H.H. The Ninth Gangteng RinpocheH.H. The Ninth Gangteng ...€¦ · the revered Dzogchen master...

The Ninth Gangteng Tulku, Kunzang Rigdzin Pema Namgyal, was born in the region of Trongsa, Central Bhutan, in

1955 to noble parents: father Tshering Dorji, who was a descendent of the Tibetan King Trisong Deutsen, and mother Tshering Pelmo. The birth of the Tulku was preceded by numerous auspicious and miraculous signs such as the rainbow fi lled sky, untimely fl owering of trees and plants.

Before birth, when the Tulku was still in his mother’s womb, his mother saw a very auspicious dream in which boiling water turned to milk and many children were fetching water. She also dreamt that the sands and stones on the banks of nearby stream turned into white pearls and the water fl owing from one of the two openings on the shining cliff towards the north of the house turned to milk. When the Tulku was about a month old, while his mother was giving him the morning bath, to everyone’s surprise and amazement, a fi ve-colored rainbow was seen striking from the eastern direction onto the bath tub.

As a child, the Tulku often talked of the Gönpa and imitated actions of conducting blessings and teaching ceremonies. When he was about seven years of age, the Tulku was admitted as a monk in Trongsa Dratshang.

Having learnt the basics of reading and writing, he also mastered the inner and outer ritual practices, playing of religious instruments etc. During this time, Kunzang Pema Namgyal was recognized as the ninth successive Body emanation of Pema Lingpa by the l6th Karmapa Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche, H.H. Dilgo Khyentse, and other leaders of Vajrayana Buddhism.

Then the Tulku was enrolled in Tango Buddhist College, during which he received the secret Vajrayana teachings including the complete Sarma and Dzogchen teachings from Je Khenpo Tendzin Döndrup, Je Khenpo Geduen Rinchen and other noble teachers.

H.H. The Ninth Gangteng RinpocheH.H. The Ninth Gangteng Rinpoche

Gangteng Gonpa, the largest private Nyingma monastery in the entire Kingdom of Bhutan is

the traditional seat of the Gangteng Tulkus.

Yeshe Khorlo Dharma Society Malaysia

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Teachers & Recognized Masters of H.H The 9th Gangteng Tulku L-R: The 69th Je Khenpo Geduen Rinchen, The 16th Karmapa Rangjung Rigpe Dorje & H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.

At age of 16, Kunzang Pema Namgyal was formally enthroned as the 9th Gangteng Tulku at Gangteng Gonpa, the traditional seat of the Gangteng Tulkus. The young abbot then took charge as spiritual head of his domains: nineteen private Nyingma monasteries and hermitages (this number has since expanded to over 35).

The site of Gangteng Gonpa had been chosen by Pema Lingpa himself. Construction of the monastery begun in the early 1500s by Pema Lingpa’s grandson, the fi rst (1st) Gangteng Tulku, and the present form of the monastery was completed later by the second (2nd) Gangteng Tulku. Gangteng Gonpa is presently the largest private Nyingma monastery in the entire Kingdom of Bhutan.

Soon the 9th Gangteng Tulku began three years of personal study with His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche, the head of the Nyingma Lineage, during which period he received the complete set of initiations and teachings of the Pema Lingpa lineage from both H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche and H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. Each of these masters had received the initiations in Tibet and had carried the texts with them when escaping from Tibet.

Following this period of study, he spent eight years in almost constant meditation retreat under the tutelage of the former Je Khenpo Tenzin Dhöndup, widely

acknowledged as one of the most highly realized Dzogchen masters of our time.At that time he began intense teaching activity within his spiritual household in Bhutan, and also engaged in further years of study in Nepal with the revered Dzogchen master Chatral Rinpoche Sangye Dorje.

Then, in the mid-1980s, thanks to the encouragement and urging of his teacher, ex Je Khenpo Tenzin Dhöndup, the ninth (9th) Gangteng

Tulku resolved to visit the West and teach Dzogchen, the Ninth Yana of Great Perfection. On his fi rst excursions he traveled alone, without even a single attendant. His aim was both to enliven the Pema Lingpa lineage by sharing it with Western students, as well as to gather fi nancial support for the renovation of 400-year-old Gangteng Gonpa and for a host of other Dharma projects which he was initiating in Bhutan.

private Nyingma monasteries and

H.H Dudjom Rinpoche

gather fi nancial support for

old Gangteng Gonpa and

Je Khenpo Tenzin Dhöndup


Since emerging from yet another three years of solitary meditation retreat in 1992, Gangteng Tulku Rinpoche has been working ceaselessly to assure the survival of both the teachings and practices of the Pema Lingpa Lineage. Two three-year-retreat centers; an isolated Dzogchen three-year retreat center; a new monastery (Ogyen Ling) near his birth region in Trongsa; a nunnery and shedra, Pema Shedrup Choke Gatsheling, Pangkha, Wangdi for women; a highly-acclaimed university-level shedra are but some of the fruits of this intense period of Buddha-activity of the Gangteng Tulku.

Moreover, Rinpoche has founded the Yeshe Khorlo Centres and has been teaching and conferring empowerments, transmissions and blessings to students in the USA, Canada, Europe, Taiwan, Singapore, India and other countries, continuing to teach and inspire beings based on their capacity and merit. Currently we are proud to be linked with the 9th Gangteng Tulku Rinpoche with the formation of Yeshe Khorlo Dharma Society in Malaysia. We hope to also expand our role to propagate the teachings of His Holiness specifi cally the Pema Lingpa lineage, Nyingma Tradition of Bhutan.

Founded in 2000 by HH, the Pema Shedrup Choke Gatsheling is the fi rst shedra (Buddhist university) for women in Bhutan allowing them to receive traditional education on a par with the greatest Buddhist learning centers for men in all of India and the Himalayas.

Mission and GoalThe mission and goal of Yeshe Khorlo -The Wheel Of Primordial Wisdom is to cultivate the growth of the Buddha Dharma through three activities: Study and teaching (online Shedra) Accomplishing dharma practice Practical application through the work of helping and giving.

The “turning of the wheel of dharma” most commonly refers to the three turnings given by Buddha Shakyamuni. These were the teachings on the Four Noble Truths of suffering, the origin of suffering, the cessation of suffering and the path;the teachings on emptiness and Mahdy-amika or the Great Middle Way, and the teachings on Buddha Nature or Tathagatagarbha.

Estonia Ukraine Russia Singapore Hong Kong Taiwan Malaysia

Canada Mexico France Germany Switzerland Austria Poland Slovenia

Yeshe Khorlo has communities in:

the United States, the main center of Yeshe Khorlo is Choying Dzong, a Nyingma Buddhist retreat and meditation center located in Crestone, Colorado.

https://gangteng-rinpoche.org/yeshe-khorlo-


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The lineage of Pema Lingpa dates back to the 9th century, to the time when Padmasambhava, Guru Rinpoche, fi rst brought Vajrayana

Buddhism from India to the lands of Tibet and Bhutan. Guru Rinpoche’s vast activities there were of mythic proportion, and were the basis for the wheel of secret mantra to be turned. Though able to subdue pervasive negative forces–both cultural and mystical–in order for the doctrine to take hold, Guru Rinpoche could foresee obstacles that would hinder the Dharma in coming generations, when the teachings would become confused and separated from their essential instructions. To mitigate this, he blessed the region with termas (hidden treasure-teachings) to be revealed in the future for the benefi t of sentient beings. The most profound and subtle of these were the teachings on Atiyoga, or dzogchen.

During his time in Tibet, Guru Rinpoche prophesied who the tertons (treasure-revealers) would be, as well as the appropriate time and circumstances for the terma to be discovered. These esoteric teachings were secreted in the varied landscape of the Himalaya among the mountains, cliffs, trees, rivers, lakes and caves, as well as in the very mind streams of disciples who, as reborn spiritual masters, would be led to discover the terma through dreams, visions, and spontaneous realization. There have been many

hundreds of tertons up to this present day who have revealed thousands of these concealed teachings of Guru Rinpoche. Among them were the fi ve great Terton Kings, of whom Orgyen Pema Lingpa was the fourth Pema Lingpa.

In Tibet, the legacy of Pema Lingpa began with the death of Lacham Pemasel, the daughter of King Trison Detsuen, who died unexpectedly in her eighth year. Upon noticing the king’s great sorrow over his only daughter’s death, Guru Rinpoche drew princess Pemasel’s consciousness back into her body. When she had regained awareness, Guru Rinpoche transmitted to her the secret doctrine of the Khandro Nyingtig, or Heartdrop of the Dakini, and empowered her to reveal those teachings in a future life. He also blessed her from his heart and gave her the prophesy that in a future life she would be reborn as the Terton King Pema Lingpa, and she would reveal his hidden teachings related to the cycles of the three heart practices of The Lama Jewel Ocean, The Union of Samantabhadra’s Intentions, and The Great Compassionate One: The Lamp that Illuminates Darkness.

Princess Pemasel revealed the Khandro Nyingtig teachings and taught on them extensively in her next incarnation as Pema Lendreltsel, who

The Pema Lingpa LineageA concise account of the lineage and legacy of Bhutan’s greatest spiritual master

Pema Lingpa 5th Terton King Padmasambhava - Guru Rinpoche, The Second Buddha


The teachings founded by Pema Lingpa based on treasures revealed and empowerment received from Guru Rinpoche-Padmasambhava is commonly known as Peling. It falls under Nyingma sect, the old Buddhist School. Peling teachings are regarded as very sacred and extremely powerful for the followers to attain rapid enlightenment. It is also acknowledged as “nye jued terma” – meaning direct or short lineage of transmission of Buddha’s teachings. Peling teachings (revealed from treasures hidden by Guru Rinpoche and Khandro Yeshey Tshogyal are transmitted directly from Guru Rinpoche to Pema Lingpa and then to his followers; with no loss of essence and blessings.

The Peling Tradition, Bhutan

Pema Lingpa’s lineage is carried on through three lines of Body, Speech and Mind emanations: the Gangteng, Sungtrul and Tukshe Rinpoches

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Ancient Nyingma LineageSource :Picture from Xuanfa InstitutePema Lingpa

(1450-1521)

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Pema Lingpa manifested as Great Masters and Khandros 1. Lhacham Padmasel-Princess Pemasel(daughter of King Thrisong Deutsen) 2. Sangye Kyid (consort of Terton Nyangrel Nyima Odzer),

3. Jomo Padma Drolma (esoteric consort to the great Guru Chokyi Wangchuk)

4. Rinchen Dragpa,

5. Terton Padma Ledrel Tsal (Pema Lendreltsel)

6. Longchen Rabjam (1308-1364) (Longchenpa)


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later took rebirth as the great master Longchen Rabjampa (Longchenpa). Pema Lingpa was the direct and sole incarnation of the omniscient Longchenpa.

Longchenpa was called the “all knowing lord of the doctrine” because his understanding and explication of the dharma was so exquisitely vast and profound. Like Pema Lingpa, he could read and write easily by the age of fi ve. Before the age of twenty he had completely mastered all the Buddhist sciences of grammar and logic and his understanding of the teachings was beyond compare.

During a retreat at Rimochen in Chimpu, in his thirty-second year, the dakini Vajravarahi appeared before him and told the master that in his present life he would serve a great number of beings explicitly through the teachings of dzogchen, and that in his next life he would emanate in Bumthang as the one called Pema Lingpa in order to serve an even greater number of beings.Born amidst auspicious signs in 1450, in Bhutan’s Bumthang Valley, Pema Lingpa was a descendent of tantric practitioners of the Nyingma Lineage. As

a child he had a commanding demeanor and chose his course early. Learning was effortless, whether reading and writing or ironwork and carpentry. His formal religious training was not extensive, but from his early adult years onward his dreams and visions became the source from which he received instructions to extract 108 great treasures–texts and relics–throughout Bhutan and parts of Tibet and India. However, due to the karmic disposition of beings at that time, Pema Lingpa revealed only 32 of the prophesized treasures. The revealed treasures of Pema Lingpa contain the essence of all 108 treasures, which are summarized in the cycles of the three heart practices transmitted to Princess Pemasel by Guru Rinpoche (Lama Jewel Ocean, Samantabhadra’s Intentions, and the Great Compassionate One).

One of Pema Lingpa’s most renowned revelations happened in Bhutan at Mebartso (Burning Lake), where, with a large crowd gathered, Pema Lingpa leaped into the deep water with a burning

butter lamp in his hand, later emerging with a terma in one hand and the still burning butter lamp in the other. His profuse and enlightened activities magnetized a following treasures of Guru Rinpoche; meditating in isolated locations; giving empowerments and teachings; building and restoring monasteries; and generating a tradition that endures to the present day.

Today Pema Lingpa’s lineage is carried on through three lines of Body, Speech, and Mind emanations: the Gangteng, Sungtrul, and Tukse Rinpoches, all of whom currently reside in Bhutan. Gangteng Tulku Rinpoche, the founder of Yeshe Khorlo and Abbott of Gangteng Monastery, is the ninth Body incarnation of Pema Lingpa.

L-R: H.H. Gangteng Tulku Rinpoche, H.E. Sungtrul Rinpoche, H.E. Tukse Rinpoche

Credit: The primary source of information for this brief history is The Life and Revelations of Pema Lingpa, translated by Sarah Harding and published by Snow Lion. This book is highly recommended for a complete introduction to Pema Lingpa and his teachings.


The Great Terton Pema LingpaBrief of Terton PemaLingpa’s past incarnations

Terton Pema Lingpa was inseparable from Guru Padmasambhava throughout his rebirths and represented guru’s enlightened activity. In Nyingma tradition of Vajrayana Buddhism, Pema Lingpa is the most important fi gure next to/after Guru Rinpoche. He is often referred to as “Ugyen Padmey Gyaltshab” meaning the representative of Guru Rinpoche.

In the past, Terton Pema Lingpa manifested in the form of following great masters and khandros (consort):

1. Lhacham Padmasel (daughter of King Thrisong Deutsen),

2. Sangye Kyid (consort of Terton Nyangrel Nyima Odzer),

3. Jomo Padma Drolma (esoteric consort to the great Guru Chokyi Wangchuk),

4. Rinchen Dragpa,

5. Terton Padma Ledrel Tsal, and

6. Longchen Rabjam (1308-1364)

Great Longchen Rabjam equalled the Great six Ornaments and two supreme ones of the Nalanda University fame, in realization and knowledge. He was regarded as actual manifestation of the pinnacle of pundits of the land of Arayas, Vimalamitra.

He mastered in all the teachings he received and attained the victorious state of the primordial Buddha/protector, and exhibited an enormous enlightened activity by reaching the peerless teaching of Atiyoga (Dzogchen), benefi ting countless beings.

Longchen Rabjam passed away into the ultimate state of reality in 1364 leaving behind the following

prophecy:

My self- endowment shall bring satisfaction in othersMy emanated rebirth will benefi t Tharpaling

(the land of liberation)At that time, you all, the great disciples

I pray that we meet again and be relished with the joy of Dharma.

Terton Pema Lingpa and his role in the discovery and spread of Buddhism

87 years after the prophecy, Pema Lingpa was reborn but this time, as one of the fi ve King Treasure Revealers. Accompanied by wondrous signs and miracles, such as witnessing three sun rises, and pitching of rainbows, he was born to father Dhendrup Zangpo and mother Pema Drolma in 1450AD in Tang valley of Bumthang, Bhutan, corresponding to the 15th day of fi rst month of Iron Horse Year of the Bhutanese lunar calendar.

As an incarnation of the omniscient Longchen Rabjam, he demonstrated extraordinary talents from his childhood. Even without extensive formal learning he became profi cient in the art of writing and other artistry skills at a very young age. In 1476, when he was 25 years corresponding to the 10th Day of the Seventh Month of Fire Monkey year, he had the actual vision of Guru Padmasambhava who entrusted him with an inventory of 108 profound treasures. The fi rst treasure revealed by Pema Lingpa was the teachings of Secret Heart Essence of the Luminous Expanse (klongsal sangwa nyingchued) from Mebartsho (the burning lake).


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On the 24th Day of the Tenth Month of the same year, amidst a huge gathering of spectators at Mebartsho, he pronounced holding a burning offering lamp in his hand, “If I am the manifestation of devil, I shall submerge in this lake and if I am the spiritual son of Guru Padmasambhava of Odiyana, I shall interact/discover the desired wealth and emerge out of this lake with the lamp still burning”. Having wished, he jumped into the lake. As the crowd was waiting in disbelief and despair, Pema Lingpa emerged out of the lake with the lamp still burning and carrying the treasure of Buddha’s statue, and a sealed skull-cup fi lled with samaya substance on his other hand. This occasion roused fervent faith in him even amongst the disbelievers! Principally, the lake earned the name Mebartsho, burning lake from that day.

At the age of 32, on the 15th Day of the Fourth Month of Iron-Ox year, while sleeping, he had a vision where three fairies came to invite him with a white horse. He rode the horse and accompanied by the three fairies arrived at Zangdopelri (abode of Guru Rinmpoche). There he received the complete empowerments of the Ocean of Jewels of Lama’s Mind. At the same time Guru Padmasambhava granted him many other profound teachings and prophecies.

Besides revealing treasures and teaching which benefi tted sentient beings, he constructed and renovated many monasteries. Pema Lingpa constructed Tamzhing Lhendrup Choling (popularly known as Tamshing Monastery), Kunzang Drag, Dchen Ling in Bumthang; and Kunzangling in Kurtoe to name a few. He renovated and re-consecrated the monasteries of Samye, Lhodrag and Lhalung in Tibet; and Kenchosum and Jampa Lhakhang in Bumthang.

Terton Pema Lingpa attained nirvana at the age of 72, in 1521 AD (the 3rdDay of the First Month of Iron Snake year of the 9th Rabjung cycle) at Tamshing Lhundrup Choeling, after granting his last teachings to his students. His passing away was accompanied by wondrous signs and omens. Every person in Choekhor village heard the melodious sound of Jaling (religious fl ute) and cymbals that reverberated across the sky including shaking of the earth for a while. The sky was fi lled with rainbows and fl ower-drizzles.

As prophesised by Guru Padmasambhava in the following verse:

For the fl ourishing of his (Pema Lingpa)

teachingsAnd if his descendants were to exist through the future generations

His body should be concealed behind

the wall of hundred thousand statues…

Pema Lingpa’s kudung (physical remains) which got shrunk to an elbow length was preserved in a stupa made of an alloy of gold and silver; and was placed on the top fl oor of Tamzhing monastery. Later, for the benefi t of Buddha dharma and sentient beings it was shifted to Kheng Tagma, Zhemgang. Today the precious kudung is well-preserved at Yungdrung Choeling temple in Langthel,Trongsa. It was moved from Kheng Tagma to Yungdrung Choeling temple on the advice of 7th Sungtrul Rinpoche, Ngawang Choeki Lode for the stability and harmony of the country.

Pema Lingpa is the living vehicle to spread and continue Buddhism in Bhutan and beyond for the wellbeing and awakening of all sentient beings. Pema Lingpa not only revealed and spread the profound teachings of Buddha and Guru Padmasambhava, and left a continuing legacy of outstanding students and masters including his own ancestral lineage. List of Pema Lingpa’s outstanding students include Terton Chogden Gonpo, Terton Lethro Lingpa, Drupthop Choeje Kunga Legpa, Drupthop Karchen Kundrag, and the 7th Karmapa – Choedrag Gyatsho to name a few.

The world and Bhutan in particular is fortunate to have uninterrupted lineage of Pema Lingpa’s incarnations, his heart son Thuksey Dawa Gyaltshen and his heart grandson Gyalse Pema Thinley even to this day.

Contact: Yeshe Khorlo Dharma SocietyEmail: [email protected] Facebook: Yeshe Khorlo Dharma Society, Malaysia.Tel: Alex Lee +6012 220 2981 Sherwin +6016 323 6262

H.H. The Ninth Gangteng RinpocheH.H. The Ninth Gangteng ...€¦ · the revered Dzogchen master...

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