Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Drati Khangtsen

Lama Zopa Rinpoche was born in 1946 in Thami , in the Mount Everest region of Nepal , not far from the Lawudo cave where his predecessor had meditated for the last 20 years of his life. As a young boy, Rinpoche took getsul ordination at one of the monasteries of Demo Geshe Rinpoche in Pagri and became a monk for the first time. Domo Geshe Rinpoche is very famous and is regarded as an embodiment of Lama Tsong Khapa in those places.

The areas of Dromo and Pagri are the sources of new monk students for Sera Je Drati Khangtsen as per the traditional jurisdiction system. As per this system, any monk from these areas automatically enters Drati Khangtsen if they studies at Sera Je Monastery.

In the year of 1959 when the thread of Chinese Invasion were imminent even in places like Pagri and Dromo, Rinpoche escapes to India through Bhutan. Rinpoche went to Buxa rehabilitation camp for studying Buddhist Philosophical and Dailectical studies. Rinpoche became a monk of Sera Je Monastery and being an original monk of Dromo Geshe Rinpoche's monastery in Pagri, Rinpoche became a monk and a Tulku of Sera Je Drati Khangtsen .

Rinpoche has been very supportive and kind to our Khangtsen. Rinpoche had contributed a lot for us through financial support during the construction of our present Assembly hall and also a 12 room monks quarters for the monks of Drati Khangtsen. It is only through Rinpoche's kindness and blessing for us that we could start our New Assembly hall Project.

We all the monks of Drati Khangtsen pray for the success and fulfilling all the projects of Rinpoche and FPMT for the preservation of Buddha's teachings in this world.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche is now the Spiritual Director of the FPMT and oversees all of its activities. www.lamazopa.com