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Rnying ma scholar and practitioner. According to Erik Padma Kunsang, 'bru 'jam dbyangs chos kyi grags pa was a close disciple of 'jam dbyangs mkhyen brtse'i dbang po and a holder of the teaching lineage of the lam rim ye shes snying po;
see http://www.rangjung.com/gl/Lamrim_Yeshe_Nyingpo_intro.htm. He should not be confused with padma 'phrin las snying po whose one volume gsung 'bum has recently been found in tibet. (Source:[https://www.tbrc.org/#!rid=P9709 TBRC]) +
Gyurme Tsewang Tenpel was one of the four sons of Chogyur Lingpa's daughter Könchok Paldrön. He was recognized as the rebirth of his mother's brother, Tsewang Drakpa, the oldest son of Chogyur Lingpa, and so he became known as Tersey Tulku, "the Emanation of the Treasure-revealer's Son." He was instrumental in the transmission of grandfather's Treasures to many of last generation of lineage holders, such as the late Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, who was his nephew, and Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. +
Jamyang Loter Wangpo was an important Rime Sakya master of Ngor Thartse Monastery who played a key role in the Rimé movement. He was a disciple of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo and a teacher of Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö. He is well known for compiling the Compendium of Tantras under the inspiration of his guru, Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo as well as publishing the very first printed edition of the Explanation for Private Disciples of the Lamdre system of the Sakya School, which before that had been transmitted only orally and was tenuously preserved in manuscript form. Jamyang Loter Wangpo also received Dzogchen instructions from Nyoshul Lungtok. The collection of 139 painted mandala thangkas for the Compendium of Tantras was saved in 1958 by Sonam Gyatso Thartse Khen Rinpoche, and later published in more than one edition. (Source: [https://www.rigpawiki.org/index.php?title=Jamyang_Loter_Wangpo Rigpa Wiki]) +
Dzongsar Khyentse Chokyi Lodro was one of the most influential religious teachers in Kham in the first half of the twentieth century. One of multiple reincarnations of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo, he served as head of Dzongsar Monastery, which he enlarged, founding the monastic college, Khamshe, in 1918. Chokyi Lodro fled Kham in 1955 during the Communist takeover of Tibet, settling in Sikkim, where he passed away in 1959. ([http://www.treasuryoflives.org/biographies/view/Jamyang-Khyentse-Chokyi-Lodro/9990 Source: Treasury of Lives]). Also see his collected works at [https://khyentselineage.tsadra.org/index.php/%27jam_dbyangs_mkhyen_brtse_chos_kyi_blo_gros Tsadra Foundation's Khyentse Lineage webiste] and the translations of his texts at [https://www.lotsawahouse.org/tibetan-masters/jamyang-khyentse-chokyi-lodro/ Lotsawa House]. +
Jamgön Kongtrul is often described as one of the greatest scholars in the history of Tibet. A Karma Kagyu lama and model of rimay ecumenical activity, he collaborated closely with the Sakya lama Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo and the Nyingma treasure revealer Chokgyur Lingpa, in the opening of sacred sites and the revelation of treasure. His prodigious literary output, categorized as the Five Treasuries, cover the entire range of Tibetan Buddhist theory and ritual as well as numerous other topics, and preserved scores of Tibetan religious traditions that were at the time in danger of being lost. Based primarily at Pelpung Monastery, in Derge in eastern Tibet, he built the nearby hermitage of Tsadra Rinchen Drak, which became his personal seat. Multiple incarnation lines were recognized after his death, including the main Jamgön Kongtrul line, based at Pelpung, the Dzokchen Kongtrul line and the Dzigar Kongtrul line. ([https://treasuryoflives.org/biographies/view/Jamgon-Kongtrul-Lodro-Taye/4358 Treasury of Lives - Source Accessed ]) +
'''Apang Terchen Orgyen Trinlé Lingpa (1895-1945)'''
Choktrul Lozang Tendzin of Trehor studied with the lord Kunga Palden and the Chö
master Dharma Seng-gé, and Apang Terchen in turn studied with Lozang Tendzin.
Apang Terchen, also known as Orgyen Trinlé Lingpa, was renowned as the rebirth of
Rigdzin Gödem. He was reputed to have been conceived in the following way: Traktung
Dudjom Lingpa focused his enlightened intent while resting in the basic space
of timeless awareness, whereupon Apang Terchen's mother experienced an intense
surge of delight. This caused all ordinary concepts based on confusion to be arrested
in her mind for a short time, and it was then that Apang Terchen was conceived in her
womb.2 From that moment on, his mother constantly had dreams that were amazing
omens. For example, she found herself among groups of dakinis enjoying the splendor
of ganachakras, or being bathed by many dakas and dakinis, or dwelling in pavilions
of light, illuminating the entire world with her radiance.
The child was born one morning at dawn, in the area of Serta in eastern Tibet, his
mother having experienced no discomfort. Her dwelling was filled with [2.188a] and
surrounded by light, as though the sun were shining brightly. There were also pavilions
of light, and a fragrance pervaded the entire area, although no one could tell
where it came from. Everyone saw numerous amazing signs on the child's body, such
as a tuft of vulture feathers adorning the crown of his head.3 The mother's brother,
Sönam Dorjé, asked, "What will become of this boy who has no father? How shameful
it would be if people saw these feathers!"4 But although he cut the feather tuft
off the child's head several times, it grew back on its own, just as before. This upset
Sönam Dorjé even more, and he berated his sister angrily, saying on numerous occasions,
"How could your child have no father? You must tell me who he is!" His
sister retorted, "With the truth of karma as my witness, I swear I have never lain with
a flesh-and-blood man of this world. This pregnancy might be a result of my own
karma." She became so extremely depressed that her fellow villagers couldn't bear it
and used various means to bring a halt to her brother's inappropriate behavior.
From an early age, this great master, Apang Terchen, felt an innate and unshakable
faith in Guru Rinpoché and had a clear and natural knowledge [2.188b] of the ''vajra guru''
mantra and the Seven-Line Supplication. He learned how to read and write
simply upon being shown the letters and exhibited incredible signs of his spiritual potential
awakening. For example, his intelligence, which had been developed through
training in former lifetimes, was such that no one could compete with him. As he
grew up, he turned his attention toward seeking the quintessential meaning of life.
He studied at the feet of many teachers and mentors, including the Nyingtik master
Gyatsok Lama Damlo and Terchen Sogyal, studying many of the mainstream traditions
of the sutras and tantras, especially those of the kama and terma.
The most extraordinary lord of his spiritual family was Trehor Drakar Tulku,5
with whom he studied for a long time, receiving the complete range of empowerments,
oral transmissions, and pith instructions of the secret Nyingtik cycles of utter lucidity.
He went to solitary ravines throughout the region, making caves and overhangs
on cliffs his dwelling places, taking birds and wild animals as his companions, and
relying on the most ragged clothing and meager diet. He planted the victory banner
of spiritual practice, meditating for a long period of time. He was graced by visions of
an enormous array of his personal meditation deities, [2.189a] including Tara, Avalokiteshvara,
Mañjushri, Sarasvati, and Amitayus. He was not content to leave the
true nature of phenomena an object of intellectual speculation, and his realization
progressed in leaps and bounds.
Apang Terchen bound the eight classes of gods and demons — including such spirits
as Nyenchen Tanglha, Ma Pomra, and Sergyi Drong-ri Mukpo6 — to his service.
He communicated directly with Tsiu Marpo, the white form of Mahakala, Ganapati,
and other protective deities, like one person conversing with another, and enjoined
them to carry out his enlightened activities. So great was his might that he also bound
these protective deities to his service, causing lightning to strike and so forth, so that
those who had become his enemies were checked by very direct means, before years,
months, or even days had passed.
Notably, he beheld the great master of Orgyen in a vision and was blessed as the
regent of Guru Padmakara's three secret aspects. On the basis of a prophecy he received
at that time, Apang Terchen journeyed to amazing holy sites, such as Draklha
Gönpo in Gyalrong, Khandro Bumdzong in the lowlands of eastern Tibet, and Dorjé
Treldzong in Drakar, where he revealed countless terma caches consisting of teachings,
objects of wealth, and sacred substances. He revealed some of them in secret,
others in the presence of large crowds. In these ways, he revealed a huge trove of profound
termas. [2.189b] Those revealed publicly were brought forth in the presence of
many fortunate people and in conjunction with truly incredible omens, which freed
all present from the bonds of doubt and inspired unshakable faith in them. Apang
Terchen's fame as an undisputed siddha and tertön resounded throughout the land, as
though powerful enough to cause the earth to quake. His terma teachings are found
in the numerous volumes of his collected works and include ''The Hidden Treasure of Enlightened Mind: The Thirteen Red Deities'',
practices focusing on the Three Roots, cycles concerning guardian deities and the
principle of enlightened activity, and his large instruction manual on Dzogchen teachings.
Apang Terchen's students, from Dartsedo in the east, to Repkong in Amdo to the
north, to the three regions of Golok and other areas, included mentors who nurtured
the teachings and beings, masters such as those known as the "four great illuminators
of the teachings," the "four vajra ridgepoles,11 the "four named Gyatso," the "great
masters, the paired sun and moon," and Jangchub Dorjé (the custodian of Apang
Terchen's termas).7 He also taught important political figures who exerted great
influence over the people of their areas, including the "four great chieftains of the
region of Dza in the north," [2.190a] that is, Getsé Tsering Dorjé of Dza in the northern
reaches of eastern Tibet, Gönlha of Akyong in Golok, Mewa Namlo of the Mé
region of Golok, and the chieftain of Serta in Washul. Apang Terchen's students also
included countless monks, nuns, villagers, and lay tantric practitioners. He transmitted
his own termas and the great Nyingtik cycles of the Dzogchen teachings, and so
numerous were those he guided that he truly embodied the enlightened activity of
one who held sway over the three realms. In these times of spiritual degeneration, he
alleviated problems caused by disease, famine, border wars, and civil unrest. In such
ways, Apang Terchen rendered great service to the land of Tibet. His kindness to the
Tibetan people as a whole was truly extraordinary, for he worked to ensure a glorious
state of peace and well-being.
During a pilgrimage to Jowo Yizhin Norbu, the statue of the lord Shakyamuni in
Lhasa, Apang Terchen paid respect to many tens of thousands of ordained members
of the sangha, sponsoring ganachakras, making offerings, and offering meals, tea,
and donations at such monastic centers as Sera, Drepung, and Ganden. He sponsored
the gilding of statues in these centers and in such ways strove to reinforce his positive
qualities. Everyone could see that no matter how many avenues he found to extend
generosity, his resources of gold, silver, and other valuables [2.190b] continued to
increase, as though he had access to a treasure mine.
Among his heart children and intimate students were his sons, Gyurmé Dorjé,
Wangchen Nyima, and Dotrul Rinpoché; his daughter, Tare Lhamo; and the custodian
of his termas, Jangchub Dorjé. Until recently, Tare Lhamo lived in eastern Tibet,
maintaining the teachings.8
Thus did Apang Terchen benefit beings with his incredible compassion and activities.
As his life was nearing an end, he remarked, "For the sake of the teachings and
of beings, I must enter the bloodline of the glorious Sakya school." This fearless lion's
roar proved to be his last testament, spoken with an unobscured awareness of past,
present, and future. He then manifested incredible miracles and departed for the
great palace of Pema Ö.
Source: Richard Barron translation of Nyoshul Khenpo, A Marvelous Garland of Rare Gems: Biographies of Masters of Awareness in the Dzogchen Lineage, Padma Publications, 2005, pages 488-491.
Bari Lotsawa, also known as Rinchen Drak, was the second throne holder of Sakya school (Tib. Sakya Trizin). At the age of 63, he retained the seat of Sakya for a period of eight years (1102-1110). He is one of the main lineage figures in the transmission and translation of the White Tara practice and tantras that originate from the Indian master Vagishvarakirti. (Source: [https://www.rigpawiki.org/index.php?title=Bari_Lotsawa Rigpa Wiki]) +
Bardor Tulku Rinpoche was born in 1949 in Kham, East Tibet. At a very early age, he was recognized by His Holiness the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa as the third incarnation of Terchen Barway Dorje.
When Rinpoche was a small child, with his family and his Dharma tutor he maintained a nomadic life style. Rinpoche was six when he left East Tibet in the company of his grandparents on a journey that took him first to Lhasa, then Tsurphu, and finally to Drikung where Rinpoche was to remain for a couple of years at the home of his grandparents.
After Rinpoche’s grandparents passed away, his parents and siblings joined him in Drikung. When the political and social conditions in Tibet worsened as a result of the Chinese Communist occupation, Rinpoche and his family—initially a party of thirteen—set out toward India over the Himalayas along with many other Tibetans who were also fleeing the fighting.
They traveled through Kongpo to Pema Ku. In Pema Ku, at the border of Tibet and India, as a result of the arduous journey, all Rinpoche’s family members died. When Rinpoche’s father—the last member of his family—died, Rinpoche left Pema Ku and continued on toward Assam with other refugees.
At the township known as Bomdila, where the borders of Tibet, Bhutan, and India meet, a bombing raid dispersed the group. Rinpoche and a young friend fled the attack and traveled westward, along the border of Bhutan and India, to Siliguri and eventually to Darjeeling. When they arrived in Darjeeling, His Holiness the 16th Karmapa was notified that Rinpoche had safely made his way out of Tibet. Filled with joy at the good news, His Holiness arranged for Rinpoche to be brought to Sikkim, and for Rinpoche’s friend to be taken care of.
Bardor Tulku Rinpoche was enthroned as a tulku at Rumtek Monastery when he was in his teens. It was also at Rumtek Monastery, under the tutelage of His Holiness the 16th Karmapa, that Rinpoche’s formal training took place.
After completing many years of study and practice, Bardor Tulku Rinpoche accompanied the 16th Karmapa on his world tours in 1974 and 1976. In 1977, His Holiness asked Rinpoche to remain in Woodstock, New York, at Karma Triyana Dharmachakra (KTD). During his first two years at KTD, Rinpoche worked side-by-side with the staff to renovate and winterize the house and prepare for the last visit of His Holiness the Sixteenth Karmapa to the West. During that last visit, in 1980, His Holiness directed that his monastery and seat in North America be established at KTD, and he performed the formal investiture. After the groundbreaking ceremony in May of 1982, Bardor Rinpoche directed the construction activities and labored each day to build the monastery. When the construction of the shrine building was essentially completed in early 1990s, he assumed responsibilities as a teacher at KTD and its affiliate Karma Thegsum Chöling centers (KTCs).
In 2000, with a blessing from His Holiness the 17th Karmapa and His Eminence the 12th Tai Situ Rinpoche, Bardor Tulku Rinpoche established Raktrul Foundation in order to help rebuild the Raktrul Monastery in Tibet and provide educational facilities for monks and the lay community. In 2003, Rinpoche established Kunzang Palchen Ling (KPL), a Tibetan Buddhist Center in Red Hook, New York. Based on nonsectarian principles, KPL offers Dharma teachings from all traditions of Tibetan Buddhism and serves as a base for preserving and bringing to the West the terma teachings of Terchen Barway Dorje.
After working tirelessly for thirty-one years with the Venerable Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche, the abbot of KTD, to firmly establish KTD and its affiliates in the United States, in October 2008, Bardor Tulku Rinpoche resigned from all his responsibilities at KTD. In August 2009, the KTD Board of Trustees issued an appreciation letter acknowledging Bardor Tulku Rinpoche’s role in the establishment KTD and its affiliates in North America.
Since he left KTD, Bardor Tulku Rinpoche has been directing the activities of Kunzang Palchen Ling, guiding Palchen Study Groups nationwide, overseeing translation projects of terma texts of Terchen Barway Dorje and the construction of the new facility at Kunzang Palchen Ling that is an implementation of his vision for KPL. Rinpoche also serves as an adviser for Dharma TV, an online Buddhist television project. [http://www.kunzang.org/biography/ Source Kunzang.org, Accessed January 27, 2022.]
Lachen Jel (bla chen dpyal) was one of the Ten Men of U and Tsang during the later spread of the doctrine in Tibet. His outer activity and inner spiritual accomplishment was unrivaled. He became the head ornament of all scholars. He possessed all inconceivable great superior qualities of Body, Speech and Mind. Even a being dwelling on the bhumis had difficulty communicating with him, needless to say ordinary beings. For the ordinary beings, buddha activity was too difficult to fathom; however he realized it effortlessly.
His first greatness was his heavenly descended caste. He renowned as Jel (dpyal) after descending from heaven, therefore his second greatness was meaning of the name. His third greatness was his noble mother lineage— his mother traveled to Five-Peaks Mountain, and was related to the King of China. The fourth greatness— he was the dharmic minister of the manifested Dharma Kings (chos rgyal gyi chos slun), and the grandchild of the ruler of gods and humans. His fifth greatness was his phenomenal transmission— he received the great, middle and small transmission from the manifested Dharma King. His sixth greatness was that he had the most eminent interdependent causes and conditions—for example, the virtuous royal-brother bestowed him the sacred shrine. His seventh greatness was that he appropriately approached the Secret Mantrayana, the profound tantric doctrine, and Vajra Vehicle, and he was the escort of the King with signs of realization and magical powers. His eighth greatness was his well-learned knowledge— he built many temples in center of Myang Ro (myang ro) village in Tsang and visited the noble land of India. He overcame countless difficulties and requested extraordinary teachings from perfected and authentic scholars, and also brought the practice to completion. His ninth greatness was being able to auto-translate the excellent doctrine—he requested numerous sutras and tantras from perfected and authentic scholars and translated them properly; also he attained mastery in meditative power by attaining the imperishable breath of dharmic sky-goers. Since he became a being of the field of forbearance, he benefited all beings for as long as samsara is not emptied—this continuous lineage of the ten directions illuminating the demonstration that transcended all directions, was his tenth greatness. (Source: [[Dpyal gyi gdung rabs za ra tshags dang gang gA'i chu rgyun gnyis gcig tu bris pa kun gsal me long bzhugs so|དཔྱལ་གྱི་གདུང་རབས་ཟ་ར་ཚགས་དང་གང་གཱའི་ཆུ་རྒྱུན་གཉིས་གཅིག་ཏུ་བྲིས་པ་ཀུན་གསལ་མེ་ལོང་]])
He was born in the upper Nyang region of Tsang. His mother died early and he was brought up by a nun who was a student of one of the great masters of this time, Tshechogling Yeshe Gyaltsen. Losal Tenkyong was then eventually recognized as the incarnation of Drubwang Losal Tsengyen (1727-1802). His education was rather eclectic and he studied with the great Gelugpa masters of his day, such as Ngulchu Dharmabhadra (1772-1851) and the masters of his own Zhalu monastery (zhwa lu) as well masters of Ngor and Sakya. He became a noted ritual expert and especially excelled in his practice of the Kalacakra. Several of his works are included in such collections as the "rgyud sde kun btus" and "sgrub thabs kun btus". In his personal practice he also emphasized the Shangpa Kagyu teachings very much. Even though he is not mentioned in any Shangpa lineage supplication, he was of instrumental importance for the survival of the Shangpa Kagyu tradition and even authored some important empowerment and instruction manuals which are still in use today. As the abbot of the famous Kadampa monastery of Zhalu in western Tibet, originally founded by the fourteenth century scholar and historian Buton Rinchen Drub (1290-1364), he eventually managed to achieve the unsealing of the printing blocks of Taranatha's works at Jonang monastery, which contain so many Shangpa materials of crucial importance. He was a close friend and associate of both Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo and Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye, and passed on a large number of transmissions to them, especially to Jamyang Khyentse, who received the full Shangpa Kagyu transmissions from him. (Source: [http://rywiki.tsadra.org/index.php/Shalu_Ribug_Tulku_Losal_Tenkyong RYwiki]) +
Served as Khenpo at Kathok during the time of the sixth drung rabs of Rdo rje 'od zer. +
Katok Situ Chökyi Gyatso was the third incarnation from Katok monastery of the great master from Palpung, Situ Panchen Chökyi Jungné. He was born in 1880, near Katok monastery, and was the nephew of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo. He received his name Chos kyi rgya mtsho during his ordination, in front of Jamgön Kongtrul and Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo. Following his ordination, miraculous signs appeared which led to his recognition as the reincarnation of the deceased Katok Situ. He was then brought to Katok Dorje Den, where he studied the sutras and tantras from more than eighteen great masters, particularly Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo, Jamgön Kongtrul, Patrul Rinpoche and Mipham Rinpoche. After Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo passed he begged Jamgön Kongtrul to recognize an incarnation of the great master for Katok monastery. Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö was recognized as Katok Khyentse and Katok Situ Chökyi Gyatso took care of his upbringing and education. (Source: [https://www.rigpawiki.org/index.php?title=Katok_Situ_Ch%C3%B6kyi_Gyatso Rigpa Wiki]) +
Khenpo Yönga aka Khenchen Yönten Gyatso (Tib. ཡོན་ཏན་རྒྱ་མཚོ་, Wyl. yon tan rgya mtsho) (19th-20th C.) was a personal student of Patrul Rinpoche and Orgyen Tendzin Norbu. He belonged to Gemang Monastery, a branch of Dzogchen Monastery, and studied at Dzogchen and Shechen monasteries. He wrote a very popular two-part commentary on Rigdzin Jikme Lingpa's Treasury of Precious Qualities, called Lamp of Moonlight and Rays of Sunlight. Among his students were Changma Khenchen Thubten Chöpel (the teacher of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and Khenpo Jikmé Phuntsok) and Khenchen Tsewang Rigdzin of Washul Mewa (who attained the rainbow body). (Source: [https://www.rigpawiki.org/index.php?title=Khenpo_Yönga Rigpawiki]) +
The first of the Katok Getse (kaH thog dge rtse) incarnations, Gyurme Tsewang Chokdrup, Katok Getse Mahapandita (1761-1829) was an important Nyingma scholar from Katok Monastery who famously wrote a catalogue to the Nyingma Gyübum.
He was born in the Iron Snake year of the thirteenth calendrical cycle (1761) and recognized as an incarnation of Tsewang Trinlé, the nephew of Longsal Nyingpo (1625-1692). His teachers included Dodrupchen Kunzang Shenpen, Ngor Khenchen Palden Chökyong, Changkya Rolpé Dorje and Dzogchenpa Ati Tenpé Gyaltsen. Through his connection with the Derge royal family, he arranged for the printing of the ''Collection of Nyingma Tantras'' (''Nyingma Gyübum'') and the writings of Longchenpa and Jikmé Lingpa, and took responsibility for proofreading. Among his students were the Third Dzogchen Rinpoche and the Third Shechen Rabjam, Rigdzin Paljor Gyatso (1770-1809). ([https://www.rigpawiki.org/index.php?title=Gyurme_Tsewang_Chokdrup Source Accessed Feb 18, 2022])
See also:<br>
*[[Deity, Mantra and Wisdom]]: Development Stage Meditation in Tibetan Buddhist Tantra, translated by the Dharmachakra Translation Committee, Snow Lion, 2007.
**Ronis, Jann M. “Celibacy, Revelations, and Reincarnated Lamas: Contestation and Synthesis in the Growth of Monasticism at Katok Monastery from the 17th through 19th Centuries”. Available from [https://libraetd.lib.virginia.edu/downloads/hq37vp052?filename=1_Ronis_Jann_2009_PHD.pdf the University of Virginia, here].
*Tomoko Makidono, "Kah thog Dge rtse Mahāpaṇḍita’s Doxographical Position: The Great Madhyamaka of Other-Emptiness (gzhan stong dbu ma chen po)" in Indian International Journal of Buddhist Studies (IIJBS) vol. 12 (2011), pp. 77-119
*Tomoko Makidono, "The Turning of the Wheel of Mantrayāna Teachings in the Rnying ma rgyud ’bum dkar chag lha’i rnga bo che by Kaḥ thog Dge rtse Mahāpaṇḍita ’Gyur med tshe dbang mchog grub (149-186)" in IIJBS vol. 13 (2012), pp. 149-186 +
Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche or Dudjom Jikdral Yeshe Dorje (Tib. བདུད་འཇོམས་འཇིགས་བྲལ་ཡེ་ཤེས་རྡོ་རྗེ་, Wyl. bdud 'joms 'jigs bral ye shes rdo rje) (1904-1987) — one of Tibet’s foremost yogins, scholars, and meditation masters. He was recognized as the incarnation of Dudjom Lingpa (1835-1904), whose previous incarnations included the greatest masters, yogins and panditas such as Shariputra, Saraha and Khye'u Chung Lotsawa. Considered to be the living representative of Padmasambhava, he was a great revealer of the ‘treasures’ (terma) concealed by Padmasambhava. A prolific author and meticulous scholar, Dudjom Rinpoche wrote more than forty volumes, one of the best known of which is his monumental ''The Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism: Its Fundamentals and History''. Over the last decade of his life he spent much time teaching in the West, where he helped to establish the Nyingma tradition, founding major centres in France and the United States. ([https://www.rigpawiki.org/index.php?title=Dudjom_Rinpoche Source Accessed Feb 20, 2020]) +
The Ninth Gangkar Lama, Karma Shedrub Chokyi Sengge (gangs dkar bla ma 09 karma bshad sgrub chos kyi seng ge) was born in a place called Sade (sa sde) in Minyak (mi nyag). His father was named Draknak Trinle (brag nag 'phrin las) and his mother was named Draknak Drolma (brag nag sgrol ma).
When he was three years old, the Fifteenth Karmapa, Khakhyab Dorje (karma pa 15 mkha' khyab rdo rje, 1870-1921) sent a letter from Lhasa recognizing him as the reincarnation of the Eighth Gangkar Lama, Karma Tsering Wangpo (gangs dkar bla ma 08 karma tshe ring dbang po, d.u.). At that time, Khamsum Drakgon Monastery, the seat of the lineage, was not able to accommodate him as it only had a poorly built prayer hall and a deity shrine, so he was placed in a temple near the monastery.
After the recognition procedures, a monk named Lama Norbu (bla ma nor bu), an expert in monastic rituals, was appointed as his private tutor to teach him how to read at the age of five.
During his childhood, he listened to tales told by the elders in the village where the temple was situated, including those drawn from the lives of the saints such as Tangtong Gyelpo (thang stong rgyal po, 1361-1485). He developed a keen interest in Kagyu masters and requested to study in one of the major monasteries of the tradition. His tutor Lama Norbu also told the leaders of the monastery that the young lama had learned all the things he had to teach.
In 1910 he was sent to Pelpung (dpal spungs) Monastery where his previous incarnation had also studied. There he met with the Eleventh Situ, Pema Wangchok Gyelpo (si tu pad ma dbang mchog rgyal po, 1886-1952), and other leaders of the monastery. He received novice monastic vows from a lama named Dechen Ngedon Tendzin Rabgye (bde chen nges don bstan 'dzin rab rgyas) and studied the Vinaya texts under a lama named Tsewang Peljor (tshe dbang dpal 'byor). He continued his education with Khenpo Zhenga, Zhenpen Chokyi Nangwa (mkhan po gzhan dga gzhan phan chos kyi snang ba, 1871-1927), who was then at Pelpung establishing the monastic college.
At the age of twenty-one he was fully ordained by Dechen Ngedon Tendzin Rabgye. He continued to study Buddhist topics, as well as medicine, poetry, and grammar.
He then traveled to U-Tsang to continue his training at Tsurpu (mtshur phu) Monastery. There he received tantric transmissions and teachings from the Fifteenth Karmapa, Khakhyab Dorje.
After returning to Pelpung Monastery, he received teachings and transmissions from teachers there, such as Situ Pema Wangchok Gyelpo. For several years he served as summer retreat master at Pelpung. At the request of Pema Wangchuk Gyelpo and Khenpo Zhenga he wrote the Exposition of the Special Praise to the Buddha (khyad par 'phags bstod kyi 'grel pa) and the Answers of the Scholars' Necklace (dris lan mkhas pa'i mgul rgyan) among others works. These do not appear to be extant, although printing blocks for the first work are said to have been carved.
In 1922, at the age of thirty, he returned to Khamsum Drakgon. He expanded the existing monasteries and established new institutions. In 1925 he was invited to Minyak Riku (mi nyag ri khud) Monastery where he started a school and taught modern Tibetan studies for three years. Later, in 1940, he started a school in Khamsum Drakgon Monastery also for modern Tibetan studies. His students included men from various ethnic backgrounds.
In 1930 he was invited to attend the enthronement ceremony of the Sixteenth Karmapa, Rangjung Rikpai Dorje (karma pa 16 rang byung rig pa'i rdo rje, 1921-1981) and be his private tutor. He taught the Karmapa for about a year. Although he was asked to stay and continue to teach, he insisted that he was more needed in Minyak than in U-Tsang. He also brought many monks studying in U-Tsang back to Minyak with him. In Minyak he worked as a teacher, astrologer, and a traditional physician.
He traveled to China twice before the Communists took over. He first traveled in China from 1936 until 1939 and then again from 1945 until 1949. He gave many teachings in various places including Chengdu, Chongqing, Jiangxi, and Beijing. In 1953 he was asked to teach at the Central Nationalities University (中央民族大学) in Beijing and he taught there for three years while also editing official documents translated into Tibetan. He passed away in 1957.
([http://treasuryoflives.org/biographies/view/Karma-Shedrub-Chokyi-Sengge/2730 Source: Treasury of Lives])
TBRC Note: Regarded to be an embodiment of [[ratna gling pa]], [[gling rje ras pa]], and [[gu ru thugs sras rgyal ba mchog dbyangs]]. Connected with [[nang chen]] ([[Nangchen]]). +
Gharungwa Lhai Gyeltsen (g+ha rung ba lha'i rgyal mtshan) was born at Nyetang (snye thang) in 1319.
At five years of age he received ordination as a novice monk at Kumbumtang (sku 'bum thang) and began studies of the monastic code. For two years he also studied Prajñāpāramitā, epistemology, and Abhidharma. Then he traveled to many different monasteries in U for further studies in the same subjects and others such as the Bodhisattvacaryāvatāra and the Five Treatises of Maitreya. While at the great Karma Kaygu monastery of Tsurpu (mtshur phu), he received the transmission of several tantras from the clairvoyant yogin Tokden Drakseng (rtogs ldan grags seng), who also recognized him as an incarnation of the Indian master Aryadeva.
When he was twenty years old Gharungwa traveled to the Tsang region, where he reached a high level of expertise in the treatises of the vehicle of the perfections, epistemology, Abhidharma, and the monastic code under the teacher Konchok Sangpo (slob dpon dkon bzang, d.u.) at Drakram Monastery (brag ram). He also studied and taught at many other places before arriving at the great monastery of Sakya (sa skya), where he studied the same subjects under the master Jamyang Chokyi Gyeltsen ('jam dbyangs chos kyi rgyal mtshan, d.u.), but also received the Tantra Trilogy of Hevajra and the Bodhisattva Trilogy.
He then studied at Pelteng Monastery (dpal steng dgon) under the master Rinchen Zangpo (rin chen bzang po, d.u.), and next traveled to the Kagyu monastery of Ralung (ra lung dgon), where he received many tantric transmissions such as the initiations of Hevjara in both the Sakya and the Kagyu traditions and the Doha Trilogy of the great Indian adept Saraha. While at Ralung, he heard about Dolpopa Sherab Gyeltsen (dol po pa shes rab rgyal mtshan) and was filled with faith.
When Gharungwa was thirty-two years old he arrived at Jonang Monastery (jo nang dgon) and met Dolpopa. He offered the great master a white conch shell and other gifts and received many initiations such as Kālacakra and Guhyasamāja, and all the guiding instructions such as the six-branch yoga. He gained exceptional experience in meditation, actually beheld Avalokiteśvara and his pure land, and experienced pure visions such as the transformation of himself into a buddha and the light rays of his own body illuminating the entire three worlds. For many years Gharungwa received from Dolpopa a number of profound teachings such as the Bodhisattva Trilogy and the ten sutras of definitive meaning.
Gharungwa also received special transmissions from some of Dolpopa's other major disciples: from Kunpang Chodrak Pelzang (kun spangs chos grags dpal bzang, 1283-1363) he received the Vimalaprabhā commentary on the Kālacakra Tantra seven times, the instructions of the six-branch yoga, Nāropa's commentary on the Sekoddesha, and so forth; from Jonang Lotsāwa Lodro Pel (jo nang lo tsA wa blo gros dpal, 1299-c.1353) he received the Vimalaprabhā and other tantric teachings; from Mati Paṇchen (ma ti paN chen blo gros rgyal mtshan, 1294-1376) he received many teachings such as the Five Treatises of Maitreya and the Lamdre (lam 'bras); from Chokle Namgyel (phyogs las rnam rgyal, 1306-1386) and Nyawon Kunga Pel (nya dbon nun dga' dpal, 1285-1379) he received many transmissions such as the Lamdre in both the Sakya tradition and the Shang tradition, and the Bodhisattva Trilogy.
Gharungwa then ascended to the monastic seat of Gharung Monastery (g+ha rung), where he taught for many years. He was eventually offered the hermitage of Namkha Dzod (nam mkha' mdzod) and took up residence there, teaching the Vimalaprabhā and various other topics.
He passed away in 1401.
([https://treasuryoflives.org/biographies/view/Gharungwa-Lhai-Gyeltsen/4115 Source: Treasury of Lives P2414])
Götsangpa Gönpo Dorje (1189-1258) was a mahasiddha of the Drukpa Kagyü school, well known for his songs of realization and said to have been an emanation of Milarepa. He was born in southern Tibet, but moved to Central Tibet, where he met his main teachers Tsangpa Gyaré Yeshe Dorje and Sangye Ön. Following his studies, he traveled from one isolated hermitage to another, never staying in the same place twice. He founded the branch of the Drukpa Kagyü school known as the Upper Drukpa (སྟོད་འབྲུག་, stod 'brug). His students included Orgyenpa Rinchen Pal. (Sources:[https://www.rigpawiki.org/index.php?title=Götsangpa_Gönpo_Dorje Rigpawiki]) +
The Third Gungtang Lama Konchok Tenpai Dronme was identified as reincarnation of the Second Guntang Ngawang Tenpai Gyeltsen. He studied in Drepung Gomang College near Lhasa and Labrang Tashikhyil in Amdo, and later he served as the twenty-first abbot of the monastery. He also served as the first abbot of Ngawa Gomang Monastery. Familiar with Chinese and Mongolian languages, he spent most of his life in teaching and composing texts on many subjects such as ethics and medicine as well as religion. ([https://treasuryoflives.org/biographies/view/Konchok-Tenpai-Dronme/4730 Source Accessed Feb 3, 2022]) +