8-Year-Old US-born Mongolian Boy Acknowledged by Dalai Lama as Third Highest Leader in Buddhism

An 8-year-old boy from the United States, who was born in Mongolia, has been recognized as the reincarnation of Khalkha Jetsun Dhampa Rinpoche by the Dalai Lama. While the enthronement ceremony is yet to take place, the boy was acknowledged as one of the highest spiritual leaders back in 2016, when the Dalai Lama visited Mongolia. The 9th Khalkha Jetsun Rinpoche was a Tibetan who passed away in Mongolia in 2012. His family currently resides in Dharamshala, India, and his son, Choephel Yonten, runs a cafe in Mcleodganj. Speaking to the news agency ANI, Yonten said that he doesn’t know much about the new reincarnated boy but in 2016, the Dalai Lama recognized him as the 10th Khalkha Jetsun Rinpoche during his visit to Mongolia. After his recognition, the boy has become the 10th Khalkha Jetsun Rinpoche. He recently visited Dharamshala along with a group of Mongolian Buddhist devotees. Yonten also mentioned that the family of the 10th Khalkha Jestsun Rinpoche keeps it a secret and doesn’t make any statements about the boy. He believes that there might be some political reasons behind it but hopes that things will become clearer with time.