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Venerable Lama Gape

Lama Gape was born in the Kham (eastern) Region of Tibet in 1965. When he was 14, Lama Gape had the good fortune to receive instruction on the effects of virtuous and harmful actions by the great Yogi Damga, and he completed the four hundred thousand accumulations of the preliminary practices (Ngondro) according to the Buddhist Yangzab terma.

Lama Gape made great efforts to travel to Gar Monastery where he received refuge ordination from the profoundly loved and respected Garchen Rinpoche. He then received full monastic ordination and the bodhisattva vow from the great siddha Karma Norbu, and was then admitted to Gar Monastery. While at Gar Monastery Lama Gape studied tantric ritual practices of the Old and New Schools, and engaged in a wide array of other religious trainings. Lama Gape received special training from the Hlo Lungkar Monastery Chant-master (religious ritual master), Lama Yungthar, including the Eight Heruka Sadhanas, the Embodiment of the Masters' Realization, Vajrakilaya, and Essence of Great Bliss. He then served as chant master for Gar Monastery and later as the disciplinarian.

Thereafter, Lama Gape sought out and received teachings from many great Buddhist masters including Khenpo Munsel Rinpoche, from whom he received Dzogchen Trekchod and Thogal instructions. From His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche Lama Gape received the entirety of the Drikung Kagyu protectors and the higher and lower tantra sections instructions. Lama Gape also received personal, one-on-one instruction from the great Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche. Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche also gave Lama Gape the Kalachakra Empowerment and teachings and Kilaya cycle of teachings from Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche's own terma (mind treasure).

At Drikung Thil, Lama Gape studied with the very venerable Drupon Tenzin Nyima and received some of the most profound teachings of the Drikung Kagyu linage, including the Fivefold Mahamudra and the Six Yogas [of Naropa]. He studied the Gong Chig (Single Intention), Essence of Mahayana, The Bodhisattva Way of Life, and the Thirty-Seven Bodhisattva Practices with Drikung Khenpo Namzig. Under the elder Drikung Chantmaster Konchok Samten, he trained in the ritual practices of Chakrasamvara, Varahi, the Yangzab, Sarvavid and Akshobhya. Lama Gape also received empowerment, teachings and pith instruction on the Yamantaka practice from the great Yanga Rinpoche.

Thereafter, H.E. Garchen Rinpoche asked Lama Gape to undertake a series of assignments to help reorganize and reestablish Buddhist practice and monastic discipline in monasteries throughout the region – after, in some cases, a twenty-five year breach in the Buddhist practice tradition. Some of the monasteries Lama Gape helped reestablish include Hlo Miyel Monastery, Khargo Monastery and later Tseri Monastery in Sichuan -- where he reestablished the Great Accomplishment (Drupchen) practice of Yamantaka and gave other teachings.

Again at the request of His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche, Lama Gape next served as Lama (religious teacher and minister) for two years at Tamgo Monastery in Central Tibet, the former dwelling place of Chung Dorje Dragpa -- the fourth lineage holder of the Drikung Kagyu. There Lama Gape established the summer retreat, set up a yearly teaching schedule and appointed a chant master, disciplinarian and shrine master. Subsequently, at Gar Monastery, Lama Gape took responsibility for instructing the nuns at the Fivefold Mahamudra Meditation Center of Gargon Nunnery.

In the year 2000 Lama Gape went to India and received the complete Drikung Kagyu empowerments, transmissions and teachings during the Drikung Snake Year teachings. There he received teachings directly from His Holiness Chetsang Rinpoche, His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche, Drubwang Konchok Norbu Rinpoche, and many other high Lamas.

Thereafter, Lama Gape went to Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan. He then came to America to do a Yamantaka Retreat with H.E. Garchen Rinpoche. At present, he serves as a Resident Lama and Chant Master for the Garchen Institute in Arizona, as well as continuing to serve as Resident Lama for the Mercy and Treasure Buddhist Foundation in Southern California. His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche has also requested Lama Gape to serve as Chant Master at all the Garchen Buddhist Dharma centers in the West.

(Adapted from www.thubtennima.net)