བཀའ་མན་གནང་བ།
Lama Dawa Gyaltsen
bla ma zla ba rgyal mtshan
Short Biography
Drupon Lama Dawa Gyaltsen, often known as Yolmo Lama Dawa, at the age of 13 entered the Drukpa Kagyu Gonpa near his family home on the boarder of Amdo and Kham, eastern Tibet. At the very young age of 17 Lama Dawa Rinpoche entered retreat until he was 23, on the Drukpa Kagyu path of Mahamudra, with the famed Drupchen Kunzang Dorje acting as his Retreat-master. While in this retreat Lama Dawa completed the Mahamudra ngondro three times. Because of the communist invasion Rinpoche and many Eastern Tibetans began to flee for places like India, Bhutan and Nepal. After his 7 year retreat he then fled to Bhutan and Nepal, as many did, where he then began truly studying the dharma, at the feet of many of the greatest masters of the Old and New Translation Schools. Having been taken as a student by Masters such as Khunu Lama Tenzin Gyaltso Rinpoche, Kyabje Dudjom Jigdrel Yeshe Dorje and Kyabje Chatral Sangye Dorje, Lama Dawa dedicated his life to retreat. In Yolmo Nepal he spent nearly 30 year doing retreats under the guidance of Dudjom Rinpoche and Chatral Rinpoche, where Lama Dawa practiced the Ngondro (foundation practices), Tsa-sum (the three root deity practices), Trul-kor (yogic practices) and the entire cycles of Troma Ngakmo (Cho), Namchad Phudri and Phudri Repung from the Dudjom Ter.
After many years of retreat in Yolmo, Rinpoche stayed in Parping Nepal, where Guru Rinpoche meditated in two different caves, and where the renowned Chatral Sangye Dorje Rinpoche resided. He soon entered into more retreat on the Nyingthig with Chatral Rinpoche himself acting as his Retreat-master. After having completed his 3rd major retreat, Lama Dawa Rinpoche continued to studying with the greatest Gurus of this era. He received numerous teachings, reading transmissions and empowerments from Drubwang Penor Rinpoche. He has studied with masters the likes of Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche and Kontrul Tenpay Nyima Rinpoche. From the Lord of Siddhis, Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, he received teachings and transmissions for the Longchen Nyingthig as well as Rinpoche's own terma teachings and numerous others.
In terms of Mahamudra, Rinpoche has received teaching from Master the likes of HH The 16th Karmapa, Drukpa Tuksay Rinpoche, Drukpa Gar Rinpoche, Drupwang Rigdzin Lama, Lobpon Tsultrim Dorje, Lama Jamyang Drakpa, and Gegen Khyentse. From the Dzogchen Lineages, Lama Dawa has received teachings from Tripon Pema Chogyal Rinpoche heart disciple of the Mahasiddha Shakya Shri, Dudjom Rinpoche, Chatral Rinpoche, Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Nyoshul Khenpo, Khunu Rinpoche, Dodrupchen Thupten Trinlay Rinpoche, Punda Khenpo Dorje, Penor Rinpoche, and Apho Yeshe Rangdrol (the Mahasiddha Shakya Shri’s grandson). While he was staying in his retreat house for nearly 20 years near Nagi Gonpa, the retreat hermitage of Kyabje Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, he was able to meet privately with Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche and clear any doubts and obstacles he may have had. In all Rinpoche has had 22 Gurus of the Mahamudra and Dzogchen traditions.
In the newly translated biography of Khabje Dudjom Jigdrel Yeshe Dorje, we can find an amazing letter of pith advice written by Kyabje Rinpoche to Lama Dawa while in Retreat. This advice should be read by anyone practicing in retreat.
Main Teachers
- Chatral Rinpoche Sangye Dorje
- Dudjom Jigdral Yeshe Dorje
- 3rd Dudjom Sangye Pema
- Ladakh Tripon Pema Chogyal
- Apho Yeshe Rangdrol Rinpoche
- Dilgo Khyentse
- Gegen Khyentse
- Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche
Main Students
Main Lineages
Alternate Names and Spellings
- Yolmo Lama Dawa
- Lama Dawa-la
External Links
- I have been informed of mistakes I made in Lama Dawa-la's Bio. This was my own mistake and for that I am sorry.[BJLhundrup]
