18/12/2024
We are pleased to share a brief biography of His Eminence the Former Tshugla Lopen Samten Dorji from our 400 years commemorative magazine on the occasion of the 117th National Day:
“My name is Samten Dorji and I was called by the name Namgyal Wangdi in my childhood. It was only during the registration in the monastic body that I was given the name Samten Dorji.
I was born in 1964, in Serzhona village under Zomi Gewog in Punakha Dzongkhag to father Ngawang Samten and mother Dolma. My father was a farmer in his younger days but became a Gup (village head) so later, he came to be known as Gup Samten. Though I don’t clearly remember, my parents noticed me showing great interest in conducting rituals from the age of four or five. When asked, I would reply that I want to become a monk. So, my father enrolled me as a novice in the Pungthim Dratshang at the age of 5.
Back then, there were not many schools and many young boys would join the Dratshang. Although registered in the Pung-Thim Dratsang, I spent two years at my home learning basic reading and writing from my father. By the age of 7, I was sent to study with a senior master [a retired Machen Zimpon] residing in a temple above our village. Under his tutelage, I memorized basic prayers and rituals. When I turned 10, a monastic school for primary monastic education was established at Dechenphodrang where many young monks flocked in to study. I too joined them. That time, the principal was Lopen Shakya Rinchen assisted by many other learned Lopens. I was among 400 to 500 monks studying there. I spent around 6 years at Dechenphodrang monastery memorizing ritual texts, learning how to perform rituals, practicing Tsuyig, Joyig and Lenza writings.
When I look back at my childhood days, I can see how we missed our home as young boys and felt sad being away from our parents. When our parents sent us to study away from home, we would remain overwhelmed with sadness. Somehow, before coming to Dechenphodrang, I was near my village and got to visit my home frequently. After getting admission in Dechenphodrang, I would get home once a year as there were not many cars like today, though it’s a few hours’ drive as of now. It wasn’t as convenient as nowadays to travel between Thimphu and Punakha. In addition, the strict monastic rules didn’t allow us to move out of the monastery’s premises. When we fail to study properly, our teachers would scold and whip us.
As the country was still developing, we had limited resources and provisions from the government. I remember being starved a lot as a growing child with a great appetite. There are different types of punishments in our monasteries meant for taming and guiding the monks. All these punishments have become a part of monastic traditions that our parents never bothered about their child getting punished let alone charging the teachers for punishing us. Instead, our parents would request our teachers to make us study through beatings without causing any harm to sense organs. The punishments of our time and now are poles apart. Today, let alone beating, a simple scolding would aggravate the student to the extent of lodging court cases without any hesitance.
Furthermore, the pain of hunger was greater than that of punishment. We were served with limited food and as young and playful boys, we would sleep most of the time on an empty stomach. Now, anyone can afford to serve the monks or they can buy it for themselves easily. So much has changed in a short span of time.
As a monk, we have to learn different disciplines like proper walking, eating, sitting during rituals, chanting prayers, courtesies with seniors and teachers, among many others. These disciplines seem to be on the decline nowadays as we can only see a few abiding by them. In the Dzong, we have to eat in a ‘Tora- a white scarf’ and drink from a wooden cup.
There are different ways of folding and unfolding a ‘Tora’ and even holding a cup depends upon the type of meal.
To recollect my times at Dechenphodrang, I remember that it being the first and biggest monastic school for primary studies, we had to start our studies with memorization followed by learning how to play religious instruments. During the examination, our teachers would sit at the top of the row, friends would congregate, and in their presence, the monk appearing for the exam had to recite whatever he had memorized. We did this text memorisation examination at Tashichhodzong as well as at Dechenphodrang.
“Did you receive a prize for the examination?”
The excellent performers were awarded prizes. I never received any award for memorization though I remember reciting the entire monlam, Palden Lhamo and Mahakala ritual and getting through the exam. However, somehow, I was among the awardees during the grammar writing exam.
“What kind of prize would you receive?”
There were no monetary awards. We received books beautifully wrapped in different colored papers.
“Who were some of the teachers you studied under?”
Though I studied from all teachers, I was closely monitored by Lopen Shakya, the principal. At the age of 15, Lopen Shakya resigned to Punakha Nalanda and I followed him there to study for six months. While I was there, the first Shedra and Drubdhey was established at Tango under the guidance of HH Je Tenzin Dhoendup and HH Je Gedun Rinchen. I then applied to enroll there. From the age of 16-17, I studied under Lopen Kinley who was the principal then and later became Yangbi Lopon. By then, Je Gedun Rinchen had resigned from Tango, so I couldn’t receive any teachings from him.
During that time, His Holiness Je Tenzin Dhoendup was in Nepal undertaking strict retreats. Dzigar Choktrul Rinpoche invited Je Rinpoche to Darjeeling for the bestowment of empowerment and transmissions of the Drukpa School. Je Rinpoche dispatched a message to Tango, calling those interested in receiving the empowerment to Darjeeling. The news ignited a great interest and devotion within me that I immediately left for Darjeeling. The venue for empowerment was at Takta, a few kms away from Darjeeling town. There were around 120 of us in total receiving the transmissions. It was a blessed moment for me to have received the entire empowerment and transmissions from a realized master though I couldn’t become a good practitioner. I still reminisce about those days and blessed moments.
His Holiness Je Tenzin Dhoendup wanted to compile all the scattered scriptures to bestow the lineage transmission to ensure continuity. Somehow, being a Yogi wandering from place to place and also having no attendant who could write properly, his desire remained incomplete for some time.
So after the empowerment, HH commanded us to help him in completing the work of compiling scriptures. HH also told us about the disadvantages of having no collected empowerment scriptures (Wang-pey). HH encouraged us through stories and advice. We worked for three to four months compiling the texts. In the meantime, HH gave us the reading transmission of some rare texts. We also received the opportunity to learn drawing mandalas of the Drukpa tradition from HH. I was around 19 years old back then.
After completing the work, some friends were granted permission to go for retreat, while some left for Tango. I requested Je Rinpoche to allow me to go for retreat. Je Rinpoche, however, told me to continue studying as I was still young. He advised me to go and study from Khenpo Kunga Wangchuk together with Lopen Kinley Gyeltshen [former Dralop], who was already in Sikkim. He instructed me not to go home as doing so would impede my progress of study. Khenpo Kunga Wangchuk was at Sikkim preparing for the establishment of a new Shedra by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche. Obeying Je Rinpoche, I reached Sikkim at the lotus feet of Khenpo Kunga Wangchuk. He was a close disciple of Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Lodro. I studied Uma, Ngonpa, Pharchen, and Tsema with Khenpo for four years both at Sikkim and Bir in Himachal Pradesh.
At 23 years old, I returned to Bhutan. By then, Je Rinpoche had become the 68th Je Khenpo and was in the process of establishing Shedras and Drubdeys. HH issued a decree, commanding me to serve as the Principal of Dodeydra Shedra, where school dropouts were enrolled as monks. Being an inexperienced teacher, becoming a Principal was really challenging for me.
After serving as the principal of Dodeydrak for about four to five years, at the age of 28, I resigned from the post to enter into my three years retreat at Chari under the guidance of His Holiness the Late 68th Je Khenpo Jetsun Tenzin Dhoendup. I consider the opportunity to have received teachings and blessings from HH without any obstacles as one of the most memorable moments of my life. I am blessed to have been under his care and guidance.
By 33 years old, I completed my first three years retreat and aspired to continue; but since fulfilling the noble wishes of the Guru is the essence of Ta***ic practice, I became the principal of Chari as per the command of His Holiness.
After three and a half years, His Holiness appointed me as the Vice Principal of Tango Shedra. At the time, His Eminence the late Dralop Kinley Gyaltshen was the principal. When he became the Drabi Lopen, I served as the principal for around 7 years. During my tenure, I taught Madhyamika, Abhidharma, and other subjects to the monks.
Following that, His Majesty the fourth Druk Gyalpo Jigme Singye Wangchuck recommended the creation of a new post in the Lopen Lhengye to ease workload and benefit the Dratshang. So, in addition to the four existing Lopens, a post to look after the educational affairs of the monastic body was created. The Tsugla Lopen is responsible for overall management and supervision of Shedras, planning of establishing new Shedras, upgrading old ones, initiating teaching programs in schools, and representing the Zhung Dratshang in the Choedhey Lhentshog (Commission for Religious organizations). I must express my gratitude for being bestowed with the opportunity to become the first Tsugla Lopen in November 2005. I was 45 years old then. Having served to the best of my capabilities for more than 15 years, I resigned from the post in 2020.
Now that I have retired, I am currently spending my time in prayers and enjoying quiet time. As we celebrate 400 years since the Zhung Dratshang’s establishment, I would like to pray for its continued flourishment and stability.”
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