Trijang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso

The Third Trijang Rinpoche, Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso (1901–1981) was a Gelugpa Lama and a direct disciple of Pabongkhapa Déchen Nyingpo.

Trijang Rinpoche was born in Gungtang in the winter of 1901, the "Year of Increase" or the "Iron Bull year".

Allegedly, an apricot tree flowered and had 30 apricots at his birth even though it was deep winter.

According to A Short Biography of Trijang Rinpoche, by Lobsang Palden Tenzin Yargye, before Trijang could walk he showed great interest in religious paintings, statues, and Tantric ritual implements; and would make as if he was reciting prayers.

When news of his precocious actions reached Ngarampa Losang Tendar and Geshe Gendun Dragpa Chen, who were responsible for finding the reincarnation of Losang Tsultrim Palden, who was the Ganden Tripa and former Trijang Rinpoche, they travelled to his birthplace of Gungtang.

When the child saw them, he yelled out: "Gendun Dragpa!"

and later asked him to wash his feet.

Gendun Dragpa used to wash the feet of Losang Tsultrim Palden when he had rheumatism.

The child also correctly identified the former Trijang Rinpoche's private Buddha statue, rosary and bowl from among a selection.

This and other signs led the search party to conclude that they had probably found the correct incarnation.

He was invited by the 13th Dalai Lama to the Lhasa Trijang residence in 1904, at the age of 3.

In 1906, aged 5, he moved to the Trijang Residence at Chusang Ritroe, where he met Pabongkhapa Déchen Nyingpo.

From him he received his first teaching, Set of Initiations into Manjushri from the Secret Lineage of Tsongkhapa.

In 1907, aged 6, he went to Gepel Ling at Reting Monastery, the birthplace of the Kadam teachings of Dromtön in the 10th century.

There he took the five upāsaka and the ten śrāmaṇera vows of the prātimokṣa, receiving the name Losang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso Pelsangpo.

He then memorized many Buddhist texts, including over half of Candrakīrti's Madhyamakāvatāra, and analyzed their meaning.

Later that year he visited Ganden Monastery and was received by the Shartse and Jangste abbots, whom he apparently recognized, along with the main temple, without introduction.

He spent the next 12 years studying the classical texts for the geshe degree—Pramanavartika, Madhyamaka, Prajnaparamita, Vinaya and Abhidharma-kośa—principally according to the textbooks by Panchen Sonam Dragpa.

He also studied the collected works of Je Tsongkhapa, the 1st Dalai Lama, and the Panchen Lama Chokyi Gyaltsen.

In 1908, he received Kalachakra initiation from Serkong Rinpoche, as well as empowerments into Manjusri, Avalokiteśvara and Vajrapani.

Later he received empowerments of Guhyasamāja, Yamantaka, Heruka and Vajrayogini.

He also continued to receive instructions and initiations from Pabongka Rinpoche, including the Collected Works of Gyalwa Ensapa, the Collected Works of Panchen Chokyi Gyaltsen, and a Guru yoga of Je Tsongkhapa called Ganden Lha Gya Ma ("Hundreds of Deities of the Joyful Land").

He received the "Empowerment into the Six Ways to Revolve the Chakras of Heruka" (including the full initiation costume of bone ornaments) as well as all the Action Tantra empowerments from Khyenrab Yonten Gyatso, the 88th Ganden Tripa, in 1915, aged 14.

In 1916, aged 15, he studied the complete Tibetan grammar and from then on composed thousands of acrostic verses, such as:

"Ah Friends! While the spittle drools from the Death Lord's smile

Bleaching your head as white as falling snow

Could this tedious life yield aught but chaff?

Dharma from my Guru is what I'll practice!" He also composed chants for spiritual practices and ceremonies and scores for their music for use by Ganden Shartse monastery.

In 1919, aged 18, he debated before the geshes of the three major Gelug monasteries for his final examination.

He was admitted to the Upper Tantric College, Gyuto, in 1919, where he studied the Root Tantra of Heruka and its commentary by Je Tsongkhapa, Illuminating all Hidden Meanings.

From the ages of 20 to 22 Trijang Rinpoche received many teachings and empowerments from his root Guru Pabongkhapa, including the initiation into the sindhura mandala of Vajrayogini according to Naropa, the Heruka body mandala empowerment according to Ghantapa, teachings on Lama Chopa (Offering to the Spiritual Guide), Gelug mahamudra, the Lamrim Chenmo (great stages of the path) by Je Tsongkhapa and Seven Points of Training the Mind by Chekawa Yeshe Dorje.

Shortly afterward he received the 253 ordination vows of a fully ordained monk from the 13th Dalai Lama.

Upon being given a list of names of several boys who had shown encouraging signs, the 13th Dalai Lama said:

"It would be best to recognize the boy born to the Gungtang girl Tsering Drolma in the Iron Bull year as the reincarnation of the former occupant of the Ganden throne."

The 13th Dalai Lama awarded him third place, and he received the highest geshe degree, the Lharampa.

He succeeded Ling Rinpoche as the junior tutor of the 14th Dalai Lama when The Dalai Lama was nineteen years old.

He was also a lama of many Gelug lamas who taught in the West including Zong Rinpoche, Geshe Rabten, Lama Yeshe, Kelsang Gyatso, and Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

Trijang Rinpoche's oral teachings were recorded by Zimey Rinpoche in a book called the Yellow Book.

Trijang Rinpoche's father, Tserin Dondrub, was descended from the uncle of the 7th Dalai Lama, and was knowledgeable in religion.

His mother, Tsering Drolma, came from the village of Gungtang Nanggong.