Biography of the Maratika lama

Venerable Ngawang Chophel Gyatso Rinpoche was born in Water Dog year of the fourteen cycle 1922 on the tenth day of the fourth month at the son of Tsering Dorje from the Salaka clan of the Thimipa Lineage in Solukhumbu Nepal.

He entered Buddhism from the childhood and had studied with many great masters including Kyabje Trulshik rinpoche, Kyabje Rongphu Sanggye rinpoche Kyabje Dudjom rinpoche, Kyabje Dilgo Khentse rinpoche, Kyabje Dungse Thin Lhen Norbu rinpoche. HH the Dalai Lama, HH Sakya Trizin, and HH the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa.

He spent more then 21 years solitary retreats in Nepal, Tibet, India, and became one of the great practitioner of Buddhism in this century and later he became one of the main disciple of Kyabje Trulshik rinpoche.

In addition he spent six years retreat in Bemkar, three years in Dza-Rongphu, six months in Tengpoche, six months in Pangboche, six months in Menche Hermitage, one year in Akar Cave above Khumjung, one year at Laudo, one month in Thame, one month in Bhigu, one month in Kirong, one month in Khenpalung, one month in Jalsa, five years in Sengdong cave, three years in Thongtrol cave, three years in Ngishar cemetery, one year in Drolo cave, six months in Panch pokhori ( five lakes) Yangthro cave, six months in Dagam cave, six months in Tsering cave, one year in Rasadingma, and most of time in Maratika.
He has been many cemetery for Chod practice including Langkor, and Tsari in Tibet he has also done many kinds of Chulen practice and Dark retreat, specially he offered his body in charity to the insects for one week.
Lama Ngawang Chophel Gyatso had made great efforts for helping all beings during his life, He made many Mani Mebums, built bridges over large rivers, fixed the paths, from the hunters and butchers he extracted the oath to refrain from killing.

He further benefited people by bringing rain when needed and by preventing hails.he has also been many times to Bhutan for serving Kyabje Trulshik rinpoche, and Kyabje Dilgo Khentse rinppoche. He has also traveled throughout in Asia many time for teachings.

Under the guidance of the three century master (Kyabje Trulshik rinpoche, Dudjom rinpoche and Khentse rinpoche) he had founded the first monastery at Maratika, he had also reconstructed the Tsemothang Stupa in Sikkim, India.
In Brief Lama Ngawang Chophel Gyatso reestablished Buddhism in Maratika and passed away in 1996 at Maratika with many auspicious sign, during that time he was with his master Kyabje Trulshik rinpoche, Lama Ngawang Chophel Gyatso had dream that he will taking a rebirth in Sikkim. And later Kyabje Trulshik rinpoche had given the Prediction letter to Lopon Karma regarding his new incarnation.

The reincarnation of Lama Ngawang Chophel Gyatso had found in Sikkim and recognized by Kyabje Trulshik rinpoche, he has been enthroned at Maratika CTC monastery and later in Sherpa monastery Kathmandu by Kyabje Trulshik rinpoche.
(More information about Maratika Lama Ngawang Chophel Gyatso please read the Guide to Maratika by Lopon Karma)