As he was very young at that time, the King of Nyanchen took responsibility
for him. When he was seven years old, he was taken to the Drikung Kagyu
monastery called Lho Miyel Gon. There, amidst great celebration, they performed
the ceremony of changing his clothes (a special ordination whereby a tulku
becomes a monk). At that time, the child pointed out the image of Lord Jigten
Sumgon from among many others and said, "This is my lama."
That caused the great masters to have faith that he was an authentic
incarnation of the previous Garchen Rinpoche. He stayed at Lho Miyel Gon and
took care of the monastery until he was 22. During this period, he was taught by
his former disciple, Chime Dorje, who gave him many empowerments, transmissions
and teachings. When Garchen Rinpoche was 13, Chime Dorje started giving him the
Mahamudra teachings. Then in the Lho Lungkar Gon monastery, Tulku Thubten
Nyingba Rinpoche gave him all the Drikung Kagyu empowerments and teachings.
After that, he started the Ngondro practice, and studied the Six Yogas of
Naropa.
During the Cultural Revolution, there were no Dharma teachings freely
available. However, he secretly received instructions from Khenpo Munsel.
Exhibiting enormous perseverance, Garchen Rinpoche secretly practiced all these
teachings for twenty years. Khenpo Munsel was very pleased and reportedly said,
"He is a very special bodhisattva incarnation. Of this there is no doubt."
Since 1979, his only thought has been to benefit sentient beings, with
special compassion for the poor. Whatever food and wealth he received as
offerings were always used for the monks and nuns; he kept nothing for himself.
He promised that none of the offerings that were given to him would be given to
his family for their personal enjoyment. Rinpoche has become one of the primary
upholders of the Dharma in Tibet today. He has kindled the rebuilding of many
monasteries.
Rinpoche is very respectful to all persons. he has a very sepcial quality of
being able to give beneficial and effective advice to those with negative
habits. He is a humble person without any signs of arrogance, always thinking
that he is the lowest person. With loving-kindness, compassion and bodhicitta he
thinks only of how to benefit others. Therefore, many have faith in him and
regard him with deep respect. Garchen Rinpoche's activities are especially
suited to this degenerate times; he is a protector of all sentient beings. He is
currently establishing a Buddhist College at his monastery - Lho Lungkar Gon,
which houses almost one hundred monks.