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Dagyab Kyabgoen Rinpoche

REINCARNATION

Tibet·Gelugpa·Male·20th century

Dagyab Kyabgoen Rinpoche (born 1940) is a highly regarded Tibetan Buddhist lama and scholar, recognized as the reincarnation of the 9th Kyabgoen. He is a spiritual leader of the Dagyab region and holds the rare title of Hothogthu Nomonhan, signifying an outstanding incarnate lama. Having escaped Tibet in 1959 and later becoming a Tibetologist at Bonn University, he is now a prominent figure in bringing Tibetan Buddhism and culture to the West.

Key Facts

  • Recognized as the reincarnation of the 9th Kyabgoen at age four.
  • Holds the exclusive title of Hothogthu Nomonhan, indicating a high-ranking incarnate lama.
  • Graduated from Drepung Monastic University and was part of monastic communities at Gaden and Ratö Monasteries.
  • Escaped to India in 1959 and later moved to Germany in 1966 to work as a Tibetologist.
  • Founded Tibethaus Deutschland in Frankfurt in 2005.
  • Possesses numerous transmissions from the Gelugpa, Sakya, and Kagyue lineages.

Important Relationships

  • 14th Dalai Lama
  • Trijang Rinpoche
  • Ling Rinpoche
  • Dragpa Gyatso
Full Name
Loden Sherab Dagyab Kyabgoen Rinpoche
Birth Year
1940
Notable Works
  • Achtsamkeit Und Versenkung. Lamrin - Die Tibetische Meditation
  • Buddhist Symbols In Tibetan Culture : An Investigation of the Nine Best-Known Groups of Symbols
  • Problems In the Development of Tibetan Buddhism In the West
Associated Locations

Dagyab Region, East Tibet, Drepung Monastic University, Gaden Monastery, Ratö Monastery, Dharamsala, India, New Delhi, India, Bonn University, Germany, Frankfurt, Germany

Birth Place
Menya, East Tibet
Primary Language Of Works

Tibetan, German

Notable Status

About Dagyab Kyabgoen Rinpoche

Loden Sherab Dagyab Kyabgoen Rinpoche

Dagyab Kyabgoen Rinpoche, born Loden Sherab in 1940 in Menya, East Tibet, is a significant figure in Tibetan Buddhism, recognized at the age of four as the reincarnation of the 9th Kyabgoen. This lineage holds the hereditary role of spiritual head of the Dagyab region in Eastern Tibet and carries the distinguished title of Hothogthu Nomonhan, signifying a high-ranking incarnate Lama. Dagyab Rinpoche is notably the only living Hothogthu in the West.

Lineage and Education

A member of the Gelugpa tradition, Rinpoche received his monastic education at Drepung Monastic University, as well as at Gaden Monastery and Ratö Monastery. Among his influential teachers were Trijang Rinpoche and Ling Rinpoche, both of whom served as tutors to the 14th Dalai Lama. Beyond the Gelugpa lineage, Dagyab Rinpoche also holds numerous transmissions from the Sakya and Kagyue traditions.

Exile and Western Engagement

In 1959, Dagyab Rinpoche fled Lhasa and went into exile alongside the 14th Dalai Lama, settling in Dharamsala, India. From 1964 to 1966, he directed Tibet House in New Delhi, an institution dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Tibetan culture. In 1966, he accepted an invitation to Germany, joining Bonn University as a Tibetologist at its Institute for Central Asian Studies. His continued commitment to bridging Tibetan Buddhism and Western understanding led him to found Tibethaus Deutschland in Frankfurt in 2005.

Notable Works

Dagyab Rinpoche has contributed to the dissemination of Tibetan Buddhist knowledge through his writings. He is a co-author of "Achtsamkeit und Versenkung. Lamrin - die tibetische Meditation" (Mindfulness and Absorption: Lamrin – Tibetan Meditation) and "Buddhist Symbols in Tibetan Culture: An Investigation of the Nine Best-Known Groups of Symbols." He has also addressed issues concerning the development and cross-cultural adoption of Tibetan Buddhism in the West.

Source: Wikipedia ↗

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Dagyab Kyabgoen Rinpoche?

Dagyab Kyabgoen Rinpoche, born Loden Sherab Dagyab Rinpoche in 1940, is a Tibetan Buddhist lama and scholar. He is recognized as the reincarnation of the 9th Kyabgoen and is the spiritual head of the Dagyab region in East Tibet.

What is the significance of the title Hothogthu Nomonhan?

The title Hothogthu Nomonhan is held by a select group of the most distinguished and high-ranking incarnate lamas, often reincarnations of Tibetan Regents. 'Hothogthu' means noble, and 'Nomonhan' refers to the King of Dharma. Dagyab Rinpoche is noted as the only Hothogthu currently living in the West.

What is Dagyab Rinpoche's educational and monastic background?

Rinpoche is a graduate of Drepung Monastic University and was a member of the monastic communities of Gaden Monastery and Ratö Monastery. He studied under esteemed teachers such as Trijang Rinpoche and Ling Rinpoche, who were also tutors to the 14th Dalai Lama.

What role did Dagyab Rinpoche play after escaping Tibet?

After escaping Tibet in 1959, Rinpoche went into exile in Dharamsala, India. From 1964 to 1966, he directed Tibet House in New Delhi, an institute dedicated to preserving and supporting Tibetan culture. He later moved to Germany.

What are some of Dagyab Rinpoche's notable works or contributions?

Dagyab Rinpoche has authored works such as 'Achtsamkeit und Versenkung. Lamrin - die tibetische Meditation' and co-authored 'Buddhist Symbols in Tibetan Culture: An Investigation of the Nine Best-Known Groups of Symbols'. He also founded Tibethaus Deutschland in Frankfurt in 2005.

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