Tenzin Wangchuck



Tenzin Wangchuk was a Tibetan Buddhist master from Samtenchozangling Gonpas, Trashigang, Bhutan. He was a follower of Dudjom Rinpoche. He was a Dzogchen practitioner and prominent religious figure in Udzorong, and Cheya Village. He established monastery in Cheya.

Biography
Lama Tenzin Wangchuk was a lineage son born to a Lam Rinzin Tshewang, and mother Tshering Wangzom, who were also a Buddhist practitioner, and follower of Dzongchenpa chenpo- a teaching of great perfection. They lived life as nomads. Lama Tenzin Wangchuk was born in Gonpa Nyingpa, Udzorong, Trashigang, Bhutan in the year 1930. His father, Lama Rinzin Tshewang was originally from Rimung (Narphung), popularly in those days, place was called as Dungsam Dewathang Gewog, which is under Samdrup Jongkhar Dzongkhag today. His father was believed to be a hidden neljorpa (yogi), and highly realized ngagpa practitioner, and famous for his even carpentry works. Lama passed away in Gompa Nyingpa, at his 80s.

Teachings and root teachers
He received teachings from his father and other rituals at the early age of seven. Besides from his father, he received many Buddhist teachings especially, the teachings of Pema Lingpa,Pedling terchoe (revealed treasure teachings of Terton Pema Lingpa), and Dudjom terser teachings from H.H Dudjom Rinpoche and Lama Karpo Rinpoche. He was a Nyingma pedling follower and master of it. His root teachers include H.H 7th Namkhia Nyingpo of Bumthang Lodra kharchu Dratsang, Bhutan. Received the heart essence of Longchen Nyingthig cycle teachings and Pedling terchoe from H.H Dodrupchen Jigme Trinle Ozer Rinpoche, Dudjom terser teachings from H.H Dzongsar Jamyang Khentse Rinpoche and H.H Dungzin Garab Rinpoche, and also received mahamudra teachings from present H.H 70th Jekhenpo, Tulku Jigme Choidra, vajra president and successive seat holders of Bhutan.

Family
As a yogi practitioner, he married to Yangzom, from Jomtshang, under Udzorong geog, as per the wishes of his late father. In which Father prophesied: “you should marry to a lady, what I instructed, and you will spread Buddha dharma, and thereafter lineage shall be established in future”. With the prophesy of father keeping in mind, he married as exactly as predicted by his parents, and later on he had two sons and daughter were born to them. Elder brother was a follower of Lama Kinley Tenzin Rinpoche of Ramjar Monastery, Trashiyangtse Dzongkhag unfortunately, he could not live so long, owing to prolonged illness, passed away in his 40s. He was brilliant and industrious. He had a daughter namely Choidon.

Lama was in Gompa Nyingpa, practicing the rituals and performing Buddhist activities and teachings for almost forty years over this place, preserving the remains of his late father. He could not construct a monastery owing to the difficulty of geographical location and financial constraints. They had just a hut as a shelter. Despondently, Yangzom passed way, suddenly at the very early age, leaving behind only lama and three children. The sudden death of Sangyum was a clear indication that dharma activities supposedly to be carried out was nearly ending. With so much worries and tension due to the untimely death of Sangyum happiness revived when a group of people from Cheya requested the Lama and three orphan children to come to their place to spread the dharma activities, and to help the public in general.

Prophesy-coming actualization
Lama accepted the request with much reverence and knew that it was a sign to move away from his place. He remembered the prophesy of his late father that “He would establish monastery and would benefit the public and lineage thereon”. The group of people from Cheya, along with lama Rinpoche, and three children started heading towards Cheya, a half day walk from there birth place, bidding the farewell to there original Gompa. Upon request from public and also keeping the prophesy of late lama, father, he married to Yangzom, there he had three children.

Institution of Monastery and lay Practitioners
Exactly as the prediction of his late father, Lama could establish monastery, and local lay monks were inducted in the monastery, awakening the public of Cheya. Cheya during that time, it was said, no Buddhist practitioners were there, people have no faith in Buddhist, and were hunters. Lama converted these public into Buddhist followers and hence monastery was established in Cheya Gompa. Lama was peacefully passed away at his residence at the age of 78, in the year 2004. Today Gompa serves the public of Cheya, and becoming reputed Gendeys in Udzorong.