Dharamshala: Additional Secretary Dudul Dorje of the Department of Religion and Culture (DRC) attended the 80th birthday celebration of Thiksey Rinpoche on 20 May 2022, representing Sikyong and incumbent DRC Kalon Penpa Tsering.
Following the Mandala-offering made by Thiksey Monastery and Nubra Disket Monastery on 19 May, Thiksey Rinpoche attended his 80th birthday ceremony at Sherab Skitsal-Ling, where the celebration was also joined by Drukpa Thuksey Rinpoche, lamas, abbots, and monks from different religious schools of Tibetan Buddhism.
Shri RK Mathur, Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, attended the event as a chief guest along with Tashi Gyaltsen, the Chief Executive Councillor (CEC) of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development, Lok Sabha member Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, Additional Secretary Dudul Dorje of CTA, President of Ladakh Buddhist Association Thupstan Chhewang, President of All Ladakh Gompa Association Ven Shedup Jampa, and followers from various regions.
The celebration kicked off with ceremonial rituals followed by the inauguration of two books before reading out of Rinpoche’s brief biography by Ven Tenzin Gyatso. Additional Secretary Dudul Dorje presented a statue of Amitayus Buddha to Rinpoche on behalf of the CTA at the event.
The day-long celebration was concluded with traditional performances from the participants.
Thiksay Khenpo Rinpoche is the incumbent head of Thiksay Monastery, who was born to Tsetan Palzin (mother) and Phuntsok Paljor (father) on 20th May 1943.
In 1953 at the age of 10, the young Thiksey Rinpoche left for Drepung Monastery in Tibet for religious training and higher studies in Buddhist philosophy and was enrolled in Gomang Nyari Khangtsen. He received extensive teachings in Tibetan grammar, philosophy, oral transmissions and initiations from many revered lamas, particularly from Khenpo Ngawang Nyima. He greatly revered Kachen Lobzang Zotpa, a scholar and Tantric master, as his teacher during his sojourn at Tashi Lhunpo and Kachen Lobzang Zotpa later became his principal tutor at Thiksay Monastery.
His getsul (novice monk) ordination was conducted by Khenpo Ngawang Nyima, and he took full ordination from Ling Rinpoche in 1966.
He commissioned the building of a 40ft tall monumental statue of Maitreya Buddha which was acclaimed to be a world class heritage and was consecrated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama on 27th July 1980.
Thiksay Rinpoche has given countless teachings to the public in Ladakh and particularly to the monks of Thiksay Monastery. Since 1989 he has undertaken many important initiatives, such as the establishment of a Common Kitchen to offer free meals to the monks and health care facilities through the Cultural & Welfare Society of the monastery.
Apart from his religious services rendered both to the monks and lay people of Ladakh, he has also served by taking various political positions to address the grass root problems faced by the people of the remote region of Ladakh. He served as the President of All Ladakh Gonpa Association and later a Member of Parliament from 1999 to 2002 in Rajya Sabha, Government of India.
Rinpoche received several awards and certificates of appreciation from His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Ladakhi peoples for his religious and societal contributions.