Tenzin Doendrup Explained

Religion:Bhutanese Buddhism, Vajrayana Buddhism
Tenzin Doendrup
Honorific Prefix:His Holiness Je Thrizur
Pre-Nominals:68th Je Khenpo
Office1:68th Je Khenpo
Predecessor1:Nyizer Thinley Lhendrup
Successor1:Gendün Rinchen
Birth Date:1925
Birth Place:Shar Fadingkha, Wangdue Phodrang, Bhutan
Death Date:8 April 2020 (aged 95)
Death Place:Dodena, Thimpu, Bhutan
Term Start1:1986
Term End1:1990
Movement:Rimé movement
Honours:Order of the Druk Gyalpo, The Royal Saffron Scarf

Tenzin Doendrup (referred to as His Holiness Je Thrizur) (19258 April 2020) was the 68th Je Khenpo of Bhutan who served as the chief abbot of the Zhung Dratshang, the central monastic body of Bhutan, from 1986 to 1990. He belonged to the Drukpa Lineage of Tibetan and Bhutanese Buddhism. Je Thrizur received Bhutan's highest honor, Ngadag Pelgi Khorlo or the Order of the Druk Gyalpo, in 2008 for his contributions to Buddhism and to the country's monastic body.

Early life

Doendrup was born in Shar Fadingkha in the Wangdue Phodrang region of Bhutan in 1925 to father Ugyen and mother Tsheltrium. He started his Buddhist studies at the age of seven at the Punakha Dratshang. After completing his early studies, he studied at the Tharpaling Monasteryin the Bumthang District of Bhutan. Some of his teachers during this time included Shudab Tempa Rinchen, Choeda Lam, and Ngawang Thinley.

He later went to Tibet where he studied within the Drupka Kagyu traditions at the Minduling Dratshang. In addition to religion he studied calligraphy. His teachers during this period included Lam Kathokpa.

Religious life

Je Thrizur returned to Bhutan at the age of 27 to further his religious pursuits. He was appointed the head of the Tango Monastery in 1966 by the 64th Je Khenpo Yeshey Singye. In 1967 he was appointed the first Lopon of the new Drubdey at the Tango monastery and later in 1985, he became the Dorje lopon of the central monastic body.

He was conferred the title of the 68th Je Khenpo on 12 April 1986 at the age of 62. Je Thrizur held this title through 1990 when he retired. As the Je Khenpo, he was the chief abbot of the Zhung Dratshang, the central monastic body of Bhutan, from 1986 to 1990.[1] [2] As the Je Khenpo he was also the chairman of the Bhutanese Council for Religious Affairs.[3] Je Thrizur brought about many reforms to the Zhung Dratshang and also instituted the first Buddhist Shedra at Tango and Cheri in Thimphu.[4] During his tenure he issued a decree asking for the stopping of the practice of animal sacrifice as a part of annual rituals. After his retirement, he remained the patron of the Tango and Cheri Buddhist Shedras, and settled at the Chari Monastery.

Je Thrizur was awarded Ngadag Pelgi Khorlo or the Order of the Druk Gyalpo, Bhutan's highest honor, for his contributions to the Buddhist religion and to the central monastic body by the Bhutanese king Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck in 2008. He belonged to the Drukpa Lineage of Tibetan and Bhutanese Buddhism. His teachings were followed by devotees in Tibet, Bhutan, and India.

Honours

Death

Je Thrizur died on 8 April 2020 at the age of 95 at his home in Dodena, Thimphu.[5] He had earlier returned to the Chagri Monastery from his winter residence in Rinchending, Phuntsholing.[6] He was given a state funeral with the Phurjang ceremony being conducted on 7 November 2020 at Punakha Dzong.[7]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Gyalwa Dokhampa . 7 September 2024 . www.gyalwadokhampa.org . 30 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240930060103/https://www.gyalwadokhampa.org/about/hh-the-68th-je-khenpo-tenzin-dendup . live .
  2. Web site: Je Khenpo Chief Abbot of Bhutan – Religious Head of Bhutan . 30 September 2024 . www.heavenlybhutan.com . 17 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240917093201/https://www.heavenlybhutan.com/gnh-bhutan-land-of-happiness/chief-abbot-of-bhutan/ . live .
  3. Web site: Buddhist Kingdom of Bhutan Marks the Passing of the 68th Je Khenpo . 30 September 2024 . Buddhistdoor Global . en-US . 14 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240714203241/https://www2.buddhistdoor.net/news/buddhist-kingdom-of-bhutan-marks-the-passing-of-the-68th-je-khenpo . live .
  4. Web site: 8 November 2020 . Purjang of HH the Je Thrizur . 30 September 2024 . BBSCL . en-US . 23 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240423150453/https://www.bbs.bt/news/?p=138627 . live .
  5. Web site: yangchen . 11 April 2020 . Chorig dept mourns the passing of 68th Je Khenpo Kyabje Tenzin Doendrup Rinpoche - Central Tibetan Administration . 30 September 2024 . en-US.
  6. Web site: Wangchuk . Rinzin . 10 April 2020 . His Holiness Je Thrizur Tenzin Doendrup passes away . 30 September 2024 . Kuensel Online . 13 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240713222118/https://kuenselonline.com/his-holiness-je-thrizur-tenzin-doendrup-passes-away/ . live .
  7. Web site: Lhamo . Phurpa . 9 November 2020 . Purjang of late 68th Je Khenpo . 30 September 2024 . Kuensel Online . 30 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240930060103/https://kuenselonline.com/purjang-of-late-68th-je-khenpo/ . live .