Lineage Masters

Sasang Mati Panchen Lama whose dharma name was Ludro Gyaltsen, was born in Ngari. At four, he was already proficient in the Five Treatises of Maitreya. Besides being a renown scholar in Tibet, he was also one of the 14 disciples of Dolpopa who was one of Tsongkapa’s few gurus. Some of the literature written by this great master can still be found in the five great treatises today.

Jetsun Kunga Chokdrub studied the teachings of different Tibetan Buddhism traditions, and promoted the definitive meaning of other-emptiness and the Great Perfection (Dzogchen) teachings. He retreated for 12 years to practise the Six Yogas of Kalachakra intensively, and realised the Khechara and Rasayana when he attained stability of the lungs (oral transmissions). He also achieved mastery of life time. Records state that there was a time that he left his corporeal form to travel to the pure realm of Shambala, and returned only when he was 131 years old. Then, his fundamental subtle mind dissolved with the sphere of light (illusory body), and what remained was the non-differentiation in Kalachakra’s heart. One of his more renown student was Kunga Drolchok.

Prince Tingkye (Tingkye Gyalse), was also known by his dharma name – Yeshe Gyatso. He was born into the Tingkye royal family in 1584, and lived till 1632. He was recognised and enthroned by Taranatha as an incarnation of Sasang Mati, during which, Taranatha also acknowledged him as an emanation of himself. Prince Tingkye was extremely renowned, having studied the sutras and treatises of various Tibetan Buddhist traditions, including that of Sakya, Nyingma, and Gelug. He had retreated for 3 years and 3 months, during which he saw ten signs confirming that he had perfected the Kalachakra, which means he had achieved the ten aspects of freedom. Tingkye also wrote, and some of the topics he covered include the empowerment of the uncommon practices of Kalachakra, commentaries on Chakrasamvara and the six traditions, and the explanation of Madhyamaka.

Sasang Mati, Kunga Chokdrub and Tingkye Gyalse lived before the formal system of recognised incarnations was established in Tibet. The recognised line of Kathog Rigzin incarnations begins with Kathog Rigzin Pema Norbu. In his own work The Wish-Fulfilling Garland, Tsewang Norbu recounted a prayer concerning a previous life: “At Kham, what was special was the incarnation from Reke – the Unsurpassable Holder of Awareness Heruka; for the combined practice of the siddhis of view, and for the complete strength of the dharma, I requested from the noble Pema Norbu.” This clearly indicates that the noble one (the incarnation) was born in Reke Village, in the Kham region. Tsewang Norbu had received Dharma teachings and Bodhisattva Vows from Rigzin Dudrul Dorje; and studied the Path of the Bodhisattva, and did meditation with Rigzin Pema Lodro. Later, he did a retreat at the Nenang Hermitage for seven years, to meditate to arise

On the Prophecies of The Rigzin – Tsewang Norbu The most honourable and virtuous 2nd Kathog Rigzin Chenpo – Tsewang Norbu—widely known as Tsewang Norbu—was born in Tibet, more than 300 years ago. He upheld the Dharma for about sixty years, raising the sacred Dharma banner. Pure as snow, his deeds nourished the spiritual landscape like the mountain ranges of his homeland.  There are many wondrous and mystical accounts surrounding his birth. It is said that Guru Padmasambhava once prophesied: “South of Kathog Monastery, near the dwelling place of a mountain demon, there will live a wealthy family. The father is Ate Gonpo, and the mother, Tso, and a special child will be born to this family. He will grow up to become a sage, who is able to discern the laws of cause and effect, and realise the nature of emptiness. As an adult, he will neither be tall

It is recorded in a section of an ancient text that Tsewang Norbu had prophesied before he died, that Tsering Tashi would be his incarnation. Both the omniscient Sharma and His Holiness Drubchen Rinpoche also received this prophecy when they were in meditative samadhi. Pawo Rinpoche too, received this prophecy when he retreated in the rainbow cave in Kongpo (Gongpo).  Tsering Tashi Dondrup – an incarnation of a renown tulku;An awareness-holder of great wisdom; His house is in the centre of Southern Lower Tibet.He is an only child; his father Sherab, is a yogic practitioner;The door of the house faces the north; a window on the right; in front, a pond. His mother, Tsering;Lived in joy and great happiness.She made vast offerings to the great sages of this life –Countless tsog.Because of this marvellous act of generosity;His mother passed on to Blissful Pure Land.His father, a mantra yoga practitioner;Attained the realization

It was recorded in the Compendium of Works written by Dragkar Rinpoche that there would eventually be three emanations of the Rigzin Chenpo, being the body, speech and mind. (An emanation originates from the source, thus having the same mind-stream).  In addition, Tsewang Norbu wrote in the third volume of his collected works that, “In future, there will be 5, then 25, and then 108 emanations, to guide beings of residual times.” Indeed, there were three incarnations. One of them, Rigzin Chope Wangchuk, was recognised by Pawo Rinpoche. Because of the similarity in names, some people thought that he was the incarnation of Pawo Tenpe Wangchuk. This is incorrect.  The other two well-known ones are: Rigzin Pema Kunsang and Rigzin Lekyi Dorjie. Both of them were recognised by the renown Sharmapa as the incarnations of the body and mind of great sage of Kathog.  Rigzin Lekyi Dorjie was born in

Born in Golok, Jigme Rabten was recognised and enthroned by the Auspicious Heruka – Dudjom Lingpa, as an incarnation of his guru in a previous life. He was a yogi. He had married the daughter of the Chief of Chakchung when he came of age. So he wore white robes and also, kept his hair long. Some time later, the first Dudjom Rinpoche gave him a palm-sized copper statue resembling him, and said:  Emanation of Kahnapa, O Abhaya (fearless; Jigme in Tibetan);Your activities are like the sun, and the moon. You will expound the secret teachings continuously Inspired by this, Jigme Rabten studied under great masters such as Abang Rinpoche and Lingtrul Pema Lunggtok Gyatso. Later, he traveled to Kathog Monastery, where he received teachings and empowerments from two terma lineages, those of Dudrul Dorje and Longsal Nyingpo. At the same time, he also received empowerments and transmissions from both the

Kathog’s Awareness-Holder (Rigzin) – Padma Wangchen is a Mongolian descendent.  When he was young, Rinpoche was recognised by the great terton Khamtsang Rinpoche, Dragkar Rinpoche, Payul Monastery’s Karma Chakme Rinpoche, Jadral Rigtsal Rinpoche, Tulku Gopa Rinpoche, and others, as an incarnation of the Kathog Rigzin – Tsewang Norbu. Amongst his teachers, the first Thubten Norbu, was a father figure to him. He had tutored Rinpoche when he was 7 till he was 16. He taught him the Tibetan language, the different liturgies of Tibetan’s tantras, hand mudras, chanting, how to teach the dharma, how to recite verses, how to explain the dharma, about Tibetan medicinal herbs, sky/space dharma, and how to read scriptures. Through Thubten Norbu who was also a medical doctor, Rinpoche also received part of the very unique dharma of the Kathog Rigzin Chenpo (Tsewang Norbu), the ear-whispered lineage Chakrasamvara teaching of Taranatha lineage, and the secret teachings