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Remembering Kyabjé Dodrupchen Rinpoche

Rigpa News

Welcome to Rigpa News, where we share recent activities and events in Rigpa, and from around the Buddhist world.

Remembering Kyabjé Dodrupchen Rinpoche

Rigpa

Kyabjé Dodrupchen Rinpoche was among the most important Tibetan masters of this time, in particular of the Nyingma and Dzogchen traditions. As the fourth incarnation of Dodrupchen Jikmé Trinlé Özer, the heart-son of Jikmé Lingpa who revealed the Longchen Nyingtik cycle, Dodrupchen Rinpoche was the principal holder of the Longchen Nyingtik teachings.

The name Dodrupchen, meaning “The Great Adept (Mahasiddha) from the Do (Valley)”, was given to the First Dodrupchen by the Tibetan Government after he dispelled the danger of an invasion by Nepalese Gurkha forces. The Dodrupchen line of incarnations traces it origin back to Prince Murum Tsenpo, the son of the Dharma King Trisong Detsen who was the root incarnation of Jikmé Lingpa.

Until his escape from Tibet to Sikkim in 1957, Kyabje Dodrupchen Rinpoche spread the Dharma especially in Eastern Tibet. He was the administrative and spiritual head of Dodrupchen monastery, and much of his energy went towards the printing and distribution of dharma texts. Through his efforts copies of the Seven Treasuries of Longchenpa spread in the Golok region. He built images of the lineage masters of the innermost secret cycle of Dzogchen teachings, and he also gave transmissions of kama and terma teachings to thousands of people in Eastern Tibet.

Following his escape from Tibet, he settled in Gangtok, Sikkim. Once again he sponsored the printing of many books, including Longchenpa's Seven Treasuries and Trilogy of Finding Comfort and Ease. He gave many empowerments, transmissions and teachings in Sikkim, where he has two monasteries, in Bhutan, where he also heads a monastery, and in India and Nepal.

A master whose quiet, gentle and unassuming demeanour is complemented by a tremendous presence, Dodrupchen Rinpoche attended to the everyday spiritual needs of the people of Sikkim, and personally looked after the welfare of over a thousand monks in his care. Tulku Thondup says that the goal of all Dodrupchen’s efforts was to serve others, to make a difference, to make dharma accessible, without any personal expectation or interest in fame or glory. People would travel to Sikkim from all over the world to receive his blessing and spend a brief moment in his presence.

He stablished a dharma centre named Mahasiddha Nyingmapa centre in Massachusetts, USA, in 1973 which he visited every other year. He also visited and taught in Britain, France and Switzerland.

Kyabjé Rinpoche’s connection with Rigpa began as early as 1975 when he granted the empowerment of Rigdzin Düpa at Sogyal Rinpoche's request in London. In 1989 he was present at Rigpa's summer retreat at Brunissard, France along with Dzogchen Rinpoche, Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche and Khandro Tsering Chödron. In 1991, he taught at Rigpa’s retreat at Chateau de Cassan in France, he was the first lama to bless the land which became Rigpa’s retreat centre in France, Lerab Ling, he visited and blessed Rigpa’s retreat centre in Ireland, Dzogchen Beara as well as the new London Centre.

Kyabjé Dodrupchen Rinpoche entered into parinirvana on 25 January, 2022.

  • Prayers for the rebirth of Kyabjé Dodrupchen Rinpoche are available on Lotsawa House

  • Read more about Dodrupchen Rinpoche here

  • Find texts by Dodrupchen Rinpoche here