རིན་པོ་ཆེའི་སྐུ་ཕྲེང་སྔ་མའི་སྐོར་ལ་བོད་ཡིག་ཐོག་ཏུ་ཀློག་འདོད་ན་འདིར་སྣོན་ཨ།
The Sixth Gyal Khenchen, Lharampa Gyaltsang Rinpoche Tenzin Thupten Gyaltsen, also known as Kalsang Tsondu, was born in Makpon village to father Jinpo and mother Lumo Tso in 1968. During his early years, Rinpoche attended the local school. At the age of twelve, he received ordination from Lharampa Kalsang Gyatso and commenced his studies at the Makpon monastery. There, Rinpoche immersed himself in memorizing the three vases of the deity and the ritual texts of the Kalachakra cycle. Additionally, he explored the practices of horse-voiced chants and received teachings on the lineage’s pith instructions, among other subjects.
In 1988, Rinpoche entered the prestigious monastic center of Dhitsa Tashi Chöding. During his time there, he studied foundational concepts of logic and logical reasoning, laying the groundwork for deeper studies in the field. He also engaged in learning conventional sciences and various other disciplines. Rinpoche received full ordination from the master of sutras and tantra, Jetsun Yeshi Gyatso, at this monastic center.
In 1993, Rinpoche journeyed to India to pursue Buddhist studies, joining the esteemed monastic college of Drepung Gomang, located in South India.
In July 1994, His Holiness The Dalai Lama officially recognized Rinpoche as the reincarnation of The 5th Gyal Khenchen. On the auspicious 24th day of the 4th month of the Tibetan calendar, Rinpoche was enthroned in the prayer hall of Lubhum House. The following year, on the 15th day of the 3rd month, the enthronement ceremony took place at Gomang Monastic College. With unwavering determination and diligence, Rinpoche pursued Buddhist studies, combining learning and logical analysis. In 2009, after successfully mastering The Five Major Basic Texts and passing the Gelug Examination, Rinpoche was conferred the Geshe Lharampa degree in the presence of monastics from Tashi Gomang Monastic College and monks from The Three Great Seat Monasteries.
In 2010, Rinpoche enrolled in Gyumed Tantric College, focusing on the study of tantra. There, Rinpoche delved into rituals, sacred geometry for mandala and stupa construction, as well as the four fire offering rites (pacification, enrichment, magnetization, and destruction). Subsequently, Rinpoche continued his tantric studies for three years at Gomang Monastic College.
Rinpoche made several visits to Russia, where he connected with students interested in Buddhism, imparting teachings and sharing insights on living meaningfully according to Buddhist principles. He also conferred lay vows to many devotees, earning recognition and appreciation for his noble efforts through an award.
Over the years, Rinpoche has taught at numerous Buddhist communities in the United States and Canada. Currently, Rinpoche resides in Canada, where, in addition to studying English, he teaches Buddhism on auspicious occasions with the aspiration of spreading the dharma and benefiting sentient beings. Rinpoche also joins members of the local Tibetan community in leading prayers for the long life of His Holiness The Dalai Lama.
