Lineage
Guru Rinpoche or Padmasambhava one of the main figures in the original introduction of Buddhism into Tibet
Lineage is something that is very important not only in Buddhism, but also in oriental and martial arts, and to
some extent also in fields such as jazz and classical music, academic studies, the arts, in sports and in
professional cooking. In crafts and in trades, in the past, Guilds were responsible for training people and
ensuring that standards were maintained and successful techniques passed on, thus maintaining a lineage.
People had a sense of pride in belonging to such a lineage and in supporting and maintaining it. It constitutes
a form of authenticity and guarantee of what is being done. It also provides a sense of belonging and fellowship,
and fosters a sense of responsibility both to the lineage as such and other members of it, and to those outside
who are served by the lineage.
So, in Buddhism where there is a lineage we are said to be the recipient of its blessings, if we open ourselves
to them. It is not sufficient to read a book or even to just engage in a practice. If we are to genuinely develop
we also need to receive the ‘rain of blessings’ of the lineage masters, in the same way that a crop needs to
receive rain if it is to grow and yield fruit. This is something that can be directly experienced, and is not an
article of faith or dogma. The lineage is related to because doing so works to make a significant difference,
that is all. It inspires us and supports us, enabling us to develop and to grow. We also know that where there
is a lineage we are not becoming involved in some distorted cult or mistaken, and perhaps even harmful ideas,
or the product of some ego-trip or business deal.
In entering into a lineage it is also like becoming a member of a family where one has the benefit of illustrious
forebears – great masters who were fully awakened and compassionate beings. This gives a feeling of security and
confidence, as well as delight, that all is well. One has wonderful examples to inspire. Without sacrificing ones
own individuality, or slavishly copying, one can become fully and authentically oneself. Just as a poet, composer,
or artist begins by imitating or copying the great masters only to end up discovering their own unique ‘voice’.
Having someone to model and imitate is a very important part of discovering ‘who you really are’ if you are to
develop spiritually.
Khandro Ling is part of the Nyingma lineage, with close connections with the Jangter and Dudjom Tesar traditions.
Practice Lineages at Khandro Ling
The Khordong and Jangter Lineages of H.H Khordong Terchen Tulku Chhimed Rigdzin Rinpoche
His Holiness Khordong Terchen Tulku Chhimed Rigdzin Rinpoche
The Jangter or Northern Treasures lineage was established by the treasure revealer Rigdzin Godem in the 14th
century. He was an incarnation of Nanam Dorje Dudjom, one of the five closest disciples of Padamsambhava.
This teaching contains all the different paths from the transcendent teaching of the Great Perfection down to
the mundane vehicles of gods and humans. His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche said this terma teaching compares to a
minister. A minister is someone who is able to relate to people at all levels, and like a minister this teaching
provides all the higher transcendent teachings as well as all the teachings that provide for the temporal benefit
and happiness of this world.
Rigdzin Godem
From Rigdzin Godem on, this Northern Treasures teaching spread widely all over central Tibet. The seat of this
tradition is the monastery of Thubten Dorje Drak, located not far from the Samye Monastery. There is not a single
nyingma monastery in which the Northern Treasures is not practiced. For example, within the nyingma tradition
there is nobody who doesn’t practice the Prayer in Seven Chapters, and this comes from the Northern Treasures.
Also the Namgyal Tratsangthe monastic body of the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government practices the Northern
Treasures, specifically the practice known as Rigdzin Dungdrup. Many people are also familiar with the
Prayer of Samantabhadra (Küntu Zangpo Mönlan), which comes from the one of the dzogchen tantras of this
terma.
Nuden Dorje Drophan Lingpa
The Khordong lineage is a branch of the Jangter and was established in the 18th-19th century by
Nuden Dorje Drophan Lingpa who was an incarnation of Khyechung Lotsawa, a close disciple of Padmasambhava
(see below).
Nuden Dorje subsequently incarnated as Kalden Lingpa (Dorje Gyaltsen) and then as Chhimed Rigdzin Rinpoche
who was born in 1922 in the Kham region of Tibet and died in 2002 in India. Rinpoche regularly visited
Europe after 1987, and was considered to be a mind emanation of Padmasambhava. He made an indelible mark on
all who met him.
The Vidyadhara Guru Sadhana (’Big Rigdzin’) contains Padmasambhava’s teaching for Khyechung Lotsawa and was
the first terma (treasure text) of Nuden Dorje. It was and remains the central part of the teaching of
Chhimed Rigdzin Rinpoche.
Nuden Dorje practiced this for many years alone before transmitting it. A prediction said that this practice
should be practiced secretly for five generations before it can be spread. Kalden Lingpa and Chhimed Rigdzin
Rinpoche received the same terma independently of each other, and Rinpoche was the first to reveal it and
transmit it for general practice.
At Khandro Ling we are most fortunate to be among those who have received this special and very powerful practice.
James Low, a close disciple of Rinpoche has written the definitive commentary on this which is called
‘Being Guru Rinpoche’. The ‘Small Rigdzin’ is a condensed version which is practiced at the centre.
The Dudjom Lineage of Ogyan chokhor ling
His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche
Guru Rinpoche concealed many teachings as treasures in the mindstreams of his twenty-five closest disciples.
In each generation, these disciples manifested as treasure finders, called tertons, who revealed precious texts
and teachings from the earth and water, from the sky, and from their own mindstreams. One of Padmasambhava's
twenty-five main disciples was Khyeuchung Lotsawa (child translator).
Khyeuchung Lotsawa
He was a ngakpa wearing white robes and uncut braided hair who received all the tantric (vajrayana) teachings
from Padmasambhava. He was able to communicate the Dharma to the birds. Among his most notable of a remarkable
series of his rebirths was Duddul Dorje.
In the 17th Century CE Duddul Dorje opened up places of pilgrimage in remote places of power. Foremost among
these was Pemakö, the hidden valley in the Tsangpo River valley inhabited by wild hill tribes. Padmasambhava
and the 25 disciples as well as Gampopa had previously practised there but it was inaccessible until Duddul
Dorje opened it up for the first time to ordinary pilgrims.
Dudjom Lingpa
Among the most famous tertons of the 19th century CE was Dudjom Lingpa (1835-1904). He also was a body
emanation of Khyeuchung Lotsawa.Dudjom Lingpa revealed the Dudjom Tersar lineage, consisting of a number
of texts and twenty-two volumes of teachings. These teachings are especially profound and appropriate for
these times. It is said, thirteen of his disciples attained rainbow body in their lifetime and a thousand
others attained the level of rigdzin, or awareness holder. Before passing away, Dudjom Lingpa prophesied
he would be reborn in Pemakö.
This incarnation was His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche (1904-1987). He became one of the greatest and most
famous scholars in Tibet. He restored many old texts and terma and revealed many treasures of his own:
profound teachings and sadhanas presenting a complete and perfect path for vajrayana practice. He is best
known perhaps as the author of the encyclopaedic The Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism and for his role
as head of the nyingma.
There are four major cycles in the "Dudjom Tersar" of Kyabje Dudjom Jigdral Yeshe Dorje.
The "Tsokyi Thugthig" cycle, for the practices on the outer, inner, secret and innermost secret sadhanas of
the Lama; The "Pudri Rekpung" cycle, for the practices of the Yidam; The "Khandro Thugthig" cycle, for the
practices on the outer, inner, secret and innermost secret sadhanas of the Khandro; and the Dorje Drolo.