Dezhung Rinpoche

The Tibetan lama Dezhung Rinpoche (1906-87) arrived in Seattle in 1960 fleeing the Chinese Communist regime. He was the first Rinpoche to settle and teach in America. He learned to read and became very fond and connected with the Great Saint Milarepa, learning to read from his uncle a meditator the "Lives and Songs of Milarepa." While living in Seattle His Eminence established a monastery and published a book "A Saint in Seattle."

Dezhung Rinpoche's Reincarnation was found four years after Dezhung Rinpoche's death, his reincarnation was discovered in Seattle, WA fulfilling the prophecy that he had made to two of his disciples that he would be reborn there. His parents, Carolyn and Tenzin Lama had dreams while he was still in the womb foretelling that he would be a lama. His Holiness Sakya Dagchen, Head Lama of the Sakya Order of Tibetan Buddhism at Sakya Monastery in Seattle, told them that their son, Sonam Wangdu, would be a special reincarnation.

As Sonam developed, he recognized items that used to belong to Dezhung Rinpoche as his own, stating, for example, the first time he was Dezhung Rinpoche's chair: 'I used to sit there.' When Sonam was two, he accompanied H. H. Sakya Dagchen on a pilgrimage to Nepal and India. While there, he was formally acknowledged by the two Sakya lineage holders, H. H. Sakya Trizin and H. H. Sakya Dagchen as the reincarnation of Dezhung Rinpoche.

The young reincarnation was enthroned at Tharlam Monastery at a ceremony attended by disciples from all over the world. He was given his monk's haircut and his official name: Dezhung Rinpoche IV, specifically Ngawang Kunga Tegchen Chokyi Nyima, known as Tulku-la ('reincarnation') for short.

When Tulku-la was four, he moved permanently to Tharlam Monastery in Nepal to begin his studies. In 1997, at age six, he already reads and speaks Tibetan, studying daily with his tutor. His goal is to become as wise and learned a teacher as his predecessor and to teach former as well as new students throughout the world.

According to Tibetan tradition, Tulku-la is expected to provide financial support for his Monastery, himself, and the monks living there. There are approximately 50 monks and 4 nuns. Until Tulku-la is old enough to give teachings, he must depend on the donations of others to support his training and his Monastery.

Tulku-la's recognition as the reincarnation of a Tibetan Lama sparked national and international media interest. As a child of a western mother and a Tibetan father, Tulku-la is living a life that is an unusual meeting of east and west. He has taken to his responsibilities as if he was born to them. Exhibiting extraordinary qualities and maturity for his age.