Gelek Rimpoche

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Nawang Gelek Rimpoche (aka Gehlek Rimpoche)
སྐྱབས་རྗེ་དགེ་ལེགས་རིན་པོ་ཆེ།
Gelek Rimpoche.jpeg
Gelek Rinpoche
TitleLama
Personal
Born(1939-10-26)26 October 1939
Lhasa, Tibet
Died15 February 2017(2017-02-15) (aged 77)
Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
ReligionTibetan Buddhist
NationalityTibetan
SchoolDrepung Monastery
Professionteacher
OrderGelug
Senior posting
TeacherKyabje Trijang Rinpoche, Kyabje Ling Rinpoche, Khensur Denma Locho Rinpoche, Song Rinpoche
Students
Professionteacher

Kyabje Nawang Gehlek Rimpoche (Tibetan: སྐྱབས་རྗེ་དགེ་ལེགས་རིན་པོ་ཆེ།, Wylie: skyabs rje dge legs rin po che/) was a Tibetan Buddhist lama born in Lhasa, Tibet on October 26, 1939. His personal name was Gelek; kyabje and rimpoche are titles meaning "teacher" (lit., "lord of refuge") and "precious," respectively. He was a tulku, an incarnate lama of Drepung Monastic University, where he received the highest scholastic degree of Geshe Lharampa, equivalent to a PhD, at the exceptionally young age of 20.[1] His father was the 10th Demo Rinpoche and his uncle was the 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso. He was educated alongside the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso.

The 14th Dalai Lama said "he completed his traditional Buddhist training as a monk in Tibet prior to the Chinese Takeover."[2] According to Thupten Jinpa, principal English translator to the Dalai Lama, he is considered "an important link to the great lineages of Tibet’s great masters, especially of the Geluk school. Known more famously for the Tibetans as Nyakre Khentrul Rinpoche, Rinpoche had been instrumental in reprinting many of the Geluk texts in the 1970s, and also remained an important object of affection for both Kyabje Ling Rinpoche and Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche. Of course, his emergence as one of the great Tibetan teachers in the West has also been a source of inspiration for many.”[3] Rimpoche was tutored by many of Tibet's greatest teachers including the 14th Dalai Lama's senior and junior tutors, Kyabje Ling Rinpoche and Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, who sent him to the West to teach, and Denma Locho Rinpoche and Song Rinpoche.[4][5]

In 1959 at the age of nineteen, Gelek Rimpoche led a large group of Tibetans into exile in India from Tibet, "the route he suggested became a major route for tens of thousands in the coming decades."[6] He then settled at a temporary camp with other lamas and monks in Buxa, India, where his education continued, although "there were no books, and classes had to be taught from memory only."[1][7] He was one of the first students of the Young Lamas Home School and later gave up monastic life.[8][9][10] He was named director of Tibet House in New Delhi, India in 1965. In the 1970s he served as head of Tibetan services and as a radio host at All India Radio.[11][6] He preserved over 170 volumes of rare Tibetan manuscripts that would have otherwise been lost and conducted over 1000 interviews, compiling an oral history of the fall of Tibet to Communist China that are in the US Library of Congress's Tibetan Oral History Archive Project.[12][13] In 1964 he was an exchange student at Cornell University.[6]

Rimpoche moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1987 to teach Buddhism. In 1988 he founded and was president of Jewel Heart, a nonprofit "spiritual, cultural, and humanitarian organization that translates the ancient wisdom of Tibetan Buddhism into contemporary life." in Ann Arbor, which has expanded to Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, Chicago, Cleveland, Nebraska, New York, Malaysia and The Netherlands.[14][15][16] Beat-poet Allen Ginsberg was among the more prominent of Jewel Heart's members. Ginsberg met with Gelek Rinpoche through the modern composer Philip Glass in 1989.[17][18][19] Allen and Philip jointly staged benefits for the Jewel Heart organization. Professor Robert Thurman, Joe Liozzo, and Glenn Mullin are also Jewel Heart members and frequent lecturers. He became an American citizen in July 1994.[20]

Gelek Rinpoche died on February 15, 2017 in Ann Arbor, Michigan after undergoing surgery the previous month.[21][22][23][24][25][26]

Selected bibliography[]

  • Good Life, Good Death: Tibetan Wisdom on Reincarnation, (foreword by His Holiness the Dalai Lama), Riverhead Books, 2001, ISBN 1-57322-196-1
  • The Tara Box: Rituals for Protection and Healing From the Female Buddha (with Brenda Rosen), New World Library, 2004, ISBN 1-57731-461-1
  • Essentials of Modern Literary Tibetan: A Reading Course and Reference Grammar (with Melvyn C. Goldstein, Lobsang Phuntshog), University of California Press, 1991, ISBN 978-0520076228, ISBN 0520076222
  • A History of Modern Tibet, Vol. 1 1913-1951, (with Melvyn C Goldstein), University of California Press, 2008, ISBN 0520061403, ISBN 9780520061408, ISBN 9780520075900, ISBN 0520075900
  • A History of Modern Tibet, Vol. 2, The calm before the storm, 1951-1955, (with Melvyn C Goldstein), University of California Press, 2009, ISBN 9780520249417, ISBN 0520259955
  • How the Mind Works, Jewel Heart, 2016, ASIN B01H2MXIDE
  • Perfection of Wisdom: An Essential Explanation of the Mantra and the Five Paths, 2014, ASIN B00KCX3IUE
  • The Three Principles of the Path: A Brief Explanation, Jewel Heart, 2014, ASIN B00KDIZBZ8
  • Shantideva's Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life: Chapter 3; Full Acceptance of the Awakening Mind, Jewel Heart, 2013, ASIN B00BUVLZNE
  • 37 Wings of Change, Jewel Heart, 2012, ASIN B006WFKPUM
  • Shantideva's Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life: Chapter 6; Patience, Jewel Heart, 2010, ASIN B00BUYYN3U
  • The Four Mindfulnesses: On the Basis of a Poem by the Seventh Dalai Lama with Commentary by Kyabje Ling Rinpoche, Jewel Heart, 2009, ISBN 193499409X
  • The Four Noble Truths, Jewel Heart, 2009, ISBN 1934994057
  • Shantideva's Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life: Chapter 7; Enthusiasm, Jewel Heart, 2008, ASIN B00BUYYN58
  • GOM: A Course In Meditation, Jewel Heart, 2005, ASIN B004N84VLE
  • Lam Rim: Foundations of the Path, Jewel Heart, 2005, ASIN B00KD3OOLU
  • Transforming Negativities, Jewel Heart, 2004, ASIN B004N63770
  • Catalogue : first exhibition in new Tibet House, (with Gyaltsen Yeshey, Nicholas Ribush, Trisha Donnelly); Tibet House, New Delhi, India), 1979, OCLC Number: 37437276

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "Gelek Rinpoche". fpmt.org/mandala/archives. Mandala Magazine, FPMT. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  2. ^ Gehlek, Nawang (2001). Good Life, Good Death: Tibetan Wisdom on Reincarnation. New York: Riverhead Books. pp. Foreword by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. ISBN 9781573221962. Good Life, Good Death: Tibetan Wisdom on Reincarnation.
  3. ^ Lewis, Craig (February 16, 2017). "Respected Tibetan Teacher Kyabje Gelek Rinpoche Dies". Buddhistdoor Global. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  4. ^ Larson, Kay (August 7, 2005). "When Buddha Chooses to Be a Woman". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  5. ^ Tworkov, Helen. "A Lama for All Seasons: An Interview with Gelek Rinpoche". tricycle.org. Tricycle Magazine. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b c Kain, John (July 1, 2002). "Gehlek Rinpoche's Remarkable Journey". Lion's Roar. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  7. ^ Brentano, Robyn (January 1, 2019). "BUXA CHOGAR: Saving Tibetan Buddhism in Exile". Mandala, Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition. Tibet House US. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  8. ^ Mackenzie, Vicki (March 28, 2017). The Revolutionary Life of Freda Bedi: British Feminist, Indian Nationalist, Buddhist Nun. Shambhala. p. 102. ISBN 978-1611804256. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  9. ^ Namgyal, Tsewang (July 27, 2009). "Foundations for a Modern Tibet". Phayul. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  10. ^ Liozzo, Joe. "Celebrating Gelek Rimpoche". huffingtonpost.com. Huffington Post. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  11. ^ "Remembering a Great Teacher: the learned and inspiring Gelek Rimpoche of Jewel Heart International left behind a sparkling jewel of Dharma teachings". buddhaweekly.com. Buddha Weekly. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  12. ^ "Lama Choepa Tsok Offering Puja Gelek Rinpoche". drepung.org. Drepung Loseling Monastery Center. February 16, 2017. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  13. ^ "Tibetan Oral History Archive Project". loc.gov. US Library Of Congress. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  14. ^ "Art and Impermanence". Rubin Museum of Art. Archived from the original on October 8, 2007. Retrieved 2013-08-18.
  15. ^ Gehlek Rimpoche, Nawang (Winter 2001). "The Real Enemy Nawang Gehlek Rimpoche exhorts us to let go of anger and take charge of our minds" (Nawang Gehlek Rimpoche). Tricycle Foundation. Tricycle Magazine. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  16. ^ Rimpoche, Gelek (February 17, 2017). "Enlightenment in Female Form". Lion's Roar, Buddhadharma, lionsroar.com. Lion's Roar. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  17. ^ Silliman, Daniel (December 28, 2017). "A woman who married God, a chess-playing priest and 10 more fascinating religious figures who died in 2017". The Washington Post. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  18. ^ "Gelek Rinpoche's Birthday!". allenginsberg.org. The Allen Ginsberg Project. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  19. ^ "Lifeline". Allen Ginsberg dot org. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved 2013-08-18.
  20. ^ Norbu, Konchog (March 20, 2014). "Trailer: New documentary celebrates "The American Rimpoche"; June premieres in NY, DC". Lion's Roar Foundation. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  21. ^ "The Office of Tibet Mourns the Passing of Kyabje Gelek Rinpoche". tibetoffice.org. The Office of Tibet, Washington, DC. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  22. ^ Biddlecombe, Wendy Joan (February 15, 2017). "Tibetan Buddhist Lama Gelek Rimpoche Has Died". Tricycle. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  23. ^ Meade Sperry, Rod. "Remembering Gelek Rimpoche, Tibetan Buddhist teacher and author (1939-2017)". lionsroar.com. Lion’s Roar Foundation. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  24. ^ Lewis, Craig. "Respected Tibetan Teacher Kyabje Gelek Rinpoche Dies". buddhistdoor.net. Buddhistdoor Global. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  25. ^ Magill, Mark. "Remembering Gelek Rimpoche". tricycle.org. The Tricycle Foundation. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
  26. ^ "Jewel Heart: Remembering the Life of Gelek Rimpoche". beherenownetwork.com. Be Here Now Network. Retrieved 9 March 2018.

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