The Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism has been transmitted uninterrupted by highly accomplished lamas. This is especially true for the Drikung Kagyu lineage, founded by Kyobpa Jigten Sumgon, whose main student was Nyun Gar Chusum. More details of this line and its particular characteristics are described in "The Golden History of the Drikung Line".
Garchen Rinpoche is one of the most important Rinpoches of the Drikung Kagyu lineage. His line goes back to Gardampa, a student of the great Kyobpa Jigten Sumgon. Gardampa Chodengpa was the Minister of the Great King of Tibet, Songtsen Gampo.
Gardampa Chodengpa was born in 1180 and was recognized as the emanation of Bodhisattva Aryadeva, a disciple of Nagarjuna. Already at birth, he had the ability to hold a cane (possibly Vajrastab) and sing the six-syllable mantra. His mother was afraid to tell others his son's abilities. In his youth, Gardampa Chodenpa heard about the wonderful achievements of Mahasiddhas Kyobpa Jigten Sumgon. So he decided to go to Drikung Thil. There he stayed, received many teachings and practiced under the guidance of his guru Kyobpa Jigten Sumgon. Very soon he achieved the perfect achievement and became one of the three most important Mahasiddha students of Kyobpa Jigten Sumgon: Gar, Nyo and Chosum.
Gardampa showed his miraculous powers on many occasions and guided through his profound teachings innumerable beings in the Dharmapfad. In Kham he founded the monastery of Powo Lung and the monastery of Nagchen Gar.
When the Chinese princess Gyasa Köncho traveled to Tibet to marry the Tibetan king, she brought with her a great prayer wheel, known as Chokhor Gyanakma. She gave this prayer wheel Lonpo Gar, which was then hidden as a treasure (sacred secret). This treasure was later discovered by Gardampa Chodengpa. It is said that the great prayer wheel spins day and night without anyone moving it.
This extraordinary prayer wheel was raised and worshiped in the monastery of Powo Lung. Later, when the great Lama Gar Tenzin Phuntsok renewed the Nagchen Jangchub Choeling Monastery in Kham Nangchen, he took Chokhor Gyanakma to the place where he is worshiped today.
During the later incarnations of Gardampa Chodenpa, Gar Tenpa Gyaltsen became the regent of His Holiness the two Drikung Kyabgons, the lineage holders of the Drikung lineage. In this capacity, he worked for the benefit of all beings.
Another of his incarnations, Gar Choekyi Nyima, recited the Chakrasamvara Mantra more than 13 billion times and became a Mahasiddha. He was able to perform great miracles, such as curing diseases, preventing wars, avoiding famines, etc. One of Gar Choekyi Nyima's disciples, Chime Dorje, also obtained great siddhis and mastered the heat of yoga, the practice of Tummo. He left traces of his hand and his foot on a stone, which are still worshiped in the monastery. He gave many teachings to achieve the good of all sentient beings. From the first Gar Tenzin Phuntsok to the present 8th Gar Konchok Nyetön Tenpei Nyima, all successive Lamas were the highest personal gurus of the Nangchen kings.
Here is the biography of the present 8. Gar Konchok Nyetong Tenpei Nyima Choekyi Palsangye:
His Eminence was born in 1936 in Nangchen, Kham. The King of Nangchen personally assumed responsibility for the search for the reincarnation of the seventh Gar Tinley Yonkyab. Rinpoche was recognized and enthroned by his Holiness the last Drikung Kybgon Shiwei Lodro.
At the age of 7, Rinpoche was taken to Lho Miyalgon, where he was officially presented with ceremonial clothes and other ritual objects. He pointed to a photo of the founder of the Drikung line, Jigten Sumgon, and demonstrated his authenticity as reincarnation by saying: "He is my guru." This encouraged those present in their confidence that he was the true reincarnation. From then until the age of 22, Rinpoche lived in this monastery and got it.
Under Chime Dorje Rinpoche he received many teachings. At the age of 13, he received the teachings of the Drikung Kagyu line from Lho Thubten Nyingpo Rinpoche from Lho Lunkar Gön. He received oral transmissions, explanations and empowerments for Mahamudra and the Six Yogas of Naropa. He completed the Ngöndropraxis and entered a three-year retreat. Shortly before the end of this retreat, he was interrupted by political turmoil in Tibet. Rinpoche was interned in a Chinese forced labor camp for 20 years. In prison, he met Khenpo Münsel, an important student of the famous Nyingmapa Khenpo Ngagchung. From Khenpo Münsel he received the teachings of Dzogchen and practiced them in secret. Khenpo Münsel was amazed at Rinpoche's progress and praised him with the words: "
In 1979, his eminence was released. Since then he worries about the welfare of his monastery. He always shows kindness and helps the poor. He gives all the donations he receives to the monastery and decides not to use anything for himself, not even for his relatives or his mother.
In recent years, Garchen Rinpoche has assumed the responsibility of rebuilding all of the Drikung Kagyu monasteries in eastern Tibet. At the same time, he wholeheartedly dedicates himself to giving the teachings of the lineage to others. His zeal has impressed and touched even Chinese officials. His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche received the empowerment and transfer of the Yamatakra (Jampel Shinje) practice of Garchen Rinpoche and wrote a long-lived prayer for him. In this prayer, SHDrikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche recognizes Garchen Rinpoche as the great yogi Drikung Kagyu of our time.
His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche is very humble, affectionate and loving with all people, regardless of their position, age or gender. His advice for people who drink, smoke, play or other bad habits is very impressive and compelling. Quite naturally and spontaneously, he manages to work for the benefit of others, which has given him much public recognition. His Eminence has never left the expectations of his students or others unfulfilled. In this age of Kaliyuga (the dark age) he is truly extraordinary.
(This short biography was written by Rinpoche student Konchog Toga, Abo and Bu Nyima, in consultation with His Eminence, the current Rinpoche chef, and noted on September 17, 1997.)
Garchen Rinpoche is one of the most important Rinpoches of the Drikung Kagyu lineage. His line goes back to Gardampa, a student of the great Kyobpa Jigten Sumgon. Gardampa Chodengpa was the Minister of the Great King of Tibet, Songtsen Gampo.
Gardampa Chodengpa was born in 1180 and was recognized as the emanation of Bodhisattva Aryadeva, a disciple of Nagarjuna. Already at birth, he had the ability to hold a cane (possibly Vajrastab) and sing the six-syllable mantra. His mother was afraid to tell others his son's abilities. In his youth, Gardampa Chodenpa heard about the wonderful achievements of Mahasiddhas Kyobpa Jigten Sumgon. So he decided to go to Drikung Thil. There he stayed, received many teachings and practiced under the guidance of his guru Kyobpa Jigten Sumgon. Very soon he achieved the perfect achievement and became one of the three most important Mahasiddha students of Kyobpa Jigten Sumgon: Gar, Nyo and Chosum.
Gardampa showed his miraculous powers on many occasions and guided through his profound teachings innumerable beings in the Dharmapfad. In Kham he founded the monastery of Powo Lung and the monastery of Nagchen Gar.
When the Chinese princess Gyasa Köncho traveled to Tibet to marry the Tibetan king, she brought with her a great prayer wheel, known as Chokhor Gyanakma. She gave this prayer wheel Lonpo Gar, which was then hidden as a treasure (sacred secret). This treasure was later discovered by Gardampa Chodengpa. It is said that the great prayer wheel spins day and night without anyone moving it.
This extraordinary prayer wheel was raised and worshiped in the monastery of Powo Lung. Later, when the great Lama Gar Tenzin Phuntsok renewed the Nagchen Jangchub Choeling Monastery in Kham Nangchen, he took Chokhor Gyanakma to the place where he is worshiped today.
During the later incarnations of Gardampa Chodenpa, Gar Tenpa Gyaltsen became the regent of His Holiness the two Drikung Kyabgons, the lineage holders of the Drikung lineage. In this capacity, he worked for the benefit of all beings.
Another of his incarnations, Gar Choekyi Nyima, recited the Chakrasamvara Mantra more than 13 billion times and became a Mahasiddha. He was able to perform great miracles, such as curing diseases, preventing wars, avoiding famines, etc. One of Gar Choekyi Nyima's disciples, Chime Dorje, also obtained great siddhis and mastered the heat of yoga, the practice of Tummo. He left traces of his hand and his foot on a stone, which are still worshiped in the monastery. He gave many teachings to achieve the good of all sentient beings. From the first Gar Tenzin Phuntsok to the present 8th Gar Konchok Nyetön Tenpei Nyima, all successive Lamas were the highest personal gurus of the Nangchen kings.
Here is the biography of the present 8. Gar Konchok Nyetong Tenpei Nyima Choekyi Palsangye:
His Eminence was born in 1936 in Nangchen, Kham. The King of Nangchen personally assumed responsibility for the search for the reincarnation of the seventh Gar Tinley Yonkyab. Rinpoche was recognized and enthroned by his Holiness the last Drikung Kybgon Shiwei Lodro.
At the age of 7, Rinpoche was taken to Lho Miyalgon, where he was officially presented with ceremonial clothes and other ritual objects. He pointed to a photo of the founder of the Drikung line, Jigten Sumgon, and demonstrated his authenticity as reincarnation by saying: "He is my guru." This encouraged those present in their confidence that he was the true reincarnation. From then until the age of 22, Rinpoche lived in this monastery and got it.
Under Chime Dorje Rinpoche he received many teachings. At the age of 13, he received the teachings of the Drikung Kagyu line from Lho Thubten Nyingpo Rinpoche from Lho Lunkar Gön. He received oral transmissions, explanations and empowerments for Mahamudra and the Six Yogas of Naropa. He completed the Ngöndropraxis and entered a three-year retreat. Shortly before the end of this retreat, he was interrupted by political turmoil in Tibet. Rinpoche was interned in a Chinese forced labor camp for 20 years. In prison, he met Khenpo Münsel, an important student of the famous Nyingmapa Khenpo Ngagchung. From Khenpo Münsel he received the teachings of Dzogchen and practiced them in secret. Khenpo Münsel was amazed at Rinpoche's progress and praised him with the words: "
In 1979, his eminence was released. Since then he worries about the welfare of his monastery. He always shows kindness and helps the poor. He gives all the donations he receives to the monastery and decides not to use anything for himself, not even for his relatives or his mother.
In recent years, Garchen Rinpoche has assumed the responsibility of rebuilding all of the Drikung Kagyu monasteries in eastern Tibet. At the same time, he wholeheartedly dedicates himself to giving the teachings of the lineage to others. His zeal has impressed and touched even Chinese officials. His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche received the empowerment and transfer of the Yamatakra (Jampel Shinje) practice of Garchen Rinpoche and wrote a long-lived prayer for him. In this prayer, SHDrikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche recognizes Garchen Rinpoche as the great yogi Drikung Kagyu of our time.
His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche is very humble, affectionate and loving with all people, regardless of their position, age or gender. His advice for people who drink, smoke, play or other bad habits is very impressive and compelling. Quite naturally and spontaneously, he manages to work for the benefit of others, which has given him much public recognition. His Eminence has never left the expectations of his students or others unfulfilled. In this age of Kaliyuga (the dark age) he is truly extraordinary.
(This short biography was written by Rinpoche student Konchog Toga, Abo and Bu Nyima, in consultation with His Eminence, the current Rinpoche chef, and noted on September 17, 1997.)