8th Kenting Situpa. Although medical science was not his major, he could understand most of the medicine books. He formulated the "Derge Great Black Pill", and wrote some comments about "Fire-moxibustion". He established the lower retreat center (Naropa Retreat Center) in Palpung monastery.

The third Onpo Samphel Rinpoche was named Karma Chokyi Tenzin Tsering, whose rebirth is predicted by Guru Rinpoche. He was born into a officer Reshao's family. He established the monastic college in Palpung monastery and set the Vinaya department to conduct a summer retreat. He designed a treasury-vase ceremony. The 14th Karmapa Thekchok Dorje ordained him as the master of Buddhists in Bhutan and Denke. The Derge king respected Onpo Samphel Rinpoche as his guru, and offered the Paiya area to Rinpoche.

The fourth Onpo Samphel Rinpoche was a descendant of the mantra guru Jurlow Nyinje Rinpoche. The 15th Karmapa Khakhyab Dorje recognized him as the rebirth of the third Onpo Samphel Rinpoche. He practiced dharma in the forest near Nenang area in Tibet and once as the leader of Nepa monastery.

Onpo Karma Ngelek

Onpo Karma Ngelek Rinpoche was born in the wood-chicken year of 12th shambhala-era of Tibetan calendar. The 8th Kenting Tai Situpa recognized him as the rebirth of the master Geshe of the Chacha Temple. In 1732, he wrote an astrology book "Practical Usage ofl Vase" and two volumes of medical collection "Prescriptions of Wisdom & Convince", which was urged by his disciples. His writings were acknowledged as very practical and efficient in treating among Tibetan medical books. He became a master proficient in Sutra and Tantra, and he wrote two comment books referring Three Rules and Abidharma(kosa), these books were deemed as motto by virtuous people.

The Second Onpo Karma Ngelek Rinpoche was born in the iron-tiger year of the 13th era of Tibetan Calendar. In 1789, he wrote a medical book called "the Long-life Pearl", and later another commentary book "Supplement of Mind Treasury". The whole book had 15 chapters, with the details about how to make Tibetan Medicine prescriptions and lots of useful information for Tibetan doctors till now. People said he also had two books: " Supplements of Karmapas autobiography", and "Comments on of Dagpo Kagyu's the Jewel Ornament of Liberation". At that time, there were near 20 medical doctors in Palpung monastery. Some history data said there were many scholars from Kathok, Dzongsar, Baiya, Longchi, Changdu, Leiwuchi and other places for following Rinpoche to study medicine and astrology science. After this incarnation, Rinpoche incarnated to be the Geshe Rinpoche in Chacha monastery.

Onpo Samten

Ongen Samten Rinpoche is the pure incarnation of Yanda Poda Ozernu, Yuthok Nyima Yonten Gonpo (who established the first medical school in Tibet in the 8th century), and Thangtong Gyalpo (Bridge master, Creator of Tibetan Drama in the 14th century). He was born as some special prophecy in the earth-rat year of 12th era of Tibetan calendar at A-Lo Shega at Atarong. From his childhood, he studied under the 8th Kenting Tai Situpa and other masters learning sutra and tantra. In medical science, he learned from the Kenting Tai Situpa, Dilmar Tenzin Phuntsok and other masters about the Four Medical Tantras (compiled by Yuthok Nyima Yonten Gonpo) and other medical literatures, including the theories and clinical experiences. Without any doubt and obstacle, he mastered the healing science and his fame spread widely, he was thought as the emanation of Yuthok Nyima Yonten Gonpo (who was the compiler and one of the authors of Four Medical Tantras). After the 8th Kenting Tai Situpa passed away, he became the successor of the Kenting Tai Situpa in dharma activities, and was called "Ongen Rinpoche". He wrote the book "Comments on the Four Medical Tantras" and some dharma songs.

The second Ongen Rinpoche Karma Thekchok Tenpa (or named Ngedon Tenpa) was recognized by the 13th Karmapa Dudul Dorje and the 10th Sharma Rinpoche Mipham Chodrup Gyatso, and was enthroned at Palpung monastery. He recognized and enthroned the first Jamgon Rinpoche.

The Third Ongen Rinpoche Karma Samten Lodro was born into the family of the Derge King Ngona. He was recognized and enthroned by the 9th Kenting Tai Situpa Pema Nyinje. He studied under many great masters. With the merits of the siddhi, he studied and practiced the dharma extensively. He ever roamed around the South area such as Pemakod with an image of a beggar.

In his childhood, he already had the ability to create miracles such as: left his foot-print on rocks; hanged his robe on sun-rays; foretold the future events; knotted an ox's horns; knotted a sword. Once in a trip, a donkey abruptly died in a narrow pass, Rinpoche cut open the body of the donkey and performed a like offering ceremony for the gods and ghosts, then used the donkey's blood to write down some words on the rock which still can be seen now. Just like the ancient Indian Mahasiddhas, Rinpoche worked many such miracles in his life.

The fourth Ongen Rinpoche Karma Chokyi Ngedonn Donyod Tenzin was born with many miracles signs into the family of the Derge minister Nyeratsang . His father Losang Gyaltsen was the 11th Kenting Tai Situpa's nephew. He was recognized by the 11th Kenting Tai Situpa.

Rinpoche was very like his previous incarnation, with the same habit and good conduct. He learned teachings of Kagyu lineage and other knowledge of Sutra and Tantra from the Karmapa and other masters. He went to India with the 12th Kenting Tai Situpa. In 1987, he passed away in the Belguem. When performing the cremation ceremony, auspicious clouds appeared in the sky, his heart, eyes and tongue remained without any damage. These miracles raised and firmed the confidence in dharma between western disciples.

The present fifth Ongen Rinpoche was born with many magic sign into a shepherd family near the Palpung monastery in 1989. His father's name is Sonam, and mother's name is Sangye. He could read the 30 Tibetan alphabets as he started to speak. When he was a child, he liked to play bell and tabor. That behavior is different to the children of the same age and makes people rising respect to him.

When the 12th Kenting Tai Situpa came to Palpung Monestery in the Water-monkey year of the 17th era of Kalachakra Calendar, the 12th Kenting Tai Situpa recognized him as the reincarnation of the previous Ongen Rinpoche and gave him the name "Karma Legshe Dambi Gyaltsen Pal sangpo". Now he is studying in the monastic college in Palpung monastery.

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