The 5th Rigzin Chenpo Kalsang Pema Wangchuk

The 5^th Rigzin Chenpo Kalsang Pema Wangchuk

The Great Treasure Revealer, the fifth incarnation of Rigzin Goedem, and the third throne holder of Thupten Dorje Drak, the main monastery of the Ancient Nyingma tradition

He was born in 1719, in the Earth Pig year of the 12^th Rabchung cycle, in Chakdud in Nyarong, Kham, which belongs to Po Bor Gang among the Six Ranges of Dokham. This place is a special hidden land of Guru Padmasambhava. He was born to father Lobsang and mother Phagmo Drolma of the Lharig Atshe clan. He was recognized as the reincarnation of Rigzin Pema Trinley. The local king Chakla Michen and others honored him greatly.

His spiritual teachers included the main disciples of his predecessor: the lama of Ba Drubpa Monastery named Thegchog Tenpa Gyen; Nyagton Khamlung Rigzin Wanggyal; Chubzang Tulku Rinpoche Kunzang Gyatso; Mindroling heir Rinchen Namgyal; Namgyal Ling’s Venerable Pema Zhepa Dorje; the fully ordained monk Drubwang Chochog; and others, from whom he received countless profound teachings, primarily from the Northern Treasures tradition.

From Morchen Ngawang Kunga Lhundrup, he received the novice monk vows. In 1733, the Water Ox year of the twelfth Rabchung cycle, he received from the Chinese Emperor ten bolts of high-quality silk with treasury seals, and from the Crown Prince two bolts of needed silk. From then on, gifts from the emperor and his son continued annually. The Chinese Crown Prince invited several lamas from Dorje Drak.

When consecrating the main Buddha statue in the newly constructed assembly hall at Dorje Drak, he had a vision of Guru Padmasambhava and received prophecies from Dakinis. A beam of light emanated from the heart of the statue and dissolved into the heart of the great Buddha image, filling the inner sanctum with light until midday.

In 1739, the Earth Sheep year, he received full ordination vows from the All-Knowing Dalai Lama Kelsang Gyatso. He also engaged in many retreats and practiced the three stages of development, completion, and Great Perfection, through which he realized the ground and path of Dzogchen. He had visions of countless deities of the Three Roots and received pure visions and prophecies.

He traveled to Lhadrak Yangdzong and Monkha Nering in central Tibet, opening sacred places and revealing some treasures. He traveled through upper Kong region to Tsesang and Burchur, where he effortlessly accomplished the prophecies for Tibet’s welfare, including the glorious “Severe Command” and “Binding the Eight Classes of Spirits.”

He journeyed to Kham, and gradually from Ba Drubpa Monastery via Lithang to Dartsedo, where he was welcomed with a procession by the ruler King Chakla. He was received with formal monastic processions from the Sakya, Gelug, and Nyingma monasteries. Thus, he set foot in all the upper, lower, and middle regions of Tibet.

When the Seventh Dalai Lama’s regent, Demo Rinpoche Delek Gyatso, essentially rebuilt the glorious Samye monastery, he performed extensive consecration ceremonies. The regent honored him as his principal teacher. Furthermore, many beings dwelling in the land of Tibet, both ordinary and extraordinary, as well as many important and powerful people, bowed at his feet and made respectful offerings.

His main disciples included Drubwang Pema Shenyen, Chakla Khenchen Pema Thegchog, Chubzang Tulku Pema Ngawang Tenzin, the reincarnation of Lama Garab Gyurme Loden, and many others.

He upheld the precious teachings of the Secret Great Early Translation tradition through explanation and practice. In particular, he established and propagated the oceanic collection of teachings from his new treasures and pure visions called “Kadu Chokyi Gyatso” (Ocean of Dharma of the Collected Teachings). His collected works comprise more than five large volumes.

Finally, in the Fire Monkey year of the thirteenth Rabchung cycle (1776), he passed away to the Copper-Colored Mountain, the Palace of Luminous Lotus. The detailed account can be found in his autobiography titled “The Garden of Blooming Gentle Blue Lotuses That Captivate the Minds of Young Bees,” which consists of three large volumes.