Ninth Reincarnation of Hephu Tulku Ngawang Sherdrup Chokyi Nyima

The current Ninth Reincarnation is Ngawang Sherdrup Chokyi Nyima. He was born to father Tsultrim Tharchin and mother Ani Rigzang in 1980. His father hails from Yagang Pirbi under the Mongar district in eastern Bhutan. His mother is from the Thegchen Norbugang under Punakha district in western Bhutan. She is the niece of the Eighth Yangsi, Sangye Dorje.

When his mother conceived him, she had many dreams and saw signs that foretold about the birth of an extraordinary child. One month after his conception, his mother dreamt a crystal pillar as high as the sky with a white sheep and a small bronze vessel filled with milk next to it. She then held the sheep and sprinkled the milk as an offering. Again after 2 months, she dreamt dribbling nectar above Neyphug Monastery. At the same time, all the people of Do Choten saw one end of the rainbow fall over his mother's house while the other end fell on the monastery. The Lhashing (celestial tree) just below the house unseasonably bloomed twice. One day, as his mother walked at Panglog pass on the way to Do Choten, she wondered about the reverberating thunder and looked up. She saw two nun-like figures but when she got closer to them they transformed into a radiant ball of five colors that became two crystals. She picked them up and these were later inserted as dharani (spiritual sustenance) of statues. When his mother was about to give birth, she dreamt of two rising suns over the horizon and the blowing of a white conch mounted on a throne. modest of the wedding

Soon, on the 23rd Day of the Fourth Month, in the Iron Monkey Year of 17th Rabjung Cycle, 1980, the Ninth Yangsi was born. When he was delivered, he was actually wrapped up by a white scarf-like womb and wore a meditation-like strip through his navel. Moreover, everyone witnessed a light of five colors radiated to his residence through the windows from the pinnacle of the Neyphug Monastery. When he visited Neyphug monastery for the first time, everyone saw that his house and the monastery being connected by a light of five colors. On entering the temple, a fireball descended from above, which was considered an extremely auspicious omen.

At the age of four and a half when he was able to speak, he started to say, "Neyphug Monastery is my monastery," and insisted on being taken there. When he was escorted to the monastery, he went directly over to the throne used by the previous reincarnations and sat in cross-legged posture. He even recognized the cups and attires of his predecessors very distinctly, but owing to the modest status of his parents, the matter was kept silent for sometime.

At the age of six, under the patronage of the Royal Queen Mother, the Late Ashi Phuntso Chodon, and Tenzin Dondrub, the Je Khenpo at the time, he was admitted to the Sangha Community of Central Monastic Body in Thimphu. During that time, the child became seriously ill. Predictions and fortune-readers all favored the reading that it was the magical display by the Protector of Neyphug Monastery, and that it would remain incurable unless the Yangsi was given the regard of his previous glory.

Then, when he was nine years old, the Buddha Vajradhara in human form, the Late His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, recognized the child as the unmistaken reincarnation of the Yongdzin Ngawang Dragpa and conferred "Ngawang Sherdrup Chokyi Nyima" (the Lord of Speech, and the Dharma-sun of Exegesis and Accomplishment) as his name. In the same year, His Holiness enthroned him with a grand ceremony at the Jowo Chapel of Kyichu Monastery in Paro, and inducted him to his principle monastery, Neyphug Thegchen Tsemo, and granted him several empowerments and teachings. His Eminence Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche shared in the celebrations of this auspicious day.

A controversy arose between two groups regarding the recognition of the Yangsi. However, the Yangsi was able to create miraculous harmony by passing a test that was conducted by the group who denied him. During the test, he was made to cast dice and challenged that if he would be the Yangsi he should fetch the right dice-number that belonged to the Protector of Neyphug Monastery. He did this right away and thus brought all the disbelievers and his supporters into one platform of unflagging faith and devotion!

Gradually, he was enrolled in the monastic school of Dechen Phodrang, Thimphu, and then at Dodedrag Institute. Under the guidance of his maternal uncle, the then Drapai Lopon, Yonten Gyaltshen, he studied the mandala sadhanas (rituals), grammar, and elementary philosophies of Buddhism. Then, as per the visionary suggestion of the Royal Queen Mother, the Late Ashi Phuntsho Chodon, and Yangsi's own interest, he traveled to Mysore, South India, and was admitted at Ngagyur Nyingma Institute in 1995. NNI is one of the foremost centers for higher Buddhist learning founded by the Supreme Head of Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism, His Holiness Drubwang Penor Rinpoche, who is also the 11th Throne-holder of Palyul Tradition, one of the six mother monasteries of the Nyingma Lineage.

During the academic breaks, according to the advice of the Late Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche, and the late Je Khenpo Nyizer Trulku, Yangsi did a number of short retreats, mainly comprising the Tsa-sum recitation and each of them brought wondrous signs of attainment. From His Holiness Drubwang Penor Rinpoche, he received the complete Rinchen Terdzod (precious collection of treasure teachings) empowerment, empowerments on the trilogy of Sutra, Illusory Net, and Mind and the rare empowerments of Anuyoga. From His Holiness Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche, he received Oral transmission of Rinchen Terdzod and empowerments of the Northern Treasure teachings revealed by Rigdzin Goedemchen, and Jatson Nyingpo's collected treasures teachings

During his time at NNI, he studied a wide range of subjects from the most basic to the highest teachings of Dzogchen, the Great Perfection. After nine years of advanced studies, as Professor of Buddhism studies, he has an in-depth understanding of Buddhist philosophy and practices. While at NNI, owing to his capable leadership and wisdom, he served as the Vice Librarian over the vast infrastructure of the Buddhist Library at Namdroling Monastery. In 2000, he officially represented Bhutan during the month-long religious tour of Asia that further confirms that he is one of the jewels of Bhutan. In recent years, he has been invited to give teachings and empowerments throughout Asia, and is a popular teacher because of his warm personality, compassion and wisdom.

Thus, it was our sincere aspiration and supplication that the Yangsi live a long healthy life and complete his noble deeds to serve the purposes of fulfilling the wishes of sentient beings and preserving the endangered Buddha Dharma!

Source : biography of first Neyphug tulku