His Holiness Trulku
Jigme Choedra was born at Drubtse Goenpa, Kurtoe, on the fifth day of the
Bhutanese lunar month seven in the Wood Sheep year of 1955.
While at the age of
three, His Holiness could vividly recall his own former lives, he was also
recognized by the Great Yogi Lama Sonam Jampo (root teacher of His Holiness
Nyinzir Trulku 67th Jekhenpo of Bhutan) as the reincarnations of: Geshe Pema
Tshering (the learned sage of Tharpaling Temple in Bumthang who was also the
spiritual teacher of the late Jigme Wangchuck King of Bhutan), Kheuchung
Lotsawa (disciple of Guru Padmasambhava), Drubthob Saraha (mahasiddha), and
Maitreya Bodhisattva (heart son of Buddha Shakyamuni).
At the age of eight,
His Holiness joined Druk Sa-nga Choling and received Getshul Dompa (basic
ordination) from Drukpa Thugsey Rinpoche. He studied ritual practices,
recitations, and religious texts from Khenpo Sonam Dargye and Khenpo Noryang.
At the age of ten,
His Holiness received Kangyur Lung (transmission of Buddha’s teachings), Dudjom
Terser (treasure teachings of His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche) and comprehensive
blessings and empowerments of Rinchen Terzoed from His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche
in Kalingpong.
During the age
between twenty one to thirty, His Holiness received full teachings and
empowerments of Drukpa Kagyu tradition and Dzogchen (highest realization).
Besides Rigney and Zhungchen Chusum (Buddhist philosophy), he also mastered
Mahamudra practices (chag-chen) and meditations of Naro Choedrug (six cycles of
Yoga Ro-Nyom Kordrug), which were taught by His Holiness 68th Jekhenpo Ngawang
Tenzin Dhondup of Bhutan and His Holiness 69th Jekhenpo Geshey Geduen Rinchen
of Bhutan. Moreover, he received full teachings and empowerment of Terton Pema
Lingpa from His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche.
His Holiness also
completed three-year-three-month Losum Choesum retreat three times. During the
ten-year retreat, he took up sacred practice of Vajrayana, which includes
La-drup, Demchog, Tandin, Dorji Phagmo, Sengdongma, Mithrugpa, Chenrezig and
Dzogchen meditations.
Appointed as the
head of Tango Shaydra Institute in 1984, His Holiness taught Rigney and
Zhungchens there. In 1986, he was appointed as His Eminence Drapai Lopen of the
central monk body: Thimphu Tashichho Dzong (Bhutan capital palace) and
Pungthang Dechenphodrang Dzong (ancient imperial palace).
In 1990, he
resigned from his position as His Eminence Drapai Lopen and went into retreat,
during which he taught Kuenkhen Kabum (teachings of Kuenkhen Pema Karpo) and
the practice of Tendrel Rabduen (teachings of Tsangpa Jarey).
At the age of
forty, His Majesty King Jigme Singye Wangchuck promoted him to His Eminence
Dorji Lopen of the central monk body. During the time as His Eminence Dorji
Lopen, he elucidated the Kangyur and taught the thirteen texts of Terton Sangey
Lingpa.
He also delivered
teachings of Nyondro (preliminary practice), Nyingthig, and Kuenzang Lami
Zhelung (Nyingmapa teachings) in several dzongkhags (provinces). He constructed
a temple, Kheng Tali Zangto Pelri Lhakhang, using his own contribution and
offerings by devotees.
In
1996, on the tenth day of the Bhutanese lunar month three, His Holiness was
enthroned as the 70th Je khenpo of Bhutan. Ever since his enthronement, each of
all Bhutan monasteries and temples nationwide has been annually holding Moenlam
Chenmo (great prayers to thousands of Buddha’s) to dedicate to all sentient
beings for world happiness, peace and harmony.
A diminutive figure
always bending lower than even the most reverent people who throng to him in
droves. He epitomizes humility. To those who know our Je Khenpo as a teacher
and as a leader, he is a single-minded person in the pursuit of furthering the
benefits of Buddha Dharma, of inspiring the truest and most authentic practices
toward ultimate liberation.
His Holiness is
known as a strict disciplinarian. In his unpublished book, From the Ocean of
Compassion, by Rinzin Wangchuk, Trulku Jigme Chhoedra is the Kurtoe Dophug (the
Rock from Kurtoe), a reference to his unwavering attitude towards correct
monastic discipline and conduct. His Holiness is a poet, a composer, a strict
administrator, and a consecrator of public spaces, a philosopher deeply
concerned for the welfare of the people.
But it is his
reforms in the monastic body with implication far beyond the dratshang that
Bhutanese will remember the 70thJe Khenpo of Bhutan. In his 22 years as the Je
Khenpo, His Holiness has brought about many reforms in the dratshang.
To the average
Bhutanese, the greatest reform was stopping the practice of offering Chhangep,
Phuechha, Soeja and Soetsho (offerings in cash or kind) from the bereaved
families when they perform cremation ceremony. This has come as a huge relief
to the rural population and the poorer sections of the society, for whom the
final rites for family members became a social and economic burden.
It is said that the
practice of offering cash and material indebted the poor. There are stories of
people who sold or killed their oxen or borrowed cash and kind to complete the
funeral rites. The practice left the bereaved family members in debt. If death
is the leveler, the initiatives have ensured equality at the crematorium.
This was followed
by banning the serving of meat and alcohol at the cremation ground and banning
of import of meat during auspicious months. Because of His Holiness’s
initiatives, the average citizen can cremate their family members with dignity.
They need not worry of not finding monks, arrange buffet or places to complete
the funeral rites, an important ritual that comforts the bereaved family
members.
Throughout his
reign as the Je Khenpo, His Holiness is engaged in spreading the Buddha Dharma,
taking it to the people. There is no count of Moenlam Chenmos and oral
transmissions, His Holiness conducted. Of late, through his initiative, the
dratshang is making religion relevant to the youth with the choeshey programmes
in schools and institutions.
His Holiness is
duly recognized for his lifetime service to the nation by His Majesty The King,
on behalf of the people of Bhutan, on December 17 with the conferring of the
highest civilian decoration, the Order of The Druk Gyolpo. The joy was shared
most by the people.
Long Live Our
Precious Teacher.
