Namkha Chökyi Gyatso (1806-1821?)
the 3rd Dzogchen Ponlop
The third Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche served Dzogchen Monastery as abbot, and trained in the study and practice of the buddhadharma. He received teachings and transmissions at a young age (approximately seven years old), including the Nyingthik lineage from Dodrupchen, along with Dzogchen Rinpoche, Do Khyentse Yeshe Dorje and many other masters. The third Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche dedicated the remainder of his life to extending the life of Do Khyentse, and entered into parinirvana at a young age.
Jigme Chöying Ösal (?)
the 4th Dzogchen Ponlop
The fourth Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche mastered the traditional meditative and educational trainings and was the abbot of Dzogchen Monastery. He spent many years in retreat and through his activity continued to keep the vision of Guru Padmasambhava strong.
Kunchok Tenpe Nyima (?)
the 5th Dzogchen Ponlop
The fifth Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche was born into the family of Gyakong. His father's name was Gyakong Palden and Dzogchen Khenpo Shenga Rinpoche was also born into the Gyakong family. The fifth Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche was recognized and enthroned by the Fifth Dzogchen Rinpoche, Thubten Chokyi Dorje. He was fully trained in buddhist philosophy, meditation and other vajrayana buddhist practices, and spent most of his life in retreat in Pema Thang, Lotus Field, near Dzogchen Monastery. He passed into parinirvana in his early thirties.
Jigtral Tsewang Dorje (1925-1962)
the 6th Dzogchen Ponlop
The sixth Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, Thupten Jigdral Tsewang Dorje, was the younger brother of His Holiness the Sixteenth Karmapa. He was born in Denkhok region of Derge, Kham, to the family of Athub Tsang in the year of the Water Dragon of the 16th Rabjung. His father was Tsewang Phuntsok and his mother was Kalsang Chodron. The sixth Ponlop Rinpoche was recognized by the fifth Dzogchen Rinpoche, who conferred on him the name of Thupten Jigdral Tsewang Dorje. As a brother to His Holiness the Karmapa, he was known as Je-ön (relative of a high lama) Ponlop Rinpoche.
While a youth, he studied with Khenchen Thupten Nyendrak of Dzogchen Monastery. Later he received the full Dzogchen transmissions and instructions in the Longchen and Khadro Nyingthik lineages from Khenchen Pema Thekchok Loden, widely known as Khenpo Lhagong and other masters.
In addition to his duties at Dzogchen Monastery, the sixth Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche spent a lot of time with His Holiness the Sixteenth Karmapa at Tsurphu Monastery, the main seat of the Gyalwa Karmapas in Central Tibet. In 1959, the Sixth Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche and the Sixteenth Karmapa escaped together from Tibet to Sikkim, India, the location of Rumtek Monastery, and the seat of the Gyalwa Karmapas in India. The sixth Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche spent most of his life in strict retreat, very disciplined, and a realized master. He stayed at Rumtek until his death in 1962, at the age of thirty-seven.
→ Karma Sungrap Ngedon Tenpa Gyaltsen (1965-present),
the 7th Dzogchen Ponlop
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