Hung Syllable surrounded by Vajra Guru Mantra.

Our Lineage

From the time of the Buddha until now, the Buddha’s teachings have been kept alive through an unbroken chain of teacher-to-student transmissions.

Tertön Padgyal Lingpa

(1924-1988) An outstanding Dharma treasure revealer (tertön) whose lineage of spiritual practice is maintained as a daily group practice at Chagdud Gonpa Rigdzin Ling and with the annual Red Vajrasattva drubchen.

Portrait of Tertön Padgyal Lingpa.
Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche sitting down with his hands on his knees.

Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

(1910-1991) One of the most impressive and realized masters of the 20th century. His vast range of accomplishments embraced all schools of lineages of Buddhism. He served as a mentor to the leaders of all the Tibetan spiritual traditions and was a root guru of Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche.

Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodro

(1893-1959) The foremost leader of all spiritual lineages of Tibet during the first half of the 20th century. Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche received empowerments from him at Dzongsar Monastery, his famous learning and retreat center in Eastern Tibet, and met Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche there for the first time.

Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Lodro displaying the teaching (Vitarka) mudra.
Shechen Kongtrul Pema Drimed sitting on a chair in an antiquated photo.

Shechen Kongtrul Pema Drimed

(1901-1960) A great meditation master who lived mostly in retreat at Shechen Gonpa, one of the principle Nyingma monasteries of Eastern Tibet. He was an incarnation of the great Jamgon Kongtrul and an important spiritual teacher of Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche.

Polu Khenpo Dorje

(c1897-1970) One of the principle root masters of Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche and, as a holder of the ultimate lineage of realization, is the source of Chagdud Gonpa's most profound meditation practices.

Polu Khenpo Dorje smiling with hands on his lap.
Tromge Arik sitting down in an antiquated photo.

Tromge Arik

(c1905-1988) The very holy and incarnate lama of Tromge Gonpa in Eastern Tibet, who spent most of his life in retreat. He achieved the highest level of spiritual mastery and was a principle guru of Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche.

Tromge Dechhen Kyabje Wangpo

(c1930-2015) One of the incarnate lamas of Tromge Monastery in Eastern Tibet who, together with Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche, was a disciple of Tromge Arik. He is the source for the Chenrezig cycle of practice held by Chagdud Gonpa.

Tromge Dechhen Kyabje Wangpo smiling.
Young Dudjom Jigdral Yeshe Dorje with glasses.

Dudjom Jigdral Yeshe Dorje

(1904-1987) One of the most outstanding masters of the 20th century whose learning and realization reached the consummate level. He was one of the main root masters of Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche and the wellspring of numerous meditation practices and liturgies at Chagdud Gonpa.

Khenpo Ngawang Palzang Yangsi

(Khenpo Ngakchung)

(b. 1944) One of the greatest living spiritual masters in Tibet and the root of Chagdud Gonpa's most profound meditation practices. It was this holy guru who clearly saw and recognized the present rebirth of Chagdud Rinpoche.

Khenpo Ngakchung sitting down holding a text.