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(in alphabetical order)[
Venerable Khenpo Konchog Gyaltshen Rinpoche][
Venerable Ontul Rinpoche][
Venerable Traga Rinpoche]Garchen Triptrul Rinpoche is a Drikung Kagye lama who was known in the thirteenth century as the Siddha Gar Chodingpa, a heart disciple of Kyobpa Jigten Sumgon, founder of the Drikung Kagyu lineage. In ancient India, he had incarnated as Mahasiddha Aryadeva, the lotus-born disciple of the great Nagarjuna. In the seventh century, he was known as Lonpo Gar, the minister of the Tibetan Dharma King Songtsen Gampo.
His present emanation appeared in 1936 in eastern Tibet and was recognized and enthroned by the former Drigung Kyabgon Zhiwe Lodro.
At the age of seven Rinpoche was brought to Lho Miyal Monastery. There, in a room full of status, he was asked to identify his lama. Pointing to a statue of Kyobpa Jigten Sumgon, he said, "He is my lama." Thus, he was recognized as the true holder of the Garchen throne. From the age of eleven, Garchen Rinpoche lived at and administered this monastery.
Studying and practicing under the direction of the Siddha Chime Dorje, he received vast and profound instructions on the preliminary practices (ngondro), the fivehold practice of mahamudra and the six yogas of Naropa. Then, at the age of twenty-two, after completing a two and a half year retreat, he was imprisoned for twenty years during the political turmoil of China’s Cultural Revolution.
While in the labor camp, Rinpoche received all Dzogchen teachings and meditation instruction from his root lama, the Nyingma Khenpo Munsel, Enduring hardship and practicing secretly, Garchen Rinpoche realized the lama’s inconceivable wisdom mind. His accomplishment was greatly impressed by his teacher and praised by this teacher that there is no doubt that Rinpoche is the actual emanation of a great Bodhisattva.
Since his release from prison in 1979, Garchen Rinpoche has made great effort to rebuild the Drikung Kagyu monasteries of eastern Tibet and to reestablish the precious Dharma teachings there.
He is presently involved in the establishment of a monastic college at Gar Monastery and two boarding schools for the children of nomadic families. He is also engaged in a variety of projects to restore Gar Monastery to its former glory. In the United States, Rinpoche has recently established Ari Gar Zangchup Choling and Drikung Mahayana Centers for the teaching and practice of the buddhadharma.
His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche, "a great Drikung Kagyu yogi of the present time" praised by His Holiness Chetsang Rinpoche and is respected by many Tibetan lamas as a pure and realized master. An accomplished practitioner of Mahamudra and Dzogchen. Rinpoche’s radiant presence inspires and delights students as the loving mother gathers her children close with sheltering, loving, encouraging, admonishing, laughing, inviting, prodding, teaching, reminding, singing…
Always Rinpoche seemed to teach that specific meaning for which one’s own heart yearned. And always his teachings and his example were both brilliantly inspiring and deeply satisfying – showing us the ideal, giving us skillful means by which to realize it. Through teachings on Nature of Mind and Mahamudra, the Vajra Songs of Milarepa, limitless aspiration prayers offered for all beings, Tummo and Guru Yoga practices, the Refuge and Bodhisattva lay ordinations, and teachings on Bodhisattva activity through cultivating the Four Immeasurables and the Thirty-Seven Bodhisattva Practices, Rinpoche poured out the lineage nectar: devotion, compassion, Muhamudra.
It is a very rare opportunity in samsaric lives to meet a genuine Bodhisattva/Buddha. To be able to serve an authentic teacher who can guide us on the unmistaken Dharma Path, it is not only due to the cause and condition from our past accumulated merits, the future is also depend on the cause and condition of what we do in this life. We should all preserve this precious human life and such rare opportunity to keep to our hearts of dharma practices and develop the faith toward the authentic dharma teachers.
If you are interested in learning more of H.H. Garchen Rinpoche’s activities and schedule, please visit the World Wide Web at
www.Garchen.com.
Venerable Drubwang Konchok Norbu Rinpoche
Venerable Drubwang Konchok Norbu Rinpoche was born in Drikung, Tibet in 1921, Rinpoche became a disciple of Drubwang Pachhung Rinpoche, one of the foremost meditation masters of the Drikung Kagyu Lineage. He spent many years of meditation in retreat under the guidance of his guru. After China’s Cultural Revolution, Drupwang Rinpoche meditated in solitary retreat for another ten years. It was during this period that he attained the realization of Mahamudra, the pristine, unelaborated state of mind.
On the tenth day of Saga Dawa all the buddhas and bodhisattvas rejoiced. Here in 21th century America the monastic and bodhisattva sanghas gathered together among all the objects of refuge to make vast prayers of aspiration at the consecration of American Gar Dharma Island of Enlightenment (Garchen Triptrul Rinpoche’s established dharma center in AZ) in year 2000. Garchen Triptrul Rinpoche and the lamas who were among the assembled guests – Ven. Lamchen Gyalpo Rinpoche, Tulku Chenga and Ven. Traga Rinpoche.
The consecration marked the first day of Ven. Drubwang Konchok Norbu Rinpoche’s visit to the Island. It was the day when prayers of aspiration made in former lifetimes ripened in the continuum of Drubwang Rinpoche. It was the day that all dualistic fixation was severed and he realized he would never again return to cyclic existence.
Although it was not perceivable by our obscured minds. Rinpoche’s gross body, composed of the four elements, was dissolving into space as he spoke. The photographs taken that day clearly show the brocades on the throne behind his translucent form. For a lama to speak of and demonstrate his realization in this way is indeed rare.
Drubwang Rinpoche then blessed the TMC with five days of teachings as part of his U.S. tour. The most memorable teachings were those urging us not to eat meat as an expression of compassion for our fellow sentient beings. Almost all members of the assembly pledged to him that they would never eat animal flesh again! He had also transmitted the essence of mahamudra through his silence teachings of the four Dharma teachings of Gampopa, which was later praised by Khenpo Konchog Gyaltshen Rinpoche that it was the first time that he had transmitted the essence in this way through the public teachings in the U.S..
It was with a mind of compassion that Drubwang Rinpoche spoke these words of encouragement from the other shore:
"The first very signficant visionary insight I had was when I saw two white ‘mahayana bells.’
These two symbolized my actualization of Mahamudra and the Great Perfection. You all have the same opportunity of attaining similar realization. Accumulate merit and purify your obscurations. At every stage of rebirth, you should climb higher and higher up the ladder of realization. Then finally reach enlightenment
Thus, like the sunlight that illuminates everything without discrimination, Drubwang Rinpoche encouraged us all – Eastern and Western, young and old, male and female, monastic and lay vowholders – on the path of enlightenment. We beheld in our midst a jewel that radiated the common and supreme siddhis – a mirror in which we glimpsed our own enlightened potential.
Ven. Khenpo Konchog Gyaltshen Rinpoche
The village of Tsari and the area surrounding it is considered to be one of the most sacred places in Tibet. It was there that Khenpo Konchog Gyaltshen Rinpoche was born in the spring of 1946, and it was there that he spent his early years.
In 1959, because of the political situation in Tibet, Khenpo Rinpoche fled to India with his family. The family then settled in Darjeeling, where Rinpoche began his education. Even at a young age, he was an excellent and dedicated student, and he was able to complete his middle school studies in less than the average time.
At about this same time a new university, the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, opened in Varanasi, India. Determined to be among its first students, Khenpo Rinpoche traveled to Varanasi in October 1967 to seek admission. He then began a mine-year course of study that included Madhyamika, Abhidharma, Vinaya, the Abbisamayalankara, and the Uttaratantra, as well as history, logic, and Tibetan grammar. In early 1968, he had the good fortune to take full monastic ordination from the great Kalu Rinpoche, and, shortly after graduating from the Institute, he received teachings from the Sixteenth Gyalwa Karmapa on the realization songs of the Indian mahasiddhas.
Even after completing this long and arduous course of study, Khenpo Rinpoche wanted only to deepen his knowledge and practice of the Dharma. With the same intensity that he brought to his earlier studies, Rinpoche sought out and received teachings and instructions from great Buddhist masters. One was the Venerable Khunu Lama Rinpoche, with whom Khenpo Rinpoche studied two works of Gampopa: The Jewel Ornament of Liberation and The Precioud Garland of the Excellent Path. Rinpoche’s studies with the Venerable Khunu Lama also included mahamudra and many of the songs of Milarepa.
Maintaining a balance between theoretical understanding and the practice of meditation, Khenpo Rinpoche began a three-year retreat in 1978 under the guidance of the enlightened master Khyunga Rinpoche. During this time, he was able to deepen and enhance his understanding of The Fivefold Path of Mahamudra and the profound Gong Chik text of Lord Jigten Sumgon. He also received many other transmissions.
In 1982, the force of karma and the requests of many practitioners combined to bring Khenpo Rinpoche to the United States. Since that time, Rinpoche’s compassion and dedication to the Dharma have taken him to all parts of the world. Rinpoche now travels tirelessly, giving teachings and organizing Dharma centers. He has translated all the major Drikung Kagyu meditation practices, and, because of his efforts, Western students are mow able to read and perform the Chakrasamvara, Vajrayogini, Guru Yoga, Chod, Green and White Tara, Chenrezik, Medicine Buddha, and other practices in their own language.
Wanting the teachings of Dharma to reach as many people as possible, Khenpo Rinpoche has quickly adapted himself to Western forms of communication. He has made appearances on television, been a quest on many radio programs, lectured extensively at colleges, universities, prisons, and spoken to the public through countless newspaper articles.
A skilled and dedicated translator, Rinpoche has published four books before this: Prayer Flags, In Search of the Stainless Ambrosia, The Garland of Mahamudra Practices, and The Great Kagyu Masters. A sixth book, a new translation of The Jewel Ornament of Liberation has been released for public. In this way, Rinpoche has been able to make important texts available to the public and to provide his students with a thorough and systematic training in the Dharma.
In 1985, Khenpo Rinpoche traveled to the main seat of the Drikung Kagyu lineage, Drikung Thil, in Tibet. There he was able to receive personal blessings, as well as instructions and transmissions of mahamudra and the Six Yogas of Naropa, from the enlightened master, the Venerable Pachung Rinpoche.
As a public figure, Khenpo Rinpoche continues to write, to translate texts, and to teach whenever requested. He recently returned from the Drikung Kagyu Institute in India, where he taught the Gong Chik to a group of about ninety monks and nuns. With the financial assistance of friends and students worldwide, Rinpoche was able to print 1,700 copies of the Gong Chik and to distribute them to the students of the Institute. In 1996, Rinpoche printed and distributed 1,500 copies of Essence of the Mahayana Teachings by Ngorje Repa, an important disciple of Lord Jigten Sumgon.
When Khenpo Rinpoche met His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche in March 1997 in Tucson, Arizona, he strongly urged Khenpo Rinpoche to visit his monastery in Tibet and give teachings to all the monks and nuns there. Bearing that request in mind, Khenpo Rinpoche started his journey to Tibet in August of that same year. On the way, he stopped in Europe to give teachings at various Dharma centers. Then he stayed at the Drikung Kagyu Institute near Dehra Dun, India for three months, where he taught the Essence of the Mahayana Teachings and other important subjects. Since many people requested it, he also visited Malaysia and Taiwan to bestow empowerments, lead retreats and give public talks.
Finally in May 1998, he was able to go to Gar Monastery. First, he gave teachings to the monks and nuns in three-year retreat there. Then Khenpo Rinpoche taught the Jewel Ornament of Liberation and the Fivefold Path of Mahamudra. He also visited six other Drikung Kagyu monasteries, and gave many teachings to the monks, nuns and local lay people. He explained to all the different people he met the importance of studying and practicing the precious Dharma teachings. During the winter, for about four months, he gave teachings on Gong Chik and the Essence of the Mahayana Teachings. In this way, many monks and nuns were greatly inspired to further their study and practice.
In October of 1999, Khenpo Rinpoche returned to the Tibetan Meditation Center
in Maryland. There he reorganized the Center, and started a five-year program of instruction.
Remembering the struggles of his early years, Khenpo Rinpoche inspires and supports monks, nuns, and laypeople in their practice of the Dharma and is always ready to assist them in whatever way he can. To all, he gives of himself freely. With his heart and mind turned firmly towards the Dharma, he compassionately and with great patience shows the way.
If you are interested in learning more of Ven. Khenpo Rinpoche’s activities and schedule, please visit the World Wide Web at
www.oocities.org/tibetanmeditationHis previous incarnations are connected with Drikung Orgyen Nuden Dorje, a great discoverer of hidden teachings (gter ston) of the last century. He was well known as an emanation of Nyan Ban Tingdzin Sangpo, a great master at the time of the 8th-century Tibetan emperor Thri Song Detsen.
The elder brother of Nuden Dorje and first Ontul was Kungsang Drodul. He was born into a noble family lineage in the village of Zalmo Gang in Kham province of Eastern Tibet. The 5th Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche Thugje Nyima (1828-1889) recognized him to be the emanation of Brog Ban Khiu Chung Lotsawa, one of the twenty-five main disciples of Guru Padmasambhava. Since Kunsang Drodul was the elder brother of Orgyan Nuden Dorje, his successive incarnations are known as Ontul, which means "the incarnation of the elder brother."
Ontul Rinpoche was born in Kham Nangchen in Eastern Tibet in the year 1950. His family lineage is called Gope, or also Pebon Thogtrul, which is one of the thirteen noble family lineages which are again explained as stemming from the inner lineage of Lodan Nyingpo, who is one of the four ancient Tulkus of the Bon religion, before Padmasambhava’s time.
In 1954, His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche and His Holiness the Gyalwa Karmapa recognized him as the incarnation of Ontul, and he was given the name Konchog Tenzin Thrinle Rabgye Palzangpo. Accordingly, in the same year he was enthroned in the Monastery Dong Med Ogmin Thubten Shedrub Ling. Lama Kalsang Namgyal, the attendant of his previous incarnation, took the responsibility for giving him his basic education such as in reading and writing, reciting texts, etc.
In 1959 when the Chinese Communist army occupied Tibet, rinpoche and his tutor Kalsang Namgyal left his home monastery and, together with many monks and people of their villages, they began their flight from Tibet to India. On the way they experienced terrible thirst and hunger, and they were constantly threatened by the Chinese soldiers. In spite of many difficulties, they managed to cross the Tibetan border and arrived in India through Nepal. Life in India was also not easy because they did not have a place of their own to settle down. They were forced to wander from place to place for almost fourteen years.
In India, again Rinpoche met Drikung Khadro Neni Rinpoche (mkha’ ‘gro or dakini signifies a highly realized female yogi). She introduced Rinpoche to Ven. Khenpo Thubten, a great Nyingmapa teacher. The first teaching which he received from the Khenpo was an extensive instruction on the Longchen Nyingthig Ngondro practice. Later he received teachings from Khenpo Thubten on several important texts.
On different occasions he received Mahamudra and Dzogchen teachings from H.H, Dudjom Rinpoche, H.E. Khunu Lama Tenzin Gyaltsen, H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, H.E. Kalu Rinpoche and others. From the yogi Khyung Ka Rinpoche, he received teachings and his personal instructions on the Fivefold Profound Path of Mahamudra. In the years which followed, he went to Ladakh where he received most of the important empowerments, instructions and oral transmissions of the Drikung Kagyu tradition from H.E. Choje Togden Rinpoche. He spent several years in Ladakh and traveled with Togden Rinpoche extensively in Ladakh to visit several Drikung monasteries with him.
After coming back to India, in 1971 he bought a piece of land at Tso Pema (Rewalsar, H.P.) from the donations which he received from the people of Ladakh. With the help of his monks Rinpoche managed to construct a monastery on this piece of land. Tso Pema means the "Lotus Lake", and this is one of the sacred places where Guru Padmasambhava demonstrated his miraculous powers. The purpose of his exhibiting miracles on that place was to subdue the king and the people of that region, which was then known as Sahor.
It took many years for Rinpoche to complete the monastery with the sacred objects, ritual instruments, and other necessary things. Now the monastery is almost complete and nearly thirty monks are residing there, maintaining the tradition of the Drikung Kagyu.
In 1978 H.H. Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche recognized the 7th incarnation of the Terton Ogyen Nuden Dorje and gave him the name Konchog Lhundrub Nyendrag Namgyal. At that time the young Tulku was only three years old. In 1980 he was enthroned as the spiritual head of our monastery. At present he is studying at the Drikung Kagyu Institute in Dehra Dun, U.P., India.
In 1983 Rinpoche made a journey to central Tibet and Kham, his first visit to Tibet after escaped in 1959. First he reached Lhasa and then after making a short visit to Drikung Til, he traveled to his monastery in Eastern Tibet. It was one of the bigger Drikung monasteries in that area and it is located close to his birth place.
During the Cultural Revolution the main monastery was completely destroyed. Through the effort of three Tulkus (Tulku Thupnying, Gyaltsep Tulku, Tulku Phuntsok), and Lopon gonjam, monks, and the local people it is being rebuilt now, some parts have already been completed. There are about one hundred monks, some of them are in retreat of "Chagchen Ngaden". Since Yogi Pachung Rinpoche passed away, they are guided by his main disciple, Ven. Gelong Tenzin Nyima.
In this area Rinpoche almost six months attending several ceremonies in his monastery, giving empowerments and teachings to the monks and local people. He also initiated "Vajra Khilaya Dupa" (annual ritual) in their monastery and since then it is done for ten days annually. Their Monastery has several branch monasteries, among them Bumang Monastery. Their Rinpoche died during the Cultural Revolution. His reincarnation, now eleven years old, was recognized by H.H. Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche and at present is studying in Drikung Kagyu Institute, Dehradun, U.P., India. Our monastery also has one branch nunnery which was destroyed completely by the Chinese communists. Since 1993 it is under reconstruction and some nuns are practicing Dharma there.
From Kham, Rinpoche returned to Drikung in Central Tibet in the autumn of the same year. At Drikung Til monastery Rinpoche had the opportunity to meet Yogi Pachung Rinpoche. From him he received oral transmissions and teachings, which Rinpoche, together with Ven. Gelong Tenzin Nyima, repeated thoroughly and then practiced.
During this time Rinpoche met H.H. Drikung Kyabgon Chungtsang Rinpoche who was residing at Lhasa. After staying in Drikung for a period of nearly three weeks, he came back to their monastery at Tso Pema in Northern India.
Dharma Activities by Ven. Ontul Rinpoche
Venerable Ontul Rinpoche holds transmissions of the Drikung Kagyu tradition as well as of the Nyingma tradition. His lineage originated in the 19th century in Eastern Tibet under the spiritual guidance of the Drikung Terton Orgyen Nuden Dorje. To maintain these transmissions, Rinpoche established the Ogmin Thubten Shedrub Ling Minastery in Rewalsar (H.P.) which is traditionally called Tso Pema ("Lotus Lake") by Tibetans.
According to His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Rinpoche’s intention and to fulfill his own aspiration, Venerable Ontul Rinpoche came to Eurpoe in 1988 for the first time to teach the Dharma. Since then, in order to meet the wishes and needs of Dharma groups, communities and individuals for the Buddha-Dharma on different levels, Venerable Ontul Rinpoche has regularly traveled into various parts of Eurpoe, Asia and Australia during eight years, and spread his extensive profound activities.
In Eurpoe, Rinpoche has regularly been invited to Germany, Austria, Italy, and slovenia.
Preparing Foundations:
As a foundation for the practise, Rinpoche successively taught the gradual approach to Buddhist practise:
Lay-Practitioners’ precepts (Upasakasamvara):
In 1988, Rinpoche granted this teaching, being a skillful means as an antidote against the ten unwholesome deeds. Rinpoche also emphasized the importance of ethical discipline as a basis for approaching all other Dharmas, when he taught from the "Gong Chig", the main work of the Great Kyobpa Jigten Sumgon.
Development of Bodhicitta:
In order to awaken the disciples’ motivation for enlightenment and for benefiting all sentient beings, Rinpoche granted various teachings on Bodhicitta and transmitted the Bodhisattva vows.
Preliminary Practices:
Rinpoche explained in detail the different steps of outer and inner Ngondro, especially from the Drikung-Kagyu Ngondro. A brief text named "Stream of Blessings" for these practices was composed by H.H. Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche especially for western students and presented by Ven.Ontul Rinpoche. Rinpoche also gave teachings from the Nyingma preliminary practises as taught in Patrul Rinpoche’s "The Perfect Words of My Excellent Teacher" (Kunzang Lame Zhal Lung).
Teachings on the Gradual Path (Lamrim course):
According to the wishes of H.H. Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche, Ven. Ontul Rinpoche started the Drikung Kagyu Study Group in Hamburg, Germany, in 1991 and conducted a six year course about "The Essence of the Mahayana Teaching" by the Great Kyopa Jigten Sumgon’s main disciple, the yogi Shedang Dorje or Nyolje Relpa, also called Balpu Gingpa. The course was given for one month every year until 1996. Now Rinpoche wishes and plans that the disciples continue by engaging in the Chag Chen Ngaden Path (Mahamudra).
Further Activities:
Among the variety of teachings and practices of the Kagyu and Nyingma tradition, Ven. Ontul Rinpoche granted:
. the "Drikung Phowa"
. the "Precious Garland of the Unsurpassable Path"
. the "Method of Beggars for the Accumulation of Merit" (Chod)
. "Relative and Absolute Truth"
. Development and Completion Stage (Kyerim and Tsogrim)
. "Bardo Teachings"
. teachings and retreat on "Dream Yoga"
. Dzogchhen Teachings
. Fivehold Profound Path of Mahamudra
Rinpoche has also given a great number of empowerments.
Being non-sectarian in his approach, Rinpoche also followed several invitations to give public talks on subjects of general interest and to speak in school classes and children groups.
Furthermore, Rinpoche has given a great number of individual instructions and advice during question and answer sessions. Rinpoche continues to give public talks when requested as well as being available for interviews for advice and personal instruction.
Rinpoche will return home to Tso Pema in the middle of November, 2000.
If you are interested in learning more of Ven. Ontul Rinpoche’s activities and schedule, please visit the World Wide Web at
www.lotuslake.org.Translated by Tashi Jamyangling
Traga Rinpoche was born on the 15th day of the 8th Tibetan lunar month in 1954. His father was a great tantric yogi whose ancestry traced back to Jangdak Tashi Tobgyal Wangpoi De and, therefore, to Rigzin Godem (1337 – 1408). Rigzin Godem was the discoverer of Northern Treasures of the Nyingmapa school – a key figure in the Nyingmapa lineage.
Jangdak Tashi Tobgyal and all his sons in all parts of central and eastern Tibet spread the Jang Ter teachings of Nyingmapa, and brought about peace and prosperity in all regions of their dharma activities. Jangdak Tashi Tobgyal’s son, Lama Zhabdrungpa (b. 1580), who was the reincarnation of Rigzin Godem, founded the famous Dorje Drak Nyingmapa sub-school in central Tibet.
Traga Rinpoche’s mother was a true wisdom dakini—a lady free of all faults. It was said that there were very special signs when Traga Rinpoche was conceived. When he was born, both parents gave the baby special attention.
When the child was four years of age, the seventh Lhotul Khakhyab Dorje recognized him as the reincarnation of his lama, Togden Tsondrue Tharchin. Lhotul Khakhyab Dorje also cut his hair and gave him refuge ordination.
Because of political and social unrest in Tibet, there was no opportunity then to enthrone the child reincarnate and teach him Dharma. But the boy was, by nature, disinclined to committing non-virtuous deeds. Whenever he saw poverty, sickness and pain, the young incarnate wept.
When Traga Rinpoche was 13, he began his Tibetan language class and very quickly surpassed all his classmates in writing and reading. From the age of 18, Traga Rinpoche studied Tibetan medicine for eight years in addition to Tibetan language. During this time, he also taught Tibetan language to his peers.
At age 24, the demise of his uncle’s wife brought about a strong sense of wanting to renounce layman’s life. Two years later, Traga Rinpoche traveled to Lhasa and went to see the statue of Jowo Shakyamuni. The instant that the statue of Buddha Shakyamuni was within reach, Traga Rinpoche pressed his forehead against the wish-fulfilling Jowo Shakyamuni and from the very depth of his heart prayed that he be freed, in this very life, from the bondage of household life. He then vowed to free himself it. That night he saw a wonderful dream: he hosted two victory banners on the roof of his house.
From this point on, Traga Rinpoche vigorously sought out and practiced teachings. While in Lhasa, he received teachings on Sakya Lakshey and Zhen-pa bZhi Bral (Abandonment of the Four Graspings) from Khyentse Choekyi Lodro’s disciple, Rabten Khenpo.
From Garchen Rinpoche, Traga Rinpoche received teachings on all Drikung Kagyu texts on regular dharma service and practice, the five-fold Mahamudra, the entire Yangzab teachings, and many profound pith instructions.
After his return to Eastern Tibet in 1979, Traga Rinpoche did his Yangzab retreat at Lho Miyel Gon monastery. Soon he went to see Drubchen Karma Norbu in Lhathog, Kham who gave Traga Rinpoche the novice ordination, Dakpo Rinpoche’s Deity Propitiation, empowerment and teachings, and the introduction to the essence of Mahamudra.
In early 1984, Traga Rinpoche when to see Khenpo Munsel and received full gelong ordination. After this, he did his 500,000 Longchen Nyingthig preliminaries of Rigzin Jigma Linpa there. Khenpo Munsel then gave the detailed teachings on Dzogchen Khregs Chod (Cutting Through the Resistance to Primordial Purity). The day the true nature of mind was introduced to Traga Rinpoche, Khenpo Munsel sat with his back straight and asked Traga Rinpoche to follow suit. When the absolute true nature of mind was introduced, Traga Rinpoche was dumb-founded. Like a mute who cannot express the sweet taste of honey, Traga Rinpoche experienced that which has no description!
Khenpo Munsel gently looked at Traga Rinpoche and said,
"Your karmic propensity is to practice Dzogchen. I am your karmic lama. If you can meditate, you have today found the way to liberation in one life. You will never find something like this even if you went to look for it with your horse’s hooves encased in steel. Spend one year near me and meditate."
Traga Rinpoche was deeply touched by Khenpo Munsel’s kindness – so much more than the kindness of the Buddha himself. At that time, Traga Rinpoche felt that all his obscurations, accumulated in many eons, were instantly cleansed. Then he broke down and cried.
For the next seven years, he went on retreat near Khenpo Munsel, and propitiated deities. During this period, he also practiced Khregs-Chod (Cutting Through), Thod-rGal (Passing Over), Khenpo Ngagchung’s teachings, Klong-Chen mZodbDun (The Seven Treasures of Longchenpa [1308-1393]), Mi pham teachings, gNug Sems sKor gSum (The Natural Mind), rZa dPal sPrul bKa’ ‘Bum (Collected Works of Za Paltul), bDud "Dul (mara subjugation), Klong gSel (Tantra of Luminous Expanse of Dzogchen), Rinchen gTer mZod (The Great Treasury of Precious Termas).
Furthermore, at the age of 36 in 1990, after receiving many empowerments and transmissions from lamas and khenpos in the area, Traga Rinpoche made his way to see Khenchen Jigme Phuntsog. For 100 days, Traga Rinpoche received teachings from Khenchen Jigme Phuntsog and meditated. Some of the teachings/empowerments received included mKha’ ‘Gro sNing Thig (Dakini Heart Essence) teachings, Rigpa’i rTsal dBang (awareness-expression empowerment), Khregs Chod (written by Khenchen Jigme Phuntsog himself). After the Khregs Chod teachings, Khenchen Jigme Phuntsog said to Traga Rinpoche:
"I believe that this dharma teaching is not going to let you down. Two disciples of mine who received this teaching have reached rainbow body."
With undying faith in and devotion to the lama, Traga Rinpoche built religious objects such as stupas, as a mark of gratitude, in many power places of religious significance for dharma and its progress. He then conducted many dharma gatherings of the lay people and led recitation of Amitabha and Chenrezig mantras.
Around that time Traga Rinpoche also received Ning-ma bKa’-ma’I dBang (orally transmitted teachings from the tantras) and oral transmission from Adeu Rinpoche and Khamtul Rinpoche. From Sangye Tenzin Rinpoche, he received various empowerments and pith instructions.
Two years later in 1992, Traga Rinpoche went to Chamdo. There Khenchen Karma Tseten asked Traga Rinpoche to give oral transmissions to the monks and nuns of Trachog Gon monastery. Rinpoche transmitted the Seven Treasures of Longchenpa to over 100 monks and nuns. He also transmitted dPal sPrul bKa’ ‘Bun, the Life and Songs of Milarepa, and the teachings of Khenpo Ngagchung to those who asked for them. Afterwards, Traga Rinpoche was named "lung lama" or transmission lama by the khenpos and tulkus of that monastery.
From Chamdo, Traga Rinpoche went back home to Miyel Gon monastery. There he went on retreat for a month and later from Togden Jadrel Tsultrim Namdak received teachings on Marpa, Mila and Gampopa Propitiation and empowerments, Kongtul’s Advice, and Six Yogas of Kamtsang.
A year later, Rinpoche went on a Deity Propitiation and Recitation (Lha sGrub) retreat. At the end of the retreat he headed toward Drikung Thel in Central Tibet where he received Drikung phowa (transference of consciousness) teachings. There he met Lopon Tenzin Nyima and received teachings on the Five-fold Mahamudra and Six Yogas of Naropa. After this, Traga Rinpoche went on a year-long retreat.
The next year was spent on visiting various religious sites all over the country and meditating, and establishing connections. At Drikung Tara Yonten Gon monastery, Traga Rinpoche transmitted the Seven Treasures of Longchenpa. To the lay people he transmitted Thardo (Pratimoksha Sutra) and daily prayers.
In December of 1993, Traga Rinpoche came to India via Nepal, and stayed at Jangchup Ling monastery where Traga Rinpoche met His Holiness Drikung Chetsang Rinpoche. He received from His Holiness Chakrasamvara empowerment and transmission of Five-fold Mahamudra called ‘od Zer sKor gSum (Three Cycles of Light-rays by Dakpo Tashi Namgyal). His Holiness especially gave him gDams Ngag Srog Gi ‘Khor Lo (Wheel of Life Scripture), one of 18 major Scriptures of the Mind Section of Dzogchen. His Holiness asked him to return to Tibet and be the retreat master of Lho Miyel Gon Monastery. Traga Rinpoche also received teachings on dGongs gCig and rGyud bLama (Uttaratantra, the "Unexcelled Continuity" by Maitreya). He, in return, gave oral transmission of Milarepa’s Life and Songs, Chags Me Ri Chos (Retreat practice written by Karma Chagmey Raga Asya [1613-1678]), and Padma bKa’ Thang to monks and nuns.
In 1994, Traga Rinpoche went to Lapchi and meditated there for one year. This power place is special because Milarepa meditated there.
When he returned to India, Traga Rinpoche saw Drukpa Kagyu Lama Khentse and received teachings including the Six Yogas of Naropa, Mahamudra Preliminary in the Drugpa tradition, and transmission of the Answers to Phagmodrupa and Dusum Khyenpa’s inquiries.
From 1979 to 1996, Traga Rinpoche lived in poverty – a sacrifice that he cherishes a great deal and looks forward to making again.
In 1996, the Drikung Kagyu Sutrayana and Tantrayana Center invited him to Taiwan. There Traga Rinpoche sometimes taught Taiwanese students and did household chores for the center between his daily prayer sessions.
In 1998, Lamkhyen Gyalpo Rinpoche -- determined to make Traga Rinpoche’s vast knowledge and profound experiential understanding of the highest level of Dzogchen teachings accessible to as many students as possible – enthroned Traga Rinpoche as "Lopon Rinpoche" (Precious Master), with lavish praise for his hard work and outstanding achievements. This gave Traga Rinpoche a great deal of encouragement and inspiration to benefit as many beings as he possibly can.
Traga Rinpoche’s current initiatives are: to strive to rebuild his monastery in Tibet; improve the hearts and minds of people; eradicate illiteracy in Tibet and towards that end, start schools for both youth and adults; and promote Buddhist learning.
Sarva Mangalam
If you are interested in learning more of Ven. Traga Rinpoche’s activities and schedule, please visit the World Wide Web at
www.Garchen.com
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Last updated on 3/24/01
Garchen Triptrul Rinpoche 
Venerable D. Ontul Rinpoche