The second Kathok Situ Rinpoche, Kuenkhen Choeki Lodroe Ugyen Tempa Namgyel was born in the Iron Dragon year to the Nyag Rong Chag Dud clan, in a place called Draksar Tsangpa in Poedo, as the nephew of Tsophu Drupchen Choeying Rangdrol, amidst numerous auspicious and miraculous signs at the time of his birth. At a very young age, Rinpoche was recognized by Gaytse Penchen as the reincarnation of Kyabgoen Situ Rinpoche, and he was enthroned as the 2nd Kathok Rinpoche at a grand enthronement ceremony attended by thousands of Lamas, Trulkus and monks, and it’s said that a warm welcome was accorded to Rinpoche both by gods and humans to the Kathok’s main seat during the ceremony.
From great masters and luminaries such as the Drupchen Rinpoche, Moktsa Choeying Dorji, Nyin Goen Jadralwa Namkha Dorji, Dzatrul Sonam Namgyel, Nyin Goen Ngoedon Tenzin, Dzepen Thutop Namgyel and others, Rinpoche learnt the basics of reading and writing, and also learnt and studied the five sciences, thereby becoming incomparable in intelligence. Moreover, Rinpoche also studied the One Hundred Thousand (100,000) verses of the Prajnaparamita, Five Treatises of Lord Maitreya Buddha, Vinaya teachings, Abhidharmakosha and many other main Indian texts, Shri Guhyagarba Tantra, Sutra & Tantra of earlier translation, and ultimately Rinpoche completely perfected the learning and practice of the teaching received; and thus the fame and renown of Rinpoche spread in all over three worlds.
Rinpoche then brought about the numerous reforms in the monastic rules and regulations in the Kathok Monastery and strengthened the learning, practice and daily ritualistic activities of the monks. Towards the later part of his life, Rinpoche proceeded to Lingzhi Kargoen and performed the fierceful ritual Drubchen as per the Eight Commandments of the Mindroling tradition, which exists to this day even.
Then, during Patrul Rinpoche’s visit to Kathok, through the union of the Guru disciple minds, Rinpoche was able to receive the teachings starting from the Bodhisattvavatara to the gradual part of the sutra and tantra in general; and the extraordinary pith or quintessential Dzongchen teachings in particular; thereby perfecting the teachings as it is and could achieve the realization of the inner Dharma-essence as vast as the space.
Towards the later part of his life, motivated and inspired by the inspirational sayings and advices of the predecessor, Rinpoche appointed the in-charges and representatives to take care of the mundane activities, and abandoned all common activities, and adapted the lifestyle of an ascetic and mediated in abandoned places such as Shar Shingo Gangra, Rongtsen Khawa Karpo and Tsophu etc.…, and lived the life of a hermit, thus reaping the two benefits of austere practice. Then, after paying a visit to Kyabgoen Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo, and having fully discussed about his future incarnations, Rinpoche exhibited the act of passing into Parinirvana.