Khangmar Rinchen Dorje (khang dmar rin chen rdo rje) was born in the Terlhung valley (gter lhung) in south-eastern Derge. Said to have been disinterested in worldly concerns from a young age, he became a monk at Khangmar Monastery (khang dmar dgon) there.
He studied at Dzogchen (rdzogs chen) under Khenpo Lhagang (mkhan po lha sgang, 1879–1955), and at Khamshe (khams bye), the monastic college of Dzongsar Monastery (rdzong sar), under Wonto Khyenrab Chokyi Wozer (mkhan po chos kyi 'od zer, 1889–1959) and Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Lodro ('jam dbyangs mkhyen brtse chos kyi dbang po, 1893–1959), as well as with the Eleventh Tai Situ Pema Wangchok Gyelpo (ta'i si tu 11 padma dbang mchog rgyal po, 1886–1952).
Chokyi Lodro appointed him abbot of Khamshe in 1940. In 1943 he left Dzongsar to teach at Riwoche (ri bo che) and at Gonjo Rago (go 'jo ra mgo dgon). Chokyi Lodro also sent him to teach at the newly established college at Neten Monastery (gnas brtan).[1]
Orgyen Tobgyel (o rgyan stobs rgyal) tells of a debate that took place between Rinchen Dorje and Khenpo Appey (mkhan po a pad, 1927–2010) at the suggestion of Khyentse Chokyi Lodro. They were to discuss the philosophy of Mipam Gyatso (mi pham rgya mtsho, 1846–1912), which Khenpo Appey was understood to have found a way of refuting. In the debate, however, Khenpo Appey confused Rinchen Dorje by telling jokes rather than putting forward serious propositions. Rinchen Dorje’s consequent bemusement was understood to mean that Khenpo Appey must have won the argument. The fact that Khenpo Appey apparently defeated such a renowned scholar as Rinchen Dorje helped to establish his own reputation for learning.[2]
No doubt in part because of his life-long dedication to renunciation, Rinchen Dorje was known to be quite thin.
Among his students was Minyak Damcho (mi nyag dam chos, 1908?–1957?), who served as the eighth abbot of Khamshe. He wrote commentaries on Sakya Paṇḍita's (sa skya paN+Dita kun dga' rgyal mtshan, 1182-1251) Treasury of Valid Cognition (tshad ma rig gter) and Mipam Gyatso's Beacon of Certainty (nges shes sgron me).
He died at Khangmar in 1959.
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Bibliography
Blo gros phun tshogs. 1992. "Khams bye bshad grwa'i lo rgyus mdo tsam brjod pa." In Krung goʼi bod kyi shes rig, vol. 18, pp. 122–34. Beijing: Krung goʼi bod kyi shes rig dus deb khang.
Dilgo Khyentse. 2017. The Life and Times of Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö: The Great Biography by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and Other Stories. Boulder: Shambhala Publications.