The 3rd Rigdzin Chenpo Ngagi Wangpo
The 3rd Rigdzin Chenpo Ngagi Wangpo
The great treasure revealer Rigzin Ngagi Wangpo is the third incarnation and the founder of the Thubtän Dorje Drak Monastery, which is one of the main monasteries of the Nyingma tradition of early translations. He is also the first in the line of throne holders of Dorje Drak linege.
Rigdzin Ngagi Wangpo was born in 1580 (Iron Dragon year of the 10th Rabjung cycle) at Choding Monastery in Yonru Draphi Phu. Following the prophecy of the previous Rigzin Lekden Je, he was born to father Jangdak Tashi Tobgyal and mother Yidzin Wangmo from the Hor lineage of Chhongye. He offered his first lock of hair to Drikung Chogyal Phuntsok. He was given the name Ngawang Rigdzin Dorje Chogyal Tenpa’i Gyaltsen Palzangpo.
Unlike many lamas who study with numerous teachers, he received complete training in the general Buddhist teachings and specifically the profound teachings of the Early Translation (Nyingma) tradition both canonical texts and treasure teachings directly from his father Jangdak Tashi Tobgyal, absorbing them completely like filling a vase. He performed intensive meditation retreats many times at major practice sites such as Yarlung Sheldrak, where he received visions and verbal instructions from many meditational deities and dharma protectors. He revealed sacred objects as treasure from the peak of Hespo Ri and discovered Avalokiteshvara teachings as treasures from Kongpo Nyo.
According to the Fifth Dalai Lama’s writings (collected works), “This Jangpa Rigzin possessed confidence in his view, perfected the development stage practices through the power of antidotes, thoroughly understood the pith instructions, and commanded the eight classes of spirits like servants.” Thus, he reached the heights of spiritual accomplishment through his realization and abandonment of defilements.
When he traveled to the Kham region for the benefit of beings, the Fifth Dalai Lama, leader of Tibet’s religious and secular affairs, stated that he brought great peace to the greater Tibetan nation by preventing invasions, reconciling various conflicts and grudges.
Shortly after returning, he consolidated separate monastic colleges at Sheldrong and Ön Mending to establish Guru Padma’s Aewam Chokgar Dorje Drak in the Iron Dog year (1610) of the 10th Rabjung cycle. He established one hundred eastern and one hundred western monastic buildings for sutra and tantra studies. The three activities of teaching, practice, and service flourished extensively. It is said that about two thousand disciples gathered at the seat, and he became the first throne holder of Thupten Dorje Drak. He also served as the initial tutor to the Fifth Dalai Lama, leader of Tibet’s religious and secular affairs.
His other disciples included Drikung Chogyal Phuntsok; the brothers Chökyi Drakpa and Trinley Namgyal; the Third Hyolmo/Yolmo Ridzin; Zurchen Choying Rangdrol; and most of Tibet’s important figures sought his guidance, as detailed in the Fifth Dalai Lama’s biography of Ngagi Wangpo.
He entrusted the continuation of his work, including construction of the monastery’s sacred objects, to his main heart son, Hyolmo/Yolmo Ngakchang Shakya Zangpo’s emanation, the third Hyolmo/Yolmo Mahapandita Tenzin Norbu. He then dissolved his physical form into the Dharmadhatu on the tenth day of the Black Month in the Earth Rabbit year (1639) of the 11th Rabjung cycle.