 The Nyingma (rnying ma) -- literally the "ancient" -- is the oldest tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. The origin of the Nyingma teachings is credited to Padmasambhava, a tantric ritual specialist invited to Tibet in the 8th century to subjugate native deities that were obstructing the dissemination of Buddhism. Padmasambhava and other Indian masters such as Vimalamitra, and select Tibetan translators such as Vairocana, propagated the tradition's primary teaching, Dzogchen (rdzogs chen), a tantric system that has been adopted to varying degree by most other traditions. The Indic scriptures that were translated in the 8th and 9th centuries and the teachings by the masters of that era have come to be known as the "Kama" (bka' ma), or spoken word tradition. Since at least the 12th century Nyingma teachers known as terton (gter ston), or "treasure revealers" have produced new scriptures said to have been concealed by Padmasambhava or others for the benefit of future eras. The Nyingma maintains both lay and monastic traditions, with six mother monasteries: Dorje Drak (rdo rje brag) and Mindroling (smin grol gling) in Tibet, and Katok (kaH thog), Palyul (dpal yul), Dzogchen (rdzogs chen) and Shechen (zhe chen) in Kham. View additional essays |
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Andzom Drukpa Pawo Dorje b.1842 - d.1924 Andzom Drukpa 01 was an influential Nyingma lama in the Longchen Nyingtik lineage of Dzogchen and a major figure of late 19th century Khams. He established the religious community of Andzom Gar in Tromtar, near the site of his birth.
Chetsun Sengge Wangchuk b.1100? Chetsun Sengge Wangchuk was an early proponent the Nyingtik teachings of Dzogchen and one of only a handful of Tibetans credited with concealing treasure texts. He is credited with receiving the texts discovered by Dangma Lhungyal at the Sha Lakang near Lhasa. He is also said to have received teachings from Vairocana through a visionary encounter that lasted two weeks and that upon his death at age 125 he dissolved into rainbow light.
Choggyur Lingpa b.1829 - d.1870 Chogyur Lingpa was born in Nangchen in 1829, and died at his monastery, Neten in 1870. At the age of 25 he moved to Derge, where he met Jamgon Kongtrul and Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo, with whom he enjoyed a productive collaboration. The three are collectively known as the “Khyen Kong Chog De Sum”. A prolific treasure revealer, among the best known are the Barche Kunsel, the Zabpa Kor Dun, and the Lamrim Yeshe Nyingpo, for which Jamgon Kongtrul wrote a famous commentary. Chogyur Lingpa also revealed an enumeration of great sites in Khams that had a significant impact on the sacred geography of the region. He established two monastic centers, Tsike and Netan, seats of the Kela and Neten lines of his incarnation.
Dalai Lama 05 Ngawang Lobzang Gyatso b.1617 - d.1682 The Fifth Dalai Lama, Ngawang Lobzang Gyatso, generally known “The Great Fifth” was the first Dalai Lama to assume political rule of Tibet, forging lasting alliances with Mongol armies and the Qing court in China. He was both a brilliant tactician and a religious thinker, authoring numerous commentaries and ritual manuals, as well as histories and biographies. Although responsible for considerable sectarian violence and Gelug hegemony, including the suppression in Tibet of the Jonang tradition and the forcible conversion of many monasteries to the Gelug faith, the Fifth Dalai Lama never abandoned his family’s Nyingma affiliations, and he sponsored the establishment or renovation of several Nyingma monasteries. The Fifth Dalai Lama was also the first in the incarnation line to be identified as an emanation of Avalokitesvara; the Potala, the great palace he built as his residence and seat in Lhasa is named after that bodhisattva’s pure land, Potalaka.
Dangma Lhungyel b.1000? Dangma Lhungyal was an early proponent of the Bima Nyingtik teachings. He is credited with discovering the 17 Dzogchen tantras in the Sha Temple near Lhasa in the 11th century, which he transmitted to Chetsun Sengge Wangchuk.
Denma Tsemang b.750? Denma Tsemang was one of the 25 disciples of Padmasambhava, and the only one from Kham. He was a great translator and scribe, with the ability to perfectly comprehend and remember all that he heard and read.
Dilgo Khyentse Tashi Paljor b.1910 - d.1991 Dilgo Khyentse Tashi Paljor was one of the most prominent Nyingma lamas of the 20th century, widely known also in the West. The body reincarnation of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo, his seat was Sechen monastery, which he reestablished in Boudhanath, Nepal, in 1980. After fleeing the Communist takeover of Tibet, Dilgo Khyentse settled in Bhutan. A prolific author and treasure-revealer, his compositions are collected in 25 volumes. Although he received novice vows at age 10, he never ordained, living the life of a householder with wife and children.
Do Khyentse Yeshe Dorje b.1800 - d.1866 Do Khyentse Yeshe Dorje, considered the mind incarnations of Jigme Lingpa, was a prominent holder of the Lonchen Nyingtik, a disciple of Dodrupchen I. Among his students were Dza Patrul and Dodrupchen 02, Jigme Puntsok Jungne.
Dodrupchen 01 Jigme Trinle Ozer b.1745 - d.1821 Dodrupchen I Jigme Trinle Oser, a principle disciple of Jigme Lingpa and a chaplain to the Dege royal family, was one of the foremost Longchen Nyingtik lineage holders of the 19th century.
Dodrupchen 02 Jigme Puntsog Jungne b.1825? - d.1860? Dodrupchen 02 Jigme Puntsok Jungne was identified as the reincarnation of Jigme Trinle Oser by Do Khyentse Yeshe Dorje, who was his chief guru and close companion throughout his short life. In 1862 Jigme Puntsok Jungne established the current seat of the Dodrupchen line of incarnations, Tsangchen Ngodrub Pelbar Ling in the Do region of Golok, a community that was greatly expanded by his successive incarnation under the name Dodrupchen Monastery. Jigme Puntsok Jungne died from smallpox in Dartsedo, a victim of a regional epidemic.
