The following biography is from an account told by H.E. Khamtrul Rinpoche to H.H. J.D. Sakya Rinpoche, and from the Chinese Sources ^2-5.

Venerable Lama Kan Tsao Rinpoche was born into the Lee family in 1916, in Guandong, China. In 1936, he was ordained by Master Leow-Chen of Eternal Bliss Dharma Centre (Chan- Lek-Ann), Pu-Tor Mountain. He received full ordination from Master Chow-San, and Master Leow-Chen was his Dharma teacher. In 1947, Venerable Kan Tsao met Master Mee Sian in Pu-chi Monastery. They talked about Tibetan Buddhism at length, and both developed a keen interest to pursue this tradition of teachings. It was the initial inspiration of Master Mee Sian that motivated both masters to eventually study in Kham, Tibet. ²。

Ven. Kan Tsao went to study in Tibet twice, the first time accompanied by Master Mee Sian. During this visit, Lama Kan Tsao dreamt of an enormous person with braided hair who instructed him to learn the Nyingmapa teachings². This person was Terton Rigdzin Ozer Dorje, and he later became one of the Lamas of Ven. Kan Tsao and Master Mee Sian^1,2. They studied with many great masters of Kham including the 16th Karmapa, Lama Gongka Rinpoche Chokyi Senge, the 11th Tai Situ Rinpoche, and Lama Kalu Rinpoche^1,2. They also visited Dzongsar Monastery and received teachings from the Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche^1,2. Lama Kan Tsao had long heard of the great fame of H.H. Sakya Gongma Rinpoche (H.H. Jigdal Dagchen Sakya) and had wished to pay homage to him. When Lama Kan Tsao embarked on the second trip to Kham, he learned that Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche was bestowing all the Sakya teachings to H.H. Dagchen Rinpoche. At the same time, he had an auspicious dream about H.H. Dagchen Rinpoche giving him wine and white mustard seeds². He decided to visit Dzongsar Monastery, arriving on July 22, 1954. At Dzongsar, he made elaborate offerings to the Dzongsar Rinpoche, H.H. Dagchen Rinpoche and the Sakya Gyalyum (H.E. Jamyang Dagmo Sakya). He received many teachings with H.H. Dagchen Rinpoche including the complete Lamdre teachings^1,2,6,7. Lama Kan Tsao received over twenty different teachings³, including the Vajrakilaya Empowerment^6,7. Lama Kan Tsao then went to Azom Monastery to study the Dzogchen Nyingthig teachings from Ven. Azom Gyalse Rinpoche, son of Azom Drupa, and with Khenpo Ngalo^1,2. Master Mee Sian met H.H. Dagchen Rinpoche when the latter visited Beijing. Both Lama Kan Tsao and Master Mee Sian received Dharma names from H.H. Sakya Gongma Rinpoche and they are Lha Sam Gyatso and Tenpa Zangpo, respectively².

During Lama Kan Tsao’s study in Kham, Tibet, his Lama Rigdzin Ozer Dorje bestowed upon him the name Padma Sherab, and told him that he had studied with Padmasambhava six life times ago, and that Lama Kan Tsao was also his reincarnation. He also bestowed upon Master Mee Sian the name Konchog Dargya². A student had personally asked Lama Kan Tsao about the authenticity of this matter many years ago, and Lama Kan Tsao candidly admitted that he himself was an emanation of Rigdzin Ozer Dorje. During his stay at the Dzongsar Monastery, Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche told him that he was a tulku at the Ga-Thog Monastery, and his reincarnation was not found and he was later thought to have born in China².

When they first returned from Kham to China, Lama Kan Tsao and Master Mee Sian established a Dharma centre in Shanghai. The Eternal Bliss Dharma Centre. From 1958 to 1983, all religious activities were terminated and the centre was shut down during the Cultural Revolution. The two masters were then forced to relinquish their religious lives. During these 25 years of hardship, both Lama Kan Tsao and Master Mee Sian kept up with their Dharma practices without interruption. Four white relics were found on the clothing of Lama Kan Tsao a year before the Cultural Revolution. Thirty years later, one of them transformed into maroon in color, and one red relic was grown under his tongue². In 1983, religious personnel were able to reinstate their status, and Lama Kan Tsao was able to return to his monastic life². In the summer of 1985, Lama Kan Tsao travelled to the United States, and he later established centres in New York, Hong Kong and Vancouver, Canada^1,2.

When Lama Kan Tsao left Tibet, he lost contact with H.H. Dagchen Rinpoche for over 30 years. Later on, Lama Kan Tsao learned that H.H. Dagchen Rinpoche had settled in Seattle, U.S.A., and had established a Sakya Dharma Centre. Lama Kan Tsao paid two visits to Seattle to meet with H.H. Dagchen Rinpoche, the Sakya Gyalyum, Dungse Rinpoches, and the late- Ven. Dezhung Rinpoche^2,6,7. H.H. Dagchen Rinpoche also visited Lam Kan Tsao’s New York centre in September 1990, performing an opening ceremony according to the Tibetan Buddhist Tradition³, as well as the Vajrayogini Empowerment. During his lifetime, Lama Kan Tsao frequently spoke of the blessings and encouragement that H.H. Dagchen Rinpoche had given to him⁸.

Ven. Lama Kan Tsao Rinpoche entered into nirvana on June 1, 1993 and five-coloured relics emerged after his body was cremated⁵. The 12th Tai Situ led two other Rinpoches, and Lamas from the Karma Kagyu tradition performed religious ceremonies in Hong Kong, and dedication prayers were said by H.H. Dagchen Rinpoche in Seattle. Master Mee Sian repeatedly urged his students to look for the reincarnation of Lama Kan Tsao and instructed them to seek help from H.H.Jigdal Dagchen Rinpoche, as Lama Kan Tsao had previously requested⁸. Lama Kan Tsao had said that he may be born in China, India or Tibet. Master Mee Sian was always very grateful for the tremendous help that Rinpoche provided⁸. Upon the request of the students, H.H.Dagchen Rinpoche wrote a True Word Prayers for the swift return of Lama Kan Tsao Rinpoche.

In 1997, H.H. Dagchen Rinpoche visited Hong Kong to bestow teachings and told the students that the reincarnation of the late-Lama Kan Tsao was born and was now old enough to be found. In February 1999, after H.H. Dagchen Rinpoche had performed many prayers, divinations and protector rituals, he predicted that the Yangsi (reincarnation) was born in the wood-dog year of the Tibetan calendar. He was a boy living in the north-western part of India. His name included the word Tashi or Phuntsok, and the word Padma appeared in one of his parents’ names. In the spring of 1999, when H.H. Dagchen Rinpoche was bestowing the Lamdre teaching in Ghoom, India, the Yangsi was found and brought to him for recognition. He was given the name Padma Ozer Damcho Jigme Dorje, meaning Lotus Sun Ray Dharma Fearless Thunderbolt. Upon request of the students, H.H. Dagchen Rinpoche composed a long life prayer for the Yangsi. In 2001, by the instructions of H.H.Dagchen Rinpoche, Yangsi requested and received his novice vows from H.E. 18th Chogye Trichen Rinpoche. Since then, he has been engaged completely in religious training and practices according to the Tibetan tradition. His enthronement ceremony will be held on Oct. 19, 2005.

References:

• 1. H.E. Khamtrul Rinpoche, in private conversation with H.H. J.D. Sakya.
• 2. Lama Kan Tsao and Master Mee Sian, ‘Collected Writings of Eternal Bliss,’ Vol. 5, Maha Sandhi Yoga Centre (Hong Kong, 1989).
• 3. Lama Kan Tsao and Master Mee Sian, ‘Collected Writings of Eternal Bliss,’ Vol. 3, Maha Sandhi Yoga Center (Hong Kong, 1991).
• 4. Lama Kan Tsao and Master Mee Sian, ‘Collected Writings of Eternal Bliss,’ Vol. 7, Maha Sandhi Yoga Center (Hong Kong, 1991).
• 5. Lama Kan Tsao and Master Mee Sian, ‘Collected Writings of Eternal Bliss,’ Vol. 9, Maha Sandhi Yoga Center (Hong Kong, 1994).
• 6. H.H. J.D. Sakya, private conversation
• 7. H.E. Jamyang Dagmo Sakya, private conversation.
• 8. Master Mee Sian, private conversation.