10-year-old boy is head of Kye monastery

MANALI: Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama recognized and blessed a 10-year-old boy from Ladakh who is said to be the reincarnation of a renowned Buddhist monk Kachen Dugyal. Kachen abandoned his body for burial 10 years ago at the age of 98. Rinchen Namgyal was anointed as head of Kye monastery in Spiti as per Buddhist traditions on Monday. This comes even as China has banned announcement of reincarnations without its permission.Dalai's move is sure to create a flutter and invite the Asian giant's ire.
Kye village and monastery rejoiced after Rinchen's anointing. Thousands of devotees from far flung areas are thronging the monastery to seek blessings of Rinchen. On Monday, more than 6,000 devotees reached the place to watch the ceremony.
Rinchen was born in Choglamsar village of Ladakh and is the only son of Chhawang Nurbu and Yangchen Dolma. Rinchen' s father, who is a health educator in Ladakh, told TOI that his son was studying in a local school just like ordinary students and they discovered he was exceptional. A team of Buddhist monks came looking for him a month ago, he added. "At first I did not believe anybody but when 180 monks from different monasteries of Spiti reached my home with a recognition letter from Dalai Lama on September 8, there was no way but to trust them. I'm sad that we'll have to stay away from our only son but still we are happy that he is reincarnation of a great soul," he said.
As many as 400 monks from Dhankar, Pin, Murang, Tabo and other monasteries were present at Kye during the ceremony of Rinchen. He was brought here on Sunday with his family. The Spiti administration too was present during the occasion.
A felicitation ceremony will be organized by Kye villagers on September 14.
Chief patron of Himalayan Buddhist Cultural Society, Ravi Thakur, said Kachen Dugyal was a Buddhist scholar and he had abandoned his body in Kye. He was born in Sumbling village. "Rinchen identified the house of Kachen as well as the 20 year-old cap that the monk used to wear. When we reached Kye village, Rinchen insisted on entering a house of which belonged to Kachen's old friend, who had died several years ago. He paid tribute to him by burning incense sticks. No doubt he is an reincarnation of Kachen Dugyal," he added.
Rinchen will stay in Kye for few more days and bless the devotees. Then, he would be taken to the Dalai Lama, who will decide about his further studies.