Biography and Legacy of Togden Ugyen Chogyal in Kheng Phykor (Shingkhar and Bardo Gewogs), Zhemgang.

 

Introduction

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Togden Ugyen Chogyal (1919-2001) popularly known as Meme Lama in Kheng Phykor (upper Kheng), Zhemgang remained as a great Buddhist teacher and treasure revealer of the 19^th century. He is little known to the rest of the Bhutanese and the world, as he secluded from a worldly name, fame and pride. It is mentioned that, whenever his most devoted disciples and followers offered him the permanent residence, he simply refused and went meditating in isolated mountains of Kheng region. He spent more than half of his life in Kheng Phykor teaching Buddha dharma and reviving many terma (holy places) at various villages of Kheng. Togden Ugyen Chogyal peacefully passed away in 2001 at Radhi Goenpa of Shingkhar Gewog. Radhi Lama Dechen Dorji and an astrologer late Mr. Sangay Dorji of Radhi Village initiated the funeral and built a stupa (Kudung Chorten) in an affectionate memory of great Togden.

Though Togden Ugyen Chogyal was considered as profound master, other than oral history, no document of his biography were to be found during this study. Therefore, this article strives to present a brief biography of his eminence Togden Ugyen Chogyal and his great legacy being left in Kheng Phykor. The discussion is based on the interview conducted with Togden’s heart son Lama Dechen Dorji of Radhi Village and the spiritual son Lama Jigme Cheda of Thrisa Village of Shingkhar Gewog, Zhemgang. In addition, critical literature were reviewed wherever possible to make the discussion valid and reliable.

Early life and Education of Togden Ugyen Chogyal

Togden Ugyen Chogyal was born in Wamphu Goenpa of Jurmey Gewog in Mongar district in 1919 corresponding to the earth sheep year. His father Gungtse Rinpoche was a highly learned man. It is mentioned that Gungtse Rinpoche was one of the closest disciples of highly accomplished Buddhist master Togden Shacha Sherye (1853-1919). Lama Jigme Cheda pointed out that Gungste Rinpoche stayed nine years in Kham (Tibet) receiving teachings from his root Guru, Togden Shacha Sherye. As a legitimate son, Togden Ugyen Chogyal received basic reading and writing skills from his father and later empowerment on preliminary practices during his teenage time. When he was twenty years old, he completed first three years meditation on preliminary practices of Dzogchen tradition under the spiritual guidance of his father.

After the ultimate demise of his father, sometime in 1940s, Togden travelled to Aja Nye of Mongar district in search of learned Buddhist Masters to receive further religious teachings. There, he met with 9^th Buli Trulku Kachab Namkha Dorji and received Longchen Nyingthik teachings. His meeting with Buli Trueku at Mongar Aja Ney is confirmed beyond reasonable doubt as Buli Trulku arrived at Aja Nye in the 1920s and devoted the rest of life meditating and teaching for his disciples and devotees from far and near (Wangchuk, 2004).

The 9^th Buli Truelku was reincarnation of Yudra Nyingpo born to Buli Chojay of Bumtahng Chumey and received teaching from the great master such as 15^th Karmapa Khachab Dorji, Kathog Situ Rinpoche, Togden Shacha Sherye and Baeyuel Rinpoche Kuzhu Jigme Thinley. Togden completed three years meditation for three consecutive terms under the strict guidance and advice of Buli Truelku at Funyingla (the heart of the mountains) located at the vicinity of Aja Ney.

When Togden was about 38 years old, in 1958, he went to Kalimpong after he heard about an extraordinary master Dudjom Rinpoche Jigdral Yeshe Dorje (1904-1987). He lived about three years at Kalimpong receiving deeper religious teaching and instructions from Dudjom Rinpoche. The meeting of Togden and Dudjom Rinpoche at Kalimpong was found authentic as interview data concur with literature review. Thaye (2015) states that upon leaving Tibet, His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche settled in Kalimpong, India, in 1957, and then later in Kathmandu, Nepal, in 1975. Therefore, it is concluded that Togden Ugyen Chogyal was one of the students of Dudjom Rimpoche at Kalimpong from 1958 to 1961.

Togden’s prophecy to Kheng Phykor (Shingkhar and Bardo Gewog)

According to Radhi Lama Dechen Dorji, while at Kalimpong, Togden went to seek stones to be used for providing the stable platform for the pan to be placed over the firewood and prepare dinner. Since, he could not find any stones nearby his camp site, he trespassed in someone’s kitchen garden. When he was about to lift a stone, an old local woman supposed to be the land owner came approaching him with an angry stare and warned him not to take anything from her field.  This incident made him realize that Kalimpong was not his destined place. Therefore, he decided to return to Bhutan.

Togden returned to Bhutan in early 1960’s through Gelephu and spent few years at Nimshong village of Trongsa. Later he heard about his in-law brother at Shingkhar, Zhemgang and went to meet his in-law Mr. Gyeltshen. Lama Jigme Cheda mentioned that Mr. Gyeltshen served as Boegarp (court attendants) at Wangdicholing, Bumthang. As a Boegarp, Mr. Gyeltshen made frequent travel to Kheng Shingkar and later he got married to a lady from Shingkhar and settled there. The Kheng region was under the direct control of the Royal court of Wangdicholing until major social and political reform was initiated by His Majesty the third Druk Gyalpo. At shingkhar, Togden continued his mediation at different places and teaching his new disciples and transferring phowa (transfer of consciousness) empowerment.

Reviving of Terma (Kujey Nye) at Shingkhar Village.

As per the prophecy of Guru Rinpoche, translated by Thinley (2016); “A place [in Bhutan] that I have not set my foot on, even the size of a horse-hoe or same is not there! It is evident that Bhutan is the kingdom of hidden treasures as many sacred treasure were revealed and many Rinpoche’s of our time continue to revive treasures. Togden Ugyen Chogyal was one of great Buddhist master of our time, who revived many terma in Kheng region. One of the scared terma discovered by him is Shingkhar Kujey Nye. Lama Jigme Cheda pointed out that when Togden was meditating at placed called Grahajong (above Shingkar village), he had a dream of Kujey Nye and he instructed people of Shingkhar to search for it.

Later his disciples constructed a temple at Kujey Nye and the place became the popular site of meditation for the practitioners from the community. The great Togden has meditated at Kujey Ney for about 5 years and went to Thrisa village as per the invitation of the followers and people of the community. He lived more than a decades at Thrisa village upon the repeated request of the community people. Later his spiritual son current Thrisa lama Jigme Cheda settled at Thisa village and became ultimate refuge for Thispa and nearby villagers.

Bardo Lo Nga Ney

The significance of Lo Nga Ney in Bardho Geowg of Zhemgang district has remained unexplored until Togden Ugyen Chogyal meditated at Lo Nga Ney for three years in the mid-1980s. Wangchuk (2019) claims that Lo Nga means five years and Ney means sacred place which is untouched site of Guru Rinpoche, who was believed to have meditated there for five years along with his consort Khandro Monmo Tashi Khyuedron to tame evil spirits that caused misfortunes and deaths in the region.

After the arrival of Togden at Lo Nga Ney, local people made frequent visits to this place to receive teachings and empowerment from him. It was during that time the great Togden shared about the significance and sacredness of Lo Nga Ney to his disciples and this has helped to promote Lo Nga Ney as one of the sacred Ney in Bhutan. The other reason for the popularity of Lo Nga Ney is because of the extraordinary healing power of drupchu. There are two different drupchu which was believed to be the holy urine of Guru Rinpoche and Khandro Monmo Tashi Khyuedron. Both the drupchus have the power to heal internal and external wounds, cough, skin diseases, and joint pain, back pain, and cleanse all impurities (Wangchuk, 2019). 

Kengcham of Radhi Chotpa

In Bhutan, mask dance was first introduced by Guru Rinpoche in the 8^th century, when he came to Bumthang upon the invitation of Sendha Gyalpo, the King of Chagkhar to subjugate Shelging Karpo, the local deity. Guru Rinpoche manifested into eight different forms performing dances and subjugated Shelging Karpo (Dorji, 2015). Therefore, the tradition of mask dance remains as one of the intangible culture heritages of Bhutan.

Although it is unknown when and how Chotpa was introduced in Shingkhar and Bardo gewog, all the villages of the two gewogs celebrate the festival known as Chotpa during the 15^th day of the 10^th month of the Bhutanese calendar. Similar to Dzongkhag Tshechu performed by Rabdey, the villagers perform different mask dances for three consecutive days. Togden Ugyen Chogyal was a great mask dancer and the finest wood crafter. He had designed mask and introduced Raksha Mangcham in Thrisa, Khomshar and Nimshong Chotpa. 

One of the significant mask dances introduced by him was Kengcham which is usually perform during last day of Radhi Chotpa. It is claimed that Togden composed Kengcham during his stay at Bardo Gewog. According to Radhi Lam Dechen Dorji, he mentions that when Togden was alone and meditating nearby a deceased body at Jowaling, Bardo gewog, four Kengs appeared from four directions performing the dances. Togden immediately designed a model of Keng mask using dough. Later he crafted the wooden mask and introduced Kengcham in Khomshar, Nimshong and Radhi village.

 Conclusion

As discussed in the introduction part of this article, Togden Ugyen Chogyal had never settled in one place retaining the ownership of the residence or land, in fact he wandered from place to place upon the request of the community. In early 1990s, upon the numerous requests from his closest disciples and elderly people of Radhi village, he travelled from Nimshong and resided in the mountain above Radhi village. He continued teaching and guiding his disciples through the process of meditation. 

Although many of his disciples had passed away, some of his closest disciples were still living for the benefit of sentient beings. One of his living students is Drupthob Kuenzang Lhawang from Thrisa. He currently lives in Jomolhari. According to GBoW (2019), Drupthob has been meditating for 20 years as of now. During his 20 years of meditation, Drupthob went to every cremation of 20 Dzongkhags including Sikkim and Kalimpong performing chod (offering one’s own bodies, for the sake of others, as a tantric feast to sentient beings). For his great accomplishment in mediation and pure devotion to Buddha dharma, he received dharma name as Drupthob Jigme Samten from His Holiness, Truelku Jigme Cheda, the 70^th Jekhenpo of Bhutan. Other living disciples also include Thrisa Lam Jigme Cheda and Radhi Lama Dechen Dorji whom I had introduced as informants of this study in the introduction part. This article may not have been conceived without tremendous support from them. Therefore, I owe my deepest respect and gratitude for both of them and all the individuals who provided me with moral and material support in completing this study.

Researcher: © Norbu Wangdi, 2020.

Informants: Lama Jigme Cheda and Dechen Dorji.

References

Dorji, J. (2015). Intangible Cultural Heritage of Bhutan. Research & Media Division, National 

Library & Archives of Bhutan.

GBoW. (2019, July 7, 2019).Nyeljorpa or Drupthob [status update].

Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/GreatBeingsoftheWorld/posts/1287865278043119

Thinley, K. (2016). Guru Rinpoche’s Exclusive Sacred Places in Bhutan (Translated by

Phuntsho Gyaltshen). Journal of Bhutan Studies. (34): 57-79.

Thaye, Y. (2015). A Short Life Story of His Holiness KyabjeDudjom Rinpoche (1904-1987).

Retrieved from https://dudjominternational.org/?page_id=268

Wangchuk, K.(2019). Longaney in Zhemgang. Zhemgang Monthly: from the steps to leaps.6:6-7.

Wangchuk, R.  (2004). The myth and the mystery of Aja Nye. Journal of Bhutan Studies.

(10):40-49.