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| H. E. IX Kyabje Drukpa Choegon Rinpoche,
Thutop Choekyi Wangchuk |
This ninth and present incarnation was
recognized at the age of three by H.H. 16th Gyalwang Karmapa. The
Karmapa presented H.E. 8th Kyabgon Khamtrul Rinpoche with three
letters detailing the precise location of Drukpa Choegon's
whereabouts, the house, his family names, and the year of his
birth. Kyabgon Khamtrul Rinpoche then along with many yogis visited
Rinpoche's yogic parents in the remote Himalayan region of Kinnaur,
where previous Choegon Rinpoche passed away. Both Rinpoche's parent
were ones of the many devoted disciples of previous Choegon
Rinpoche. His father is a remarkable yogi who have completed more
than 20 years of retreat in Dechen Choekhor Tibet under the
guidance of 8th Choegon Rinpoche.
Rinpoche was enthroned by his root guru,
8th Kyabgon Khamtrul Rinpoche at the age of six in Khampagar
Monastery, India. He then began his formal education and training
which included reading, writing, calligraphy, rituals, sand
mandala, visualization, and meditation. At 14 years of age,
Rinpoche was invited to Bhutan by Kyabgon Khamtrul Rinpoche. There
Kyabgon Khamtrul Rinpoche transmitted the complete teachings of the
Drukpa Kargyu tradition to him. Shortly thereafter Kyabgon Khamtrul
Rinpoche passed away in Bhutan at the age of 49. H.H. Kyabje Dilgo
Khyentse was still in Bhutan at that time, took on the mantle of
teacher until he passed away in 1991.
Rinpoche's 3 root gurus are H.E. 8th Kyabgon
Khamtrul Rinpoche, H.H. Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and H.E. 8th
Kyabgon Trulshik Adeu Rinpoche. Rinpoche's other
important teachers in this lifetime has been H.H. 16th
Gyalwang Karmapa, H.H. 68th Kyabje Je Khenpo of Bhutan, H.E. Kyabje
Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, H.E. Trulshik Choekyi Lodro
Rinpoche and H.H. Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche. On the advice of
H.H. Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse, Rinpoche completed many practices in
retreat including Vajrakilaya, Green Tara, Buddha Amitayus,
Vajrapani, Kurukulle, Padmasambhava etc. Whereas 8th Kyabgon
Trulshik Adeu Rinpoche has guided Rinpoche to
accomplish all the important practices and retreats
of the Drukpa Kagyu.
At the age of 19 Rinpoche began his studies in
philosophy which lasted for 9 years and at the age of 28 he
received the degree of Khenpo (equivalent to a PhD). Rinpoche
was then elected as the spiritual director of the community of more
than 600 Tibetans in Tashi Jong and the surrounding community.
During that time, he built a new school for the lamas, renovated
temples, provided financial support for the great annual pujas, and
helped secure a source of clean water for the community, improved
education of the monks, improved salaries of the lay workers and
inspired young people to work for the community. He also helped the
old and the needy, started a sponsorship programs, and provided
funds to help improve the medical clinic.
As with all His predecessors, the great
Lineage Holders of Drukpa Kagyu, Rinpoche is working tirelessly and
selflessly for the preservation and propagation of the authentic
teachings and essence of the Drukpa Kagyu Lineage. He has
organized and funded The Grand Empowerments and Transmissions of
Lineage's teachings by H.E. the 8th Kyabgon Adeu Rinpoche to all
Drukpa Kagyu Rinpoches, tulkus and monks in Tibet, Nepal and India.
In this way, as per the prediction of previous Choegon Rinpoche,
Kyabgon Adeu Rinpoche became the 46th Golden Rosary
Masters of Drukpa Kagyu.
Rinpoche is currently heading the
Drukpa Kagyu Lineage in various parts of the world, including
Nangchen and Tibet. He shoulders great responsibility to preserve
the purity and continuity of the lineage. Despite with the
conditions of his health, Rinpoche has never hesitate
to strive towards the noble aspiration of preserving the
authentic Dharma and the unbroken lineage of Drukpa Kagyu for
the benefit of all beings. He is engages with various Dharma
related projects including the re-building of Dechen Choekhor
Monastery - the mother monastery of great importance in Drukpa
Kagyu Lineage, and continue his efforts in preserving the lineage
sacred teachings, while working toward the establishment of nunnery
in Kinnaur, the place of his birth. Despite with limited funding,
Rinpoche has generously funded the renovation and preservation of
many old historical temples throughout the western Himalayan
regions and in Tibet.
Brief Introduction of Drukpa Choegon
Lineage:
The Lineage of Drukpa Choegon came into
existence in early 16th century when 1st Choegon became the
successor of Ngawang Choekyi Gyalpo, and then teacher to Drukchen
Pema Karpo and Lhatsewa Ngawang Zangpo.
The Drukpa Choegon Rinpoches, is one of, the
three most important lamas and lineage holder of Drukpa Kargyu
Lineage. He is an emanation of Vajrapani, and Rinpoche previous
lifetimes can be traced back to ancient India where he was the Lord
Shakyamuni Buddha´s disciple and personal attendant, Ananda.
The nearer sources of emanation of Drukpa
Choegon Rinpoche are King Indra Bhuti (the King of Oddiyana who
adopted Guru Rinpoche when he was a child), Mahasiddha Tilopa,
King Tri Ralpachen (one of the three great Dharma King of Tibet),
Lochen Verotsana (the great Tibetan translator in 8th century),
Rechung Dorje Drakpa (Milarepa's heart son), Palchen Galo (widely
known as Ga Lotsawa, the great Tibetan mahasiddha and
translator who visited India and brought back many precious
teachings to Tibet), Phuljung Samgyal Khache (the great
accomplished master of Mahakala practice) and Sangdak Namkha
Palzang.
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1st Drukpa Choegon Rinpoche
(1507)
Dorje Zinpa Choekyi
Gonpo, or widely known as Druk Shabdrung Choekyi
Gonpo was an emanation of Vajrapani. He was born in the early 16th
century, and later became the successor of Ngawang Choekyi Gyalpo,
the 23rd Golden Rosary Master of Drukpa Kagyu.
He was an accomplished practitioner and master
of Chakrasamvara, Vajrayogini, Vajrapani, Green Tara, and in
particular an accomplished master of the practice of the Four Armed
Mahakala, a key practice of Drukpa Kargyu tradition.
This inconceivable great master attained full
realization through his devotion to his guru and the practice of
the Buddhadharma. Because of his spiritual attainment, he is called
the Dorje Zinpa of Tsari, means the Lord of all Vajra Holders in
the sacred holy land of Tsari. His disciples included Lhatsewa
Ngawang Zangpo (1st Yongdzin Rinpoche) and Drukchen Pema Karpo who
saw him as inseparable from Padmasambhava.
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2nd Drukpa Choegon
Rinpoche
Dudjom Dorje, a
great Mahasiddha, was a disciple of Pema Karpo and Yongzin Lhatsewa
Ngawang Zangpo. The 2nd Drukpa Choegon spent most of His life
practicing in secluded and haunted places where he accomplished
perfect realization. This emanation renounced all worldly
activities and spent his entire life as a hidden Yogi.
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3rd Drukpa Choegon
Rinpoche
Jetsun Chokyi
Wangchuk, an accomplished master. This 3rd
incarnation was recognized by the 2nd Yongzin Kunga Lhundrup, the
teacher to 5th Dalai Lama.
He received teachings directly from various
deities, and later spent many years practicing in the sacred
retreat place of Tsari Chigchar (the Drukpa Kargyu retreat center
in a remote part of Tibet where every Choegon spent many years of
retreat there) until Vajrayogini appeared and instructed him to go
out into the world in order to benefit others.
His main disciple was the 3rd Khamtrul Kunga
Tenzin, and was root guru to 3rd Drukpa Yongzin Geleg Sherpa. The
3rd Drukpa Choegon instructed Khamtrul Rinpoche to go to Eastern
Tibet in order to propagate the lineage and benefit countless
beings. With the blessings of the 3rd Choegon and Guru Rinpoche,
the 3rd Khamtrul started His monastery Khampagar in Eastern Tibet
which later growth into more than 200 branch monasteries, and
became the main successor of the Dechen Choekhor Lineage in Eastern
Tibet.
The 3rd Drukpa Choegon completed the building
of Dechen Choekhor Monastery in His lifetime.
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4th Drukpa Choegon
Rinpoche
Thubchen Jamgon
Gyepa, a disciple of 3rd Yongzin Geleg Sherpa. This
fourth incarnation said to be blessed by Manjushri, and was an
extraordinary child. He recalled his past lives and was able to
read the lives of others.
He was an extremely learned Lama and spent his
entire life at Dechen Choekhor Monastery, dedicating much of His
life in preserving the teachings of the Drukpa Kargyu Lineage. He
had many wonderful disciples, including the renowned 4th Drukpa
Yongzin Jampal Pawo, an emanation of Chakrasamvara, renowned for
his vital instructions on Tsalung practice, one of the Six Yogas of
Naropa. He was also root guru to Drukchen Kunzig Choekyi
Nangwa.
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5th Drukpa Choegon
Rinpoche
Thubchen Jampal
Dorje, a great Mahasiddha. When He was a child, a
statue of Guru Rinpoche raised its hand and touched his head three
times, after this miraculous experience, the 5th Choegon was able
to understood the subtlest points of the Dharma.
As a highly accomplished Yogi, he founded a
number of branch monasteries throughout Tibet and the Himalayan
region. He trained many lamas, worked selflessly for the lineage
and benefited countless beings. His main disciple, the 5th Khamtrul
Rinpoche, Drubgyu Nyima, a renowned terton, was later enthroned as
his regent.
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6th Drukpa Choegon
Rinpoche
Chokzig Chokyi
Shenyen spent over 12 years in retreat in Tsari
Chigchar, and dedicated most of His life to preservation of rare
sacred teachings and Dharma texts. He would travel for days by foot
to Eastern Tibet in order to transmit the teachings; in this way He
visited over hundred monasteries in Eastern Tibet.
This incarnation founded several nunneries and
supported the female monastic tradition.
His disciples include the 6th Drukpa
Yongzin Sheja Kunchen and 1st Drubwang Tsoknyi Rinpoche.
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7th Drukpa Choegon
Rinpoche
Dorje Zinpa Shedrup Chokyi
Nyingye was a disciple of Ngedon Choekyi Gyatso.
Mahakala appeared to him in visions and with further study his
knowledge of the Mahakala tantra became extremely profound. He was
able to clarify the most subtle and profound teachings on Mahakala.
The Mahakala practice is one of the major practices in Drukpa
Kargyu.
This incarnation spent most of his life in
Eastern Tibet, selflessly and tirelessly working for the lineage;
has made enormous contribution to the Buddhadharma and left a
monumental imprint in the heart of the people of Tibet.
He had many superior students. Among them were
6th Khamtrul Tenpe Nyima, the 6th Adeu Rinpoche and Choje Sonam
Tenzin. In His later life, the King of Nangchen of Kham invited him
to Nangchen - a vast area of Eastern Tibet, and in there He spread
the teachings, further propagating the Drukpa Kargyu Lineage and
benefiting many beings.
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8th Drukpa Choegon
Rinpoche
Thutop Chokyi Gyatso
received the complete transmissions of the lineage from the 6th
Khamtrul Rinpoche, Tenpe Nyima, and then went into retreat in Tsari
Chigchar. He was well known for his devotion to his root guru and
it is said that he followed every instruction of his guru
perfectly. He diligently collected and preserved teachings of the
Drukpa Kargyu Lineage, and transmitted these sacred teachings and
transmissions to the most remote regions of Tibet and the
Himalayan.
During the Cultural Revolution, Rinpoche went to Kinnaur in India,
where he had many disciples, passing away in 1964 in his eighties.
Among his disciples were the 11th Gyalwang Drukchen, the 7th and
8th Khamtrul Rinpoches, 8th Trulshik Adeu Rinpoche, Drubwang Shakya
Shri, Pema Choegyal, Sengdak Rinpoche, H.H. Je Khenpo Kunleg of
Bhutan, Apo Rinpoche, 2nd Tsoknyi Rinpoche, Thuksey Rinpoche and
almost every Drukpa master that existed around that period of time.
It is due to his great kindness and exertion that the Drukpa Kargyu
Lineage flourishes today in Tibet, Nepal and India.
Today Drukpa Kagyu Lineage Holders are mainly
holding the lineage of 8th Drukpa Choegon Rinpoche. Thus he has not
only maintained the pure lineage but also became the embodiment of
Vajradhara.
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Acknowledgement: The above Choegon Rinpoche Incarnations statue
images are provided courtesy
of Nangchen Garh, Qinghai - Tsechu Monastery of Trulshik Adeu
Rinpoche
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