The Treasury of Lives

The Reting incarnation line dates to the eighteenth century when the Second Reting, Lobzang Yeshe Tenpa Rabgye was recognized as the reincarnation of Ngawang Chokden, the Fifty-fourth Ganden Tripa, who would be posthumously known as the First Reting Rinpoche. The Seventh Dalai Lama gave Reting Monastery, established in 1056 by Dromtonpa as the seat of the Kadampa school, to Trichen Ngawang Chokden upon his retirement; the monastery became the seat of the Reting incarnation line. The Reting tulkus were one of only a few high-ranking incarnation lines empowered to become regent of Tibet during the absence or minority of the Dalai Lamas.

Timeline

Biographies

Ngawang Chokden was a Geluk lama scholar who served as the Fifty-fourth Ganden Tripa from 1739 to 1746. He received his basic education in Amdo Jakhyung Monastery, and Sera and Gyume monasteries in Lhasa. He served as disciplinarian and abbot of Gyume College; and abbot of Toling Monastery in Ngari for seven years during which he restored the temples and stupas built by Rinchen Zangpo. He also served as tutor to the Seventh Dalai Lama and taught the Third Changkya. He was awarded a title by the Qianlong Emperor of China. Following his tenure at Ganden he settled at Reting Monastery, where he passed away.

Tenpa Rabgye was the Second Reting Rinpoche. Identified as the reincarnation of Ngawang Chokden, the Sixty-fourth Ganden Tripa, he was offered Reting Monastery as his seat. He was educated at Sera and Gyume Monasteries.