1. Continuous lineage of Chhimed Rigdzin Rinpoche

2. A Small Explanation for the Lineages


 

CONTINUOUS TRANSMISSION LINEAGES OF CHHIMED RIGDZIN RINPOCHE

 

Dorje Drag Byangter Lineage of the eight Maha-Sadhanas

 (see also: THE GTER-STON RIG-’DZIN RGOD-LDEM, an account of the origin and development of the Byang-gter or Northern Treasures tradition by Martin Boord and Ngödrup Gyeltsen, or Rikdzin Gödemcen by Dudjom Rinpoche)

Dharmakaya: Kunzang Heruka

Sambhogakaya: Vajrasattva (Dorje Sempa)

Nirmanakaya: Vajrapani (Phyagna Dorje), eight Vidyadharas: Humkara, Manjushrimitra, Nagarjuna, Prabahasti, Vimalamitra, Guheja-Chandra, Shanta-Gharba, Padmasambhava,

The happy circle of the five: Namkhai Nyingpo, King Trisong Deutsan, Yeshe Tsogyal, Nanam Dorje Dudjom, Mutri Tsanpo,

Rigdzin Godem (Incarnation of sNanam rDorje Dudjom), Namgyal Gonpo, Dorje Gonpo, Champa-Shenyen, Sangye Palzang, Namkha Gyaltsan, Yolmo Shakya Zangpo, Ngari Legdan Dorje, Tashi Tobgyal Wangpoide, Ngakgi Wangpo, Ngari Pandita Padma Wangyal, the fifth Dalai Lama Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso, Rigdzin Padma Trinle, Dorje Thogmed (Kalzang Padma Wangchuk), Padma Shenyen, Gyurmed Lhundrub Dorje (Padma Ngawang), Namka Longyang, Padma Wangyal, Kalzang Duddul Dorje, Nyam Nyid Dorje, Tsulthrim Zangpo Yeshe Rolpa Tsal to Zilnon Lingpa (a different name of Chhimed Rigdzin Rinpoche).

Khordong Lineage:

Padma Trinlae, Champa Tenpai Gyaltsan Padma Kunzang Yeshe (Sherab Mebar), Nudan Dorje, Gonpo Wangyal, Kalden Lingpa, Padma Donsal, Kunzang Nyantak, Tsulthrim Zangpo (Tulku Tsurlo), Ugyan Tendzin (Ba Ne), Chhimed Rigdzin Rinpoche.

Short Lineage:

Samantabhadra, Vajradhara, Vajrasattva, Padmasambhava, Yeshe Tshogyal und Khyechung Lotsawa, Nudan Dorje, Gonpo Wangyal, Tsulthrim Zangpo (Tulku Tsurlo), Zilnon Lingpa (Chhimed Rigdzin).

The Lineage of the Vidyadhara Guru Sadhana

(Padmasambhavas teaching for Khyechung Lotsawa, first terma of Nudan Dorje, Terma of Kalden Lingpa and Chhimed Rigdzin Rinpoche)

Nudan Dorje, Tamdrin Wangmo, Gyalsae Padma Donsal, Gonpo Wangyal, Tulku Tsurlo (Tsulthrim Zangpo), Chhimed Rigdzin Rinpoche

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To understand the different systems of lineages one generally has to distinguish two different kinds; the transmission or tradition lineage and the incarnation or tulku lineage.

The transmission lineage is that of a teaching, the direct transmission of a particular meditation practice or a whole meditation system, from the master to his successor. Knowing these lineages, it is possible to see the way a practice has been kept and upheld through the centuries. The oral transmissions are important in upholding the authentic teachings of Tibet: perhaps because they do not depend only upon scholarship, or received knowledge, they help to maintain the freshness and vividness of these teachings.

The incarnation lineage does not depend on reincarnation as all ordinary beings experience it. A tulku is the intentional incarnation of an high master who does this with the motivation to benefit all living beings. These incarnations are found usually through prediction and signs.

The Byangter lineage is the tradition of the Northern (Byang) Treasures (gTer). Rigdzin Godem, who rediscovered them in the 14th century, was an incarnation of Nanam Dorje Dudjom, one of the closest disciples of Padmasambhava (one of "the happy circle of five"). These "Northern Treasures" have been transmitted through different lines until today. Dorje Drag (rDo rJe Brag) is a rock in the natural form of a Vajra on the north bank of the river Brahmaputra in central Tibet, in the location of which a monastery was founded which became the main place for practicing this tradition.

H.H. Khordong Terchen Tulku Chhimed Rigdzin Rinpoche is the traditional holder of the Khordong lineage. The Khordong monastery (Gompa) was founded in Kham, Trehor (East Tibet) by Sherab Mebar who was a disciple of the fifth Dalai Lama. Most of the terma of the Khordong tradition were found in the 19th century by Khordong Terchen Nudan Dorje Drophan Lingpa Drolo Tsal. He was recognised as the incarnation of Khyechung Lotsawa, a direct disciple of Padmasambhava. Nudan Dorje lived for most of his life in East Tibet, and his later years at the Khordong Gompa. Chhimed Rigdzin is the present incarnation of Nudan Dorje after Kalden Lingpa.

Different practices may have their own transmission lineages; for example, H.H. Chhimed Rigdzin Rinpoche received a big text for the deity Sengdongma according to the system of Kalden Lingpa, from Dechen Dorje, who was a monk of Khordong Gompa.

Termas (tib., treasures) are, amongst other things, scripts which were hidden by Padmasambhava in the 8th. century in Tibet and other places. One reason for this was to give later generations authentic texts of the time. His closest disciples were often instructed to discover them in their later incarnations, as has happened in the Khordong and Byangter traditions. (for further information see "The Hidden Treasures" by Tulku Thondup)

The first terma of Nudan Dorje was the "Vidyadhara Guru Sadhana" which is the central part of the teaching of Chhimed Rigdzin Rinpoche, and which is frequently practised on retreats with him. Nudan Dorje practised this Sadhana for many years alone before he transmitted it. A prediction said that this practice should be practiced secretly for five generations before it now can be spread. Kalden Lingpa and Chhimed Rigdzin Rinpoche received the same terma independently of each other.

transl. by David Covey

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