His Eminence Namkha Drimed Rabjam Rinpoche was born in 1938 in
Tibet. From an early age, he would experience various verses of
spiritual teachings welling forth spontaneously in the expanse of
his awareness. His childhood games consisted entirely of playing
at conferring empowerments, explaining teachings, performing sacred
dances, and the like, for he was concerned solely with spiritual
activities. As the past life habit patterns established during his
previous lives became more dominant, Namkha Rinpoche began to sing
vajra songs day and night and he demonstrated in various ways the
uncontrived conduct of a spiritual master.
At the age of seven, His Eminence learned to read and write without
any difficulty, and he began studying with his father and with the
great terton Chojung Lingpa. His other masters have included authentic
and great holy beings who are upholders of the teachings of both
the ancient and the more modern schools of Tibetan Buddhism, without
any sectarian bias on His Eminence’s part. In particular, he
received teachings from His Holiness the fourteenth Dalai Lama;
His Holiness the sixteenth Gyalwang Karmapa, Rigpai Dorje; His Holiness
Dudjom Drodul Lingpa; and His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.
From all of these masters, Namkha Drimed Rinpoche received the boundless
nectar of the Buddhadharma, all the spiritual advice of the ancient
and more modern schools, of the long historical transmission and
the hidden treasure tradition. Especially, His Eminence received
the ripening empowerments, liberating teachings, and supportive
oral transmissions found in the collection entitled Rinchen Terdzo
(Treasury of Hidden Treasure Teachings), from Zurmang Trungpa
Rinpoche, Chokyi Gyatso. The two masters developed a close bond,
their minds merging as one.
From the age of eight, Namkha Drimed Rinpoche has had numerous
pure visions of Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava), who conferred on
him empowerments and spiritual advice beyond measure. Due to the
blessings he received on these occasions, His Eminence was granted
personal transmissions of a veritable ocean of profound hidden treasures
of enlightened intent. In addition, he has been graced with visions
of the Eight Manifestations of Guru Rinpoche, Hayagriva, Dorje Drolo,
Mahottara Heruka, Avalokiteshvara, the dakini Yeshe Tsogyal, the
divine consort Mandarava, and others from among the entire vast
array of peaceful and wrathful dieties of the Three Roots (Guru,
Yidam, Dakini). In particular, he has had repeated visions of Lord
Gesar -- the great Lion and Wish-Fulfilling Gem -- surrounded by
hosts of his spiritually accomplished kinsmen, receiving their blessings.
On the basis of this, he has codified the cycle entitled Rigsum
Norbui Gongdzo (Treasury of the Enlightened Intent of the Gem of
the Three Buddha Families), which is a very exalted and timely
spiritual teaching.
His Eminence Namkha Drimed Rabjam Rinpoche, as a sublime incarnate
master who ranks among the highest masters of awareness, continues
to bestow ripening empowerments, liberating teachings and spiritual
advice to countless beings who are to be guided in these ways --
in India, Nepal, Bhutan, and recently in other countries in both
the Eastern and Western Hemispheres, including the United States.
His activities of opening the doorway to the Buddhadharma in these
ways exemplify his immeasurable efforts to carry out enlightened
activities in any way that will guide beings. He thus ensures that
a rain of benefit and well being, in both the short term and the
long term, will fall in a vast range of realms, establishing beings
in the state of liberation.
His Eminence is a regent of the Lake-Born Lotus, Guru Padmasambhava,
in the world. He is a Terton, revealer of hidden treasures, an emanation
of one of Guru Rinpoche’s close personal students. He was Arye
Sale, consort to Guru Rinpoche’s primary disciple Yeshe Tsogyal.
Previously, in India, he was Sariputra, one of Buddha Shakyamuni’s
top two disciples. Also he was Kukuraja who received a personal
transmission of the tantric teachings concerning the supreme secrets;
and as the Master Mahahumkara, he accomplished Samyak, the diety
of enlightened mind.
In Tibet, the Land of Snows, his lineage of rebirths includes Namkhai
Nyingpo, the monk of the Nub clan; the master of awareness Gyalwa
Chokyang; and Rechung Dorje Drakpa (Rechungpa), the heart son of
the venerable Milarepa who established the Kagyu monastic lineage.
In the Kingdom of Lingtri Karmo in eastern Tibet, he was reborn
as Dongbumpai Gyatsa Zhalkar, the Chief Lord amongst the multitude
of the warrior king Lord Gesar’s spiritually accomplished kinsmen.
He was Gesar’s brother. He was also Gyalwa Gotsangpa, an accomplished
master of the Drukpa Kagyu school.
In particular, Namkha Drimed Rinpoche was reborn as the omniscient
Longchenpa, often referred to as ‘The King of the Dharma’,
the famous Great Perfection master whose writings are studied today
by Dzog Chen practitioners. As Longchenpa, he was the great helmsman
of the teachings of the supreme spiritual approach of utter lucidity.
Longchenpa is commonly recognized as the greatest thinker and most
brilliant mind ever to arise within the Nyingma School of Buddhism
Among the hundred or more great tertons who were emanations of
Guru Rinpoche’s personal students, His Eminence was Tangtong
Gyalpo. Among the thirteen great Tertons who revealed hidden treasure
teachings of the Vajrayana approach, His Eminence was Mingyur Dorje
Drakpo Nudentsal; also the fourth sublime Taksham incarnation Padma
Gyepai Dorje; as well as the incarnation Lord Padma Deje Rolpa of
Ripa. In later times he was Do Dhyentse Yeshe Dorje, a powerful
lord among accomplished masters, and the great and exalted Padma
Lingpa, who was a magical emanation of the bodhisattva of supreme
compassion. The great master of Orgyen, Guru Rinpoche, who knows
the Three Times, clearly attested in his vajra prophecies to the
pure rebirths that His Eminence would take.
In these times of spiritual degeneration, Namkha Rinpoche has taken
rebirth as an expression of the innately compassionate and timeless
awareness of, at one and the same time, Guru Dorje Drolo Tsal, Arya
Sale, Gyalse Lhaje, and most especially the great lion Lord Gesar,
Norbu Dradul Tsal. His Eminence’s father was Jigme Tsewang
Chokdrup Dulay Namgyal Palzangpo, an emanation of Guru Dorje Drolo
and the third generation in the line of the gurus of Ripa. His mother
was Palden Tsomo, the daughter of Dronkar, who was in turn the daughter
of the powerful and accomplished master Drupwang Shakyi Shri. Their
son was born amid marvelous signs on the tenth day of the twelfth
month, Gyal, in the Earth Hare Year.
Rinpoche’s monastery in India is Rigon Thupten Mindrolling.
He also is now in the process of restoring his monastery in Eastern
Tibet, Rigon Tashi Cholin, largely destroyed by the Chinese. During
the Chinese cultural revolution of 1959, he led thousands to safety
in India, where he eventually settled in Orissa and built a monastery
and retreat center.
He is renowned for his Gesar of Ling divinations. This special
form of divination was transmitted by Lord Gesar and uses arrows
to predict the future. It is known within Tibetan Buddhism as the
most accurate form of divination.
Gyetrul Jigme Rinpoche was born at sunrise on October 15, 1970.
His father, Namkha Drimed Rabjam Rinpoche, is the supreme head and
lineage holder of the Ripa Monastery. His mother, Chimed Dolkar,
also descends from a noble family.
From his early childhood, Jigme Rinpoche displayed spiritual tendencies.
Jigme Rinpoche was recognized by H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche, the Head
of the Nyingma School, as the reincarnation of Gyetrul Pema Yonten
Rinpoche, the lineage holder and head of the largest monastery Ogmin
Ogyen Mindolling, in the Pedmakod region of Tibet, who was a reincarnation
of Padma Lingpa. Among the Great Tertons, or spiritual treasure
finders, five are particularly prominent - known as the "Five
Kings of the Tertons"- of whom Padma Lingpa was one.
At the age of 5 years, Jigme Rinpoche was ceremoniously enthroned
on the seat of the Ripa Thupten Mindolling Monastery in the presence
of Anzing Rinpoche and His Eminence Namkha Drimed Rabjam Rinpoche.
When he was 6 years old, he was admitted to the local school and
later attended High School in Darjeeling where he acquired his knowledge
in the practical modern studies. Jigme Rinpoche excelled in his
studies and was able to do well in school even with his spiritual
duties and commitments to his monastery. At the age of 17, Jigme
Rinpoche studied at the Buddhist College Institute of Ngagyur Dodjoe
Ling, which was founded by Khetsun Sangpo Rinpoche. At the Institute,
Jigme Rinpoche studied and practiced the teachings of Tantra and
Sutra. In 1993, Jigme Rinpoche graduated from the Institute with
a Doctorate of Philosophy, 1993. Simultaneously, at the conclusion
of his Doctorate, he also received the major transmissions of the
Nyingma tradition. His masters include: H.H. the Dalai Lama, H.H.
Dudjom Rinpoche, H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, H.H. Drugchen Rinpoche,
Dungse Thinley Norbu Rinpoche, Lama Kalu Rinpoche, Khetsun Sangpo
Rinpoche and his Uncle Anzing Rinpoche.
After concluding his studies at the Institute, Jigme Rinpoche returned
to the Ripa Monastery to receive the unique and profound teachings
from his father, Namkha Drimed Rinpoche. From these teachings, Jigme
Rinpoche was able to receive the complete cycle of "Tagsham
Nudan Dorjee", which is the main body of the spiritual practices
of the Ripa lineage. Jigme Rinpoche also received the rediscovered
teachings of H.E. Namkha Drimed Rinpoche, called the "New Treasures
Cycle", which consists of the complete Enlightened Warriors
Path, based on the life and teachings of the Enlightened Tibetan
King Gesar. Under the guidance of H.E. Namkha Drimed Rinpoche, Jigme
Rinpoche successfully put into practice the "New Treasures
Cycle" and became highly accomplished. He therefore was initiated
and authorized to begin teaching these practices for the benefit
of others.
At the age of 23, Jigme Rinpoche began a teaching tour of Europe,
America and Japan. During his tour his teachings benefited many
people and he established new Dharma centers in these countries.
In the Tibetan settlement, at the Ripa Monastery, Jigme Rinpoche
organizes the annual "nyungne" ceremony, which is a great
opportunity for lay practitioners to accumulate merit. Jigme Rinpoche
also gives Dharma teachings to the younger generations to help guide
them so they will a clear understanding of the purpose and meaning
of life.
Gyetrul Jigme Rinpoche is the 7th Successor to the Ripa family
lineage throne. His father is the living Terton Namkha Drimed Rinpoche.
In this way several lineages and traditions of Tibetan Buddhism
are united in the person of Gyetrul Jigme Rinpoche. As the Abbot
of Rigon Thupten Mindrolling Monastery in Orissa, India, Gyetrul
Jigme Rinpoche is the supervisor of the monastery's retreat center
as well as the initiator and supervisor of several worldly developmental
projects concerning the welfare of the Tibetan Refugee camps in
the area. For instance, these projects include the Phuntsokling-Water
Project in Orissa which has been very successful and now provides
water to approximately 4,000 families. Jigme Rinpoche's huge commitment
to the health of the people in his community inspired him to improve
the state of the water condition of the Tibetan settlement. Realizing
that the poor water quality was the main source of illness in his
community, Jigme Rinpoche tirelessly engaged his European, American
and Asian students to help contribute funds, knowledge and materials
to help build a process for purifying the water in the settlement.
Other compassionate projects of his also include grants for gifted
students, monk sponsorship program, child sponsorship program, and
many more.
He has founded several Padma Ling centers in Europe (Switzerland,
France, Germany, Spain, Luxembourg), as well as a center in Japan.
Rinpoche's openness and humor make his teachings and instructions
a lively experience, connecting the timeless truth of Buddhism with
a contemporary understanding of modern life.
In the 17th century, the Tantric mystic Pema Deje Rolpa was born
to a revered Terton, or discoverer of visionary treasures, named
Terton Rigzin Shiney Dorje and his consort Sangyum Kyimotso. Recognized
as the reincarnation of the highly accomplished Tantric master,
Ripa Pawo Tinley Dorje, Pema Deje Rolpa spent years following in
the footsteps of his predecessor, wandering in solitude from one
power place to another. As spiritual realizations dawned within
him, his realization and spiritual accomplishments became widely
acclaimed. He became simply known as "The Ripa Lama";
ri meaning mountain and pa, dweller, or "the
one who dwells in mountain solitudes". Pema Deje Rolpa made the
wilderness his companion and as his biography notes; "He took
air for his food and dressed in clouds". Carefree and fearlessly
awake, the Ripa Lama was ultimately inspired to benefit countless
beings by sharing his profound spiritual experience.
Guided in a vision by Padmasambava, Pema Deje Rolpa journeyed to
a valley in Tibet's eastern province of Kham called Nyima Puk, the
"Valley of the Sun". In that exalted setting, he witnessed
dragons- symbols of power, grace and magic- rising into the sky
with resounding roars. With this auspicious sign, he laid the foundation
of "Rigon Tashi Choeling", which became the main seat
of the Ripa lineage in Tibet.
In the beginning of the 19th century, Jigme Tsewang Chokdup, the
5th Ripa lineage holder, fulfilled a prophecy made by Padmasambhava
by marrying a highly accomplished yogini named Sangyum Palden Tsomo,
the granddaughter of Drubwang Shakya Shri, one of Tibet's greatest
living saints. Their union brought a powerful spiritual potency
to the Ripa tradition, and further established its commitment to
encouraging high spiritual attainments among the non-monastic community.
It also led to the birth of the present Ripa throne holder, His
Eminence Namkha Drimed Rabjam Rinpoche, a living Terton who has
discovered and codified volumes of hidden spiritual treasures.
In brief, the Ripa lineage of revealed treasures represents a unique
system that combines the monastic virtues based on the Buddhist
Sutras with highly developed Tantric skills that bring forth a profound
spiritual awakening or awareness that is yet direct and easily accessible.
The methods of the Ripa lineage are based on the capacity and capabilities
of each individual being for reaching higher spiritual attainments.
This vision became the hallmark of the Ripa lineage.
The Ripa lineage developed during the lives of successive hereditary
masters. In Tibet, the tradition flourished until the Chinese invasion
with more than 500 monks and nuns in residence at Rigon Tashi Choeling
and a community of tens of thousands of lay practitioner and supporters.
An equal number of wild animals mingled freely amongst the monastic
centers, retreat places, and caves. The main practices of the Ripa
tradition are based on the Taksham Terma cycle of revealed teachings
and the new cycle of H.E. Namkha Drimed Rinpoche's own visionary
revelations. The New Treasures Project in Nepal seeks to restore,
preserve, practice, and share this unique tradition, and is named
after the original lineage seat in Tibet: "Rigon Tashi Choeling".
