Our Precious Drikung Kagyu Teachers

HOME  Lineage

	H.H. Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche
	H.H. Drikung Kyabgon Chungtsang Rinpoche
	Ven. Drubwang Konchok Norbu Rinpoche
	His Eminence Garchen Triptrül Rinpoche
	Ven. Khenchen Konchog Gyaltshen Rinpoche
	His Eminence Thritsab Gyabra Rinpoche
	His Eminence Nubpa Rinpoche
	Ven. Drubpon Trinley Yeshi Rinpoche
	Ven. Drubpon Jampa Rigzin
	His Eminence Dagpo Chenga Rinpoche
	Lama Kunsang Rinpoche
	Other Eminent Drikung teachers

Short Biography of H.H. Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche TOP

H.H. Drikung Kyabgon Chungtsang Rinpoche (on your left) H.H. Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche   (on you right)

His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang

Short Biography

 His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang, the 37^th throne holder of the Drikung Kagyu Lineage and 7^th reincarnation of the Chetsang Rinpoche is a manifestation of Chenrezig (Avalokiteshvara).

 Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang, Konchog Tenzin Kunsang Thrinle Lhundrup, was born on the 4^th day of the 6^th Tibetan month of the Fire-Dog-Year 1946 into the aristocratic family of Tsarong in Lhasa. This auspicious day marks the anniversary of the Buddha’s first turning of the Wheel of Dharma. Many prodigious signs and visions accompanied his birth. His grandfather, Dasang Damdul Tsarong (1888-1959), has been the favorite of the 13^th Dalai Lama (1876-1933), Commander General of the Tibetan army and one of the most influential political figures in the early 20^th century in Tibet. Chetsangs father, Dundul Namgyal Tsarong (b. 1920), held a high office in the Tibetan Government and he was still active in important positions for the Exile Government in Dharamsala after the escape of the Dalai Lama and the cabinet ministers. His mother, Yangchen Dolkar, is from the noble house of Ragashar, which descended from the ancient royal dynasty.

 Few years after the passing of the previous Drikung Kyabgon, Shiwe Lodro (1886-1943), two parties began to look for his reincarnation throughout Tibet. Based on a vision of the Drikung regent Tritsab Gyabra Rinpoche (1924-1979) at the oracular lake Lhamo Latso and on many additional divinatory signs, in 1950 the son of the Tsarong family was recognized as the reincarnation of the Drikung Kyabgon. The boy subsequently passed numerous tests, such as identifying religious items and ritual objects of his former incarnations. His incarnation was further confirmed by divinations performed by Taktra Rinpoche (the Regent of Tibet), H.H. the 16^th Karmapa Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, and H.H. Taklung Matrul.

 In the fall of 1950 the formal enthronement as Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang took place at Drikung Thil, the main monastery of the Drikung Kagyu order. Immediately thereafter the first Chinese invasion of Tibet took place. Rinpoche was allowed to travel to Kalimpong in Northern India with his family, in order to stay in a safe place. His older brother and his two sisters were attending boarding-schools in Darjeeling. After some months Rinpoche was met by a delegation from the Drikung monastery and brought back to Tibet.

 According to ancient tradition, Chetsang Rinpoche resided in turns in one of the four main monasteries: In the spring in Drikung Tse, during the summer in Yangrigar, in autumn in Drikung Thil, and during the winter in Drikung Dzong, which also served as the administrative center of Drikung. His spiritual instructors (yongzin), Tritsab Gyabra Rinpoche and Ayang Thubten Rinpoche (1899-1966), were responsible for his education. His curriculum included reading, writing, memorizing, astrology, and grammar. From his yongzin and from Bhalok Thupten Chodrak Rinpoche, Lho Bongtrul Rinpoche, and Nyidzong Tripa he received the basic empowerments, transmissions, and teachings of the Kagyu tradition and the Drikung Kagyu tradition in particular.

 At the age of eleven, Drikung Kyabgon gave his first public teaching and transmission, a long-life empowerment, during the 1956 Monkey Year ceremonies of the Great Drikung Phowa. Subsequently he began his philosophical studies at the Nyima Changra monastic college of Drikung. Although he was four years younger he studied together with the second Drikung lineage holder, Chungtsang Rinpoche. His instructor was Bopa Tulku Dongag Tenpa (1907-1959), introducing him to the philosophy of Madhyamaka. He first studied basic texts, like The 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva by Ngulchu Thogme Zangpo  and Introduction to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life (Bodhicharyāvatāra) by Shāntideva.

 Soon thereafter Tibet underwent a great upheaval. In the wake of the Tibetan uprising of 1959, as many Tibetans fled the country, among them the Dalai Lama, the cabinet ministers and a host of spiritual dignitaries, several attempts were launched to bring Chetsang Rinpoche and Chungtsang Rinpoche out of Tibet into safety. These attempts failed because of the inexorable resistance of the monastery manager. Rinpoche’s family had already fled to India in 1956.

The monks in the Drikung monastery were put under house arrest, and Chetsang Rinpoche had to endure with them for months Communist indoctrinations. After some month Tritsab Gyabra, who had left the monastery some years before, took Rinpoche to live with him in Lhasa under rather dismal conditions. In 1960, Drikung Kyabgon was admitted into an elementary school in Lhasa. In very short time he mastered the subject matters of several classes, being able to finish the six years of education in only three years. Thereafter he was admitted to the Jerag Lingka middle school. The subjects there included Chinese, natural sciences, history, and biology. Chetsang Rinpoche excelled in his studies, especially in Chinese. He also became a keen athlete and a passionate and brilliant soccer player.

 When the Red Guards infiltrated the schools at the onset of the Cultural Revolution in 1966, Chetsang Rinpoche found himself caught up in the midst of the factional fighting of two opposing groups of Red Guards. Classes and business came to a halt. Many aristocrats and Rinpoches had to undergo brutal “people’s tribunals” known as struggle sessions. Chetsang could no longer stay with Tritsab Gyabra, who had fallen from grace. He lived at the school, where he cooked for the few remaining schoolmates and studied the books he found in the school’s library. Lhasa sank into chaos. In this atmosphere of anarchy Rinpoche several times was saved by a fraction from certain death.

 In 1969, he was assigned to a commune in the countryside, where he had to carry out the hardest physical labor. A partly decayed verminous shack on top of a sheep pen was his shelter. He did not own more than a pot and a cup and some slats to sleep on. An uncle, who came to visit him one day, struggled against his tears, stunned that his nephew was living in such squalor. But Chetsang Rinpoche always reacted with great equanimity to all the many upheavals in his live. When the uncle became aware of the serene calmness pervading every aspect of Chetsang’s being, he compared him with Milarepa, who lived in comfortless caves and outwardly austere, but inwardly excessively rich spiritual life.

 In the spring and in summer Chetsang Rinpoche drudged on the fields of the work unit. In autumn he had to climb high mountains to cut firewood for the commune and carry home heavy loads. In the winter he had to shovel out the sewage from the cesspits in Lhasa and carry it to the farm. Despite the strenuous labor, Chetsang helped others, whenever he could. Nobody knew that he was the Drikung Kyabgon Rinpoche, but his extraordinary deeds amazed many.

 Due to his class background as aristocrat and high incarnate lama there was no prospect for Chetsang in Communist occupied Tibet. After meticulous planning, he finally found a means of escape in 1975. This was at a time when China had established a tight system of spies and informers all over Tibet and the military had a close grip of control, so that only few succeeded to take flight. He set out alone and without help to cross the border of Tibet into Nepal across high passes and glaciers. The Drikung Kyabgon accomplished what was thought to be impossible. Unscathed he reached Nepal and eventually the residence of the Dalai Lama at Dharamsala.

 Rinpoche conceded to the appeals of the Drikung lamas in exile and so he was again symbolically enthroned as the Drikung Kyabgon during a ceremony with the Dalai Lama. By this act he expressed the promise to take responsibility for the lineage in the future. Initially though, he traveled to the USA, where his parents had in the meantime emigrated to. There he learned English, while earning his living as a part-time at a McDonald's and other restaurants.

 During the third year of his stay he received a very rare ancient Tibetan text uncovered in Nepal dealing with the history of the throne holders of the Drikung Order and written by his former incarnation, the 4^th Chetsang Peme Gyaltsen (1770-1826). He started analyzing this work and studying the history of Tibet, of the Drikung Kagyu, and of his former incarnations. Shortly thereafter he returned to India in 1978, to take on the lead of the Drikung Kagyu Lineage as its throne holder.

 For many years in occupied Tibet and in the USA, Drikung Kyabgon had outwardly led the life of a layman. Nonetheless he had always strictly kept his monk’s vows. Now he resumed his monastic lifestyle once again and took up residence at Phyang Monastery in Ladakh. Instantly he entered a traditional three year retreat at Lamayuru Monastery under the guidance of the stern meditation master Kyunga Sodpa Gyatso (1911-1980).

 Drikung Kyabgon studied with numerous highly accomplished lamas and Rinpoches of different traditions and received from them teachings and initiations. He regards Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche (1910-1991) as one of his most important teachers. He received from him the essential teachings of the Eight Practice Lineages of Tibetan Buddhism (Dam Ngag Dzo), the highest Dzogchen teachings (Nyingtig Yashi), as well as the collected writings of Jamgon Kongtrul (Gyachen Kadzo) and the treasury of the oral Kagyu transmissions (Kagyu Ngag Dzo). In addition he received precious teachings and empowerments from H.H. the Dalai Lama (Chakrasamvara, Kālachakra, and Yamantāka), from H.H. the 16^th Karmapa (Six Yogas of Nāropa, Milarepa), from H.H. Taklung Shabdrung Rinpoche (transmission of the Taklung Kagyu teachings) and from H.H. Taklung Tsetrul the Northern Treasures. He studied Buddhist philosophy under Khenpo Noryang in the Drukpa Kagyu monastery Sangnag Choling in Bhutan, who gave him teachings on the Bodhicharyāvatāra by Shāntideva, the Madhyamakāvatāra by Chandrakīrti and on the Uttara Tantra. Khenpo Noryang also transmitted to him teachings of the general Kagyu tradition and the particular teachings of the Drukpa Kagyu on Mahāmudrā. Moreover Chetsang Rinpoche received important Drikung Kagyu empowerments and teachings on Mahāmudrā from H.E. Garchen Rinpoche and Drubwang Konchog Norbu.

 In 1985, Drikung Kyabgon received full monk's ordination from His Holiness the Dalai Lama, during the Kalachakra initiation in Bodhgaya. He mastered all challenges with remarkable ease. Since 1987 Chetsang Rinpoche began to give teachings in many countries throughout the world. At the same time he started to rebuild the weakened Drikung Lineage with great energy. In Dehra Dun, India, he established a monastery and an educational center, attracting many monks from Tibet and Buddhist practitioners from many countries: the Drikung Kagyu Institute. In the beginning it consisted of the monastery Jangchubling and the retreat center and nunnery Samtenling. The Drikung Kagyu Institute is an education center, which emphasizes both the traditional monastic education, as well as present-day training to meet the needs of these times. Special consideration is also placed on discipline, meditation practice and the specialties of the Drikung Kagyu teachings. In 2003 Chetsang Rinpoche established near his monastery a magnificent edifice: the Songtsen Library, a center for Tibetan and Himalayan studies. A building epitomizing in content, function and form the essence of his vision as a treasury and think tank for the cultural and spiritual identity of the peoples of the Himalayan region and of the Drikung Lineage in particular. It contains rare texts about all subjects of the Himalayan region, works on Tibetan culture, tradition and geography, and of course the Buddhist texts of all schools. It houses an important collection about the famous Dunhuang manuscripts unearthed along the Silk Road. There, an unimaginable wealth of texts in various languages dating from the 4^th to the 11^th centuries was discovered. The Tibetan corpus alone includes thousands of manuscripts of all kinds, including the earliest Tibetan medical drawing known at present. Thus these ancient texts provide the researcher with a vast array of source material on the earliest period of Tibet, which Chetsang Rinpoche would like to make accessible in its entirety, as his scope encompasses the preservation of Tibetan culture and religion.

 In 2005 close to the Songtsen Library, Drikung Kyabgon built a large College for Higher Buddhist Studies, the Kagyu College. With its inauguration the new Drikung Mandala in Dehra Dun has been completed.

His Holiness now resides primarily at JangChub Ling in Dehra Dun, Northern India. Located at Drikung Kagyu Institute, P.O. Box 48, Sahastradhara Road, Dehra Dun, U.P. India 248001

Long Life Prayer for H.H. Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche

More information about the H.H. Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche

Short Biography of H.H. Drikung Kyabgon Chungtsang Rinpoche TOP

The first incarnation of Drikung Kyabgon Chungtsang Rinpoche was born in 1595.   The eighth and present reincaration of Drikung Kyabgon Chungtsang Rinpoche was born in Tibet in 1942, in the Lhagyari family of the lineage of the Tibetan kings.

He was four years old when he was enthroned at Drikung Thil. Chungtsang Rinpoche received all the empowerments and oral transmissions of the Kagyu teachings as well as the Teachings of the Drikung Kagyu lineage from his private tutors and a few illustrious teachers.

In 1959, the Chinese put him in prison for fifteen years.  In 1980, he was permitted to come to India for pilgrimage and in 1992, once again he came to Drikung Kagyu Monastery at Jangchubling, Dehra Dun.  In India, he gave many teachings and empowerments to the public.  He is at present living in Lhasa, Tibet.

Long Life Prayer for H.H. Drikung Kyabgon Chungtsang Rinpoche

Venerable Drubwang Konchok Norbu Rinpoche TOP

The great accomplished practitioner Drubwang Konchok Norbu Rinpoche was born in Drikung, Tibet in 1921.  He entered Drikung Thil Monastery at a very young age and studied Buddhist philosophy at the Drikung Nyima Changra Buddhist Institute.  After his graduation, Drubwang Konchok Norbu Rinpoche became the disciple of one of the foremost contemporary retreat masters of the Drikung Kagyu Lineage  -- Drubwang Pachung Rinpoche (1901-1988).  Under the guidance of Drubwang Pachung Rinpoche, Drubwang Konchok Norbu Rinpoche went on many years of retreat and eventually gained the supreme experiential understanding of Mahamudra.

Drubwang Konchok Norbu Rinpoche is now eighty-two years of age and currently lives in the Drikung Kagyu Institute in northern India.  In 1991, he overcame great difficulties and traveled all the way from Tibet to India.  In India, he met up with His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama who requested him to travel to different places to give teachings for the benefit of all sentient beings.  Drubwang Rinpoche's compassion and kindness is so vast that he often gives up everything he owns to the sangha community.   Some years ago, Drubwang Rinpoche forewarned that he would leave this world for the benefit of all sentient beings.  It was because of His Holiness Dalai Lama's request that Durbwang Rinpoche agreed to stay on for a few more years.  In September 1999, His Holiness Dalai Lama wrote a long life prayer for Drubwang Rinpoche at the request of His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche, the Supreme Co-Head of the Drikung Kagyu Lineage of Tibetan Buddhism.  Drubwang Konchok Norbu Rinpoche does not give tantric Dzogchen.  He encourages and inspires people to do the simplest of all dharma practices: to extend kindness to all sentient beings and to do the practice of the three kayas by reciting:

OM AH MI DEWA HRIH ( Heart Mantra of Amitabha)

OM MA NI PAD ME HUNG ( Heart Mantra of Chenrezig)

OM AH HUNG VARJRA GURU PADMA SIDDHI HUNG (Heart Mantra of Padmasambhava)

Long Life Prayer for Drubwang Konchok Norbu Rinpoche

His Eminence Garchen Triptrül Rinpoche TOP

Historical background:

The Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism has been inherited by highly accomplished lamas.   This is particularly true of the Drikung Kagyu lineage, which was founded by Kyobpa Jigten Sumgon, whose main disciple was Nyun Gar Chusum.  The details of this lineage and its significance are described in the Drikung's Golden History.  Garchen Rinpoche is the most important Rinpoche in the Drikung Kagyu order.  His lineage of incarnation can be traced to Gardampa Chodenpa, a disciple of the great Kyobpa Jigten Sumgon.

Gardampa Chodengpa was born in 1180 A.D., and he was recognized to have been an incarnation of the acharya Aryadeva Bodhisattva, a disciple of Nagarjuna.  In the seventh century, he was known as Lonpo Gar, the minister of the Tibetan Dharma King Songsten Gampo.  At birth, he was able to hold a staff, and he chanted the six syllable mantra.  His mother was too frightened to tell others of her son's abilities.  Later, he practiced Mantrayana at Tsari, Tibet.  While residing at the cave of Gar at Dagpo, all the gods and demons of Tibet gathered round him.  At first, they drew sharp weapons and wounded him, but later took refuge in him, offering the mantras of their lives.

When Gardampa Chodenpa was young, he heard of the glorious accomplishments of the mahasiddha Kyobpa Jigten Sumgon.  So he decided to make his way to Drikung.  He then stayed there and received many teachings and practiced under the guidance of his guru, Kyobpa Jigten Sumgon.  Very soon, he was able to attain complete realization, and he became one of the three important mahasiddhas -- Gar, Nyo, and Chosum -- of Kyobpa Jigten Sumgon.  Gardampa exhibited miraculous powers on many occasions and through his profound teachings initiated numerous sentient beings on the path of Dharma.

Many disciples started gathering round him, but it was too early still, so he scolded them to leave.  He founded the monastery of Lung-shod Dar-Chodeng at Drikung.   Eventually, so many monks gathered around him, he moved away to found the monastery Phur-gon Rinchen-ling.

Among the succeeding incarnations of Gardampa Chodenpa, Gar Tenpa Gyaltsen became the regent of Their Holinesses the two Drikung Kyabgons (lineage holders).  In that capacity, he benefited all beings.  Another incarnation, Gar Chockyi Nyima, chanted the Chakrasamvara mantra more than 13 billion times and became a mahasiddha.  He could perform great miracles, such as curing diseases, preventing wars, eliminating hunger, etc.

From the first Gar Tenzin Phuntsok to the present 8 th Gar Konchok Nyeton Tenpei Nyima, all the succeeding lamas have been the supreme personal guru of the Nangchen kings.

The biography of the precent 8th Gar Konchok Nyetong Tenpei Nyima Chockyi Palsangye

His eminence was born in 1936 in Nangchen Kham.  The King of Nangchen personally took responsibility for searching for the reincarnation of the 7th Gar Tinley Yonkyab.   Rinpoche was recognized and enthroned by His Holiness the late Drikung Kyabgon Shiwei Lodoe.

At the age of seven, Rinpoche was brought to Lho Miyalgon, where he was offered ceremonial clothes and other items.  He pointed to a painting of the Drikung lineage's founder, Jigten Sumgon, and proved his authenticity as the recincarnation by saying, "He is my Guru."  This made people around him confident that he was the true reincarnation.  From that time until the age of 22, Rinpoche lived at and administered this monastery.

Under the tutelage of Chime Dorje, Rinpoche received many teachings.  At the age of 13, he received the Drikung Kagyu lineage teachings from Lho Thubten Nyingpo Rinpoche of Lho Lunkar Gon.  He received oral transmission, explanation and empowerment for Mahamudra and the Six Yogas of Naropa.  He completed Ngondro practice and went into a three year retreat. Then, at the age of 22, after completing a two and a half year retreat, he was imprisoned for 20 years during the political turmoil of China’s Cultural Revolution. While in the labor camp, he received meditation instruction from his root lama, the Nyingma master Khenpo Munsel, a great disciple of the renowned Nyingmapa Khenpo Ngagchung. Enduring hardship and practicing secretly, Garchen Rinpoche attained realization of the lama’s wisdom mind. Khenpo Munsel was astonished at Rinpoche's great achievement and commented of him, "He is an emanation of a Bodhisattva."

Since his release from prison in 1979, His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche has been looking after the welfare of his monastery.  He has been gracious and kind to poor people.  He has given all the offerings he received to the monastery and has decided not to use anything for himself, his relatives, or his mother.

In recent years, Garchen Rinpoche has made great effort to rebuild the Drikung Kagyu monasteries in Eastern Tibet, reestablish the Buddhist teachings, build two boarding schools for local children in eastern Tibet, while at the same time wholeheartedly giving profound teachings of the lineage to others.  In addition, His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche received the empowerment and transmission (lung) of Yamantaka (Jampel Shinje) from Garchen Rinpoche, and composed a long life prayer for him.   In prayer H.H. Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche regards Garchen Rinpoche as a great Drikung Kagyu yogi of the present time.

His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche is a very kind, considerate and humble to all people regardless of position, age or gender.  His advice for people who drink, smoke, gamble and engage in other wrongdoings has been very effective in correcting their behavior.  By nature, he is able to work for the benefit of others and has earned great respect from the public.  His Eminence has never betrayed the expectations of his disciples or others.   He is known for giving very profound and insightful teachings with utmost compassion.  Garchen Rinpoche is known for his vast realization, as well as for his great kindness. His Eminence is a great and extraordinary Drikung Kagyu yogi in this age of degeneration.

(This brief biography was compiled by His Eminence's disciple Konchok Toga. Abo Bu Nyima, in consultation with the present Garchen Rinpoche.  This is like a drop of water out of his accomplishments, which are as vast as the ocean.  This originally was completed on the 17th of September, 1996.)

Long Life Prayer for His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche

PHAK-PE YÜL-NA AR-YA-DE-VA ZHE/
The one known in the Holy Land as Aryadeva,.

DO-KHAM CHOK-SU GAR-GYI RIK-SU TRÜL/
Emanated into the Gar clan of Eastern Tibet as Chödingpa

JIK-TEN-GÖN-PO THUK-SE CHÖ-DING-PA/
The heart son of Jikten Gönpo

PEL-DEN GAR-CHEN KU-TSE KAL-GYAR-TEN/
May the life of glorious Garchen remain steadfast for a hundred aeons!

NYIG-DÜ GYAL-TEN NYAK-TRE NE-KAB DIR/
In this age of strife when the Victor's teaching faces hardship

THU-TOB DOR-JE TA-BÜ TÜL ZHUK-KYI/
through his powerful, vajra-like conduct,

RI-ME TEN-PE KHUR-CHI DAG-GIR ZHE/
He takes on himself the heavy responsibility of the unbiased teaching.

TEN-PE-NYI-MA GAR-CHEN ZHAP-TEN SÖL//
May Garchen, the Sun of the Teachings, live long!

His Eminence Thritsab Gyabra Rinpoche TOP

His Eminence Thritsab Gyabra Rinpoche is a reincarnation of the second Drikung Kagyu Throne Holder Khenchen Tsultrim Dorje (Vow Vajra, 1154-1221). Khenchen Tsultrim Dorje was ordained at a very young age and at the age of forty-six he traveled to Drikung Thil Monastery in Tibet to pay his respects to Lord Jigten Sumgon. Upon meeting with Lord Jigten Sumgon, he felt an immediate strong connection with Lord Jigten Sumgon. From then onwards, he stayed by Lord Jigten Sumgon's side and obtained all the essential teachings from Lord Jigten Sumgon.

His Eminence Thritsab Gyabra Rinpoche's last reincarnation Gyabra Thubten (1921-1979) was the heart disciple of His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche and His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chungtsang Rinpoche of that time. After the two Holinesses passed away, he became the acting head of the Drikung Kagyu Order of Tibetan Buddhism. Upon the recognition of the reincarnation of the two present Holinesses, he became responsible for their education. Thritsab Rinpoche also transmitted all the dharma teachings, empowerments and practices of the Drikung Kagyu lineage to the two reincarnated Holinesses and other Lamas. In the history of the Drikung Kagyu lineage, His Eminence Thritsab Gyabra Rinpoche can be considered one of the teachers who have made the greatest contribution to the Drikung Kagyu lineage.

The present Thritsab Rinpoche (the seventh reincarnation) was born in India on 10 February 1981. H.E. Thritsab Rinpoche was recognized by His Holiness Chetsang Rinpoche in 1986 and was officially enthroned on the 14th January (Tibetan calendar) in 1990. Following the footsteps of the great masters of the past, he did his three year retreat during the period 1996-1999 in order to undertake the task to benefit all sentient beings.

His Eminence Thritsab Gyabra Rinpoche took full monastic ordination in front of His Holiness Chetsang Rinpoche and other Khenpos and masters in 2001. In the same year, His Holiness Chetsang Rinpoche also announced that His Eminence Thritsab Gyabra Rinpoche would be representing him in handling all the matters in Drikung Kagyu Lineage in future.

His Eminence Nubpa Rinpoche TOP

The 12th His Eminence Nubpa Konchok Tenzin Rinpoche. After the Lord Buddha's teaching flourished in Tibet, the New Secret Mantra Doctrine developed. This Doctrine was based on the Lord Buddha's Teaching. The great translator, Marpa, developed the Kagyu lineage during this "New Secret Mantra Doctrine" period. The Kagyu lineage then flourished in Tibet. From this very lineage there have been many highly accomplished masters and yogis, such as the Great Yogi, Milarepa; Dagpo Rinpoche; and Phagmo Drubpa. The main disciple of Phagmo Drubpa was Lord Jigten Sumgon (1143 to 1217). He is the founder of the Drikung Kagyu Lineage. At the age of 37, Lord Jigten Sumgon established Drikung Thil Monastery, the head monastery of the entire Drikung Kagyu Lineage. Lord Jigten Sumgon had countless followers. Previously, a Dharma King of Tibet (blood lineage) had come from western Tibet {Ngari} to the Drikung region and had settled there. One of the descendants of this king took his novice ordination vows from Lord Jigten Sumgon. His name was Nangso Lhopon.

At that time, and up until this day, there were two sections in the Drikung Thil Monastic Community. One is known as Ling Tod, and the other as Ling Med, which literally means "upper continent" and "lower continent", respectively. Nangso Lhopon became the spiritual master of Ling Med. He guided the monks spiritually, as well as provided for their daily needs. During the lifetime of Nangso Lhopon, both Drikung Thil Monastic Communities had abbots, spiritual masters, and a disciplinarian.

The residential palace of Nangso Lhopon, "Nubpa Lhadrang", was located west of the main shrine hall of the Drikung Thil Monastery. He thus became known as Nubpa Rinpoche, which means "precious one of the west" in Tibetan. From Nangso Lhopan, or Nubpa Rinpoche, there has been a continuous line of reincarnations right up until this present age, which is known as the "Degeneration Era".

One of the reincarnations of Nangso Lhopon, Jamyang Rinchen, was born at the time of the 16TH Drikun Throne Holder, Gyalwang Kunga Rinchen (1475 to 1527). This Throne Holder, Gyalwang Kunga Rinchen, was recognized as the reincarnation of Lord Jigten Sumgon.

Jamyang Rinchen became the main disciple of Gyalwang Kunga Rinchen. As in his former life, Jamyang Rinchen again took care of and guided the monks at Drikung Ling Med. The important accomplishment of constructing Achi Prayer Hall (known today as Achi Khang) was one of his many virtuous deeds and activities.

Jamyang Rinchen's brother, Gonpo Gyaltsen, was the military commander of the Drikung region, while Gyalwang Kunga Rinchen remained the spiritual leader.

At that time in Tibet there were a multitude of regions, and with each region having its own king, battles were common. As military commander, Gonpo Gyaltsen had been involved in much warfare. He was responsible for defeating the opponents of the Dharma in the surrounding regions. He saved Drikung Thil Monastery and its contents of sacred Buddhist scriptures from destruction. During battle Gonpo Gyaltsen appeared to some in the form of the four-armed Mahakala, black faced and terrifying. He is therefore seen as a real manifestation of the four-armed Mahakala.

Gonpo Gyaltsen performed many great Dharma activities as well. He built the four-armed Mahakala statue at Nubpa Lhadrang, and during the consecration of this statue he offered his battle sword and placed it at the level of Mahakala's heart. Thereafter the Mahakala statue became very powerful and effective for those who worshiped there. In the past and to this day, there are many emanations of Mahakala in the form of black crows, snow lions, etc.

Nowadays we can see the natural body shape of these emanations on the rocks around the Mahakala Shrine Hall. A very special aspect of this four- armed Mahakala statue is that no particle of dust has ever settled on it; it remains perpetually shiny and clean -- a perfect representation of Divine Wisdom. Whomever sleeps even one night at the Nubpa Lhadrang is said to be blessed with what amounts to the Complete Accomplishment Practice of the four-armed Mahakala.

The two brothers have been reincarnates from that time until this "Degeneration Era". The present Nubpa Rinpoche is the reincarnation of Gonpo Gyaltsen, the emanation of four-armed Mahakala. He is also the reincarnation of the 11th Nubpa, Konchok Tenzin Mepham Gopo.

Our present Rinpoche, the 12th Nubpa Rinpoche, was recognized (while still in his mother's womb) by the 34th Drikung Throne Holder, His Holiness Shewe Lodro (1874-1945). Rinpoche was enthroned when he was only five years old and started formal studies at the age of six. He learned Tibetan scripture and ritual practices from Pasang until the age of 14. At 15, he joined the Sun-ray Garden Institute (Nyichang Shedra, located near Drikung Thil Monastery) for higher Buddhist philosophical and Tantric studies.

Nubpa Rinpoche has received all of the Drikung Protector initiations and transmissions from H.E. Lho Drongtul Rinpoche. He has received all of the Fifty Collections of Initiation, the Treasure of Kagyu Instructions, the Treasure Discoverer Yangzab teaching (by Gyalwang Rinchen Phuntsok), and the Yamantaka from Regent H.E. Tritsab Rinpoche, as well as the Nyingma Collection of Initiations from the previous H.E. Nyizong Tripa Rinpoche.

By 1959, Rinpoche had mastered the Chinese language. By 1966, due to the political changes in Tibet, he had learned the ways of the farmer. Returning to Lhasa in 1974, he found work as a stone mason, but in 1979, Rinpoche resumed his academic career as the editor of the magazine, the "Tibetan Buddhist Association". In 1989, under the arrangement of the 10th Pachen Lama, Rinpoche joined the Peking Buddhist College of Higher Studies and there received his academic degree.

Rinpoche always says that his time spent learning about Buddhist teachings was very precious, as were the oral transmissions he received from Pachung Vajradhara, Khenchen Jigmey Phuntsok, and Gyendun Gyatso, among others.

In 1992, he arrived in India to serve His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Trinley Lhundub, his root Guru, who was then working to preserve the Drikung Lineage. While there, Rinpoche became the supervisor for the re-publications of the 24th Drikung Throne Holder's, His Holiness Kunkhen Ringzen Chodrak's (1595 to 1659), fifteen volume compendium of transcribed oral instructions from the Tibetan Buddhist tradition {Kabum}. Rinpoche has received many authentic teachings and oral transmissions from those living and parinirvana masters.

Since that time, Rinpoche has conducted retreats whenever possible in Labchi, the holiest place of Yogi Jetsun Milarepa. These retreats involve an arduous, week-long journey by foot. Rinpoche made one extended retreat for more than three years and has since made four additional journeys there.
Today, due to Rinpoche's altruistic mind of enlightenment, over thirty practitioners have gathered on "conduct" retreats under his guidance in that holy place. As a result of his loving kindness and compassion, there are plans to build a monastery in Kathmandu, Nepal for the sake of all Dharma practitioners.

Venerable Drubpon Trinley Yeshi Rinpoche TOP

Drubpon Trinley Yeshi Rinpoche is the head retreat master at the Drikung Kagyu Institute in India. He was born in 1941 at Drikung Yangre Gar, near the village of Trolung. His father is Dang Drung and his mother is Dolma. At the age of 12 he took the novice monk vows from H.E. Thritsab Thubten Wangpo (the former Thritsab Rinpoche). Afterwards he became perfectly well trained on how to play ritual instruments, how to chant, perform ritual ceremony, and the traditional Lama dance. At the age of thirty he took the full ordination vows from late master Pachung Rinpoche; hence he has received many teachings from Pachung Rinpoche and his close disciple, fully ordained Tenzin Nyima Rinpoche. Under the guidance of Pachung Rinpoche and Tenzin Nyima Rinpoche he has perfectly completed his three-year retreat on the Five-fold path of Mahamudra and the Six yoga’s of Naropa at Drikung Thil Monastery. 

After his beloved Pachung Rinpoche went into the state of Dharmakaya, he has been able to construct a commemoration Stupa for his teacher. He has also performed many ritual ceremonies for his teacher through his body, speech and mind, uninterruptedly. Drubpon Yeshi Rinpoche is someone who was able to please his teacher with his enthusiasm in the practice of Dharma. For three years he has done a strict sealed retreat on Mahamudra, day and night.

During the year of 1992 Rinpoche came to India and during that same year he received all the Drikung Kagyu lineage empowerments and oral transmissions from various Drikung Kagyu masters, in particular from His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche during the Monkey Year teachings. He has also received teachings from different masters of Tibetan Buddhism from different lineages, in particular from His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Afterwards he went on a pilgrimage to the holy places of the Buddha in India, such as Boddhagaya and so on. After the completion of his noble activities in India he was about to go back to Tibet, then His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche asked him to stay back in India to lead the Three-year retreat for Rinpoche’s monks and nuns. Meanwhile His Holiness appointed Drubpon Trinley Yeshe Rinpoche as one of the head retreat masters in the Drikung Kagyu Lineage. At that time, he was also appointed as Dorzin (The representative of the head of lineage) for the holy place of Labchi by His Holiness the Chetsang Rinpoche.

For about two and a half years he did retreat at Labchi in Nepal, as well as his practice there he also led the Six Yoga’s of Naropa and the Five-Fold path of Mahamudra to some of the practitioners in Labchi. He also spent not less than one week at each of the holy caves of Milarepa around the Labchi area. Those are the caves in which once Milarepa himself meditated.  

After these noble activities he returned to the Drikung Kagyu Institute in Dehradun, India. Not long after his arrival in India, His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche asked him to lead the traditional three-year retreat, hands-on instruction from the late Drubwang Pachung Rinpoche.

In the year 1996, he led the traditional three-year retreat to twenty-three monks and nuns, including His Eminence Thritsab Rinpoche, Senge Tenzin Rinpoche, Lama Kunsang Rinpoche, Konchog Khandro, Lama Konchog Sangya Rinpoche and so on at Almora, India. He led the detailed retreat on the Five-Fold path of Mahamudra and the Six Yogas of Naropa hands-on instructions to his disciples. During this time he also offered the Five-Fold path of Mahamudra and the Six Yoga’s of Naropa instructions to His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche, afterward His Holiness went into retreat for one month in Almora. At that time His Holiness stressed to all the practitioners who were in three-year retreat, that Drubpon Yeshi Rinpoche is someone who has perfected his understanding in the pith instructions and practice.

After a successful three-year retreat, His Holiness highly praised Drubpon Yeshi Rinpoche for his excellent duty in guiding the three-year retreat in a very skillful and enthusiastic way. In honor of all of his noble activities within the past many years, his many years of sincere practice, and his realization His Holiness honored him with a compliment letter and a recognition letter of being an authentic retreat master within the Drikung Lineage.

TOP

Venerable Drubpon Jampa Rigzin TOP

TOP

His Eminence Dagpo Chenga Rinpoche TOP

His Eminence Dagpo Chenga Rinpoche (Rase Konchog Gyatso Rinpoche) was born in 1968 in the village below the monastery of Drikung Thil in Tibet. From his young age he revealed a virtuous personality as well as a sharp mind. In 1981 Drubwang Pachung Rinpoche (1901-1988) advised him to become a monk and gave him important teachings. He told him to study and practice The Four Dharmas of Gampopa and the Six Yogas of Naropa. Since then he studied under many great teachers. He was recognized as the 8^th incarnation of Dagpo Chenga (the heart-son /disciple of Gampopa) and carries the Tulku-name Konchog Tenzin Thrinle Lhündrup.

HE Dagpo Chenga Rinpoche studied at Drikung Buddhist College and at the Tibetan College in Lhasa. He also attended the Medical and Astrological College. He studied the Ten Aspects of Knowledge, as well as natural sciences, social sciences, and history.

Already as a young student HE Dagpo Chenga Rinpoche began writing papers on many subjects of Tibetan history and Tibetan Buddhism. Later he composed The Ornament of Gongchig, a praise of the famous Gongchig teachings of Kyobpa Jigten Sumgon (1143-1217) bestowed upon his disciple Chenga Sherab Jungne (1187-1241), as well as a refutation of criticisms brought forward against the Gongchig. He also wrote a book entitled The Mothers in the Land of Snows, about famous women in the history of Tibet. Of great importance is his book on The History of Drikung, containing the general and particular history of the Drikung lineage. Moreover he authored several short texts on Lord Jigten Sumgon, Achi Chokyi Drolma, Angon Rinpoche, a history of Drikung Thil monastery, an introduction to the Drikung sky burial ground (Durto Tenchag), and a booklet on the holy places in the Drikung area.

HE Dagpo Chenga Rinpoche also published texts on Buddhist studies, among those commentaries on the Fivefold Path of Mahamudra and on the Essence of the Three Vows. He compiled the daily rituals of Drikung in two volumes and authored a number of papers concerning special Drikung teachings, including a Phowa text of the Drikung tradition called The Color of the Rainbow.

Currently he is working on commentaries of approximately 30 root texts of the great masters of the Buddhist tradition. HE Dagpo Chenga Rinpoche’s writings are very precise, straightforward, and clear. This way he is working very hard for the benefit of Buddhism in general and the Drikung lineage in particular.

(Composed by Venerable Khenchen Konchog Gyaltshen Rinpoche, January 2007.)

TOP

Lama Kunsang Rinpoche TOP