Tendzin Choegyal Taklha, Dalai Lama's Brother and Confidant, Dies at 79
Tendzin Choegyal Taklha, who has died at the age of 79, was a pivotal figure in the life of the Dalai Lama, his elder brother. As a confidant, sounding board, and chief support, he played a crucial role in the Tibetan spiritual leader's transformation from a national political figure into a global spiritual powerhouse. Born during the Fire Dog year's March new year festival in Lhasa, Tendzin Choegyal was recognised at birth as the 16th incarnation of the Ngari Rinpoché, an important reincarnation lineage from western Tibet, yet he chose to forswear monastic life after going into exile in India at age 13.
Early Life and Exile
Educated at an English-style public school run by Jesuits in Darjeeling, at the Dalai Lama's behest, Tendzin Choegyal gained deep psychological insight into Western ways. This knowledge enabled him to counsel the Dalai Lama as his brother embarked on a spiritual mission to the world. His early years in Lhasa were marked by aristocratic privilege, but at age 12, he was sent to Drepung monastery, an experience he loathed. His youthful escapades included pranks like taking ponies onto the palace roof and a tragic incident where he killed a cat and its kittens after they killed his songbirds, stories he later told without justification.
Escape to India and Military Service
In 1959, as the People's Liberation Army made life untenable for the Dalai Lama, Tendzin Choegyal was collected from the monastery and joined his brother in escaping to India. At 13, he carried a pistol during the treacherous trek across the Himalayas. After settling in Mussoorie, he attended St Joseph's College in Darjeeling, where he became an altar boy and corresponded with the Dalai Lama, who signed letters as "John" to maintain anonymity. Later, he studied in North America and taught at the Tibetan children's village school in Dharamsala, where he met and married Rindchen Khando in 1972, having two children.
Career and Health Challenges
Tendzin Choegyal enlisted in the Indian army's Special Frontier Force, rising to the rank of captain. He then joined the Dalai Lama's private office, serving in security before being elected to the Tibetan government in exile from 1991 to 1996. In the mid-1980s, his mental health deteriorated, leading to rages and a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. He once ejected a nun from the Dalai Lama's helicopter in 1988, later describing it as channelling a wrathful deity.
Later Years and Legacy
Retirement allowed Tendzin Choegyal to cultivate friendships with Westerners in Dharamsala, acting as a bridge between cultures. From the early 1990s until the Dalai Lama ceased travelling, he was invariably at his brother's side, offering support and counsel. He also became a sought-after speaker on Buddhism, though he never accepted his identification as a reincarnate lama. In his last decade, he devoted himself to Buddhist practice. He is survived by his wife, two children, a sister, and the Dalai Lama.
