Chatral Sangye Dorje Rinpoche (, "Enlightened Indestructible Freedom From Activity"; June 18, 1913 – December 30, 2015)
was a Tibetan
Dzogchen
Dzogchen (, "Great Perfection" or "Great Completion"), also known as ''atiyoga'' ( utmost yoga), is a tradition of teachings in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism and Yungdrung Bon aimed at discovering and continuing in the ultimate ground of existence. ...
master and a reclusive ''
ngagpa
In Tibetan Buddhism and Bon, a Ngagpa (male), or a Ngagmo (Female) (; Sanskrit ''mantrī'') is an ordained non-monastic practitioner of Dzogchen and Tantra. The Ngagmapa are widely credited with protecting the Nyingma school and its teachings d ...
''
yogi
A yogi is a practitioner of Yoga, including a sannyasin or practitioner of meditation in Indian religions.A. K. Banerjea (2014), ''Philosophy of Gorakhnath with Goraksha-Vacana-Sangraha'', Motilal Banarsidass, , pp. xxiii, 297-299, 331 Th ...
, known for his great realization and strict discipline.
Chatral Sangye Dorje was a disciple of
Khenpo Ngawang Pelzang Khenpo Ngawang Palzang, also known as Khenpo Ngagchung, is considered by the Tibetan tradition to be an emanation of Vimalamitra.
His teacher was the master Nyoshul Lungtok Tenpai Nyima (1829–1901), an incarnation of the abbot Shantarakshita, w ...
and was widely regarded as one of the most highly realized Dzogchen yogis.
In addition to his relationship with Khenpo Ngagchung, Chatral Sangye Dorje also studied with some of the last century's most renowned masters, including
Dudjom Jigdral Yeshe Dorje
Kyabje Dudjom Jigdral Yeshe Dorje (, THL ''Düjom Jikdrel Yéshé Dorjé'') was known as Terchen Drodül Lingpa and as Dudjom Rinpoche (10 June 1904 – 17 January 1987). He is considered by many Tibetan Buddhists to be from a line of importan ...
,
Dzongsar Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö
Dzongsar Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö (c. 1893 – 1959) was a Tibetan lama, a master of many lineages, and a teacher of many of the major figures in 20th-century Tibetan Buddhism. Though he died in 1959 in Sikkim, and is not so well known in the We ...
, and the famed
Kunzang Dekyong Wangmo
Sera Khandro Kunzang Dekyong Wangmo (1892–1940) or Sera Kandro is considered an emanation of Yeshe Tsogyal, and in her lifetime was a Terton of Tibetan Buddhist Vajrayana, a biographer and autobiographer, and a highly respected teacher. She tau ...
. Chatral Sangye Dorje was one of the primary
lineage
Lineage may refer to:
Science
* Lineage (anthropology), a group that can demonstrate its common descent from an apical ancestor or a direct line of descent from an ancestor
* Lineage (evolution), a temporal sequence of individuals, populati ...
holders of the
Longchen Nyingthig
Longchen Nyingthig () is a '' terma'', revealed scripture, of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism, which gives a systematic explanation of Dzogchen. It was revealed by Jigme Lingpa (1730–1798).
Etymology
Longchen Nyingthig may be transla ...
, and in particular the lineage that descends through
Jigme Lingpa
Jigme Lingpa (1730–1798) was a Tibetan ''tertön'' of the Nyingma lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. He was the promulgator of the Longchen Nyingthig, the Heart Essence teachings of Longchenpa, from whom, according to tradition, he received a vis ...
's heart son
Jigme Gyalwe Nyugu and then on to
Patrul Rinpoche
Patrul Rinpoche ( Wylie: ''dpal sprul rin po che'') (1808–1887) was a teacher and author from the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism.
Biography
Patrul Rinpoche was born in Dzachukha, a nomadic area of Golok Dzachukha, Eastern Tibet in 1808, a ...
.
Prior to his death in 2015, Chatral Sangye Dorje divided his time between
Salbari
Salbari(Bodo: सालबारि) is one of the sub divisions of Baksa district in the state of Assam, India.
History
A hundred years ago, there was no village named Salbari, but the place was surrounded by various sal plantations, leading ...
, India, and
Kathmandu
, pushpin_map = Nepal Bagmati Province#Nepal#Asia
, coordinates =
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name =
, subdivision_type1 = Province
, subdivision_name1 = Bagmati Prov ...
, Nepal. He was survived by two daughters, Tara Devi and Saraswati, and his wife Kamala.
Early life
Throgyal Dorje was born in the
Nyarong Nyarong (; ) is a Tibetan historical river valley region located in Eastern Kham. It is generally equated with modern Xinlong County, which is called Nyarong in Tibetan, though the traditional region also includes parts of Litang County and Baiy ...
Valley of Eastern
Kham
Kham (; )
is one of the three traditional Tibetan regions, the others being Amdo in the northeast, and Ü-Tsang in central Tibet. The original residents of Kham are called Khampas (), and were governed locally by chieftains and monasteries. Kham ...
in 1913, in the year of the Female Water
Ox, on the morning of
10th day of the
lunar
Lunar most commonly means "of or relating to the Moon".
Lunar may also refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* ''Lunar'' (series), a series of video games
* "Lunar" (song), by David Guetta
* "Lunar", a song by Priestess from the 2009 album ''Prior t ...
Tibetan calendar
The Tibetan calendar (), or Tibetan lunar calendar, is a lunisolar calendar, that is, the Tibetan year is composed of either 12 or 13 lunar months, each beginning and ending with a new moon. A thirteenth month is added every two or three years, s ...
, which coincides with June 18 of the solar Gregorian calendar. The day is celebrated each year as the day
Guru Padmasambhava
Padmasambhava ("Born from a Lotus"), also known as Guru Rinpoche (Precious Guru) and the Lotus from Oḍḍiyāna, was a tantric Buddhist Vajra master from India who may have taught Vajrayana in Tibet (circa 8th – 9th centuries)... According ...
manifested as
Dorje Drollo. His father was Pema Dondrub whose family line was Mukpo Dong and his mother, Sonam Tso, was a member of the Wakyung family.
Several predictions is said to have foretold the birth of Chatral Rinpoche.
Among the future predictions of
Yonru Chimey Dorje, a disciple of
Chagdud Pema Dudul, the following text is found:
The day after Chatral Sangye Dorje was born, Asay Bigo Trulku Nyima Gyelthsen, who was an incarnation of Lopen Chandra Gomi, visited Pema and Sonam to tell them about the vision he had about his emergence.
In accordance to his vision, he bestowed the name Throgyal Dorjee to Chatral Sangye Dorje.
Life as a hermit
Education in Dharma
At age 15, Chatral Sangye Dorje left his home to study and practice Buddhism with Buddhist masters. This act of renunciation began his life-long journey as a carefree yogi seeking enlightenment at any cost in order to effectively help other beings with compassion. During this time, he received transmissions of the
Dudjom Tersar
Kyabje Dudjom Jigdral Yeshe Dorje (, THL ''Düjom Jikdrel Yéshé Dorjé'') was known as Terchen Drodül Lingpa and as Dudjom Rinpoche (10 June 1904 – 17 January 1987). He is considered by many Tibetan Buddhists to be from a line of importan ...
cycle of
terton Dudjom Lingpa
Dudjom Lingpa (1835–1904) was a Tibetan meditation master, spiritual teacher and tertön. He stands out from the norm of Tibetan Buddhist teachers in the sense that he had no formal education, nor did he take ordination as a monk or belong to ...
from the terton's son
Dorje Dradül. He further received teachings from
Sera Khandro Kunzang Dekyong Wangmo, who was a daughter-in-law of Terton Dudjom Lingpa. She passed on to Chatral Sangye Dorje the terma cycle teachings of Sera Khandro and he became the principal lineage holder of this tradition as well.
Following the instructions of Sera Khandro, Chatral Sangye Dorje visited
Kathok Monastery
Katok Monastery (, THL ''Katok Dorjé Den''), also transliterated as Kathok or Kathog Monastery, was founded in 1159 and is one of the "Six Mother Monasteries" in Tibet of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism, built after Samye Monastery. It ...
where he met his root guru
Khenpo Ngawang Pelzang Khenpo Ngawang Palzang, also known as Khenpo Ngagchung, is considered by the Tibetan tradition to be an emanation of Vimalamitra.
His teacher was the master Nyoshul Lungtok Tenpai Nyima (1829–1901), an incarnation of the abbot Shantarakshita, w ...
. Khenpo Ngawang gave Chatral Rinpoche many teachings and transmissions—particularly of the
Longchen Nyinthig tradition. Chatral Sangye Dorje studied with other masters at Kathok Monastery as well, in addition to the great
Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö from
Dzongsar Monastery
Dzongsar Monastery ( bo, རྫོང་གསར་དགོན།) is a Buddhist monastery in Dêgê County in the Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan, China, southeast of the town of Derge and east of Palpung Monastery. Historical ...
, which like Kathok lies in the Derge region of Kham.
Realizing his greatness, Khenpo Ngawang crowned the then Throgyal Dorjee as Chatral Sangye Dorje.
Chatral Rinpoche studied under 40 of the most accomplished and highly renowned teachers of Buddhism. Other teachers under whom Chatral Sangye Dorje studied were Shechen Kongtrul Pema Drimé Lekpé Lodrö, Gyurme Tenpa Namgyal, Jigdral Chogkyi Langpo, Jigmey Dechen Dorje, Pema Trinley Gyatso, Katok Situ Chökyi Gyatso,
Thupten Chökyi Dorje, Adzom Gyalse Gyurme Dorje and Apang Tertön.
Chatral Rinpoche met
Dudjom Jigdral Yeshe Dorje
Kyabje Dudjom Jigdral Yeshe Dorje (, THL ''Düjom Jikdrel Yéshé Dorjé'') was known as Terchen Drodül Lingpa and as Dudjom Rinpoche (10 June 1904 – 17 January 1987). He is considered by many Tibetan Buddhists to be from a line of importan ...
while in
Central Tibet
Central is an adjective usually referring to being in the center of some place or (mathematical) object.
Central may also refer to:
Directions and generalised locations
* Central Africa, a region in the centre of Africa continent, also known as ...
. Dudjom Rinpoche had a great influence in Chatral Rinpoche's life. Dudjom Rinpoche transmitted to Chatral Rinpoche the complete cycle of the Dudjom Tersar teachings, naming him the Vajra Regent of the tradition.
Dharma activities in Tibet
As a
ngagpa
In Tibetan Buddhism and Bon, a Ngagpa (male), or a Ngagmo (Female) (; Sanskrit ''mantrī'') is an ordained non-monastic practitioner of Dzogchen and Tantra. The Ngagmapa are widely credited with protecting the Nyingma school and its teachings d ...
, Chatral Rinpoche spent most of his time wandering ceaselessly and meditating in deep mountain caves.
In 1937, the fifth
Reting Rinpoche
Reting Rinpoche () was a title held by abbots of Reting Monastery, a Buddhist monastery in central Tibet.
History of the lineage
Historically, the Reting Rinpoche has occasionally acted as the selector of the new Dalai Lama incarnation. It is f ...
and the
regent
A regent (from Latin : ruling, governing) is a person appointed to govern a state '' pro tempore'' (Latin: 'for the time being') because the monarch is a minor, absent, incapacitated or unable to discharge the powers and duties of the monarchy ...
of
14th Dalai Lama
The 14th Dalai Lama (spiritual name Jetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso, known as Tenzin Gyatso (Tibetan: བསྟན་འཛིན་རྒྱ་མཚོ་, Wylie: ''bsTan-'dzin rgya-mtsho''); né Lhamo Thondup), known as ...
,
Jamphel Yeshe Gyaltsen
(Thubten) Jamphel Yeshe Gyaltsen or Thupten Jampel Yishey Gyantsen, ( Dagpo, 1912 – Lhasa, 1947) was a Tibetan tulku and the fifth Reting Rinpoche.
Life
Gyantsen played a significant role in Tibetan history as the one-time regent
A r ...
requested
Khenpo Ngawang Pelzang Khenpo Ngawang Palzang, also known as Khenpo Ngagchung, is considered by the Tibetan tradition to be an emanation of Vimalamitra.
His teacher was the master Nyoshul Lungtok Tenpai Nyima (1829–1901), an incarnation of the abbot Shantarakshita, w ...
to come to
Lhasa
Lhasa (; Lhasa dialect: ; bo, text=ལྷ་ས, translation=Place of Gods) is the urban center of the prefecture-level city, prefecture-level Lhasa (prefecture-level city), Lhasa City and the administrative capital of Tibet Autonomous Regio ...
to give
Dzogchen
Dzogchen (, "Great Perfection" or "Great Completion"), also known as ''atiyoga'' ( utmost yoga), is a tradition of teachings in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism and Yungdrung Bon aimed at discovering and continuing in the ultimate ground of existence. ...
transmissions. Owing to his old age, Khenpo Ngawang instead recommended Reting Rinpoche to look for Chatral Rinpoche.
Reting Rinpoche sent messengers with a letter from Khenpo Ngawang to find Chatral Rinpoche. They found him meditating in a dense forest of Southern Tibet.
Though reluctant at first, Chatral Sangye Dorje agreed to go to Lhasa on seeing a letter from his root guru. Chatral Sangye Dorje stayed with Reting Rinpoche for two years, giving him many transmissions and instructions - the ear-whispered and profound heart essence of the Dzogchen teachings.
Dharma activities outside Tibet
In 1958, Chatral Rinpoche left Tibet for
Bhutan
Bhutan (; dz, འབྲུག་ཡུལ་, Druk Yul ), officially the Kingdom of Bhutan,), is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is situated in the Eastern Himalayas, between China in the north and India in the south. A mountainous ...
where he travelled to
Paro Taktsang
Paro Taktsang ( dz, སྤ་གྲོ་སྟག་ཚང་, also known as the Taktsang Palphug Monastery and the Tiger's Nest), is a sacred Vajrayana Himalayan Buddhist site located in the cliffside of the upper Paro valley in Bhutan. It i ...
and other places associated with Guru Rinpoche.
He then moved to
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
, where he restored a small temple in
Jorebungalow
Jorebungalow (also spelt Jorebunglow) is a village in the Jorebunglow Sukhiapokhri CD block in the Darjeeling Sadar subdivision of the Darjeeling district in the Indian state of West Bengal.
Geography
Location
Jorebungalow is located at .
...
near
Darjeeling
Darjeeling (, , ) is a town and municipality in the northernmost region of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located in the Eastern Himalayas, it has an average elevation of . To the west of Darjeeling lies the easternmost province of Nepal, ...
.
He turned the temple into a three-year
meditation retreat center
The meaning of a spiritual retreat can be different for different religious communities. Spiritual retreats are an integral part of many Hindu, Jewish, Buddhist, Christian and Sufi communities.
In Hinduism and Buddhism, meditative retreats are ...
for Longchen Nyinthig practice. This was the first such center built by a Tibetan outside of Tibet.
Chatral Sangye Dorje further established retreat centers in
Sikkim
Sikkim (; ) is a state in Northeastern India. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China in the north and northeast, Bhutan in the east, Province No. 1 of Nepal in the west and West Bengal in the south. Sikkim is also close to the Siligur ...
,
Godawari,
Yolmo and
Pharping
Pharping (or Phamting) is a small Newar town lying above the Bagmati river on the southern edge of the Kathmandu valley, about 23 km from the capital. It is now part of the Dakshinkali Municipality.
The town and its environs is the site of sev ...
.
In 1960, Chatral Sangye Dorje visited some of the Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India.
While visiting the
Mahabodhi Temple
The Mahabodhi Temple (literally: "Great Awakening Temple") or the Mahābodhi Mahāvihāra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is an ancient, but rebuilt and restored Buddhist temple in Bodh Gaya, Bihar, India, marking the location where the Buddha ...
, Chatral Sangye Dorje made a firm commitment to give up meat and alcohol, saying:
In 1968, Chatral Sangye Dorje met American
Trappist
The Trappists, officially known as the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance ( la, Ordo Cisterciensis Strictioris Observantiae, abbreviated as OCSO) and originally named the Order of Reformed Cistercians of Our Lady of La Trappe, are a ...
monk Father
Thomas Merton
Thomas Merton (January 31, 1915 – December 10, 1968) was an American Trappist monk, writer, theologian, mystic, poet, social activist and scholar of comparative religion. On May 26, 1949, he was ordained to the Catholic priesthood and giv ...
.
Chatral Sangye Dorje and Merton exchanged conversations on philosophical and spiritual aspects of
Christianity
Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. It is the world's largest and most widespread religion with roughly 2.38 billion followers representing one-third of the global pop ...
and
Buddhism
Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and gra ...
.
As they split, Merton remarked, "That’s the greatest man I ever met. That’s my teacher."
On request of Lungten Tulku, Chatral Sangye Dorje visited Bhutan in 1988. He petitioned
His Majesty King Jigme Singye Wangchuk for construction of retreat center in Beyul Langdra. The retreat center is now headed by Lungten Tulku.
A close disciple of
Dudjom Rinpoche
Kyabje Dudjom Jigdral Yeshe Dorje (, THL ''Düjom Jikdrel Yéshé Dorjé'') was known as Terchen Drodül Lingpa and as Dudjom Rinpoche (10 June 1904 – 17 January 1987). He is considered by many Tibetan Buddhists to be from a line of importan ...
, Chatral Sangye Dorje was empowered as the Vajra Regent of Dudjom Rinpoche. He recognized Sangye Pema Zhepa, the grandson of Dudjom Rinpoche, as the reincarnation or yangsi of Dudjom Rinpoche in 1990. He presided over the enthronement of Dudjom Yangsi in 1994, and passed on the teachings of the Dudjom Tersar cycle to his master's reincarnation. Chatral Sangye Dorje himself looked over the education of Dudjom Yangsi. Dudjom Rinpoche considers Chatral Rinpoche to be his root guru.
Chatral Sangye Dorje was very selective when it came to his students, and as such had only a handful of students, despite being famed for his Dharma activities all around the world.
This allowed Chatral Sangye Dorje to spend more time in retreats. Every 15th and 30th day of the lunar month, Chatral Sangye Dorje would
release
Release may refer to:
* Art release, the public distribution of an artistic production, such as a film, album, or song
* Legal release, a legal instrument
* News release, a communication directed at the news media
* Release (ISUP), a code to ident ...
thousands of fishes rescued from fisheries into
Trishuli River
The Trishuli River ( ne, त्रिशूली नदी) is one of the major tributaries of the Narayani River basin in central Nepal. It originates in Tibet as a stream and enters Nepal at Gyirong Town.
Etymology
The Trishuli is named after t ...
near
Pharphing or into
Teesta River
Teesta River is a long river that rises in the Pauhunri Mountain of eastern Himalayas, flows through the Indian states of Sikkim and West Bengal through Rangpur, and enters the Bay of Bengal. It drains an area of . In India, it flows through ...
near
Siliguri
Siliguri, ) is a major tier-II city in West Bengal. It forms twin cities, "Twin Cities" with the neighboring district capital of Jalpaiguri. The city spans areas of the Darjeeling district, Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts in the Indian sta ...
. He also rescued animals from slaughterhouses, paying money to the owners for the rescued animals.
Family
In 1962, Chatral Sangye Dorje married Sangyum Kamala. Sangyum was only 20, while Chatral Sangye Dorje was already 49. They were married for 53 years at the time of Chatral Sangye Dorje's death in 2015. Chatral Sangye Dorje and Kamala have two daughters, Semo Tara Devi and Semo Saraswati. Semo Saraswati is unmarried and has been recognized as the reincarnation of Sera Khandro.
Death
Chatral Rinpoche died of natural causes on the 30th of December, 2015, coinciding with the 20th day of the female wood
sheep
Sheep or domestic sheep (''Ovis aries'') are domesticated, ruminant mammals typically kept as livestock. Although the term ''sheep'' can apply to other species in the genus ''Ovis'', in everyday usage it almost always refers to domesticated s ...
year lunar
Tibetan calendar
The Tibetan calendar (), or Tibetan lunar calendar, is a lunisolar calendar, that is, the Tibetan year is composed of either 12 or 13 lunar months, each beginning and ending with a new moon. A thirteenth month is added every two or three years, s ...
at around 5 pm (
NPT) in
Pharping
Pharping (or Phamting) is a small Newar town lying above the Bagmati river on the southern edge of the Kathmandu valley, about 23 km from the capital. It is now part of the Dakshinkali Municipality.
The town and its environs is the site of sev ...
, Nepal. His body remained in
thukdam
Tibetan Buddhism (also referred to as Indo-Tibetan Buddhism, Lamaism, Lamaistic Buddhism, Himalayan Buddhism, and Northern Buddhism) is the form of Buddhism practiced in Tibet and Bhutan, where it is the dominant religion. It is also in majo ...
for three days after his passing away. His
mahaparinirvana
In Buddhism, ''parinirvana'' (Sanskrit: '; Pali: ') is commonly used to refer to nirvana-after-death, which occurs upon the death of someone who has attained ''nirvana'' during their lifetime. It implies a release from '' '', karma and rebirth a ...
ceremony was led by his two heart sons
Katok Situ Rinpoche and
Dudjom Yangsi Rinpoche. His kudung was visited by several important lineage masters, including
Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche
Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche (Tibetan: ཆོས་ཀྱི་ཉི་མ་རིན་པོ་ཆེ་, Wyl. chos kyi nyi ma rin po che or ne, छोकी निमा रिम्पोचे) (b. 1951) is a Tibetan Buddhist teacher and meditat ...
,
Tsikey Chokling Rinpoche
Tsikey Chokling Rinpoche was a teacher, writer, religious ritual master, and meditation master of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism.
Tsikey Chokling Rinpoche has been recognized by the 16th Karmapa as the fourth reincarnation of the 19th- ...
and
Tsoknyi Rinpoche Tsoknyi Rinpoche ( Wylie ''tshogs gnyis rin po che'') or Ngawang Tsoknyi Gyatso (born 13 March 1966) is a Nepalese Tibetan Buddhist teacher and author, and the founder of the Pundarika Foundation. He is the third Tsoknyi Rinpoche, having been reco ...
.
Teachings
Chatral Sangye Dorje has shunned institutional and political involvement his whole life, choosing instead to live the life of a wandering yogi. Even in old age he continued to move about, rarely remaining in one place for more than a few months. A lay yogi, he was also greatly concerned with maintaining strict discipline in the context of the Dzogchen view. He has advocated
vegetarianism
Vegetarianism is the practice of abstaining from the consumption of meat (red meat, poultry, seafood, insects, and the flesh of any other animal). It may also include abstaining from eating all by-products of animal slaughter.
Vegetarianism may ...
and had a yearly practice of ransoming the lives of thousands of animals in
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
.
In addition to his emphasis on the union of view and conduct, Chatral Sangye Dorje also stressed the practice of retreat. He has established numerous retreat centers throughout the
Himalayas
The Himalayas, or Himalaya (; ; ), is a mountain range in Asia, separating the plains of the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau. The range has some of the planet's highest peaks, including the very highest, Mount Everest. Over 100 ...
, including in
Pharping
Pharping (or Phamting) is a small Newar town lying above the Bagmati river on the southern edge of the Kathmandu valley, about 23 km from the capital. It is now part of the Dakshinkali Municipality.
The town and its environs is the site of sev ...
, Yolmo, and
Darjeeling
Darjeeling (, , ) is a town and municipality in the northernmost region of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located in the Eastern Himalayas, it has an average elevation of . To the west of Darjeeling lies the easternmost province of Nepal, ...
.
Primary teachers
*
Khenpo Ngawang Pelzang Khenpo Ngawang Palzang, also known as Khenpo Ngagchung, is considered by the Tibetan tradition to be an emanation of Vimalamitra.
His teacher was the master Nyoshul Lungtok Tenpai Nyima (1829–1901), an incarnation of the abbot Shantarakshita, w ...
(also known as Khenpo Ngaga, Ngawang Palzang)
*
Dudjom Jigdral Yeshe Dorje
Kyabje Dudjom Jigdral Yeshe Dorje (, THL ''Düjom Jikdrel Yéshé Dorjé'') was known as Terchen Drodül Lingpa and as Dudjom Rinpoche (10 June 1904 – 17 January 1987). He is considered by many Tibetan Buddhists to be from a line of importan ...
*
Dzongsar Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö
Dzongsar Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö (c. 1893 – 1959) was a Tibetan lama, a master of many lineages, and a teacher of many of the major figures in 20th-century Tibetan Buddhism. Though he died in 1959 in Sikkim, and is not so well known in the We ...
(previous
incarnation
Incarnation literally means ''embodied in flesh'' or ''taking on flesh''. It refers to the conception and the embodiment of a deity or spirit in some earthly form or the appearance of a god as a human. If capitalized, it is the union of divinit ...
of
)
*
Kunzang Dekyong Wangmo
Sera Khandro Kunzang Dekyong Wangmo (1892–1940) or Sera Kandro is considered an emanation of Yeshe Tsogyal, and in her lifetime was a Terton of Tibetan Buddhist Vajrayana, a biographer and autobiographer, and a highly respected teacher. She tau ...
Primary lineages
Though his main lineage was the
Longchen Nyingthig
Longchen Nyingthig () is a '' terma'', revealed scripture, of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism, which gives a systematic explanation of Dzogchen. It was revealed by Jigme Lingpa (1730–1798).
Etymology
Longchen Nyingthig may be transla ...
, Chatral Sangye Dorje was also closely associated with the
Dudjom Tersar
Kyabje Dudjom Jigdral Yeshe Dorje (, THL ''Düjom Jikdrel Yéshé Dorjé'') was known as Terchen Drodül Lingpa and as Dudjom Rinpoche (10 June 1904 – 17 January 1987). He is considered by many Tibetan Buddhists to be from a line of importan ...
lineage. He was empowered as the regent of
Dudjom Jigdral Yeshe Dorje
Kyabje Dudjom Jigdral Yeshe Dorje (, THL ''Düjom Jikdrel Yéshé Dorjé'') was known as Terchen Drodül Lingpa and as Dudjom Rinpoche (10 June 1904 – 17 January 1987). He is considered by many Tibetan Buddhists to be from a line of importan ...
and was passing on this lineage to this master's
reincarnation
Reincarnation, also known as rebirth or transmigration, is the philosophical or religious concept that the non-physical essence of a living being begins a new life in a different physical form or body after biological death. Resurrection is a ...
, who lives primarily in
Central Tibet
Central is an adjective usually referring to being in the center of some place or (mathematical) object.
Central may also refer to:
Directions and generalised locations
* Central Africa, a region in the centre of Africa continent, also known as ...
.
*
Longchen Nyingthig
Longchen Nyingthig () is a '' terma'', revealed scripture, of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism, which gives a systematic explanation of Dzogchen. It was revealed by Jigme Lingpa (1730–1798).
Etymology
Longchen Nyingthig may be transla ...
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Kunzang Dekyong Wangmo
Sera Khandro Kunzang Dekyong Wangmo (1892–1940) or Sera Kandro is considered an emanation of Yeshe Tsogyal, and in her lifetime was a Terton of Tibetan Buddhist Vajrayana, a biographer and autobiographer, and a highly respected teacher. She tau ...
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Dudjom Tersar
Kyabje Dudjom Jigdral Yeshe Dorje (, THL ''Düjom Jikdrel Yéshé Dorjé'') was known as Terchen Drodül Lingpa and as Dudjom Rinpoche (10 June 1904 – 17 January 1987). He is considered by many Tibetan Buddhists to be from a line of importan ...
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Sera Khandro Dewai Dorje
Notable students
Chatral Sangye Dorje was the root guru of
Dudjom Yangsi Rinpoche. Other notable students of Chatral Rinpoche include
Tharchin Rinpoche
Lama Tsedrup Tharchin Rinpoche () (1936–July 22, 2013) was a Tibetan Dzogchen master in the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism. He was tenth holder of the family lineage known as the Repkong Ngakpas.
Early life and education
Tharchin Rinpoche wa ...
, and
Chogyal Wangchuk Namgyal.
Bibliography
*
Online texts
*Chatral Rinpoche Series by Lotsawa House
Chatral Rinpoche Series
/ref>
References
External links
* ttp://dudjomba.org/declare_eng.html Declaration of Chatral Rinpoche With Regard to Misuse of His Name at April 2007
Photograph with explanatory text
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sangye Dorje, Chatral
1913 births
2015 deaths
Dzogchen lamas
Men centenarians
Nyingma lamas
Rinpoches
Scholars of Buddhism from Tibet
Tibetan Buddhism writers
Tibetan Buddhists from Tibet
Tibetan centenarians