Reported By Jampa Tsering
Edited By Tenzin Phurbu
Translated By TenGyal
His Eminence Chogtrul Dorje Ten, head of the Minthang Woesel Thekchog Choekhor Ling Monastery in Chikdril (Jigzhi) County, Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in the Tibetan area of Tsognon (Qinghai) Province, and founder of the Dorje Ten Ethnic Vocational School, was arrested by Chinese authorities. The reasons and charges for his arrest have not been disclosed, and his whereabouts and condition remain unknown.
On December 4th, Chinese authorities arrested His Eminence Chogtrul Dorje Ten without providing any explanation for the arrest. His whereabouts and condition are still unknown. Chogtrul Dorje Ten, who heads the Minthang Woesel Thegchog Choekhor Ling Monastery in Chigdril County, Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in the Tibetan area of Tsongon (Qinghai) Province, also founded the Dorje Ten Ethnic Vocational School.
According to a reliable Tibetan source of Tibet Times, “On December 4th, the Chinese authorities arrested Rinpoche while he was returning home from Minthang Monastery. It is still unclear whether it was the Chinese police or a covert government agency that carried out the arrest. Since then, no one has been able to ascertain Rinpoche’s whereabouts or condition.”
The same source added, “Most importantly, the Dorje Ten Ethnic Vocational School that Rinpoche founded has been forcibly shut down, and all the students have been sent home. Even so, the authorities have not specified the reason or charges for his arrest. The Chinese authorities continue to forcibly shut down many privately established schools and institutions in Tibet. The Dorje Ten Ethnic Vocational School has more than 400 students. I believe Rinpoche’s arrest is related to the presence of many young monks in the school.”
His Eminence Chogtrul Dorje Ten, also known as Chogtrul Thupten Yeshe Nyima, was born in Akyong Khangsar, Minthang, on the 24th day of the tenth lunar month in 1962. He extensively studied Buddhist treatises of both Sutra and Tantra under many accomplished spiritual masters, including the late His Eminence Yeshe Norbu. He also received the Khenpo degree—attesting to his exemplary monastic discipline and mastery of the Buddhist canonical scriptures—from the renowned Larung Gar Five Sciences Academy in Serta. Jointly recognized by Shechen Wontul Thupten Lungtok Gyatso and Shechen Vairo Jamyang Tenpai Gyaltsen as the reincarnation of the late Shechen Chogtrul Goser Khyenrab Gyatso, he went on to serve as the head of Minthang Monastery.
Responding to the requests of local communities and the urgent need for education in the region, Rinpoche established—within legal and regulatory frameworks—primary, middle, and high schools, as well as a nunnery and other institutions. He also established hotels and charitable trusts to provide financial support for these initiatives.
Rinpoche has served in numerous local institutions in various capacities. He served as principal of the Nyenpo Yutse Primary School; chairman of the Golog Gesar Epic Children’s Choir in Minthang Township; chairman of the Gesar Epic Cultural Promotion Centre in Mayang Lhakar Chugmo; and head of both the Gesar Cultural Heritage Centre and the Gesar Cultural Preservation Centre in Mayang Chugmo. He also served as principal of the Dorje Ten Ethnic Vocational School. In addition, he held traditional responsibilities as head of the Kusum Khandro Dhu Ling in Jomo Monastery and the Minthang Woesel Thekchog Ling Monastery, while also having served as chairman of the Nyenpo Yutse Charitable Foundation of Tsongon (Qinghai) Province and vice chairman of the Chikdril (Jigzhi) County Political Consultative Conference.
The Dorje Ten Ethnic Vocational School, established in 2020 with full approval and necessary permits from Chinese authorities, covered an area of 96,000 square meters and employed 66 teachers. Since its inception, it has produced more than 1,300 graduates. The school curriculum offered foundational courses such as Tibetan, Mandarin, English, Arithmetic, Political Science, Moral Education, and Physical Education. It also included specialized courses in Tibetan grammar and linguistics, traditional Thangka art, traditional Tibetan medicine, Gesar Epic Cultural Arts, traditional Tibetan music and performing arts, traditional Tibetan tailoring practices, and Tourism Management Services.
