OBITUARY: His Eminence the 100th Ganden Tripa Lobsang Nyima

Wednesday, 17 September 2008
Tibet.net

Dharamshala: The Central Tibetan Administration expressed its heartfelt condolences over the demise of His Eminence Lobsang Nyima Pal Sangpo, the 100th holder of Ganden Tripa.

File Photo of His Eminence the 100th Ganden Tripa Lobsang Nyima

His Eminence Lobsang Nyima - who ascended to the highest position in the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism in 1994 - passed away after a brief illness at Kles Hospital and MRC at Belgaum in southern India, on the 14th day of seventh Tibetan lunar month and 14 September. He was 79.

As a mark of respect, the officials of the administration observed an hour-long prayer session at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, following which the departments and the offices remained close.

Expressing condolences on behalf of the CTA, the department of religion and culture and Buddhist followers in general, Kalon Ven Tsering Phuntsok described the Ganden Trisur as "one of the most accomplished masters of Tibetan Buddhism, who has offered great service to the spiritual and temporal heritage of Tibet."

In 1945, at the age of 17, Gaden Trisur Lobsang Nyima began his spiritual learning on 'Five Treatises of Buddhism' under the tutelage of former tutors of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, at the Drepung Loseling Monastic University in Tibet.

He received many degrees and posts, including Lharampa Geshe, abbot of Gyudmed Tantric University, abbot of Namgyal Monastery, Jangtse Choeje and an honorary doctorate degree conferred by Tibetan Institute of Higher Studies, Varanasi.

Apart from achieving excellence in spiritual learning, he mastered the intricate arts of poetry and grammar.

His great work of writing includes "Religious History and Prayers for Lineages of abbots of Gyudmed Tantric Monastery", "An Eulogy of Maitreya (Gyalwa Jampa)" and "Prayers for Long-Life and Swift Return of Incarnations of Many High Lamas".