A brief biography of Kyabje Tenga Rinpoche of Benchen monastery (1932-2012)

[Translator's note: This is not a word-by-word translation of Kyabje Tenga Rinpoche's narrative. It is rather a re-telling of the events of Rinpoche's life, presented in such a way as to make it easier to understand for non-Tibetan readers, based upon Rinpoche's own words and writings. This whole narrative is a combination of the re-telling of events which Tenga Rinpoche related in the early and mid-eighties to Edward Henning and then to myself, and of some which he wrote down himself just a few years ago. A few events which he did not wish to become public knowledge are omitted here. This is not to keep anything secret, but to honour Rinpoche's explicit wish! Sherab Drime (Thomas Roth)]

Ven. Kyabje Tenga Rinpoche was born in eastern Tibet, the northern snow-enclosure, the cool land of the dharma valleys, the segment of the mandala field known as "the six ranges of lower Dokham" [...] , on the fourth day of the sixth lunar month in the Water-Monkey year of 1932. To be more specific, Rinpoche was born in the region of Dokham known as Ga. His father was descended from the upper eastern clan of the miraculously born Magyal Pomra known as Drong Sekar Gyalpo and their descendants. Rinpoche's father was Gönpo Tobgyal, one of the sons of the then Drong district official. His mothers name was Rigdzin Drölma, who came from the Gegyal Barma family clan. While the baby was in her womb, she dreamed one night of Drongpa Lama Tendzin Chögyal (Rinpoche's previous incarnation) who gave her a turquoise and told her to wear it around her neck. After that she was in high spirits and experienced no physical discomfort whatsoever. Other than that, said Kyabje Tenga Rinpoche, there were no special signs. So he was told by his mother.