Ven. Khenpo Dakpa Woeser has been the resident lama at
Sakya Tsechen Ling Institute since 1991. He was born on 8 September 1939 in Mi,
a small village close to Sakya, into the Kyab Shenpa family of farmers. Tashi Wangdu
expressed great interest in the profound spiritual tradition of his native
Tibet at a very young age. In fact, several members of his family were
assiduous practitioners. One of his brothers became a monk, while his
grandfather was a "Goroum", an appointed Mahakala ritual master, for
over 33 years.
At
the age of seven, Tashi Wangdü joined the sutric school of the Sakya Monastery,
Chöde Lho, where he received his current ordination name - Dakpa Woeser. Six
months later, he joined the Sakya tantric school, Chöde Chang. His training and
education in Tibet were very rigorous. At the age of eight and a half, he
passed his Vajrakilaya exam in the compassionate presence of His Holiness the
fortieth Sakya Trizin, Ngawang Thutob Wangchuk. For the next thirteen years,
the three-month study semesters at the tantric school alternated with the
strenuous examinations. He gained a complete mastery over the scriptures,
rituals and sacred dances of different deities, such as Mahakala, Vajrayoghini,
Vajrakilaya, and many others. During his stay in Sakya, he also completed
various retreats: a nine-month Hevajra retreat, three-month Vajrakilaya,
Mahakala, Virocana, and other retreats.
In
1959, he took the Bhikshu vows from the eminent master, Lhatang Khenpo Rinchen
Sangpo.
He
left for India later that year. In India, he stayed at the Ghoom Monastery,
close to Darjeeling for 32 years, where he shared a small wooden attic dwelling
with three other monks. The entire monastic community was continuously blessed
by the magnificent teachings of Khenpo Sangyé Tenzin, who in 1989 was pleased
to receive an invitation extended to Lama Dakpa by Khenchen Sherab Rinpoche to
come to Sakya Tsechen Ling in Kuttosheim, France.
In
the meanwhile, His Holiness the Sakya Trizin conferred upon Lampa Dakpa the
title of Chöpön, and invited him to be part of his retinue in the role of the
shrine keeper during three-to-four-month Lamdre and Drubtab Kündü teachings in
Dheradun and Ladakh.
He
arrived to France in 1991, and took residency at Sakya Tsechen Ling. He served
Khenchen Sherab Rinpoche with an unshakable determination for over 23 years.
His
daily schedule includes an early morning Tara ritual and an afternoon Mahakala
ritual. He observes special practice days in accordance with Tibetan calendar,
and often retreats on these occasions for three to five days to perform
additional prayers and rituals.
Venerable
Lama Dakpa Woeser often confers teachings, and regularly visits Yeshe Chöling
Sakya Centre in Freiburg (Germany), where he performs different rituals, such
as the Tara ritual.
On
29 September 2015, while he was visiting the Guru Sakya Monastery in
Darjeeling, His Holiness the Sakya Trizin conferred upon him the title of
Khenpo. In 2015, he also started giving initiations.
“Lama Dakpa Woeser, the
resident Lama at our Dharma center (Sakya Tsechen Ling) in France, has been
exerting himself in the training of holy Vinaya (the monastic discipline), and
is accomplished in the ritual tradition of the great masters of the past. He
also diligently studied the traditions of both sutra and tantra under the late
Khenchen Sangye Tenzin, and has thus become examplary in terms of knowledge and
conduct in all regards. On top of that, he also took special care of this
monastery (in Darjeeling) by offering his financial support.
For these reasons he
has been nominated Khenpo and shall from now on receive the honour and respect
due to this position and shared among the Khenpos of the glorious Sakya
tradition.
From the side of the
owner of this title and befitting his newly gained status, it is also important
he increases the kind of efforts he displayed in the past in terms of service
offered to the community, which definitely was of great benefit to the
teachings and the monasteries.”
This
was written by the Sakya Trizin at the Darjeeling Guru Sakya monastery Do-Ngag
Norbu Ling on 29 September 2015.
Ven. Khenpo Dakpa left his body on 29 November 2017, while was meditating in his room in a very peaceful and mindful way. Earlier that morning, like any other morning, he performed the Green Tara Ritual.
Ven. Khenpo Dakpa left his body on 29 November 2017, while was meditating in his room in a very peaceful and mindful way. Earlier that morning, like any other morning, he performed the Green Tara Ritual.
