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Biography |
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| That qualification is the equivalent of the highest level of Doctorate in Buddhist Philosophy. He was awarded his degree after having taken part in intense dialectical debates that brought together the most distinguished religious leaders from the three great Gelugpa monastic universities. In accordance with tradition, Rinpoche perfected his religious training in the Gyumed Tantric College where he was awarded the degree of Geshe, expert in tantric teachings [9] . With its monks numbering 500 at the very outside, this monastery, like the Gyutö College, is the largest Tibetan religious school whose curriculum exclusively consists of Buddhist tantric studies and meditation. |
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In 1984, Kyabje Gosok Rinpoche went on a year-long pilgrimage to Tibet, in the Kham province. At the time in close contact with a religiously committed public and in over 40 monasteries, he gave numerous teachings and ordained many monks. That important trip was rounded off by a month-long visit to China. After his return to India the following year, His Holiness the Dalaï Lama appointed him as Vice Abbot [10] of the Gyumed Tantric College. In 1986, Rinpoche traveled to Osaka, Japan, where he took part in a religious conference organized by major Buddhist temples. On that occasion, he gave talks and public lectures as well as initiations to 25 eminent Japanese abbots. Two years later, in 1988, Kyabje Gosok Rinpoche acceded to the position of Abbot of the Gyumed Tantric Monastery, where he became the youngest abbot in charge ever since tantric colleges were set up. Under his leadership, Buddhist studies and tantric meditations were given new impetus. Moreover, thanks to generous financial backing from a Japanese Buddhist association, he helped in the refurbishment of the monastery. Cells for monks, a retreat center as well as a new large prayer room were built, and then inaugurated by His Holiness the Dalaï Lama in 1990. Later, between March 1992 and Summer1996, Rinpoche became Abbot of the Sera monastery, which, at the time, brought together some 5000 monks. In the course of close on five years, not only did he consolidate the complete Buddhist studies syllabus, but he also took an interest in the monks' living conditions, paying special attention to improving their food and building both a health center and a hospital. Owing to the positions as abbot he held, Kyabje Gosok Rinpoche is well on the way to reaching the level of Ganden Tripa, successor to the Ganden Throne. |
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