Lineage – Longchen Nyingtik Institute – Menlo Park Buddhist Meditation Center

Longchen Nyingthik Lineage of H.E. Rigzin Dorjee Rinpoche:

Shakyamuni Buddha was fully enlightened from the very beginning, in the form of the Dharmakaya Buddha. Therefore, the Dharmakaya Buddha Samantabhadra was the source of all the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and teachings, and the founder of Great Perfection (Dzogchen). In the state of Dharmakaya, he gave his teachings to the five self-manifesting Buddhas of the Sambhogakaya Buddha, who are the same essence with the transmitted directly to their Wisdom Mind, without using words or any other indication. We call this the Lineage of transmission of the Wisdom Mind of the Buddha.

In the state of Sambhogakaya, the Sambhogakaya Buddha Vajrasattva transmitted all the empowerments and teachings to the Nirmanakaya Prahevajra (Garab Dorje), the first human master, through the sign, light, and recitation of mantra, rather than through regular speech. This lineage is known as Symbol Lineage.

Nirmanakaya Buddha Garab Dorje (Prahevajra) was the emanation of Vajrasattva Buddha. Garab Dorje was fully enlightened from birth and had no need to study or practice. He was able debate and discuss about anything with 500 great masters when he was only 7 years old; no one could challenge him through debates or spiritual power. He knew all the Hinayana, Mahayana, and Vajrayana teachings. In particular, he understood the meaning of the six million four hundred thousands verses of the Great Perfection (Dzogchen) teachings. From his advice, his student, a Dakini, compiled all his instructions into books. The master himself later attained the rainbow body and dissolved into the Dharmakaya state. According to his students' experience, the master received the “great light initiation” (the final initiation) from Sambhogakaya Buddha Vajrasattva and immediately became fully enlightened, and started to teach humans. He was the first human master of the Great Perfection.

Jampal Shenyen (Manjushrimitra), the second human master of the Great Perfection, was an emanation of the bodhisattva Vajrapani. Born into a Brahmin family in a city west of Vajrasana, he mastered philosophy, logic, Sanskrit, linguistics, and art while he was still a child. According to the prediction of Manjusri, he went to see his Dzogchen master at the cremation ground at Sitavana. There he studied for seventy-five years with Garab Dorje and received all the Great Perfection teachings, initiations, and innermost secret pith-instructions. He divided the six million four hundred thousand verses of Dzogchen into three sections: mind section, vast expanse section, and esoteric instruction section. Later, he got enlightenment and dissolved into a mass of light (attained rainbow body). After that, he reappeared to his best student Sri Singha in a vision and gave him the final instruction and presented him with a box containing the six meditation experience.

The great master Shri Singha was born in western China. From age 15, he started studying astrology and many other things from master Hastibhala. Also, Shri Singha studied inner and outer tantra from the master Bhela Kriti for seven years at Mt. Wutai in China. Later, when he was in meditation retreat, Buddha Avalokiteshvara appeared and predicted him that if he wanted to get enlightenment within his lifetime, he should go to India and see his master. So he went to India and met the great master Jampal Shenyen, and later Nirmanakaya Garab Dorje. He spent 25 years with them, and received all the initiations, teachings, and pith instructions of Great Perfection. Practicing these, he became fully enlightened and attained the rainbow body. He transmitted his lineage to the second Buddha Guru Padmasambhava, to Vimalamitra, Buddhaguhya, and to the Tibetan master Vairotsana Raksita.

Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, is the embodiment of the Dharmakaya, Sambhogakaya and Nirmanakaya forms of the Buddha, and Vidyadhara of all forms of enlightened knowledge. He was invited to Tibet by the Dharma King Trisong Detsen, and transmitted the innermost secret teachings of Vajrayana to Tibet. Through his teachings and empowerments, he established the basis of the Kama and Terma transmissions of the Nyingma (Ancient) school, and consecrated the land of Tibet. He guided, taught, and protected whoever is devoted to the practice of Vajrayana. He manifested in the ten directions and in the three periods of times, showing different forms and teachings in different cultures to benefit living beings.

Yeshe Tsogyal was Padmasambhava’s mystic consort and greatest disciple. She was the incarnation of Vajravarahi, and was instrumental in the transmission of essential teachings of the Nyingma tradition. She was also one of the three disciples who received the Vajrakilaya teachings from Padmasambhava. She practiced and accomplished these teachings. After Padmasambhava departed from Tibet, she continued the teachings and guided many hundreds of disciples.

Kunkyen Longchen Rabjam (1308-1363), also known as Drime Ozer, was the greatest Dzogchen master in the Nyingma tradition, and also one of the most brilliant and famous writers in Tibetan Buddhism. He wrote about 270 works, of which only about 25 have survived, including the “Seven Treasuries” (Longchen Zod Dun) and the “Three Trilogies.” He explained the 17 main tantras of Dzogchen teaching and the 9 vehicles of Buddhism. Also, Longchenpa collected his own Terma and Dzogchen teachings of Guru Padmasambhava and Vimalamitra, which is known as the "Four Profound Heart Essences" (Nyingtik Yabzhi), i.e., Khandro Nyingtik of Padmasambhava, the Vima Nyingtik of Vimalamitra, the Lama Yangtik, the Khandro Yantik, and the Zabmo Yangtik of his own explanation of Dzogchen. So, he was the greatest exponent if the Great Perfection. His “Seven Treasuries” are very famous and well known to this very day.

Jigme Lingpa (1729-1798) was the combined emanation of Vimalamitra, King Trisong Detsen and Gyalse Lhaje. He received the complete Dzogchen Nyingtik teachings from Guru Rinpoche, Yeshe Tsogyal and Longchen Rabjam, through the state of pure vision. He saw Longchen Rabjam three times and received his blessings of body, speech, and mind. Thus he became inseparable from the Longchenpa and attained the realization of the Great Perfection. He write nine volumes of “Dharma treasures” (Terma), and became the founder of Longchen Nyingtik. His incarnations included Do Khyentse Yeshe Dorjee (1800-1866) as his body incarnation, Patrul Jigme Chokyi Wangpo (1808-1887) as his speech incarnation, and Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo (1820-1892) as his mind incarnation.

Jigme Gyalwai Nyugu (1765-1843) was the illustrious disciple of Rigzin Jigme Lingpa. Rigzin Jigme Lingpa had three principal disciples, Jigme Gyalwai Nyugu, Jigme Trinlay Ozer and Jigme Kundrol. Among them, Jigme Gyalwai Nyugu was the main Dzogchen lineage holder. After spending a considerable time with his master in central Tibet, he returned to the region of Kham. There he practiced and realized the actual nature of mind. He spent 21 years in the same place and gathered many thousands of disciples, including his main disciples Dza Patrul Rinpoche and Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo Rinpoche. Through those two great disciples, his lineage, the practice lineage of the Pith-instruction of Great Perfection, spread widely.

Patrul Rinpoche (1808-1887) was the incarnation of the Indian master Shantideva and the principle disciple of Jigme Gyalwai Nyugu. He received all the Nyingtik teachings, transmissions, and whispered pith instructions from his master. He also received other Dzogchen teachings from many other Lamas, including the first Dodrupchen Rinpoche.

Patrul Rinpoche wrote many commentaries about Hinayana, Mahayana and Vajrayana. His book "The Words of My Perfect Teacher" (Kunzang Lamai Zhalung), the explanation of the Dzogchen Preliminary practices, is well-known and widely used by the four schools of Tibetan Buddhism. He had many famous students through teaching and practice, including Jamgon Mipham Rinpoche, who wrote more than thirty volumes about Tibetan Buddhism philosophy. Among all his students, Lama Lungtok was the best, to whom Patrul Rinpoche gave the pith-instructions of Great Perfection.

Lungtok Tenpai Nyima (1829-1901) was the foremost disciple of Patrul Rinpoche, studying with him for twenty five years. He received all the teachings, initiations and practical instruction of Longchen Nyingtik from his master, and practiced for many years. According to the prediction of his master, he started to teach Dzogchen in his fifties. Eventually, Lungtok had five great disciples, among whom Khenpo Ngawang Palzang was the supreme one.

13.Khenpo Ngawang Pelzang

Khenpo Ngawang Pelzang (1879 - 1941), also known as Khenpo Ngagchung, was the principal student of Lungtok Tenpai Nyima, and is considered an emanation of Vimalamitra. He received all the teachings of Longchen Nyingtik and practiced them until he attained great realization. He had many well-known and accomplished disciples, including Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Lodro and Kyabje Jadrel Rinpoche.

Kyabje Jadrel Rinpoche (1913 - 2015) was born on the day when Guru Rinpoche took the form of Dorjee Drollod Tsal. Guru Padmasambhava, Yeshe Tsogyal and many masters had predicted about Kyabje Rinpoche, saying that he was the emanation of Padmasambhava. The prediction says:

The supreme manifestation of Padmasambava's (Lotus Born Buddha) mind. The holy son, blessed by Vimalamitra. Born in the Ox year, by the name of Sangye Dorjee. Will spread the lineage of Vajrayana practice.

Jadrel Rinpoche received many special teachings, instructions, and initiations from many great masters; among them Khenchen Ngawang Pelzang was the main master from whom he received all the innermost secret Dzogchen teachings, instructions and initiations. He practiced and realized the nature of mind and became one with his master. So Jadrel Rinpoche was the main lineage holder of Kama. Terma, Terser, and especially Great Perfection Longchen Nyingtik, Dudjom Tersar, Sera Khandro's Treasures and Dzogchen Rigzin Sogdrub. Jadrel Rinpoche lived the lifestyle of a wandering yogi, always remaining in quiet and peaceful places, free from worldly activities and politics, and devoting all his activity to practicing and giving teachings.

H.E. Rigzin Dorjee Rinpoche was born in 1954 and became ordained as a monk at the age of fifteen, completing his studies at the Higher Buddhist Institute in Varanasi and graduating with the degree of “Acharya”, master in philosophy.

In his earlier ages, Rinpoche received many empowerments and teachings from H,H.The Dalai Lama, Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche, Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Kyabje Penor Rinpoche, Nyingma Khenchen Palden Sherab, Khenchen Dhaser, Khenchen Khasdrub, Khenchen Wanglo, Kyenchen Tsundue, Kagyud Khenchen Yeshi Chodar, Sakya Khenchen Rinchen, Gelug Khenchen Tsultrem and many other masters in all four schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Through many years of study and meditation retreat, he has mastered the three baskets of the Tripitaka and the four sections of yoga, and received the title of Khenpo at the age of 25.

Especially, Rigzin Rinpoche received the complete Dzogchen teachings, initiations, and pith instructions from his root Guru Kyabje Jadrel Rinpoche and also from Dilgo Kyentse Rinpoche. He was acknowledged by Jadrel Rinpoche as his heart son, and was being compared as equal to himself and other Dzogchen masters in the lineage. Kyabje Jadrel Rinpoche advised him to teach Dzogchen to his students and all over the world.

Rinpoche has devoted all his life to Buddhist education, with emphasis on both philosophical understandings and actual Dharma practices. Since 1988, Rinpoche has founded a Nyingma Institute and Retreat Centers. In 1998, Rinpoche founded the Longchen Nyingtik Institute in the USA. He has also taught extensively in institutions, universities and other Buddhist centers in Bhutan, Nepal, India, Canada, the Netherlands and USA. His wish is to bring peace and enlightenment to all over the world.