His Holiness Kyabje Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche was one of the most revered senior masters of the Nyingma tradition and the former Supreme Head of the Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism. A holder of the rare Northern Treasures (Jangter) lineage, his life was a testament to unwavering dedication, profound scholarship, and compassionate activity for the benefit of all beings.
An Auspicious Birth and Early Recognition
His Holiness was born in 1926 in central Tibet, near the sacred Yardrok Lake where Guru Rinpoche is said to have left his handprint. His birthplace was in Taklung, home to the prominent Taklung Tse Monastery, which was affiliated with Thubten Dorje Drak—one of the six main Nyingma monasteries.
Earlier, the great Khenpo Namkha Longyang had recognized a monk as the incarnation of Ngok Chöku Dorje. The subsequent incarnation was identified by the ninth Dordrak Rigdzin, Chöwang Nyamnyi Dorje, as the boy who would become Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche.
At the age of five, he was ordained and formally enthroned. By the age of eight, he took his dharma seat at the mother monastery, Thubten Dorje Drak, where he began the rigorous training that would define his life.
A Life of Devotion and Study
From a young age, H.H. Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche dedicated himself to mastering the vast teachings of the Nyingma tradition.
- At age fourteen, he began studies with Pawo Rinpoche, delving into the Dzogchen teachings.
- At fifteen, he received the empowerments and transmissions of the Northern Treasures (Jangter) lineage from the elder Khenpo of Gotsa Monastery.
- At twenty, he received the complete empowerments of the Rinchen Terdzö (Treasury of Precious Termas) from the previous Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche.
He traveled widely to receive teachings from the greatest masters of his time, including transmissions for the treasures of Padma Lingpa from the retreat master at Mindroling, the Seven Treasures of Longchenpa from Golok Chewo Rinpoche, and enseñanzas on the nature of mind at Dorje Drak. After serving as Khenpo (abbot) of Dorje Drak, he returned to his own Taklung Monastery.
Journey into Exile and Preserving the Lineage
In 1959, as the political situation in Tibet worsened, Rinpoche made the difficult journey into exile, eventually reaching India. His quest for learning continued unabated:
- In Sikkim, he received the Treasury of Oral Instructions and Kagyu Mantra Treasury from the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa.
- In Kalimpong, he received the Great Terma Treasury and Nyingma Kama from Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche.
- In Bhutan, he received the collected teachings of Mipham Rinpoche and the Heart Essence of Longchen Nyingthig from Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche danakosha.org.
He later settled in Simla, India, where he worked tirelessly with the local community and the office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to establish a new Dorje Drak monastic seat in exile. This act was crucial for preserving the Northern Treasures lineage after its mother monastery in Tibet was destroyed. Today, the monastery thrives with nearly 80 monks.
H.H. Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche was a beacon of wisdom, sought out by prominent lamas from all lineages for empowerments and transmissions. He gave teachings at monasteries across India, Nepal, and Bhutan and came to Finland. [danakosha.org]
Following the parinirvana of Kyabje Trulshik Rinpoche, the Nyingma school looked for a successor. In a conference of major tulkus and khenpos, it was decided to approach H.H. Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche. On **March 6, 2012**, representatives of the six main Nyingma monasteries met with him in Shimla. After careful consideration, he graciously accepted the position as Supreme Head of the Nyingmapa, to the great joy of the entire community.A Legacy of Teaching: The 2014 Empowerment in Finland
An example of his tireless compassion was his visit to Finland in 2014. Danakosha Dharma Center was profoundly honored to host His Holiness, who generously bestowed the Konchog Chidu empowerment to strengthen Buddhist activity and realization in the West.
Konchog Chidu, “Embodiment of the Precious Ones,” is a profound treasure teaching (terma) from the great terton Jatson Nyingpo. This practice, cherished in both the Nyingma and Kagyu schools, focuses on Guru Rinpoche in his various forms as Guru, Yidam, and Dakini. Padmasambhava himself said of this teaching: “If you have devotion and wish to practice this text, it has the power of giving you the attainment of a pure land, even to an animal… The blessings of this profound teaching have not diminished, and therefore receiving this transmission and empowerment is more precious than finding a wish-fulfilling jewel.”
Parinirvana
After a long life dedicated entirely to the practice and preservation of the Buddhadharma, Kyabje Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche passed into parinirvana. His cremation ceremony (kudung) was held in Shimla, India, on October 19, 2017, attended by eminent masters and devotees from around the world who gathered to pay their respects to this great master khandrorinpoche.org. His legacy continues through the lineages he upheld, the teachings he transmitted, and the countless students he inspired.