Kyabje Yangthang Rinpoche passed away

By Lobsang Tenchoe

DHARAMSALA, Oct 18: A highly revered master of Nyingma lineage of Tibetan Buddhism and a former political prisoner of Tibet, Kyabje Yangthang Rinpoche has passed away on Oct 15 in Hyderabad.

The Dzogchen master passed away on Monday at the age of 88. Ari Bhod, a foundation established to preserve the ancient Nyingma wisdom tradition of Tibet announced.

Yangthang Rinpoche was born on the 10th day of the 11th month of earth-snake year of Tibetan calander, 1929 in what is known today as Yangthang in western Sikkim.

At an early age, Rinpoche was recognized as one of the two reincarnations of Terton Dorje Dechen Lingpa of Domang Monastery in Eastern Tibet.

Rinpoche mastered the practice of his lineage by receiving teachings from numerous teachers, extensively trained and studied the Kangyur and Tangyur and, the works of Longchenpa.

Kyabje Yangthang Rinpoche was imprisoned for over two decades in Chinese prison following the Chinese invasion of Tibet in 1959. Along with Rinpoche, many other monks and lamas from the traditional Tibetan province of Kham were also imprisoned, Sera Yangtrul Rinpoche being one of the most notable among them.

Following the death of Mao Tse Tung, Kyabje Yangthang Rinpoche was released in 1981. When he returned to Domang monastery upon his release, he found his monastery completely dismantled. Thereafter, he went to his birth place in Sikkim to give blessings and teachings to his devotees and disciples around the world.

Rinpoche’s body will be delivered to His Holiness the Dodrubchen Rinpoche’s monastery in Sikkim as he had wished, lionsroar.com reported Oct 17.