Brief History

His Eminence was born in 1920 into the blessed Zhalu Kushang family of the Che clan, a lineage descended from the clear light gods. Many auspicious and marveleous signs accompanied His Eminence's birth. His Eminence is the 26th patriarch of Phenpo Nalendra Monastery, North of Lhasa. Founded by Rongton Sheja Kunrig (1367-1449), Nalendra is one of the most important Sakya monasteries in Tibet. Wondrously, each generation of the Kushang family has produced no less than four sons, most of who have served as throne holders of many important monasteries including Nalendra, Zhalu and Ngor. The name "Kushang" meaning 'royal maternal uncle' derived from the fact that many daughters from the family were married to numerous Sakya throne holders, one of whom, Drogon Chagna, was supreme ruler of Tibet, who succeeded Chogyal Phakpa. At the age of twelve His Eminence was officially enthroned at the Phenpo Nalendra Monastery.

From his enthronement until the age of 39, His Eminence remained in the Phenpo Nalendra Monastery where he mastered the monastic scriptural rituals, the rituals of Mandala, and the musical accompaniment of the rituals. His Eminence has completed meditation retreats of all the major deities of all the four tantras. His Eminence's two root gurus are Zimwock Rinpoche Kunga Tenzin, and Dampa Rinpoche Shenphen Nyingpo of Ngor monastery. From them, His Eminence received the Lamdre empowerments and instructions, as well as countless other empowerments, transmissions, pith instructions, and ritual traditions of all four classes of Tantra. His Eminence completed extensive studies in all major fields of study taught in Lord Buddha's teachings. His Eminence is a master in both Sutrayana and Mantrayana teachings. His Eminence is also a great scholar of literature, poetry, history and Buddhist metaphysics and a highly accomplished poet.

In 1959, given the change in circumstances in Tibet after the Chinese invasion, His Eminence left Tibet for Mustang, where his sister was married to the Mustang Raja, the King of Mustang. For several years from 1962, in accordance with the wishes of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, His Eminence acted as the Secretary General of the Council for Religious and Cultural Affairs of the Tibetan Government in Exile in Dharamsala, India. Also, His Eminence took a leading role in preparing the manuscript of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's book "My Land and My People" and was responsible for writing Tibetan text books for schools set up for central Tibetans.

In 1969, His Eminence took leave from the Tibetan government and returned to Nepal to rebuild the Nalendra monastery and the Seat of the Tsharpa school in exile. His Eminence has founded two monasteries in Nepal, the Tashi Rabten Ling Monastery  in Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha and the Jamchen Lhakang Monastery in Katmandu. In Lumbini, His Eminence established the first three and half year Lamdre Lobshey  retreat centre, which has inspired the founding of other meditation retreat centres or 'Gom-dra'. A smaller retreat facility has also been established by His Eminence in Bagdora, a sacred site attributed to Krakucchanda, one of the previous Buddhas of this age. His Eminence has also founded a Tsharpa retreat center at Lo Gekar in Mustang.

Outside Nepal, His Eminence has established centers in Hong Kong and Taiwan. The center in Hong Kong is named after Green Tara . With the sincere invitations of his disciples, His Eminence has traveled to these centers to give teachings and initiations. His Eminence is also the supreme patron of ten centres in Australia and New Zealand founded by his disciple, Lama Choedak. As two of the main centres in Australia are named after Rongton and Tsharchan . His Eminence regards them as future pillars of strength to uphold his teachings and practices. To acknowledge these developments in Australia, His Eminence made two important visits to Australia in 1996 and 2001.

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