Tenzing T. Chadotsang

Our loving father and grandfather Tenzing Tsultrim Chadotsang passed away peacefully yesterday afternoon, surrounded by his loved ones and blessed by the company of his root guru His Emminence Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, who spoke to him at length, offering advice and guidance in his final journey.

In his lifetime, our father has lived many lives, dedicating each one to issues, people and values that he held dear to his heart and carrying the legacies, responsibilities and the burden that came with them. As the only son in his family, he was tasked with keeping the family name going; as a monk, he had the responsibility of preserving the faith; as the sole surviving member of the Tibetan resistance fighters - the original Tibetan freedom fighters, and the last remaining Tibetan covert operative that went back to Tibet after 1959 on secret missions, he has shouldered the responsibility of preserving the history of the Tibetan people’s struggle for Independence; and finally as a father, single parent and grandparent, loving, teaching , guiding and being there for each one of us.

Born to a pastoral and trading family in Chatreng, Kham in Tibet in 1935, Tenzing Tsultrim Chadotsang was the youngest of 7 children. As the only son, his early years were dedicated to studying the scriptures and accompanying his maternal uncles on trading trips to Lhasa and India. His life took a dramatic turn when the Peoples Liberation Army invaded Kham and subsequently bombed the Chatreng Sampheling Monastery to rubble. Escaping the destruction, he travelled to Lhasa to join his root teacher Kyabje Trijang Rimpoche, the junior teacher of HH the Dalai Lama.

Khampa families fearing religious persecution had banded together under the leadership of resistance leader Andrug Gompo Tashi to collectively form the Tibetan Resistance, Tensung Dhanglang Magmi - Tibetan defenders of the faith volunteer army, under the spiritual guidance of Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche who consulted the deity - Dorjee Shugden. The Khampa resistance army under advisement from Rinpoche later adopted a more inclusive name - Chushi Gangdruk - 4 Rivers, Six Ranges.

In a moment of profound sacrifice, he gave up his monk vows and became the youngest recruit, fighting alongside the revered resistance leader Andrug Gompo Tashi in the fierce wars against the PLA in Tibet. His bravery and commitment led him to India, where he was among the few resistance fighters trained by the CIA at Camp Hale, Colorado for guerrilla warfare. He undertook perilous covert missions back in Tibet, contributing to the resistance's limited successes until it was eventually disbanded two decades later.

In Darjeeling, India, in 1969, Tenzing Tsultrim met and married the love of his life, Tashi Yangzom. Together, they built a home and a family, raising five children: three daughters, Tenzing Yangzom, Tenzing Dolkar, and Thinley Yangzom, and two sons, Tenzing Lobsang and Dhendup Tsering. His family expanded to include beloved partners and cherished grandchildren, creating a legacy of love and unity.

Following the passing of his beloved wife, Tenzing dedicated the last two decades to the scriptures and his family. He found immense joy and pride in his children, their partners, and his grandchildren Lobsang Dorjee, Sonam Dorjee, Zenden Dorjee, and Arya Tseyang, as well as his great-grandniece Doma Tsering and his extended family in Tibet.

In 2004 - 50 years after he had left his home and monastery in Chatreng, Tenzing Tsultrim had the profound experience of returning to his ancestral home in Chatreng, Kham, and Lhasa. This journey allowed him to reconnect with the descendants of his siblings, many of whom he met for the first time. The emotional reunion brought tears of joy and a deep sense of fulfillment. He received immense joy and took great pride in rebuilding his ancestral home in Chatreng, Tibet and leaving behind a home for his extended family - just as the one that had been provided for him in his youth.

Tenzing Tsultrim was a true Tibetan freedom fighter - a patriot, a devout Tibetan Buddhist and Dorjee Shugden practitioner, and a family man. He remained dedicated to the Tibetan cause, his religious beliefs through his dedication to his root teachers-HH the Dalai Lama, Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, Kyabje Zong Rimpoche, Kyabje Phabongkha and Dromo Geshe Rimpoche, and his love for his extended family -the Chatrengpas, throughout his life.

Tenzing Tsultrim Chadotsang's life was marked by courage, sacrifice, and unwavering devotion. He leaves behind a legacy of strength, love, and faith. As we remember him today, we celebrate a life lived with profound purpose and honor the remarkable journey of a true Tibetan patriot and a devoted family man. His spirit will continue to inspire and guide us, and his memory will live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved him.

We mourn his passing, but we also celebrate the incredible life he lived and the indelible mark he left on this world. Tenzing Tsultrim’s story is one of resilience, honor, bravery, love, and dedication. As we say goodbye, we hold onto the lessons he taught us and the love he shared.

The funeral is scheduled for 10:30 am Monday, June 3rd, 2024 at Gerard J. Neufeld Funeral Home at 88-04 43 Avenue, Elmhurst NY 11373. Cremation will take place at 2pm on June 3rd at the Fresh Pond Crematory , 6140 Mt Olivet Cres, Middle Village, NY 11379.

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