His Eminence Guru Khyentse Ozer Rinpoche was born on the 24th
day of the first month of Bhutanese Calendar in 1976. He was born to a family
who looked after the temple in Buli, Zhemgang. After his mother’s demise,
his father and elder sisters brought him up.
Once, on spotting a monk for the first time Rinpoche cried with happiness
and asked his father to send him to monastery to be a monk. Having
consented, Rinpoche spent three years at Bumthang Tharpaling as Lobdrab (novice
before becoming monk). Later, Rinpoche’s elder sister sympathized so much that
they never sent Rinpoche back to the monastery. So Rinpoche became cowboy
till the age of 15. That was the sternest and most challenging time in
Rinpoche’s life. Later at 15, Rinpoche joined school. His brilliance in studies
compensated him with double promotion.
Rinpoche lived a pathetically poor life. When Rinpoche was in
class 9, he had only a pair of school shoes and an old pair of slippers. Once,
while visiting his uncle in Gelephu, Rinpoche saw an old shabby yellowish
leather shoe covered with spider webs in a corner. Rinpoche asked the
babysitter if it was thrown. She replied it belonged to a survey officer in
Thimphu. She was not sure whether he would come to collect. Thinking he may not
come Rinpoche took the shoe to the cobbler, repaired and wore it. Ironically one
day Rinpoche met the survey officer in the middle of Gelephu town who gazed at
the shoe and the Rinpoche’s face simultaneously. Rinpoche couldn’t say anything
to such an embarrassing situation and nearly died. At that moment Rinpoche really
wished if he had the wings so that he could fly away instantly.
When Rinpoche was studying in 10th grade, he was ill
and was sent for further referral to hospitals in Thimphu and India. With
regular classes missed for four months, Rinpoche couldn’t qualify in science by
just one mark. That devastated Rinpoche’s long cherished dream of becoming a
medical doctor.
Overpowered by sadness and hopelessness, Rinpoche almost
committed suicide by jumping over Lungtenzampa bridge. However, with strong knowledge
on the causes and effects of suicide, Rinpoche abandoned the thought.
Rinpoche was secretly practicing Dharma under his masters from
10th grade alongside his schooling. Rinpoche met and received teachings
from great masters like H.H late Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, H.H Penor Rinpoche,
H.H Dodrupchen Rinpoche, etc.
Rinpoche pursued his 11th and 12th grade in Yangchenphug High
School, Thimphu, and later went to Sherubtse College. During those days, Rinpoche
also engaged in doing 100,000 prostrations and recitation of 210,000 refugee
prayers under his spiritual father Lama Yeshi Choeyzin Rinpoche of Kurtoe alongside
with his normal classes.
In 1996 when Rinpoche came to Thimphu for the first time for
medical checkup, Rinpoche’s eldest sister who was living in Thimphu suggested
of visiting a Lama at Kabesa for divination. When Rinpoche entered into
Lama’s room, the Lama instantly stood up to greet him and placed a khaddar
(white ceremonial scarf) on his neck, followed by a big hug. Rinpoche was
perplexed and wondered why the Lama hugged him, a crippled, sick, limping boy?
To his amazement, Lama responded his thoughts softly “You are my
son dear”. He was further puzzled. He thought, “Lama is such a great man with
fair appearance while I am a brown boy”. “He must be kidding.”
“We were father and son for many previous lives practicing
Dharma in Tibet and India. You will benefit countless beings in future, dear,”
the Lama sighed. That Lama was Lama Yeshey Choezin, the root Guru of Rinpoche.
Lama treated Rinpoche with sacred pills and gave so many
teachings on preciousness of human life, impermanence, law of cause and
effects, karma, the disgusting fact of samsaric existence, and many
more. Lama also taught Buddhist refugee for five years. He performed all
the protection rituals for Rinpoche without needing Rinpoche’s request.
Numerous predictions of Rinpoche’s future would also be made.
Lama never called Rinpoche by name but by this kind soothing verse “My dear
Son”. Whenever Rinpoche went for his blessings before journeying distant
places, Lama would see him off with many prayers. Placing his forehead on
Rinpoche’s, Lama would pray aloud:
“May evil thoughts never come in my son’s heart. May kindness
grow healthily in his heart. May he never leave Dharma. May he never forget
Konchosum. May he benefit beings through his action, speech and thought.”
After that they would be in tears. Lama would sadly wave white
scarf till Rinpoche crossed the hill. Once, Lama said to Rinpoche that he would
live only for few years. As he saw sadness in Rinpoche, he said he was kidding
and that he would live many years.
After 10 years of schooling, Ugyen Norbu Rinpoche was doing B.A.
Honors in Dzongkha in Sherubtse College, the only college of the country then.
During the winter break of Rinpoche’s 1st year in Sherubtse, Rinpoche came to
Thimphu and visited his Lama and got blessings.
After few weeks, someone came to Rinpoche with the message that
he must immediately visit his Lama in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Thimphu
hospital as Lama was asking about him time and again. A devotee called Kaina
took Rinpoche in his scooter.
Upon seeing Lama on the bed connected with wires and ICU equipment,
Rinpoche almost fainted with uncontrollable sadness and tears. By the time
Rinpoche realized, he was hugging his Lama, begging to live long, if not for
all sentient beings, at least for the pathetic son. Lama put his palms on
Rinpoche’s head and murmured,
“I told you to practice Dharma but you didn’t. Now I’m going, my
son”.
Immediately, Rinpoche did 3 prostrations as a sign of regret and
request for forgiveness. Lama called Rinpoche near him and gave him a hug.
“Dear master, please forgive me. I will leave my studies and
fully practice Dharma. Tomorrow I will go to Sherubtse and officially process
Transfer and No Objection Certificate. And I will come back only to be with
you, practicing Dharma for sentient beings till I die” Rinpoche begged.
Lama’s face glowed with joy and happiness. Lama’s hands holding
Rinpoche’s hands, said
“This is what I want you to do, dear son. Just do meditation for
a year and live serving beings. Before I breathe my last air, you gave me the
happiest news. What a fortunate son! You will benefit beings more than I
did”.
Rinpoche then requested several times to live long and
distributed Tshedo (Long Life Sutra) to others. Before Rinpoche departed to
Sherubtse College, Lama called him to be near him and asked to eat a bowl of
fruits. Rinpoche knew it’s for good reason and tried his best but seeing Lama
in pain Rinpoche couldn’t eat it all. So Lama advised Rinpoche to take home and
give to others.
When Rinpoche bowed down to receive blessings, Lama whispered to
Rinpoche, “Come back soon, my son, I will try to wait for you”. There were tears
of sadness in both of them. With folded palms, Rinpoche was moving backward to
leave the room when suddenly Lama called him for another blessing and hug.
Waiting few minutes bowing down, Lama did not utter anything but was looking
into the front space.
Rinpoche slowly moved away saying, “Dear Lama, wait for me. I
will come back soon”. When Rinpoche reached outside the room, Khandro
Lhawang Choezom warned Rinpoche to come back soon as Rinpoche may not meet as
the last parting was unusual. She was sobbing.
To go to Kanglung and return to Thimphu, Rinpoche needed money.
So Rinpoche had no choice other than to provide tuition for a month to small
children in Dechencholing. The tuition was two hours morning and another two
hours in the evening. The rate was Nu.50/- per month. So, after a month of
tuition, Rinpoche went to Kanglung but took another one month to reach back at
Thimphu. The saddest part on reaching back was that Lama passed away into
parinirvana few days ago.
Today, Rinpoche recollects the situation saying, “It was like
living in the darkness. The sun was set as my guide left me alone. It was like
being lost in the ocean of samsara without compass to determine direction. The
bridge has collapsed, protection fences destroyed. It was like a king met with
check in chess game; like a computer getting crashed down; like a bankrupted
rich man; castle with electricity line cut off; like pretas without food and
drinks; like a car without fuel and driver; like a merchant without
merchandise; like a bukhuri without firewood; and like in the state of khorwai
Bardo . I cried for months.”
Rinpoche studied under the most extraordinary Lamas of the
world. His root teachers was Lama Yeshey Choezin Rinpoche (disciple of
Tshetsham Rinpoche), HH Late Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, HH the 3rd Penor
Rinpoche, HH the 10th Lhalung Thuksey Tulku Rinpoche, HH the 70th Je Khenpo
Tulku Jigme Choedra, HH the 7th Namkhai Nyingpo Rinpoche, HH 4th Dodrupchen
Rinpoche, HH Chatral Rinpoche, H.E Khenpo Karpo Rinpoche, HE Kathok Chagtrul
Rinpoche Thubten Thinley and HE Ugyen Jurme Rinpoche.
Today, Rinpoche resides in Dechencholing under Thimphu
Dzongkhag. Rinpoche tirelessly preaches Buddha dharma day and night to those
who are interested and have devotion in Buddhism. As of now, there are around
10,000s of Nyondro practitioners under Rinpoche, of which most of them are
youth.
Practitioners include
aged lay people, tshampas , monks, Trulkus, business man, office workers,
teachers, students, etc.
Long live Rinpoche
