Khensur Lama Lhundrup passed away in September 2011. Since then, Lama Zopa Rinpoche has been looking for Khensur Lama Lhundrup's incarnation for some time, and recently had submitted a name list to His Holiness 14th Dalai Lama. Tenzin Rigsel was confirmed as the true incarnation by His Holiness a few days later. (See the confirmation letter from His Holiness below with excerpts of the translation).

Kopan Monastery is happy to announce with Great Joy that our precious Guru and previous Abbot Geshe Lama Lhundrup Rigsel has returned.

The incarnation, Tenzin Rigsel,was born on the 29 January 2013 to a family in Tsum. The enthronement will take place later,and will be announced as soon as Lama Zopa Rinpoche has decided on a date for this auspicious occasion.

On May 19, all the senior monks and nuns of the monastery performed prayers at Tenzin Rigsel Rinpoche's family house, and a set of robes was offered for auspiciousness on the occasion.

Message from Lama Zopa Rinpoche

My dear students seeking total elimination of suffering and completion of Buddhahood, and my dear friends,

This news is so great and encouraging to our minds, to develop dharma wisdom and compassion to all sentient beings, whose minds are obscured and suffering, and to help with our body, speech and mind and bring perfect peace and happiness in this world, at least.

This is just about one time that we have received this perfect human rebirth and met the Buddha Dharma, with the opportunity to learn and practice and to overcome the oceans of samsaric sufferings, by overcoming delusion and karma – including laziness, not laziness towards removing suffering and its causes, but laziness in dharma practice and achieving enlightenment.

This is to inform you the ex-Abbott of Kopan Monastery Lama Lhundrup, who is heart disciple of Lama Yeshe, who is kinder than all the three time Buddhas, including Buddha Vajradhara. Lama Lhundrup was invited by Lama Yeshe to look after Kopan Monastery and was the principal teacher of the monks and nuns, giving advice and looking after the dharma discipline. Then after Lama Yeshe showed the aspect of passing away, Lama Lhundrup looked after the finances and with all his heart and life he looked after Kopan Monastery. It was from Kopan Monastery that FPMT started. Lama Lhundrup also dedicated and put effort into developing Lama Tsongkhapa’s teachings in Kopan and in all of Nepal.

Now Lama Lhundrup has been recognized by Buddha Chenrezig His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who said “Tenzin Rigsal to be recognized as a reincarnation of the late (Lhundrup Rigsal) comes out extremely positive.”

What made Lama Lhundrup to have this special reincarnation was his pure morality, compassion to sentient beings and wish to liberate all sentient being by spreading the teachings of Lama Tsongkhapa. I think this incarnation will be continually more and more beneficial as his life goes on and also as his lives go on. 

Please everybody enjoy, especially the students in the East and the West.

With much love and prayers,

Lama Zopa

Confirmation letter from the Private Office of His Holiness 14th Dalai Lama

Excerpt from Translation:

To the devoted Thubten Zopa Rinpoche and Sera Jhe Tsawa Khangtsen, Kopan Ogmin Jangchub Choling, Khachoe Gakhyil Ling Nunnery, Tsum Rachen Monastery and Rachung Monastery and all the Dharma centres of the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition.

The request for checking was received. The result of the checking is that the child Tenzin Rigsal to be recognised as a reincarnation of the late (Lhundrub Rigsel) comes out extremely positive.