"I teach one thing and one thing only,
suffering and the end of suffering.”."
- The Buddha
A Concise Biography of Lhatse Wöntrül Pema Rigdzin: A River in Summer
Homage to the incomparable Lord Orgyen Dorje Chang,
Sangye Yeshe Damgya Zhangthrom,
Yeshe Gyaltsen, Jigme Kalzang, and others,
The direct and lineage gurus.
The supreme heart-son of Padmakara, the crown ornament of a hundred families,
Manifests in various emanations in the perception of disciples in the great land of Tibet. I respectfully bow to the intentionally emanated forms.
The supreme lord of the ocean-like treasury of scriptures and realization,
The unparalleled jewel-like body endowed with qualities in the three realms,
The friend who subdues the enemy of ignorance in the minds of beings,
I pray to the feet of the glorious guru.
Paying homage with devotion and offering flowers of ten fingers of my hand to the direct and lineage gurus, such as the Lord of the Doctrine, the Buddha Bhagavan, and Orgyen, the Second Buddha, I open the vast path ahead. What I am about to describe is the biography of Lhatse Öntrül Pema Rigdzin, the Victorious One in All Directions. Firstly, regarding his birth year and birthplace: In 1968, on the 11th day of the third Tibetan month, he was born into the Lhatse Gyangra clan in the Gyasho village of Serpa region, Serthar County. He was born into the Lhatse clan, which was considered a noble lineage and counted among the great families during the time of the three ancestral dharma kings of the Buddhist royal dynasty. This clan, Lhatse, is one of the eighteen great branches of the Mugpo Dong, one of the five original great clans of Tibet.
During the Tibetan Empire period, as a tribe as important as the right arm, they originally resided in Nyangyul. During the time of king Songtsen Gampo, an emanation of Avalokiteshvara, troops were dispatched to Gyalrong in the east to protect the eastern regions. They settled in the area under the jurisdiction of the King Trokyab of Gyalrong, in a place called Serkhog, in the lower part of Serthar County, where the Blue Serchu River flows. The family once gave birth to quadruplet brothers, who were said to be the reincarnation of the Four Heavenly Kings born as humans on the same night. As one day in the realm of the gods is equivalent to fifty human years, it is said that the four sons passed away at the age of fifty human years. Those sons are known as the Four Heavenly Sons. They respectively formed: the source of scholars, the Mgarwa lineage, the unrivaled brave and wise Trola or Bumlha lineage, the great and powerful Zhabu lineage, and the incomparable in eloquence Lungwa lineage. Also, since this lineage resided in their ancestral home, they are also referred to as Maternal lineage or inheritance lineage. From these lineages, many great holy beings were born successively. In the 14th century, in the Mal lineage of Darakha Kache Lubum Ge, the glorious Tsongkhapa Lobzang Drakpa, renowned as the Second Buddha in the Land of Snows, was born. In the 17th century, from the Kharwa lineage, among the four great disciples of Gyalwa Palyulpa, Serton Yeshe Gyaltsen and others appeared.lthough many others have come, fearing excessive verbosity, I will not elaborate further here.
The supreme Lhatse Rinpoche was born into the Lhatse lineage, endowed with such perfect qualities as noble family lineage and spiritual heritage. His father, known as Osel Nyima who holds Lhatse lineage, was a skilled doctor who treated patients young and old, rich and poor, with compassion, regardless of their background. From a young age, he relied on many great holy beings as his spiritual masters, such as Yukhog Jadralwa, Dzongne Khenpo Lodro, and Dodrub Ling Trul. In particular, from his own paternal uncle, Lhatse Lama Tharpa Gyaltsen, he received the Dzogchen oral transmission (Nyen Gyu) of the Shargyalwa Palyulpa, as well as the instructions on Zhi Chag Dzog Sum, in the manner of filling a vase to the brim. He was a hidden yogi who devoted himself to spiritual practice, such as spending nine years in retreat at the Lhatse retreat center called Sangchen Lhundrub Phodrang. His mother was the prophesied daughter mentioned by Terton Lhatse Drodul Dorje on his deathbed. The Terton had directly entrusted his consort to his close disciple, Lama Pema Dorje, with the prophecy that they would have an excellent daughter. This daughter was Dzompa, Lhatse Rinpoche's mother.
A few months after the birth of Lhatse Rinpoche, a neighbor named Gyangtö Tsang, who was a disciple of the accomplished master Nangsal Lama, a realized being and disciple of the Yukhog Jyadralwa, and who had served as the great abbot of Ser Lhatse Monastery in ancient times, took him, with great compassion despite the turbulent times, to the practice place of Guru Padmasambhava, the practice cave of Nyung or Munyung. There, relying on the blessed water of Vairotsana's accomplishment at that place, he bathed him through the Vajravidarana dharani and blessed him with the blue blessed water and incense smoke of Orgyen Padma's advice. Moreover, he said, "In the future, this boy will surely benefit the teachings, so you must take good care of him."
Moreover, the senior lama Nangsal himself and the senior monks believe that Rinpoche is the holy being with the name of Padma and Shila who was prophesied to come to Lhatse Monastery by the accomplished master Dorje Jangchub, known as the "Old Siddha of Dodrub", who was eagerly awaited by masters such as Yudok Jaldral Choying Rangdrol of Lhatse Monastery and Lama Orgyen Rigdzin of Chuchar in the past. In the terma prophecy of Dola Jangchub Dorje, it is said:
“The names of Guru Karma of Lhatsé,
Are also Vidyadhara Lotus, and
The glorious Punye, endowed with all qualities.
Especially, by the blessings of Ga Ga Ratna,
An emanation with the name of Shila.
They will delight in and make offerings to this place.
By the power of that, both traditions will flourish in this land.
Three people blessed by the Lord Vajra Dharma,
Wearing the armor of patience.
Although his blazing light rays,
May benefit some large and small regions,
Those unconnected to the kings and lords will follow after him.”
Thus, in the prophecy it says "Vidyadhara Chukye", the meaning of Vidyadhara in Sanskrit is "knowledge holder", and Chukye is the name for lotus. Due to the poetic composition, it can be read as "Rigdzin Pema" (Lotus Knowledge Holder), and in meaning, it directly refers to the name Pema Rigdzin (Padmasambhava). In the following verse, especially "Ga Ga Ratna", when examining the later part of the prophecy, the meaning of Ga Ga Ratna is a part of Guru Rinpoche's name. It is said that "the emanation blessed by Guru Rinpoche will be named Shila (Tsultrim)". Therefore, it is well known to everyone that his name since childhood was called Pema Rigdzin, and during his studies, his name was Tsultrim. The prophecy clearly captures the names Pema Rigdzin and Tsultrim.
Furthermore, from that prophecy:
“In the courtyard of the divine Lhatse Monastery,
The protector who has received the blessings of the glorious Guru Rinpoche,
Having mastery over the wisdom of the three yogas,
The friend of Padma, the emanated dancer,
The sun that illuminates the activities of the glorious Nyingma.”
This prophesies that a holy being with the name of Padma, who is the protector or refuge blessed by the glorious and powerful Orgyen, the second Buddha, endowed with the three qualities of knowledge, compassion, and ability, the master of the two accumulations, who has mastery over the wisdom of the three yogas of the early translation school - Mdo, Gyu, and Sems - and who is the emanated dancer, the friend of the lotus, will make the activities of the glorious early translation Nyingma school shine like the sun at Lhatsé Monastery. Therefore, as everyone knows, since the time he [Rinpoche] learned to read and write, he has been called Pema Rigdzin, and his name is clearly mentioned in both the earlier and later prophecies. Similarly, he can be recognized as a prophesied person, as he is also mentioned in the prophecies by Traktung Dudjom Lingpa and others.
At the age of seven, Rinpoche started to study at the local primary school. At around the age of twelve, when he gained a more open-minded approach to religion, he began learning the Tibetan language under the guidance of his aunt, Lhacham, who is also Yutrul Rinpoche’s mother, who was skilled in reading, writing, and scriptures. He started learning with the praise of the 21 Taras. Then, at the age of thirteen, he had a premonition of his previous learning and felt the need to go on a pilgrimage to Central Tibet. Without telling anyone, including his parents, teacher, aunt Lhacham, or any other related person, he secretly set out alone on foot to Lhasa for pilgrimage. After thirty-four days, he arrived in Lhasa. When he saw the golden roofs and rays of the Potala Palace shining from a distance, his mind was filled with faith, clarity, and overwhelming joy. He diligently made offerings, circumambulations, and purification practices at the sacred sites, especially the Jokhang Temple and the Potala Palace in Lhasa. He had a pure vision of Jowo Rinpoche as the actual Buddha, and his hair stood on end with faith and devotion. For fifteen days, he made prostrations and circumambulations. On the way back, he visited Kham Dege Printing House and Dzogchen Monastery. He had an audience with many spiritual teachers, including Arik Khenchen Padma Tsewang of Dzogchen Shri Singha. Khenchen Rinpoche Padma Tsewang especially made aspirations and blessed him.
Then, returning to his hometown monastery, he met Lari Lama Pema, the Dharma protector of Takhyung, who is in the treasure prophecies of Chagkong Kunzang Nyima, at Lhatse Monastery. Lama Pema gave him much advice, such as the need to serve the teachings of Lha Monastery in the future. Rinpoche's visit to Lhasa for pilgrimage amazed the local people. After the revolution, it became an inspiration for the people of the Serta region to go on a pilgrimage to the central region for the first time. Then, once again, he diligently engaged in the practice of reading and studying the scriptures. Having respectfully regarded Terchen Alag Donyö Rinpoche, the reincarnation of Lhatse Lama Jampal, as the crown jewel, he received the medium-length teaching instructions on the preliminary practices of the Namchö lineage transmitted from Serton Yeshe Gyaltsen and accumulated 500,000 preliminary practices. In the winter of the following year, during the Horse month, relying on just a thin cotton cloth with bare feet, he trained in the practice of Tummo (inner heat yoga) and the yoga of the channels and winds, and was able to dry wet cotton cloth. From the age of fourteen, he studied at Lha Monastery by replying upon the abbot Agyoma or Lozang Tsultrim as his spiritual teacher. From the collected works of Ngari Panchen, particularly the 'Definitive Explanation of the Three Vows' (Domsum Namnge), he extensively studied and contemplated on the Vinaya, Madhyamaka, Paramita among other subjects. Until the age of eighteen, he served as the throne holder of Lhatse Monastery. He acted as the Vajra Master for the great practitioners and performed transference of consciousness ('pho ba) for the deceased. As a result, most of the deceased individuals with whom he had a karmic connection showed signs of successful transference. After that, he went to various villages and served as the Vajra Master for practices such as the Eight Herukas, Vajrakilaya, and Guru Dragpo longevity practice, benefiting beings.
In 1986, at the beginning of the fourth month of the Tibetan calendar, he went to Palyul Monastery and met with the lord of the ocean of mandalas and lineages, the venerable Gyangkhang Thubten Palzang, at whose feet he extensively received the reading transmission or detailed transmission of the higher teachings of the Palyu Dzogchen Nyengyud lineage.With great compassion, he extensively bestowed the teachings and transmissions of the complete threefold practice (Shi Chyag Dzog Sum) of the glorious Palyul, which had never been given to anyone before. He bestowed on Rinpoche the Vidyadhara life-force hat (Rigdzin Sok Zhwa), made from the remaining material of the liberating-upon-seeing lotus hat worn by the lineage gurus of the glorious Palyul. He bestowed the very hat that he himself wore and enthroned him as the Vajra Master. He conferred the title 'Vajra Master Pema Rigdzin Chokle Nampar Gyalwa'. After that, Rinpoche returned and assumed the responsibility of the throne holder of Lhatse Monastery. For many years, he served as the Vajra Master for the great practitioners and performed transference of consciousness (Phowa) for the deceased and other practices.
Then, the first abbot of Lha Monastery, Serpa Yeshe Gyaltsen, and Panchen Vimalamitra's reincarnation, Yugkok Jadralwa Chöying Rangdrol's oral instructions on the Dzogchen teachings, were received from two direct disciples of Jadralwa Chöying Rangdrol: Lama Nangsal of Lhatse Monastery and Khenpo Khyenchung. Then, he received empowerments for Vajrakilaya, Amitabha, and the life entrustment practice of Ling Je Gesar Gyalpo from His Holiness Jigme Phuntsok Jungne. At the age of eighteen, he went to Labrang Tashi Kyil monastery in the north and studied under the great spiritual teacher, the venerable Jamyang Gyatso, whom he replied upon as his guru with three ways of delighting the guru. With compassion, he took Rinpoche under his care, and for six years, he studied the sutras, tantras, and literature and grammar under him. At the same time, from the incomparable Gungthang Tenpai Wangchuk, he received empowerments of the Three Deities of Bliss-Secret-Fearlessness (Bde-gsang-'jigs-gsum - Chakrasamvara, Guhyasamaja, and Yamantaka), the non-dual tantric collection such as Kalachakra, and many other empowerments and oral transmissions related to sutra and tantra, including the Hundred Mudras empowerment and other permissions and blessings, as well as guidance and teachings on Madhyamaka, Prajnaparamita, and other subjects.
From the great Geshe Muge Samten, he received lessons on grammar, philology, Mirror of Poetry, Yangchen Dra Do, Bari Gyatsa, and Narthang Gyatsa and many other intsructions and empowerments. He also received many rare teachings from Yeshe Gyatso, such as the Kalachakra Root Tantra and its commentaries like the Drime Ö, the completion stage instructions of Chakrasamvara, the authorization of Sang Dak Nyima Dung. He received many rare teachings, such as the commentary on the 'Seven Points of Mind Training' composed by the lord himself.
Then, after arriving in the noble land of India, he entered the dharma at Thegchog Namdrol Shedrup Dargyeling, the second main seat of the Nyingma Palyul Monastery. He relied on the incomparable lord, the master of the entire Nyingma teachings, Kyabje Drubwang Pema Norbu Rinpoche, as his guru with the three ways of delighting guru. For many years, he received the empowerments, transmissions, and instructions for the vast ocean of Nyingma Kama and Terma teachings, especially the three cycles of Shargyalwa Palyulwa Richö teachings that are the combined practice of Mahāmudrā and Dzogchen. Along with that, he extensively studied the Sangwa Nyingpo Lekshe Dzö, one of the three great treatises, as well as the Chidon Ösal Nyingpo, Deshek Nyingpo Tongtun Senge Ngaro, and others. During the Kama Drupchen, he served as the Vajra Master of Phurpa. During the summer retreat, he expounded on the definitive and interpretive meanings of Madhyamaka and Mind-only schools while standing before the assembly. He also gave instructions on karma and its effects to the lay practitioners, performed healing rituals for the sick, transference of consciousness for the deceased, and so on, in the local communities. As advised by Kyabje Drubwang Rinpoche, he did a strict twenty-one day retreat on the Unsurpassed Innermost Essence of Ratna Kilaya. At the end, he performed the detailed completion stage practices and fire offerings.
At the age of twenty-eight, in 1996, His Holiness Drubwang Pema Norbu Rinpoche bestowed the ceremonial hat upon him. His Holiness Rinpoche personally led him to the Southeast Asian country of Singapore. At that time, His Holiness Rinpoche granted him the authority to give empowerments, transmissions, and so forth, along with spiritual and worldly advice. He was appointed as Rinpoche’s own representative. He spent about twenty-five years proliferating the Dharma, introducing Buddhism to that country. At the same time, he has been and continues to give teachings and introduce Buddhism in a few Asian countries, as well as in the United States, Australia, France, and the United Kingdom.
In 1999, he participated in the Prajnaparamita examination ceremony for the first-year students at Drepung Gomang Monastery. Due to his many years of study under Jamyang Gyatso Rinpoche at Labrang Tashi Kyil Monastery, which was graciously arranged by the monastery, he was awarded the title of "Drepung Rabjampa," an honor that had never been bestowed upon anyone before. That year, he traveled to Tibet and, in accordance with the wishes of the previous incarnation, initiated the construction of a new temple at Lhatse Monastery.
On the seventh day of the fourth month in 2005, during the celebration of the Buddha's birth anniversary, as per wishes of His Holiness Penor Rinpoche, the supreme head of the entire Nyingma tradition, Kyabje Dorje Chang Thubten Palzang Rinpoche personally visted from Palyul monastery to preside the opening ceremony, and he was urged to bestow the empowerments and transmissions of the Ka Gong Phur, the main teachings of victorious Palyul. Many mandala offerings were made as empowerment fee. Nearly a thousand monks and nuns from the branch monasteries of Lha Gön monastery performed an extensive rabné (consecration ritual) of Tukjé Chenpo Sangwa Düpa, which comes from the terma of Tertön Ratna Lingpa, the great Dharma King, for seven days, showering down blessings. He printed more than a hundred volumes of the Nyingma Kama teachings and distributed them to the monastery's branches and reincarnate lamas.
Starting from 1998, he established a school within the monastery and served as a teacher for the young monks' education. He also built a separate school building, provided food and other necessary conditions, and compassionately nurtured many young students. Then, the old temple of the monastery was converted into an assembly hall for the monastic college. In front of it, they built the residences for the abbot and the monks. He invited khenpos from Palyul Monastery and established a shedra (philosophical college). He also restored the meditation hall (drubkhang). In short, he made great efforts in the three activities of study, contemplation, and meditation for many years by providing suitable conditions for the three sections of the monastery: the school, the shedra, and the retreat center. He established an unprecedented foundation for the Dharma at Ser Lhatse Monastery. Similarly, he gave excellent advice to the branch monasteries on how to uphold the precious teachings and so forth, and encouraged them by providing financial support and other means.
Currently, under the framework of Sertang Larung Nangten Lopling, he has appointed a general administrator for Lhatse Monastery, as well as administrators and abbots for the shedra, school, retreat center, and lay community. Thanks to kindness of those oppointeess, the responsibilities of the monastery's three activities of study, contemplation, and meditation have become somewhat lighter, allowing him to engage in the activity of introducing Buddhism to foreign countries, which is excellent.
In terms of lineage, Lhatse Rinpoche is an important descendant of the Ser Lhatse lineage mentioned above. For about 340 years, it has been the tradition for a son from the Ser Lhatse Gyangra family lineage to serve as the abbot of Ser Lhatse Monastery. Similarly, since the end of the 20th century, at the request of the senior lamas such as Alak Donyoe, the master of the teachings of empowerment and transmission at Lha Monastery, and Lama Nangsal, Rinpoche has been enthroned as the golden throne holder of Ser Lhatse Monastery. From Serton Yeshe Gyaltsen, the first throne holder of Lhatse Monastery, to the successive lineage of the Lhatse Kharwa Gyangra family, about six lineage holders were born, including Lhatse Khyentse Ozer, Lhatse Kyabgon Sangye Palden, Lhatse Jampal Gyatso, Lhatse Lama Thubten Tharpa Gyaltsen, and Lhatse Wontrül Pema Rigzin.
In the 17th century, Serton Yeshe Gyaltsen appeared. Having arrived at the Nyingma Kathok monastery, he studied under the great Rigdzin Kunzang Sherab, Rigdzin Longsal Nyingpo, Takla Pema Mati, Sangye Tashi, and many other accomplished masters and vidyadharas of the Nyingma tradition. Under them, he perfected the three practices of listening, contemplating, and meditating on the sutras, tantras, and various fields of knowledge. In the luminous land of Palyu Osal Gang, he attained mastery over the wisdom of the four visions through the practices of Kadak Trekchö and Lhündrup Tögal of the Osal Dzogpa Chenpo (Luminous Great Perfection), thus becoming a powerful accomplished master.
Due to his influence, approximately seven hundred branch monasteries were established, spanning from Kham Derge up to Doser Nyi Sum, Golok A-kyong Khak Sum, and Gyalrong Khodrong. During the time of the first throne holder of Ser Lhatse Monastery, the precious teachings flourished and spread widely. Then, in the 18th century, Lhatse Khyentse Özer built a separate retreat center at Lhatse Monastery. He primarily focused on nurturing his four heart sons and disciples. As a result, around thirteen of them attained the rainbow body, and once again, the teachings of Lha Monastery flourished extensively. Lhatse Thubten Tharpa Gyaltsen, following the tradition of Serton Yeshe Gyaltsen, upheld and propagated the unbroken lineage of the ritual practices and instructions known as 'Lha Lugs,' which includes the practices of 'Bud (Blow) Dung (Beat) Drol (play) ' and others, based on the visionary lineage of the teachings and practices of the three yogas of the glorious Palyu tradition of the Nyingma school. There are many historical accounts of his activities.
In terms of the line of incarnations, Sera Yangtrül and Ja'go Togden, with unified minds, recognized him as the fourth incarnation of Serpa Yeshe Gyaltsen. The first incarnation was Dangma Sertön Yeshe Gyaltsen, the heart son of Rigdzin Chenpo Künzang Sherab, who was the first throne holder of Gyalwa Palyülpa. Rinpoche himself clearly remembers about twenty-five previous lives. In the sacred land of India, when the Buddha Bhagavan turned the middle wheel of Dharma on the Perfection of Wisdom, he was the main disciple Subhuti. When Guru Padmasambhava, the second Buddha of Orgyen, turned the wheel of Dharma in snowy Tibet, he manifested as Nubchen Sangye Yeshe, an emanation of the Buddha's wisdom. In the 9th century, he was the great tertön Gya Zhang Drom Rinchen Bar, an emanation of Nubchen Sangye Yeshe.
In the 13th century, he was the great tertön Chupo Togden Gendun Gyaltsen.
In the 14th century, he was the great tertön Orgyen Drime Kunga.
In the land of Kong, he was Tsangpon Sonam Dargye who had great beneficial intentions for all.
In lower Kong, he was the great meditator Gema Sonam Dron.
He was Dakpo Bonpo Gompa Tsultrim Nyingpo,
He was Draknakpa Gelong Tenzin Pal,
He was Yeshe Dorje, the heart son of the great treasure revealer Sangye Lingpa,
He was Ratna Lingpa's main disciple, Wangchen Zangpo,
He was Khyeu Chung Sonam Pal from Kham Kathog,
He was the noble monk Tsultrim Rinchen, the attendant of the Sugata,
He was the sublime lineage holder Sonam Chokzang Zhab,
He was the renowned lama Sangye Rinchen,
He was the Ser Rong Lhatse Lama Ka Chupa.
He is the reincarnation of many great masters, including Sakya Sonam Palzang Zhab.
The one who directly took birth in this monastery was Serpa Yeshe Gyaltsen or Yeshe Senge, the first incarnation. The second incarnation was Dodrub Gangi Dorje's great grandson, Dzogchen Paltrul's root lama Do La Jigme Kalzang Dorje. The third incarnation was the lord of the golden throne of Lhatse Monastery, Kyabje Thubten Tharpa Gyaltsen. The fourth incarnation, who is currently alive and residing as the lineage holder of Lhatse, is Pema Rigdzin or Jamyang Tsultrim Gyatso.
In terms of the successive throne holders of the monastery:
1. The first throne holder was Serpa Yeshe Gyaltsen.
2. The second throne holder was Lhatse Pema Dorje.
3. The third throne holder was Khangta Jigme Kalzang.
4. The fourth throne holder was Lhatse Khyentse Ozer.
5. The fifth throne holder was Lhatse Kyabgon Sangye Palden.
6. The sixth throne holder was Lhatse Jampal Gyatso.
7. The seventh throne holder was Lhatse Dongak Tenzin.
8. The eighth throne holder was Yukhok Jadral Choying Rangdrol.
9. The ninth throne holder was Lhatse Lama Thubten Tharpa Gyaltsen.
10. The tenth throne holder is Lhatse Wontrul Pema Rigzin.
Following the life stories of the previous accomplished Vidyadhara masters,
You have studied and contemplated in the footsteps of many scholars and siddhas.
May the wings of your wisdom in Sutra, Tantra, and Mind spread wide,
And may your enlightened activities for beings be fulfilled throughout the world.
Through the power of truth of the Three Roots and myriad life deities,
We pray that your life may be sustained for a long time.
May the pure white light of your enlightened activities pervade in all directions,
And may all who are connected with you reach the stage of non-regression.
By the blazing light of a thousand blessings
Of the victorious ones and their heirs in the ten directions,
May the three realms be filled with the appearance of perfect auspiciousness,
And may we enjoy the glorious splendor of virtue and goodness!
This concise biography of Lhatse Ontrul Pema Rigdzin, entitled "The Lotus Garden of Joy," was written by Yutrul Nyamme Rangjung Dorje on November 28, 2024, at the request of Wontrul Rinpoche's students in England. May it be virtuous!