04/24/2020
Om mani padme hum! Our prayers for Kyabje Gangchen Rinpoche la’s rebirth soon. We wish all the prayers & best to all Rinpoche la’s followers, Lama Michel la & all his students & centre around the world . 🙏🙏🙏
The Mahasiddha Drubwang Gangchen Rinpoche was born in Drakshu, a small village in western Tibet in 1941. At the age of five, he was recognised as a reincarnate lama-healer from a long and unbroken lineage of healing lamas and ta***ic masters going back to the great Mahasiddha Darikapa, one of the 84 Mahasiddhas of Indian Buddhism. He was enthroned at Gangchen Choepeling Monastery in Shigatse, Tibet, not far from the famed seat of the Panchen Lama at Tashi Lhunpo Monastery.
Rinpoche excelled in his Buddhist studies, and when he was only twelve, he received the “Kachen” degree, which is normally obtained after 20 years of study. He then spent his teenage years in several leading monastic institutions under the tutelage of some of the most prominent masters of the time, including H.H. Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang and H.H. Kyabje Zong Dorje Chang.
In 1963, Rinpoche fled into exile to India, where he completed his higher Buddhist studies. While in India then later in Nepal, Rinpoche dedicated his time to the Tibetan refugee community, using his healing abilities to bless and save the lives of many people. His renown as a powerful healer grew and he became very much sought after, even becoming the private physician to the Sikkim Royal Family.
Many equated being in Rinpoche's presence to being in the presence of the Medicine Buddha. His public appearances attracted tens of thousands of devotees who sought to receive his blessings. On some occasions, it took up to three full days for everyone to have Rinpoche’s healing hands placed on their heads.
During his first visit to Europe in 1981, Rinpoche — using his famed red and white water and cream pills — healed many people from illnesses including curing a young boy’s stomach cancer and a girl’s mouth cancer. These pills are so famous and sought after that in the Himalayas, people will readily exchange a yak for just two of the pills!
Since then, Rinpoche traveled the world extensively, giving blessings, healing, teaching, and leading countless beings onto the spiritual path. Rinpoche also founded numerous Dharma centres around the world starting with the first European centre opening in Greece in 1982, and most recently the expansion of the Temple of Heaven on Earth in Albagnano, Italy.
In 1992, Rinpoche instituted the Lama Gangchen World Peace Foundation (LGWPF), which has become a United Nations (UN) affiliated NGO. Also within the UN, Rinpoche promoted the proposal to create a permanent spiritual forum, composed of representatives from all religious movements, dedicated to the creation of world peace.
As a result of Rinpoche’s kindness, compassion, and committed effort to promote the growth of the Buddha’s teachings, alternative healing, world peace, and environmental healing, over 100 Inner Peace Education centres have since been established worldwide.
Rinpoche passed into parinirvana on Saturday, 18 April 2020.
