Ræchel Togden

Ræchel Renate Tresise Togden on her first birthday

Ngak’chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen’s daughter was named Künzang Tsodrön (kun bZang mTsho sGron) by Kyabjé Künzang Dorje Rinpoche and Jomo Sam’phel.

Künzang means ‘all good’ or ‘complete wholesomeness’ and also refers to Küntuzangmo (kun tu bZang mo – Samantabadri) the primordial Buddha. Tsodrön is made up of the Words ‘lake’ (mTsho) and ‘torch’ or ‘lamp’ (sGron ma) – so Tsodrön means ‘She who illuminates the Lake’. Tsodrön relates with Yeshé Tsogyel – the Lake Queen in terms of her lucent capacity. She is a happy little girl. In 2003 Ngak’chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen took her to meet Kyabjé Künzang Dorje Rinpoche and Jomo Sam’phel for the first time and they were happy to see her and Robert. Ngak’chang Rinpoche travels to Bodha to visit Kyabjé Künzang Dorje Rinpoche and Jomo Sam’phel every year at some point during the winter and is often accompanied by apprentices – who are grateful of the opportunity to meet their Lamas’ Tsawa’i Lamas.

Ngak’chang Rinpoche comments:
Being in Bodha with Khandro Déchen, and with Robert and Ræchel was a delight. There was a strong sense of gö kar chang lo’i dé in terms of the children being part of everything. Robert enjoyed meeting Kyabjé Künzang Dorje Rinpoche and Jomo Sam’phel and was keen to revisit in spite of the fact that there was much he could not understand in our interactions. He sat patiently and seemed to simply enjoy being there in the presence of Kyabjé Künzang Dorje Rinpoche and Jomo Sam’phel. It was lovely to observe Jomo Sam’phel holding Ræchel and murmuring mantras to her.