Khandro Tashi Chotso was enthroned as a reincarnation (Tib: tulku) of Khandro Kunzang Chodron at Ewam Buddhist monastery in Silguri, in the Indian state of West Bengal, on Sunday. The ceremony was led on an auspicious dakini day* by the esteemed Nyingma lama His Holiness Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche.
Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche is visiting Ewam Monastery from 10–24 January to bestow the rarely offered reading transmission (Tib: lung) and all empowerments (Tib: wang) of the “Seven Modes of Transmission.”**—the collected works of one of the most eminent Buddhist teachers of the 19th century, Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo Rinpoche (1820–92).
Rinpoche’s teaching program, titled “Journey to the Extraordinary,” was organized at the request of Tulku Namchak Sang-ngag Rinpoche, who established Ewam Monastery in Silguri as a branch of his Buddhist organization Ewam International.
The enthronement of Khandro Tashi Chotso was requested by Sokpo Lama from Domang Monastery—a branch of Palyul Monastery in Drago Dzong in the Dokham Trehor region of eastern Tibet. The ceremony was held along with a White Vajravarahi (Tib: Dorje Phagmo) empowerment and a ritual for longevity. A long-life offering was given on behalf of representatives of the state government of Sikkim in northeastern India, chief minister Prem Singh Tamang and state minister Sonam Lama.
Khandro Tashi Chotso was born in Yuksom, western Sikkim. Her great-uncle was His Eminence Domang Yangthang Tulku Rinpoche (1929—2016), a highly revered Nyingma lama who was born in Sikkim, studied at Domang Monastery in Tibet, and, after 22 years in prison during the Chinese invasion, returned to Sikkim.
Several years ago, Khandro Tashi Chotso was recognized as the reincarnation of Khandro Kunzang Chodron (regarded as an emanation of Vajravarahi) by Lama Akhyuk Rinpoche (1927–2011), one of Tibet’s most renowned meditation masters of recent times, who founded Yarchen Gar Monastery.
It was Yangthang Tulku Rinpoche’s wish that his grand-niece be enthroned as a recognized incarnation and serve the Dharma. Before passing into parinirvana, he wrote a letter to her, which was found among his personal belongings, and later translated by the American translator Sangye Khandro. The letter, titled “A Bit of Advice Based on Purest Intentions for Tashi Chotso,” was published on Yangthang Rinpoche’s Facebook page as his final teaching, and emphasized the benefit of following the Dharma path:
If you wish to choose the path of the sublime Dharma, that would be the best! That is the correct illuminating path and it is the unmistaken way to go! First, it is important to single pointedly trust in the Triple Gem and firmly cherish the advice of parents and elders, and listen and guard the teachings given to you from compassionate masters, monks, and excellent practitioners. Keep your own mind stable and focused and, without wavering, enter this luminous path. First, purely accomplish your own purpose and then work to benefit others.
If you come to understand the Dharma that is taught by such an omniscient Buddha, then your own mind will become like the sky and will never be rigid. Your entire being will be open and free. Since the teachings of the Buddha are full of such temporary and ultimate benefit to yourself and all others if you can learn even a little bit of this Dharma that will bring tremendous achievement. Please hold this advice deep within your heart.
* Dakini (Tib: khandro), a female emanation of the enlightened nature. The 25th day of each month in the Tibetan lunar calendar is considered a dakini day and therefore especially appropriate for Dharmic activities.
** Known also as the seven authoritative transmissions (Tib: ka bab dun): the continuous transmission of sutra and tantra, earth treasures, rediscovered treasures, mind treasures, oral transmission, visionary revelations or ‘pure visions,’ and revelations from memory.
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