The History of Mindrolling: Part XIII
Sang Ngag Tenzin — the 4th Mindrolling Khenchen
The Fourth Khenchen of Mindrolling, Sang Ngag Tenzin was born the second son of the 4th Mindrolling Trichen, Tri Gyurme Pema Tenzin. He was renowned as a great learned master and holder of the pure vinaya lineage. Displaying complete freedom from all samsaric stains, he was endowed with great clarity of mind and exemplary wisdom and understanding of the profound teachings from early childhood.
He studied under many great masters and accomplished the learning and practicing of all the profound and precious teachings and received all the various vinaya vows which he maintained in the purest of forms. He was renowned for his exemplary ethics and moral conduct.
After taking on the responsibilities of the Khenchen of Mindrolling, he bestowed the precious vinaya vows to countless monks and began manifesting his vast activity of teaching the precious Dharma and assisting his older brother, the 5th Mindrolling Trichen Gyurme Trinley Namgyal in the administration of the Mindrolling Monastery.
His chief contribution was in maintaining and seeing to the growth of the pure vinaya lineage in Tibet during a time when more and more spiritual materialism threatened the authenticity and genuine lineage of Dharma.
True to the tradition of Mindrolling, Khenchen Sang Ngag Tenzin dedicated his entire life to the preservation and flourishing of the precious Dharma in general and the supreme vinaya lineage in particular. His dedication to Mindrolling and serving the vision of Terdag Lingpa and Lochen Dharmashri ensured the continuation of the precious teachings in their entirety down to the next generation. Khenchen San Ngag Tenzin's love and devotion towards his brother, Tri Trinley Namgyal, was an inspiration to all and together they worked to further the work of their predecessors.