The History of Mindrolling: Part VIII

Drinchen Rinchen Namgyal, the 3rd Mindrolling Trichen

Drinchen Rinchen Namgyal was born to the great master Chögyal Terdag Lingpa and Yum Phuntsog Palzom who was a direct descendent of King Tsuglag Dzin of the dbon lineage. Drinchen Rinchen Namgyal was the youngest of their three children. He was born in the 11th lunar month of the Male Wood Dog year at the residence called bkra shis snang ba'i khang bzang (tashi nangwe'i khang zang).

From a very young age, Drinchen Rinchen Namgyal received a thorough education from many great teachers and in particular from his father Chögyal Terdag Lingpa, his uncle Lochen Dharmashri, and his older brother Pema Gyurme Gyatso. Displaying great skill and erudition in the field of buddhist studies, he became adept in all forms of rituals, gar cham (ritual dances), dbyangs rol (ritual melodies and instruments) and the five traditional sciences (rig gnas lnga).

He received extensive teachings on the peaceful and wrathful Guru, Minling Dorsem cycle, the Thugje Chenpo cycle, Yamantaka, Mahottara Heruka, Amitayus, Guhyasamaja, dong sprugs (Stirring the Depths), bka' brgyad (Eight Logos/Eight Sadhana Teachings), tshogs chen 'dus pa (Scripture of the Great Assemblage) and the entire cycle of termas of great tertöns such as Pema Lingpa, Kunkyong Lingpa, Sangye Lingpa, Ratna Lingpa, Zhig po Lingpa, Ngadag Nyang as well as the Kama teachings, transmissions and empowerments.

From Lochen Chöpal Gyatso (Lochen Dharmashri), he received the entire cycle of sgyu 'phrul zhi khro, 'dus pa mdo, rog lugs phur pa, dpal ldan dus 'khor, sems sde ma bu bco brgyad, bla ma dgongs 'dus, gu ru chos dbang gi bla ma gsang 'dus, and dong sprugs pad ma brgya ldan.

From Pema Gyurme Gyatso he received bka' brgyad gsang rdzogs lugs gsum gyi dbang rgyas pa, yang dag bka' ma, sangs rgyas mnyam sbyor, rgyud sde lnga'i dbang, bka' brgyad bde 'dus, and the entire collection of termas of Chögyal Terdag Lingpa.

During this period of Drinchen Rinchen Namgyal’s education and early life, the Dzungar Mongol invasion caused great destruction in Tibet and Mindrolling too came under their invasion and destruction (refer to Parts IV and V). Many great masters including Lochen Dharmashri and Pema Gyurme Gyatso were assassinated. Jetsün Migyur Paldrön fled Mindrolling and Drinchen Rinchen Namgyal, assisted by several attendants, fled to Eastern Tibet (Kham) to the province of Kho Khyim.

It is said that many years before, during one of his visits to this province, Chögyal Terdag Lingpa had commented that this region would one day play an important role for Mindrolling and would become for Mindrolling a mkho khyim (important/necessary household). Later, a great, learned master bla ma rnam grol bzang po established a monastery in the same location. During the invasion this great master and monks from this monastery played a pivotal role in helping Drinchen Rinchen Namgyal escape and it was at there, at the mkho khyim monastery, where he lived for several years.

The present Khochhen Rinpoche is known as the incarnation of bla ma rnam grol bzang po, the founder of the mkho khyim monastery. Subsequently, all incarnations of this master are known to have served Mindrolling in many ways. The current Khochhen (aka Khokhyim Rinpoche) Rinpoche has once again played a crucial role in serving Kyabje Mindrolling Trichen and the Mindrolling Monastery for almost 55 years. His Eminence Khochhen Rinpoche escaped from Tibet with Kyabje Mindrolling Trichen and still oversees all administrative activities of the Mindrolling Monastery in India.

While in Kham, Drinchen Rinchen Namgyal propagated the Dharma extensively. He bestowed numerous teachings at other important Nyingma monasteries such as Kathog, Dzogchen and Sechen. For several years, he bestowed numerous teachings and transmissions to many dharma practitioners including many prominent lineage holders and senior officials of the Tibetan Government.

Returning to Mindrolling, after the decline and dispersion of the Dzungar Mongol invaders, he joined his sister Jetsün Migyur Paldrön and his brother Gyalsay Dewe'i Nyima, who had also survived the Mongolian invaders' destruction.

At the age of 29, he was formally enthroned as the 3rd Trichen (throne-holder) of Mindrolling. His older brother, Pema Gyurme Gyatso (refer to Part IV for a biographical account of Pema Gyurme Gyatso) who had been assassinated during the Dzungar Mongol invasion, was officially recognized as the 2nd Trichen. Many great signs of rainbow clouds and a mild earthquake heralded the auspicious enthronement ceremony which was blessed by the Great Supreme One, His Holiness the 7th Dalai Lama.

As the Trichen of Mindrolling and to ensure the continuity of the sacred blood lineage of Terdag Lingpa and the Nyö lineage, Tri Drinchen Rinchen Namgyal took as consort the noble lady Tsewang Palzom who was endowed with all the qualities of a bodhisattva.

Trichen Drinchen Rinchen Namgyal contributed greatly to the rebuilding of Mindrolling and along with his sister, Jetsün Migyur Paldrön, they rebuilt many temples and structures of Mindrolling that had been destroyed during the invasion. One of his foremost contributions was to bring about the revival of the immensely sacred ritual dance of gar cham and all the other authentic and profound traditional rituals that had been set down by his father, Chögyal Terdag Lingpa, and uncle, Lochen Dharmashri.

The Dzungar Mongol invasion had created tremendous havoc in Tibet and destroyed many monasteries as well as learning and practice centers, weakening the very foundation of Dharma. By establishing the monastic order, all aspects of the disciplines of learning and training, Trichen Drinchen Rinchen Namgyal re-established Mindrolling as one of the eminent centers of buddhist practice and studies famed throughout the realm of Tibet.

Trichen Drinchen Rinchen Namgyal also took on the enormous responsibility of once again gathering all the teachings and transmissions he had received from Chögyal Terdag Lingpa and Lochen Dharmashri and undertaking their preservation and growth. He took on the great responsibility of transmitting and teaching all that he had received from his great teachers, thus enabling the precious lineages to continue without disruption. His wisdom and activity allowed many prominent lineages of the Nyingma as well as other lineages to once again gain strength and for the continuity of the Dharma to not only continue but flourish in all ten directions.

In this way Trichen Drinchen Rinchen Namgyal also became the root Guru of many great masters such as -

  • rdo brag rig 'dzin chen mo Dorje Drak Rigzin Chemo
  • rdzogs chen sku phreng gnyis pa gyur med theg mchog bstan 'dzin The Second Dzogchen Tulku, Gyurme Thegchog Tenzin
  • ka thog rig 'dzin chen po Kathog Rigzin Chenpo
  • chos rgyal gling pa yab sras Chögyal Lingpa Yabse
  • zhe chen rab 'byams Sechen Rabjam
  • mnga bdag kong ston rig 'dzin rgya mtsho Ngadag Kongtön Rigzin Gyatso
  • gter chen nyi ma grags pa'i sprul sku Terchen Nyima Drakpa Tulku
  • 'phyong rgyas dpal ri sprul sku Chongje Palri Tulku
  • rgyan pa dge theg sprul sku Gyenpa Detheg Tulku
  • kong po rdzogs chen Kongpo Dzogchen
  • chab mdo 'phags pa lha Chamdo Phagpa Lha
  • hor bla ma gyur med skal bzang Hor Lama Gyurme Kelzang
  • dpal ri bla ma kun bzang 'od gzer Palri Lama Künzang Özer
  • bla ma rnam rgyal grags pa Lama Namgyal Drakpa
  • mon yul the pe bla ma Mönyul Thepe Lama
  • bla ma pad ma dar rgyas Lama Pema Dargye
  • bla ma 'dren mchog Lama Drenchog
  • bla ma rig 'dzin Lama Rigzin
  • ba skal sprul sku Bakal Tulku
  • rje drung sprul sku Jedung Tulku
  • zangs mkhar sprul sku Zangkhar Tulku
  • thang 'brog sprul sku Thangdrog Tulku
  • rtse li sprul sku Tseli Tulku
  • grub chen phrin las mthar phyin Drubchen Thrinley Tharchin
  • grub chen rat na seng ge Drubchen Ratna Senge
  • shing rtsa sprul sku Zhingtsa Tulku
  • za ra sprul sku Zara Tulku
  • rab 'byams smra ba'i dbang phyug ogyen skal bzang Rabjam Mawe'i Wangchuk Ogyen Kelzang
  • ogyen chos grags Ogyen Chöje
  • mkhan chen 'gyur med don yod Khenchen Gyurme Dönyöd
  • rab 'byams smra ba'i chos grags Rabjam Mawe'i Chödrak
  • blo gsal rgya mtsho Losel Gyatso, and many more.

At the age of 65, in the year of Male Earth Tiger year, foreseeing the end of his activities of his life, he retired to the eastern shrine of dag po'i gnas 'ol khar. There he summoned all his sons, principal students and disciples and bestowed upon them the 'da' ka'i zhal chems (final advice and wisdom instructions). Then, resting in meditation, amidst many wondrous signs, the 3rd Trichen of Mindrolling, Drinchen Rinchen Namgyal passed into parinirvana.

After the passing, the Kudung was brought back into the main shrine room of gsang sngags pho brang. The great stupa of Dharmakaya, one of the largest stupas in Tibet at the time was later built and the Kudung of this great Guru was then placed within the Stupa for the benefit of all sentient beings.