Head of Gelug sect of Tibetan Buddhism passes away

Head of the Gelug tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, Gaden Tripa Jetsun Lobsang Tenzin Rinpoche has died.

He was 80.

Announcing his death, Geshe Lharampa Atruk Tseten and Ven Gowa Phendey, both members of Tibetan Parliament in exile representing the Gelug sect said, "We deeply regret to inform everyone that the 103rd Gaden Tripa H E Jetsun Lobsang Tenzin Rinpoche passed away.

"He breathed his last around 11:45 PM on April 21 at a hospital in Delhi. He had been taken ill since last few months," they said in a statement today.

Condoling his demise, Tibetan Prime Minister Lobsang Sangay said, "With profound sadness, I, on behalf of all Tibetans, pray that H E Jetsun Lobsang Tenzin Rinpoche will reborn and carry forward his mission to spread the teachings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama."

In October last year, the Dalai Lama appointed him as the 103rd Gaden Tripa, the highest order of the Gelug sect.

The Tibetan guru was born in Eastern Tibet s Kham Dechen in 1937.

The Dalai Lama had, last month, visited the religious leader before heading for his tour to northeast India.

(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)