Tenpai Nyima

Tenpai Nyima, the Sixth Gangteng Tulku (sgang steng 06 bstan pa'i nyi ma), was born in 1838 to father Tenpai Gyeltsen (bstan pa’i rgyal mtshan). His father was part of the Nyo (gnyos) ancestral clan and himself was the son of Dungkhar Choje Lama Lhangkha (dung dkar chos bla ma glang kha).  His younger brother, Tashi Pelbar (bkra shis dpal 'bar), was the lineage holder of the Bonbi Choje (sbon sbis chos rje), an offshoot of the Gang ancestral clan (ngang gdung) and the same family from which the Second Gangteng Tendzin Lekpai Dondrub (sgang steng 02 bstan 'dzin legs pa'i don drub, 1645-1726) had been discovered.

At a young age Tenpai Nyima was identified as the incarnation of the Fifth Gangteng Tulku Orgyen Gelek Namgyel (sgang steng 05 o rgyan dge legs rnam rgyal, d. c. 1842), and ultimately traceable to Pema Trinle (pad+ma 'phrin las, 1564-ca. 1642), the originator of the Gangteng lineage. When Tenpai Nyima was enthroned at Gangteng Sang Ngak Choling Monastery (sgang steng gsang sngags chos gling dgon pa), the Fourth Zhabdrung Tuktrul, Jigme Norbu (zhabs drung thugs sprul 04 'jigs med nor bu, 1831-1861) offered a long life prayer. Tenpai Nyima traveled to Lhalung (lha lung) in Kham to receive teachings and empowerments from the Seventh Sungtrul, Ngawang Chokyi Lodro (gsung sprul 07 ngag dbang chos kyi blo gros, 1819-1842), who was also known as Pema Tendzin (pad+ma bstan 'dzin).

When Tenpai Nyima returned to Bhutan, he became the main teacher of the Dzongpon (rdzong dpon; governor) of Lhuntse Dzong (lhun rtse rdzong).  While there, he stayed in retreat at Rinchen Bumpa (rin chen bum pa) for five years. After emerging from retreat, the he instituted the Dungkar Tsechu (dung dkar tshe bcu) and introduced new dances. Two dances were from the treasure tradition of Pema Lingpa (pad+ma gling pa, 1450-1521): the Peling Ging Sum (pad gling ging gsum) and the Peling Tercham (pad gling gter 'cham). The third was the Rakshasa Mangcham (ra ksha dmang 'cham), revealed by Karma Lingpa (karma gling pa, b. 14th. c.). Tenpai Nyima also undertook many activities in Mongar, Kurtoe and Kheng regions, including revealing Pema Lingpa-related treasures and giving teachings and blessings. His main activities remained encouraging and developing the dances at Gangteng Monastery. He passed away in 1874.

Source

Sgang steng sprul sku. 2008. Sgang steng gsang sngags chos gling dgon pa’i bla bgyud rim byon. Thimphu: KMT Press.

Ariana Maki
August 2011