Venerable Gen Rangjung

Venerable Gen Rangjung is the only person in Tibet and India to have known the 5th, 6th and 7th Dzogchen Rinpoches. He has dedicated his life to their service and holds an important place within the history of the Dzogchen lineage. Venerable Gen Rangjung was the disciple of the 5th Dzogchen Rinpoche, the personal attendant of both the 6th and 7th Dzogchen Rinpoches and was instrumental in the rebuilding of Dzogchen Monastery, in South India. To this day, Gen Rangjung remains devoted to the service of Dzogchen Rinpoche and is a continuous inspiration to others.

Venerable Gen Rangjung was born near Dzogchen Monastery in Kham, Tibet in 1920. He joined the monastery at the age of 5 and was named Thubten Rangjung by His Eminence the 5th Dzogchen Rinpoche, Thubten Chokyi Dorje. He took his getsul vows, at the age of 8, from Khen Rinpoche, and Chime Yeshe. Gradually he learned all the pujas, practices and rituals of the Dzogchen lineage from His Eminence the 5th Dzogchen Rinpoche. He was fortunate to receive wang (empowerment), lung (oral transmission) and special teachings that are only given to close students. Gen Rangjung is an exceptional historical example of the Dzogchen lineage, very few students receive all the Dzogchen teachings, particularly from such a great master as the 5th Dzogchen Rinpoche.

Gen Rangjung joined Dzogchen Monastery’s famous Shri Singha University and became an accomplished student. He was respected for his scholarly achievements but also because of his disciplined and dignified manner that naturally set the example for others. As a result, he held many responsibilities within Dzogchen Monastery. He became a chant master, choepen (head of shrine arrangement), and received nge sang dzogpachenpa wang lung meng gna from His Eminence the 6th Dzogchen Rinpoche, Jigdral Changchub Dorje.

At age 23 he became a personal attendant of His Eminence the 6th Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, the brother of His Holiness the 16th Karmapa and travelled to India on pilgrimage. Unfortunately, the Cultural Revolution of Tibet began soon after his return and Gen Rangjung escaped to Sikkim with His Eminence the 6th Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche. Their journey took them through Natoela and Tromo, the Chumbi Valley of Tibet, and they stayed at Rumtek Monastery, seat of His Holiness the 16th Karmapa. In 1962, Gen Rangjung’s root lama, His Eminence the 6th Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, passed away and upon the instruction of His Holiness the 4th Dodrupchen Rinpoche, Gen Rangjung became the personal attendant of the young 7th Dzogchen Rinpoche, Jigme Losel Wangpo. During this time, Gen Rangjung received his gelong vows from His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.

In 1985, Venerable Gen Rangjung was requested by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, to support His Eminence the 7th Dzogchen Rinpoche in re-establishing Dzogchen Monastery in south India. Gen Rangjung assisted His Eminence in building all the initial structures of the Monastery, in particular the new temple and the monks’ accommodation block. During this time Gen Rangjung was very practical and resourceful; he was active in raising funds to support the monastery and helped greatly with the construction work, even carrying bricks! Venerable Gen Rangjung taught the young monks chanting, ritual, mudras and many dharma teachings, playing an essential part in re-establishing the Dzogchen lineage in South India.

Venerable Gen Rangjung remains devoted to His Eminence the 7th Dzogchen Rinpoche, Jigme Losel Wangpo, and His Eminence’ family. He continues to be an active practitioner, despite being in the latter years of his life and assists in the maintenance of the Dzogchen lineage in many ways. Venerable Gen Rangjung is a great lama, who plays an important role in the history and continuation of the precious Dzogchen lineage.