Biography of Dudjom Jigdrel Yeshe Dorje Rinpoche

A Concise Biography, Entitled The Seed of Faith of the Great Tertön Dudjom Drodul Lingpa - His Holiness Dudjom Jigdrel Yeshe Dorje Rinpoche

From the glorious land of Ngayab Ling,
Guru Padmasambhava and his consort
bestowed the warmth of enlightened intention
and imparted the vital breath of realization.
Through this blessing,
the victory banner of the Great Secret Mantra teachings
was raised and unfurled throughout all directions.
To Dudjom Lingpa,
the fearless Vajra of Primordial Wisdom,
I offer fervent supplication.

Prophecy: From the treasure prophecy of Orgyen Dechen Lingpa:

In the future,
to the east of Tibet’s nine-peaked snow mountains,
within the self-arisen, secret realm of Vajravārāhī,
one who manifests the form of a nomadic yogin,
born from the lineage of sovereigns,
bearing the name of Jnana,
will uphold the discipline of mantra practice.
Unfixed in outer appearance,
possessing the wisdom of childlike conduct,
he will reveal new treasures
while preserving and safeguarding the ancient treasure teachings,
and all those connected with him
will be guided to the glorious Copper-Coloured Mountain of Ngayab.

Birthplace: He was born in the sacred hidden land of Pemakö (Padma bkod), a naturally concealed realm blessed by Guru Padmasambhava.
Lineage: He descended from the noble ancestral line of King Gnya’ Khri Tsanpo, the first sovereign of Tibet.
Birth Year: His precious form manifested in the sixteenth Rabjung cycle, in the Wood Male Dragon year (1904 CE).
Father: His father belonged to the Bya Khri lineage, known as Pu bo ka, and was also connected with the celestial royal lineage, being a son of the Gam pa dpon tsang family. He was the incarnation of Norbu Tenzin, a realized master of a previous lifetime.
Mother: His mother descended from the sacred lineage of the Great Tertön Ratna Lingpa, originating from the Yonphu Chöjé family of Lho Ljong Dyar Nga, and was named Namgyal Drolma.
Recognition: The great master Gyurmed Ngedön Wangpo, endowed with unchanging realization of definitive meaning, formally recognised him as the authentic reincarnation of the previous Vidyādhara, and duly enthroned him as such.
Additional Name and Appointment: Through a direct vision of Guru Padmasambhava, he was bestowed the name Orgyen Drodul Lingpa, and was empowered and appointed as a regent of enlightened activity.
Name of the Previous Incarnation: In his immediately preceding life, he was known as Tragtung Dudjom Lingpa, the wrathful yogin who subjugated obstructive forces.
The Threefold Emanation: He manifested as a complete threefold emanation:
a. As the body emanation of the nomadic youth Khye’u Chung Lotsāwa;
b. As the speech emanation of Yeshe Tsogyal;
c. As the mind emanation of Padmasambhava, the Lotus-Born Guru himself.
Mind Treasures: At the age of five, exalted masters foretold that mind treasures (dgongs gter) would naturally arise within him. At the age of thirteen, he encountered Guru Padmasambhava directly, and a symbolic yellow scroll of signs descended. However, as the convergence of place, time, and circumstances had not yet fully ripened, the scroll was reverently offered to the Great Mother, clad in white, for safekeeping.

At the ages of thirteen and twenty-four, treasures such as Trö-löd manifested, which were later fully decoded and revealed when he reached the age of fifty. When he was twenty-five years old, the yogin Trülzhik Dorje suddenly urged him, saying:
“A profound and complete Dakini sādhana
is urgently needed at this very moment.”
Although he initially intended to compose only a brief daily practice, he instead---in that very instant, seated upon the cushion - wrote down the complete mind treasure itself and bestowed it directly. On the basis of this, the full Dharma cycle known as The Dakini Heart Essence (Khandro Thugthig) descended. In connection with this revelation, he further decoded and revealed from the luminous expanse of realization the Clear Light Wisdom Mind Heart Essence of his father Ka Mtsho Kye, bringing it forth into complete clarity.
At the age of thirty-four, while engaged in intensive Vajrakīlaya (Phurba) practice
in Paro (Spa gro), he beheld a direct vision of Yeshe Tsogyal. Through this encounter, he fully attained the accomplishment of Vajrakīlaya activity, gaining mastery over enlightened wrathful action that subjugates obstructive forces and clears hindrances to awakening. At that time, the complete cycle of Dharma teachings known as The Glorious Great Vajrakīlaya “Spu Gri Reg Phung”
descended in its entirety.
Later, at the age of forty-five, he formally finalised, systematised, and sealed
the Vajrakīlaya Spu Gri Reg Phung cycle, bringing it to definitive completion for the benefit of future practitioners.
In brief, the cycles such as the Ka Mtsho Kye Heart Essence, Trö-löd, and others -
including the peaceful and wrathful Guru cycles, the yidam cycles such as Hayagrīva and Vajrakīlaya, as well as the peaceful and wrathful Dakini cycles -
all belong to the category of mind treasures (dgongs gter).
Apart from these, although there existed numerous earth-treasure (sa gter) teachings
related to the Three Roots, including extensive, medium, and condensed practice cycles that were karmically within his reach, because his primary intention was directed toward preserving and safeguarding the Early Translation Kama teachings and the ancient treasure traditions, he did not exert effort to appropriate or claim such earth treasures as his own.
In summary, he undertook the systematic arrangement and organisation of many previously revealed ancient treasures, and likewise brought order and coherence to various newly revealed treasure cycles. As for his own destined treasure revelations, they are precisely those that have been described above.

Preservation of Earlier Treasure Cycles & Compilations

Within the collected works of Dudjom Drodul Lingpa, a major portion is devoted to the systematic organisation of ancient treasure teachings. Among these are the following principal works:

From the treasure revelations of Dudul Dorje, the complete integration of the profound Dharma The All-Encompassing Realisation of Sacred Intent,
arranged into a structured ritual framework of the Extremely Secret Guru Practice,
entitled The Ornament of the Vidyādhara’s Realisation.
The Profound Quintessence of the Mind, presenting the practice path and enlightened activity of The Ocean of Precious Jewels, the secret Guru sādhana.
From the treasure of Taksham Nüden Dorje, the profoundly secret assembly of the Dakini emanation of the Guhyagarbha, arranged into an orderly ritual sequence of feast-offering practice, entitled The Chariot that Journeys to the Lotus Light.
From the treasure of the accomplished adept Lhatsün Namkha Jigme, the structured preliminary recitation liturgy for the Life-Force Practice of the Vidyādhara, presented as The Excellent Path of Union.
From the treasure of the Great Tertön Yargye Orgyen Lingpa, the root text of The Ocean of Dharma of the Gathered Commands, enhanced with the experiential instructions of authentic lineage masters, and arranged into a clear, accessible, and practice-oriented structure, entitled The Festive Display of the Ocean of Glorious Gathered Teachings.
The Unified Guru Practice of the Seven Treasure Cycles: This is the integrated Guru practice that unites the Seven Treasures, drawn from earlier revelations, into a single stream of practice.
a. From the treasure revelations of Guru Chöwang, sovereign among tertöns and siddhas - the cycle of Lama Sangwa Düpa (The Secret Gathering of the Guru), which he had drawn forth from Lhodrak Kharchu Namkha Chen.
b. From the treasure revelation of Orgyen Dorje Lingpa, the emanation of the great translator Vairotsana - the Eight Commands (Bka’ brgyad) Düpa, drawn forth from the secret cave of Ngomshö Namchak Drak.
c. From the treasure revelation of Ratna Lingpa, Dharma-king and emanation of Langdro Lotsāwa - the cycle known as Yangnying Düpa (The Gathered Innermost Essence), drawn forth from the cliffs of Nyalme De-ri.
d. From the treasure revelation of Pema Lingpa, the vidyādhara and emanation of Lhacham Pema Sal - the Guru cycle Lama Norbu Gyatso (The Guru: Ocean of Jewels), drawn forth from Lhodrak Men-do, the cliff known as “the Lion’s Face.”
e. From the treasure revelation of Zhigpo Lingpa, emanation of Prince Murub Tsanpo - the cycle Gyalwa Düpa (The Gathered Buddhas),
drawn forth from Khyungtsang Drak, the cliff of Garwang Tsalagyé.
f. From the treasure revelation of Dudul Dorje, emanation of Khye’u Chung Lotsāwa - the cycle Gongpa Yöndü (The All-Encompassing Realisation of Sacred Intent), drawn forth from Pawo Dongchu Dechen, the secret cave.

Then, His Holiness himself revealed the Dharma cycle Bdegshegs Yöndü (The All-Encompassing Gathering of the Sugatas), and merged the Seven Treasure Cycles - earlier and later - into a single river, entitled:
“The Festive Display of the Wish-Fulfilling Accomplishment:
The Ritual Framework for the Guru Heart-Practice.”

Quintessence of the Profound Treasure of Orgyen Dorje Lingpa, The Combined Long-Life Guru Practice (Lama Tsé Drakma). He compiled and arranged the essential quintessence of the profound treasure revelations of Orgyen Dorje Lingpa,
presented as the combined long-life practice of the Guru, known as Lama Tsé Drakma. This work distils the vital life-sustaining instructions into a concise yet complete practice framework.

The Festive Display of Immortal Accomplishment, The Enlightened Activity of the Combined Practice of the Guru and Amitāyus. He arranged the ritual framework
for the combined accomplishment practice of the Guru and Amitāyus, entitled The Festive Display of Immortal Accomplishment, which brings together long-life empowerment and realization into a unified path of enlightened activity.

From the Treasure of Pema Lingpa, The Ornament of the Dynamic Display of Enlightened Activity. He arranged the ritual framework of the extremely secret life-force Vajrakīlaya Spu Gri, revealed by Pema Lingpa, entitled The Ornament of the Dynamic Display of Enlightened Activity, clarifying both structure and application of this profound Vajrakīlaya cycle.
From the treasure revelation of the accomplished adept Karma Lingpa. In connection with the profound Dharma of the Peaceful and Wrathful Deities, Self-Liberation through Realisation, he arranged the ritual system for the restoration and purification of samaya within the Great Secret Mantra Vehicle. This work is entitled The Ornament of Samantabhadra’s Enlightened Intent, and serves as a complete and authoritative method for repairing, purifying, and restoring sacred commitments according to the ultimate intent of Vajrayāna. In addition, he compiled
a concise summary of sacred-site instructions and prophetic guidance (gnas lung) associated with the mantra-based rite of restoration and purification (gso sbyong) of the Peaceful and Wrathful Deities.
Quintessential Extracts of the Great Compassion Cycles. He compiled the essential quintessence of the heart practices of various revealed cycles, including Guhyagarbha in its three aspects, presented as the Innermost Secret Condensed Essence of the Great Compassion Accomplishment Practice.
From the Treasure Revelation of the Great Tertön Sangye Lingpa, the emanation of Prince Murub TsanpoFrom among the treasure teachings renowned as the single, all-encompassing treasure of the entire land of Tibet, he arranged into a clear and systematic ritual framework the supplementary accomplishment rites (skong chog) of the Lama Gongdü (The All-Encompassing Gathering of the Guru’s Intent). This work, entitled The Excellent Path of the Vidyādhara, presents the liturgical structure in an ordered and practicable form, ensuring the unbroken continuity of transmission and application of this supreme Guru cycle.
From the Dharma Cycles of the Great Accomplishment of the Eight Commands (Bka’ brgyad). From within the vast corpus of the Eight Commands of the Sugatas, he brought together:
a. That which is like the heart: the Eight Commands, The Gathered Sugatas, revealed by Nyangral Nyima Ozer, the sovereign lord;
b. That which is like the heart’s lifeblood: the fully complete and secret Eight Commands revealed by Guru Chöwang, the Lord of Dharma;
c. That which is like the vital clarity: the Northern Treasure Eight Commands, Self-Arisen, Self-Liberated, revealed by Rigdzin Gödem;
d. That which is like the life-force: the Eight Commands, The Mirror of the Guru’s Mind, revealed by Pema Lingpa;
e. That which is like the body: the extremely secret Eight Commands of fierce subjugation, revealed by Samten Dechen Lingpa, comprising the Five Great Heart Treasures;
f. the secret, complete, and wrathful mantra Eight Commands revealed by Dorje Lingpa;
g. the Eight Commands, The Essence of Siddhi, revealed by Jatsön Nyingpo, known as Rainbow Hūṃ, Blazing Black Fire;
h. the Eight Commands, The All-Encompassing Gathering of the Sugatas, revealed by Rigdzin Longsel Nyingpo;
i. and the Eight Commands, The Gathered Blood-Drinkers, revealed by Padma Osel Do-ngak Lingpa.

Having merged the streams of blessing of these nine successive treasure traditions
into a single river, he distilled them into their essential heart according to the authentic method.
On this basis, he composed and arranged The Heart-Essence of the Enlightened Activities of the Eight Commands of the Sugatas, together with its torma rites and repelling practices, a condensed liturgical framework for vanquishing hostile forces and obstructing influences, and other related ritual activities.

From the Treasure Revelation of Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa. He arranged into a complete and systematic ritual framework the entire cycle of empowerments
of the Three Dzogchen Classes (Semdé, Longdé, and Mengakdé), as revealed in the treasures of Chokgyur Lingpa. This work is entitled The Ornament of the Enlightened Intent of the Samantabhadra Vidyādhara Guru, and presents the empowerments in a clear, ordered, and authentic form ensuring their full integrity for transmission and practice.
From the treasure revelation of the Great Tertön Pema Lingpa. He arranged into a clear and systematic ritual framework the ritual manual (las byang) of the Guru’s Heart-Practice, The Ocean of Jewels, entitled The Wish-Fulfilling Tree of Padma. This work bears the name The Ornament of the Vidyādhara’s Enlightened Intent, and presents the practice in an ordered, complete, and practicable form, ensuring its faithful transmission and effective application.
From the treasure revelation of Pema Lingpa. He arranged into a clear and systematic ritual framework the ritual manual (las byang) of the Peaceful and Wrathful Secret Gathering of The All-Encompassing Gathering of Samantabhadra’s Intent (Kun bzang dgongs ‘dus). This work is entitled
All-Pervading Enlightened Activity, and presents the peaceful and wrathful practices
in an integrated, orderly, and fully practicable form, ensuring their complete application across the full range of enlightened activities.
From the profound treasure revelations of Dorje Thogme. He systematised the Seven Profound Dharma Cycles, together with The All-Encompassing Gathering of the Three Roots, bringing them into an integrated and coherent structure that preserves their essential intent and ensures their correct transmission and practice.
From the oral transmission lineage of Padma Osel Do-ngak Lingpa. He preserved and presented the aural transmission (snyan brgyud) known as The Play of the Supreme Steed (Tamchok Rölpa), maintaining its purity as a direct, unbroken lineage transmitted through hearing and experiential instruction.
The Mind Treasure (dgongs gter) of Jigdrel Samlhun Dechen Lingpa. He preserved and transmitted the mind treasure revealed by Jigdrel Samlhun Dechen Lingpa, a teaching arising directly from the expanse of enlightened intent, unmediated by physical concealment, and grounded in spontaneous realization.
From the Pure Vision of Padgyal Lingpa. The Guru Practice of the Seven-Line Prayer, arising as a pure vision revelation (dag snang).

For a detailed and thorough presentation of the manner, structure, and application of theseteachings, the reader is respectfully requested to consult the Collected Works (Kabum) of His Holiness himself.

Teachings Received (Study, Reflection, and Practice)

For sixteen years, he relied upon the Lord of Unchanging Definitive Meaning,
Gyurmed Ngedön Wangpo, and from him received---in complete fullness, like a vase filled to the brim - the entire corpus of tantras, transmissions, and pith instructions of the Secret Heart Essence (Sangwa Nyingtik).
In particular, he fully received the complete empowerments and oral transmissions of the Great Precious Treasury of Termas (Rinchen Terdzö), as well as the various cycles of earlier treasure teachings, all of which he received thoroughly and impeccably.
Moreover, from the great learned and accomplished masters, who were Vajradharas endowed with the threefold qualities of learning, realization, and conduct, he received in full the continuous Dharma streams of both the Kama (oral transmissions) and the Terma (treasure teachings), without omission or fragmentation.

Other Treatises and Writings

He composed numerous treatises written as exegetical elucidations of the Buddha’s teachings, including a wide range of doctrinal works such as
The Presentation of the Early Translation Doctrine, and many others. Taken together, these writings comprise approximately twenty-five volumes of Collected Works (Kabum). In addition, he newly compiled and edited more than fifteen volumes of supplementary texts supporting the Early Translation Kama tradition, thus establishing a firm and enduring foundation for the preservation and continuity of the teachings.

Extraordinary and Unparalleled Kindness

He ensured the unbroken continuity of both the textual transmission lineage and the empowerment and oral transmission lineage of the Early Translation Kama. Furthermore, he bestowed the complete empowerments and oral transmissions of the Great Precious Treasury of Termas (Rinchen Terdzö) no fewer than ten times, along with countless other extraordinary cycles of Dharma teachings. Through these vast and remarkable activities of speech, he greatly expanded the benefit of the Doctrine and sentient beings. Indeed, his kindness in spreading the tradition of the Lotus-Born Vajra Master throughout all directions in this world is immeasurable and beyond all reckoning.

The Manner in Which He Carried Out Enlightened Activities in Bhutan

In 1937, the Fire Ox year of the sixteenth Rabjung, when he was thirty-four years old, he travelled to Paro, Bhutan. Together with his son, Trinley Norbu, he engaged in the practice of Vajrakīlaya. At that time, father and son were blessed by a direct vision of the Guru, and he received the mind-treasure Vajrakīlaya cycle, Spu Gri Reg Phung.
In accordance with the prophetic words---
“The banner of the teachings of the two traditions
raised by the Sera Ḍākinī
will abide in the auspicious land of Lho-Mon,”
- he first set foot in Trashigang in 1937.
Later, in 1944, the Wood Monkey year, when he was forty years old, he was invited from Tibet to Rongthung in Trashigang by Se Dopo, the Dzongpön of Trashigang. On that occasion, he bestowed the complete empowerments and transmissions of the Rinchen Terdzö.
Again, in 1952, the Water Dragon year, at the renewed invitation of Se Dopö, he returned and lavishly bestowed the nectar of the sacred Dharma. Thereafter, in 1970, the Iron Dog year, Lama Sönam Zangpo invited him to preside over the consecration ceremony of the newly completed supports and supported objects of Pelri Monastery. He accepted the invitation and travelled there. For ten days, together with approximately two hundred monks and lay practitioners, he conducted a grand communal accomplishment of Vajrakīlaya, and consecrated all the inner and outer sacred supports of the monastery, showering them with flowers of auspiciousness.
He also bestowed in full the empowerments and transmissions of the thirteen Dharma cycles of the treasure teachings of Rigdzin Pema Lingpa. At Brekha Monastery, founded by his heart-son Trinley Norbu, he performed the consecration and granted long-life empowerments. He then travelled again to Trashigang in eastern Bhutan.
For the future peace and wellbeing of the Kingdom of Bhutan, he presided over the mandala of the Secret Gathering of the Guru’s Heart Practice, during which tens of millions of siddhis were accumulated, together with five hundred thousand Guru mantra accumulations. Under the direct leadership of His Holiness himself, and with the participation of figures such as Khenpo from Sméshul and countless ordained and lay practitioners, these vast accumulations were swiftly completed.
At the same time, in response to the supplication of Lama Padma Tshewang of Kanglung, he bestowed the complete empowerments and transmissions of the superior Düddjom treasure teachings.
During this period, there arose countless disciples who were both learned and accomplished yogins, firmly grounded in the two stages of the path. Among the most renowned were:

Sönam Zangpo (the elder siddha lama),
Naksu Lungpa (Padma Wangchen),
Padma Tshewang of Yonphu,
Tenzin Kunlek of Ramtshar,
Khenpo Karpo and many others beyond measure.

In brief, although he set foot in numerous regions---with eastern Bhutan serving as the principal point of reference---the full account of his activities would be too vast to recount here. Thus, this passage offers only a general indication and illustrative overview of the manner in which his enlightened activities were carried out.

Passing into Peace

When the time came to subdue the last disciples still bound by eternalist grasping,
in the seventeenth Rabjung, on the eighteenth day of the eleventh month of the Fire Female Hare year, corresponding to 1987, he gathered his spontaneously arisen enlightened awareness into the heart-centre of the Lotus, and thus passed peacefully into parinirvāṇa. (Those who wish to read a more extensive account of his life are requested to consult the full biography entitled, The Rays of Primordial Wisdom: The Life of the Dharma-Subduer Dudjom Jigdrel Yeshe Dorje.)
Concluding Aspiration Verse
May the Early Translation Great Perfection tradition of Padma
this chariot of the definitive heart-essence, Dudjom Lingpa---
endure until the very limits of existence.
May his profound treasure teachings never decline,
but be upheld unceasingly through explanation and practice.
This was published with virtue by the committee for the empowerments and transmissions of Dudul Lingpa.

Biography of His HolinessDudjom Jigdrel Yeshe Dorje Rinpoche

Biography of His Holiness
Dudjom Jigdrel Yeshe Dorje Rinpoche