Jigme Chhoeda

His Holiness Trulku
Jigme Chhoeda
His Holiness Trulku Jigme Chhoeda
	Je Khenpo in 2010, wearing saffron.
	In office; Je Khenpo
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; 1996 — Present
Preceded by	His Holiness Geshey Geduen Rinchen
	In office; Dorji Lopen
	In office; 1995–1996
Title	70th Je Khenpo
Personal
Born	1955 (age 65); Autsho, Lhuntse
Religion	Vajrayana Buddhism
Parents	1. Yab Rinzin Dorji (father); 2. Yum Kuenzang Choden (mother);

His Holiness Truelku Jigme Chhoeda (born 1955) is the current and the longest-serving 70th Je-Khenpo (Chief Abbot of The Central Monastic Body) of Bhutan.^[1]

Early Life And Education

Born to Yub Rinzin Dorji and Yum Kuenzang Choden in Lhuentse in 1955, His Holiness was recognized as the reincarnation of Geshe Pema Tshering, the learned sage of Tharpaling in Bumthang.

His Holiness Trulku Jigme Chhoeda joined Druk Sanga Chhoeling Monastery in Darjeeling, India, at the age of eight. His Holiness received an ordination of a monk with commitment from Drukpa Thuksey Rinpoche and then studied under Khenpo Sonam Darge and Khenpo Noryang. Later, he studied under Drudjom Rinpoche in India.^[2]

At the age of 15, he returned to Bhutan and studied at the Tango Drupdey in Thimphu under His Holiness the 68th Je-Khenpo Ngawang Tenzin Dhondup. He received the complete initiations and teachings of the Drukpa Kagyu tradition and Dzogchen (the highest realization). He mastered the Mahamudra practices, the meditation of Naro Choedrug (the six circles of Ro-Nyom Kordrug). Truelku also studied language and literature and the 13 different philosophical texts under His Holiness the 69th Je-Khenpo Geshey Geduen Rinchen.

Meditation and Retreat

Three times, His Holiness completed Losum Choesum, a meditation retreat of 3 years, 3 months, and 3 days.

Major Positions Held

Truelku was appointed as the head of Tango Monastery and taught language and Buddhist Philosophy. In 1986, he was appointed as the Drapoi Lopen of the Central Monk Body, only to be resigned in 1990. But in 1995, His Majesty the King Jigme Singye Wangchuck appointed him as the Dorji Lopen.

References

^ "His Holiness the Je Khenpo donates ambulances – Ministry of Health". Retrieved 2020-06-12.
^ "About the Buddha Dordenma Image Foundation". www.buddhadordenma.org. Retrieved 2020-06-12.

[1] "His Holiness the Je Khenpo donates ambulances – Ministry of Health". Retrieved 2020-06-12.

[2] "About the Buddha Dordenma Image Foundation". www.buddhadordenma.org. Retrieved 2020-06-12.

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