Tashi Rinpoche

H. E. Ngawang Thekchen Tenzin Gelek Gyaltso or Tashi Rinpoche was born sixth May 1973 in Lithang, Tibet to mother Kalsang Lhamo and father Gyathar Tsering. During his birth many signs occurred. In 1990 he exiled to Nepal and India. H. H. Dalai Lama, H. H. Khapje Trichen and Penor Rinpoche recognized him as Buyong Kachu and enthroned him as the president of Migyur Monastery in Tibet, one of the very first monasteries in Tibet. It is known that Tashi Rinpoche's predecessors were responsible for the building of 113 monasteries in Tibet. Rinpoche completed his studies in 2000 and returned to Nepal and Tibet. He has traveled extensively to many countries teaching dharma, including Nepal and Singapore. He is the director of Nepal and Singapore Buddhist Religious Organizations and also the head of Tashi Dechen Gyaltsen Organization in Nepal.

Tashi Rinpoche met H. H. Buddha Maitreya in San Francisco, California after being introduced by a young Rinpoche, Geshe Tsultrim Choepak Rinpoche from Palden Zhiwa Monastery, a branch of the Migyur Monastery which is currently being rebuilt by H.H. Buddha Maitreya and his students. He had just arrived to New York some few days earlier from Singapore where he was involved in the largest Tibetan Buddhist Sand Mandala in the World.

During the meeting, Tashi Rinpoche said that "He was the wish fulfilling jewel for H. H. The Dalai Lama." That whatever H. H. wanted Tashi always was there to fulfill. During this meeting H.H. Buddha Maitreya agreed to visit Lithang for a reception and to break ground for a new Dharma center, His first Buddha Maitreya Dharma center in Lithang, Tibet the highest city in the world. In August of 2004, H. H. Buddha Maitreya was received by the largest motorcade of cars ever to be seen since the Panchen Lama in Lit hang.