Tulku Losang Namgyal Rinpoche (Namgyal Tamang) was born in 1970 in Morea, Raniban VDC ward no – 4, Okhaldhunga to mother Man Maya Tamang and father Dal Bahadur Tamang. In his previous life, he was brought to Kathmandu from Okhaldhunga in 1975 for the first time and started to reveal the events of his former life such as recognizing his former monastery, home and family, every object and articles that belonged to him in his previous life.
H.H. 16th Gyalwa Karmapa recognized the six year old boy as the reincarnation of the former abbot of Swayambhu Monastery, Lama Maila Kagi Tamang and was given the name Karma Namgyal Gyurme Dorje when he came from Sikkim to Nepal to give initiation on March 10, 1976 at Kaning Shedubling Monastery at Boudha, Nepal.He started to study Buddha Dharma with Ven. Lobsang Gendun in 1976 at Maitri Bihar, Swayambhu.
He was ordained as a novice monk by Serkong Tsenshab Rinpoche and given the name Thupten Samten in 1978.He was brought to Pal Wogme Jangchhup Choeling (Kopan Monastery) to study Buddha Dharma and was given basic teaching by the teacher Lama Thupten Yeshe and given the name Losang Namgyal Rinpoche. H.H. the 14the Dalai Lama Gyalwang Tenzing Gyatso officially certified Losang Namgyal Rinpoche as the reincarnation of Mahasiddha Yogi Lama Maila Kagi, the abbot of the Old Tamang Monastery Trust of Swayambhu ( Dubkhang Chhoeling monastery) on 5th August 2010.
He was enthroned in a traditional ceremony by Kyabje Khen Rinpoche Khensur Lama Lhundrup Rigsel, on 18th august 2010 at Kopan Monastery, kathmandu as per the wishes of H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama.
Interview: Venerable Losang Namgyal Rinpoche:
Q: No doubt education seems to be the biggest assets in one’s life, so are you contributing anything in that regard?
Rinpoche La: My contribution towards education is through bringing awareness to young and old especially those living in remote areas, visiting those areas and encouraging them to study or telling them the importance of education giving opportunity to young ones to study in city schools or in monasteries and nunneries.
Q: There has been number of intellectuals who has the highest of degrees in terms of education but on an ethical and moral stand point they are simply disgrace, what do you think is lacking in their education?
Rinpoche La: Knowledge is defined in two aspects; intellectual and experiential knowledge, every parents or family, society or educational system are responsible for the outcome of the ethical and moral stand of every individual human being. We need to build up both the knowledge to understand basic human value and to become good human being.
Q: How do you think Buddhism can help restructure the academic curriculum to create a global citizen, who is not just business minded but has a heart of compassion and consideration for others?
Rinpoche La: Buddhism teaches how to be happy in one’s life, it stresses mainly on internal level the mind. This is the key to all our happiness knowing basic human value, means having good heart and altruistic thought.
Q: If you have to say something about the preservation of Himalayan environment, what would be your main statement or what would you consider the biggest challenge that should be carried out to protect this fragile environment?
Rinpochee La: Preservation of Himalayan environment is a very important issue. The longevity of this planet depends on how we preserve the environment, plantations and trees are the actual wealth which keeps us healthy body, wind and healthy planet. Educating and giving awareness is only way to protect this fragile environment.
Q: Last question, there has been steady increase in the number of people who are entangled in the tantalizing grip of drug and alcohol abuse, what would be your word of advice to help those people, get out of that life?
Rinpoche La: We need to make collective effort to root out this issue. Parents, teachers and society must understand this problem and not to hide it if ones family member is in this problem. We have to be less materialistic, give more importance to education and basic human values.
