Gangshar Wangpo

Khenpo Gangshar Wangpo (b. 1925-?) was a highly respected lama in Eastern Tibet[1] and one of the primary teachers of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche[2] and Thrangu Rinpoche. Khenpo Gangshar was trained in Shechen Monastery, a monastic center established in the end of the sixteenth century and part of the Mindröling lineage within the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.[3]

Khenpo Gangshar was a primary teacher for Trungpa Rinpoche from the age of 13 until presiding over Trungpa Rinpoche's kyorpön and khenpo degree examinations at the end of 1957.[4] He was also referred to as a "crazy saint". Multiple accounts refer to a serious illness which transformed him from a more quiet monk to an unconventional teacher who renounced his vows, entered into a romantic relationship, and often acted strangely or outrageously.[5] Pema Chödrön credits Khenpo Gangshar with her teachings to "lean into the sharp points" and to "meditate on whatever provokes resentment".[6]

Contents

History

According to Chögyam Trungpa, in his account in Born in Tibet, Gangshar was tutored by Jamgon Kongtrul the second of Shechen Monastery. This began when Gangshar's father died and his mother became a nun. Kongtrul then raised him as his spiritual son, and he became one of six senior professors at Shechen Monastery.[7] Trungpa Rinpoche describes first visiting them both when he was 13 years old, when his studies were to begin in Sechen and a six month Rinchen Terzod transmission began. Khenpo Gangshar was assigned as his first tutor there, and after the Rinchen Terzod completed Trungpa Rinpoche joined a seminary program with about 100 other monks that Khenpo Gangshar was leading assisted by five kyorpöns.[8]

When Trungpa had to return to Surmang early to take on responsibilities — because of a death of a senior lama there — he asked if Gangshar could come to Surmang as his tutor and to lead the Surmang seminary program, which he did in late 1956. In the fall of 1957, according to Trungpa and in light of the changing times in Tibet, Khenpo Gangshar instituted radical changes to the seminary. He opened the instruction to any and all laypeople including women and he asked the hermits with life long vows of seclusion to return to the monastery to help teach.[9][10]

Bibliography

References

  1. ^ Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche; Laura M. Roth (1993). Dharma paths. pp. 265. ISBN 1559390026. 
  2. ^ Chögyam Trungpa (2001). Mudra: Early Songs and Poems. Shambhala Publications. pp. 29. ISBN 0877730512. 
  3. ^ Chögyam Trungpa (2004). The Collected Works of Chögyam Trungpa: Volume One - Born in Tibet. Shambhala Publications. pp. 74. ISBN 1590300254. 
  4. ^ Chögyam Trungpa (2004). The Collected Works of Chögyam Trungpa: Volume One - Born in Tibet. Shambhala Publications. pp. 124. ISBN 1590300254. 
  5. ^ Jeremy Hayward (2007). Warrior-King of Shambhala. Wisdom Publications. pp. 329–330. ISBN 0861715462. 
  6. ^ Pema Chödrön (2000). When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times. Shambhala Publications. pp. 171. ISBN 1570623449. 
  7. ^ Chögyam Trungpa (2004). The Collected Works of Chögyam Trungpa: Volume One - Born in Tibet. Shambhala Publications. pp. 110. ISBN 1590300254. 
  8. ^ Chögyam Trungpa (2004). The Collected Works of Chögyam Trungpa: Volume One - Born in Tibet. Shambhala Publications. pp. 70–74. ISBN 1590300254. 
  9. ^ Chögyam Trungpa (2004). The Collected Works of Chögyam Trungpa: Volume One - Born in Tibet. Shambhala Publications. pp. 120–124. ISBN 1590300254. 
  10. ^ Diana J. Mukpo; Carolyn Gimian (2006). Dragon Thunder: My Life with Chögyam Trungpa. Shambhala Publications. pp. 67. ISBN 1590302567. 

External links