Dharamsala: Speaker of Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, Ven Khenpo Sonam Tenphel attended the cremation ceremony of late Kyabje Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche, the spiritual head of Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism at Thupten Dorjedrak Monastery, Shimla on Oct 19.

Among the imminent spiritual heads are H.E. Dilgo Kyentse Yangsi Rinpoche, H.E. Namkha Nyinpo Rinpoche, H.E. Minling Khenchen Rinpoche and H.E.Gyang Khang Tulku Rinpoche. Representative of Gaden Phodrang Khen Rinpoche, Kalon Karma Gelek Yuthok, Department of Religion and Culture, high lamas and representative of different monasteries also attended the ceremony.

The cremation ceremony of the late Kyanbje Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche followed the rites and rituals enshrined in holy scriptures with the holy shrine surrounded by the high lamas reciting prayers.

Many of the lay people and followers from both local and abroad countries attended the ceremony.

 

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Kyabje Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche was born in 1926 near the famous Yamdrok Lake in central Tibet to father Namgyal Dorjee and mother Dorjee Dolma. Rinpoche was ordained at the Taklung Tse monastery when he was five years old and was recognized as an incarnation of the great master Ngok Chöku Dorje. He fled Tibet in 1959 and came to Sikkim where he spent two years at the Rumtek moastery then later travelled to a Tibetan refugee settlement in Shimla. Rinpoche received the highest Dzogchen teachings from Polu Khenpo Dorje, a direct disciple of Khenpo Ngakchung and in 2012 was appointed the head of the Nyingma tradition. He passed away in  Bodh Gaya on 23 December 2015.