Dagri Rinpoche

Dagri Rinpoche, is the reincarnation of Pari Dorje Chang, one of the very great geshes of Lhasa who was the teacher of many lamas, including Lama Yeshe. Dagri Rinpoche was born in Tibet in 1958. He grew up during the Cultural Revolution of 1966 - 1976. After his escape from Tibet in 1982 he completed his 17 years of study of Buddhist philosophy and received the Geshe Lharampa degree.

Dagri Rinpoche was fortunate in that, as a high tulku (incarnate lama), he was able to apply to take his geshe examinations two years earlier than the other monks. Rinpoche understands well the difference between the life of a tulku in Tibet and a tulku in India. His life story shows that a tulku who lives under difficult circumstances can still remain faithful to his ideal of serving others and being an example to them.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Dagri Rinpoche strolling at Sera Je Monastery. They are quite close and discuss a lot together, especially about the preserving of Dharma lineages.

After his recognition as a tulku, he was unable to go to his monastery because shortly after he was recognized, the monastery was destroyed by the Chinese. "I remained at home. From my father and the 'solpon' from my past incarnation I learned reading, writing, mathematics and the Tibetan language. Later I went to a regular elementary school and until I was 15 years old I also had to herd sheep and cows. Then the Chinese began a coal mine near the mountains. I was put in that camp and had to do forced labour. Many Tibetans died there. Most of the people were illiterate but knew that I was the reincarnated Dagri Tulku, because he was very well known in that area. They had a lot of faith in me. So I became their teacher. In the evenings, after work, I taught them to read and write. Later I did administrative work in the camp, because in the meantime I had learned Chinese and how to do bookkeeping. All in all, they were very difficult years. Only after I had been in the camp for five years was I allowed to go to Lhasa, where many old monks lived. They were not permitted to stay in their monasteries. I met the former abbot of Sera Jhe in secret. He gave me the first vows. In the eighties, after the changes in the Chinese policy, monks from Sera came to me and requested me to go to India. My previous incarnation was renowned and I was encouraged to go to India for my education. Then many people collected money for me. It was very difficult to get a passport and I had to wait two years before I could leave. Only after my escape to India did I become a novice monk."

After Rinpoche's escape form Tibet, Lama Yeshe committed to support the incarnation through Sera Je, and then when Lama Yeshe passed away, Lama Zopa Rinpoche took the responsibility. Dagri Rinpoche is supporting Lama Zopa Rinpoche very much and can teach lam-rim, lojong and philosophy as well as give initiations, conduct fire pujas, and teach tantric commentaries

Rough translation from Tulkus - Das Geheimnis der lebenden Buddhas (German language), by Egbert Asshauer, Heider Spectrum, 2001, pgs. 172-173. With additional information from FPMT

Biography of the Dagri Rinpoche lineage
 
Dagri Rinpoche’s Teaching Schedule for 2010

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