Sonam Yeshe Wangpo
This image of Sonam Yeshe Wangpo is found with the Dorje Shugden incarnation lineage thangka between Panchen Sonam Drakpa and Ngawang Sonam Gelek. Click on image to enlarge.
Within Dorje Shugden’s incarnation lineage, there are two lesser known incarnations who lived between the time of Panchen Sonam Drakpa and Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen. These two figures are not as well-known, mainly because they did not live long enough to manifest particularly great deeds as they did in their other incarnations. There are many possible karmic reasons for this, including obstacles brought on by broken samaya or a disrupted spiritual bond between the students of the lama’s previous lives; insufficient collective merits of the disciples to sustain the incarnation; or that the lama himself had planned his premature departure in order to absorb certain obstacles or for other reasons only known to him.
The unmistaken incarnation of Panchen Sonam Drakpa was proclaimed to be Sonam Yeshe Wangpo (1556 – 1593 CE). He was born near the area of Tolung Lampa in the Fire Dragon Year of the 9th 60 year cycle according to the Tibetan calendar. His father was Tsering Tashi and his mother was Gonmo Tsering. At the tender age of one to two years old, the boy exhibited clairvoyance by remembering details of his previous life. As such, he was officially recognised and taken to Drepung Monastery at the age of four where the omniscient Third Dalai Lama Sonam Gyatso cut some of his hair in a symbolic and auspicious gesture of ordination. The young boy was bestowed the name Sonam Yeshe Wangpo. Later when he was nine years old, on the full moon of the 5th month of the Wood Dog Year he received novice monastic ordination from the Dalai Lama; and the great abbots, Choje Dewa Chenpa Gelek Pelsang who was the former Gaden throneholder otherwise known as Gaden Tripa; and Gedun Tenpa Dargye.
Sonam Yeshe Wangpo accompanied the Third Dalai Lama Sonam Gyatso on the historical journey to Mongolia.
Click on image to enlarge.
In the Fire Tiger Year when he turned 11 years old, the young tulku (reincarnated lama) travelled to the great monastic seat of Kyormo Lung for a momentous occasion. He gave flawless teachings without aid from his tutors and inspired those in the assembly with faith and thus, all who were present came to believe that he was truly the unmistaken incarnation of Panchen Sonam Drakpa. The following year, he traveled to Chakar Dratsang in order to receive teachings on the great Buddhist treatises. He studied under the master Damcho Pelbar in accordance to the monastic scriptural tradition.
When he was 19, he received the complete monastic ordination from an assembly of 10 abbots, great masters and an assembly of monks, presided over by the Dalai Lama, Sonam Gyatso, himself. As a result of his involvement with the educational curriculum at Chakar Dratsang, the monastic population increased. When he turned 22, he travelled with his teacher, the Dalai Lama on a historic journey to Mongolia. While in Mongolia, the Mongol King Altan Khan showered Sonam Gyatso with innumerable gifts and bestowed him with the title ‘Dalai Lama’. In Mongolian, Dalai meant ‘Ocean’, which was a literal translation of his Tibetan name Gyatso. The title was later also applied to Sonam Gyatso’s two preceding incarnations, making him the Third Dalai Lama.
The 26th Gaden Tripa Damcho Pelbar (1619 – 1656) gave him teachings on the great Buddhist treatises.
Click on image to enlarge.
Thereafter, the Dalai Lama and his retinue departed Mongolia and travelled to monasteries such as Chokor Ling in the outer regions of Tibet such as Chamdo. Adhering to the Dalai Lama’s instructions, warring factions in the area agreed to a truce and pledged to work together to erect a statue of Buddha Shakyamuni, which was dedicated to the people of Lithang. During this period, Sonam Yeshe Wangpo composed notable verses of praise of the Dalai Lama along with many ritual liturgies and treatises pertaining to general Dharma teachings. He even travelled on foot to faraway places such as Tzomo Kar, Changkya, Khithakha, Chone, Tau Jeu, and Tsongkha in order to give teachings.
When he was 33, he travelled to central Tibet where he made vast offerings to the Sangha at Ganden, Sera, Drepung, Chakar, and a number of other monasteries, with distribution of tea amongst other types of offerings. From there, he travelled to Olka where he made offerings to the monastic communities at Olka and Gyal as well. During this period, Ponsa Palden Chotzom from Olka Tagtse served as his personal attendant and probably assisted in these arrangements as well. Sonam Yeshe Wangpo was again appointed to the abbot’s throne of Kyormolung, the great Dharma community in Kyisho. He gave numerous teachings of both Sutra and Tantra during his tenure as abbot.
He was requested to return to Olka by the Sangha community there. At that time, he had been appointed to be the Lama at Chamdo but he couldn’t fulfil the appointment. At the age of 37, on the 29th day of the 1st month of the Water Dragon Year of the 10th 60-year cycle, he entered into the clear light of death at Olka. A funerary cremation was arranged as soon as he left clear light and his sacred remains were cremated according to tradition. When the flames died down, many relics and deity images emerged from the ashes and bone fragments. These were enshrined in a silver reliquary stupa erected at Chokhor Gyal Monastery for posterity. Although his life was relatively brief, he did accomplish much to further the teachings during his time.
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The unmistaken incarnation of Panchen Sonam Drakpa was proclaimed to be Sonam Yeshe Wangpo. From birth, he spoke with clairvoyance and seemed to remember people and events of his past life. Even as a young man , he travelled tremendously as part of his retinue, with the 3rd Dalai Lama and gave various teachings as well. Throughout the journey, he had even composed verses to praise and commentaries on the teachings.
Thank you Rinpoche and Pastor David for this sharing.
Sonam Yeshe Wangpo the unmistaken incarnation of Panchen Sonam Drakpa born near Tolung Lampa in Tibet. As a child, he spoke with clairvoyance and seemed to remember people and events of his past life. The young Sonam Yeshe Wangpo could composed verses to praise his Lama and commentaries on the teachings. He even gave various teachings during this period while travelling without aid from his tutors and inspired those in the assembly with faith. He entered into the clear light of death age 37 years old. Interesting short biography of a great lama.
Thank you Rinpoche and Pastor David for this sharing.
The unmistaken incarnation of Panchen Sonam Drakpa was proclaimed to be Sonam Yeshe Wangpo. At the tender age of one to two years old, the boy exhibited clairvoyance by remembering details of his previous life. As such, he was officially recognised and taken to Drepung Monastery at the age of four where the omniscient Third Dalai Lama Sonam Gyatso cut some of his hair in a symbolic and auspicious gesture of ordination. He gave flawless teachings without aid from his tutors and inspired those in the assembly with faith and thus, all who were present came to believe that he was truly the unmistaken incarnation of Panchen Sonam Drakpa. When he was 19, he received the complete monastic ordination from an assembly of 10 abbots, great masters and an assembly of monks, presided over by the Dalai Lama, Sonam Gyatso, himself. When he was 33, he travelled to central Tibet where he made vast offerings to the Sangha at Ganden, Sera, Drepung, Chakar, and a number of other monasteries, with distribution of tea amongst other types of offerings. At the age of 37, Sonam Yeshe Wangpo entered into the clear light of death at Olka. A funerary cremation was arranged as soon as he left clear light and his sacred remains were cremated according to tradition. When the flames died down, many relics and deity images emerged from the ashes and bone fragments. These were enshrined in a silver reliquary stupa erected at Chokhor Gyal Monastery for posterity. Although his life was relatively brief, he did accomplish much to further the teachings during his time. Thank you Rinpoche and Pastor David for sharing this interesting write up of Sonam Yeshe Wangpo. ☸️🕉👍😘💛
Interesting read ….Sonam Yeshe Wangpo was unmistaken incarnation of Panchen Sonam Drakpa. At such a young tulku (reincarnated lama), he was already giving teachings and inspired those present in the hall. He completed his monastic ordination under many great masters , abbots and so forth. He did travelled tremendously and giving various teachings. Throughout the journey he even composed notable verses of praise of the Dalai Lama along with many ritual liturgies. However, he entered clear light when he was only 37 years old.
Thank you Rinpoche and Pastor David for this sharing.