Lapchiwa Namkha Gyaltsen
la phyi ba nam mkha' rgyal mtshan, 1372-1437.
An outstanding master of several traditions. He was a lineage holder of the Sakya, Karma Kagyu, Drikung Kagyu and Shangpa Kagyu traditions and also held the lineage of the Oral Tradition of Rechungpa. He met many of the greatest master of his time, including the Mahasiddha Thangtong Gyalpo, who visited him in Lapchi itself. Namkha Gyaltsen earned the title of "Lapchi-wa" because he spent more time in the sacred place of Lapchi than anyone before or after him. All in all he spent 31 years there and also passed away there. His relic stupa remains in Lapchi to the present day and is kept in one of the larger caves there, the Rechen Cave, which was the assembly place for hermits until Shabkar Tsogdruk Rangdrol came in the 1830's and built a small monastery at the foot of the mountain.
[TSD]
Primary Teachers
- 5th Karmapa Deshin Shegpa
- Drubchen Rindzongpa Wangchuk Gyaltsen
- Nyernyipa Dzamling Chögyal
- Rechen Denchigpa
- Thegchen Chögyal Kunga Tashi Gyaltsen
Primary Students
- Duldzin Ngawang Gyaltsen
- Namkha Samdrub Gyaltsen