Kirti Tsenshap Rinpoche

Kirti Tsenshap Rinpoche was born in Amdo, Tibet, in 1926.

He first received the Kalachakra empowerment ad the Stainless Light Great Commentary in 1941, at the age of 15.

He was appointed the abbot of Taktsang Lhamo (Kirit Gompa in Amdo) in 1955, at the age of 30.

In 1957 Rinpoche went to Lhasa where he remained until 1959 when he fled to India a few months after his Holiness the Dalai Lama made this journey accross.

Upon arriving in India Rinpoche spend 2-3 years in Buxa.

In 1963 Rinpoche arrived in Dharamsala. The next year he was appointed a teacher in Lower Dharamsala where he taught for 4 years. After that, he taught in the upper Tibetan Children’s Village for an other 3 years. Having served as a teacher for 7 years, Rinpoche resigned in order to enter retreat.

Rinpoche remained in retreat in the hills above Dharamsala for 15 years. It was after His Holiness the Dalai Lama requested Rinpoche to come out of retreat and teach that Rinpoche put an end to his retreat.

Since then Rinpoche has taught and traveled extensively in India and abroad. The first tour in the West took place in 1992, where Rinpoche visited 11 countries in world-wide tour. In Europe Rinpoche visited Greece, Italy, Spain, France, the Netherlands, Germany and the UK. Then Rinpoche visited the USA where he toured various states. In total 9 dharma centres were visited at the time. Following that Rinpoche went to Hawaii and New Zealand followed by Australia. Within Australia, 9 dharma centres were visited. Rinpoche returned to India after 11 months of touring through Singapore.

Apart from these countries Rinpoche has also visited and taught in Mexico, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica and Brazil, as well as Austria, Nepal and Hong Kong and Taiwan.

In this way, Rinpoche has visited the USA 4 times, Italy 3 times, Puerto Rico 4 times, Australia 2 times and New Zealand 2 times.

Places that have been visited by Rinpoche for recreational purposes are Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia and the site of Barabudur in Indonesia.

· Rinpoche has bestowed the Kalachakra empowerment 25 times.

The first 2 times were in India, initially in Bodhgaya, requested by Tushita Meditation Centre in Dharamsala and alter that, by Kirti Gompa.

In Europe the empowerment has been given 7 times: Instituto Lama Tsonkapa in Italy has received it twice; Florence in Italy, once; England, The Netherlands, France and Germany once, each.

In the USA the empowerment has been given 7 times: Chicago has received it twice; New York, twice; California, twice and Montana, once.

Other countries in which the empowerment has been given are: Puerto Rico, trice; Colombia, once; Brazil, once; Mexico, once; Australia, twice (in Melbourne and Sydney) and Taiwan, once.

Apart from the Kalachakra empowerment Rinpoche has transmitted

the Dorje Trenwa (Vajra Rosary) set of empowerments, twice: once in New York and once in Kirti Gompa in India and

the Mitra Gyatsa, trice: once in Drepung Monastery in South India, requested by His Holiness the Dalai Lama; once in Tushita Meditation Centre in Dharamsala, requested by Lama Zopa Rinpoche and once in Kirti Gompa.

Rinpoche has also given the transmission of the Stainless Light Great Commentary seven times.

These seven transmissions are as follows:

Given to Serkong Thukse Rinpoche from Ganden Jangze Monastery. Transmission took place in Dharamsala over a 6 month period.

Given to Serkong Thukse Rinpoche, in Dharamsala over a 2 month period. This second transmission was necessary since Serkong Rinpoche needed to be clear about the finest points before passing on the lineage to His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Given to Bakula Rinpoche from Ladhak.

Given to Pang Nang Rinpoche (also known as Kangyur Lama) from Loseling Monastery, Tehor Khamtsen. Transmission took place in Dharamsala.

Given to the Abbot of Kirti Taktsang Lhamo Monastery. Transmission took place in Dharamsala.

Given to Khyongla Rato Rinpoche in New York.

Given to 60 participants in Dharamsala, during the summer of 2000, including Jangze Chozen Rinpoche, Jato Rinpoche (the Abbot of Namgyal Monastery) and other 12 lamas.

At the end of that last transmission, His Holiness invited all participants in the Palace and offered blessed objects such as thankas, statues and photographs to all. Special thanks-giving offerings were presented to Rinpoche. His Holiness requested Rinpoche for a private transmission of the Stainless Light Commentary that can be completed gradually over the period of 4-5 years due to limitations imposed by His Holiness’ very busy schedule. It was at the end of this transmission that His Holiness praised Rinpoche for his humble character and commented on how many sentient beings were being benefited by Rinpoche’s travels and teachings all over the world. His Holiness recognizes Rinpoche as one of His lineage lamas. At the same time His Holiness expressed his consideration for Rinpoche’s health and strongly suggested that special care is taken in providing Rinpoche with conditions that are suitable to his age and health. His Holiness suggested that Rinpoche would reduce his teaching and travelling activities and instead of Rinpoche touring to all centres in any given country, the students who were interested in receiving the teachings could travel to the place where Rinpoche would be. Rinpoche was also advised to be escorted by a person with the particular task of making sure that Rinpoche’s health was not endangered in any way and that Rinpoche’s travels and visits in various places would be as comfortable as possible.