Four Generations in the Dudjom Lineage

8/11/2019 Four Generations in the Dudjom Lineage

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What follows is a summary of the biographical information for each of the scions of

Bdud joms gling pa across the four generations of his family line, as delineated in Ngo

mtshar gser gyi snye ma.

FIRST GENERATION

Gter chen Bdud joms gling pa (1835-1904)

Alias: Khrag thung Bdud joms rdo rje, Lcags skong Gter chen Bdud joms rdo rje

khro lod rtsal (elsewhere: Sges gter Khrag thung Bdud joms rdo rje; see Mgo log sman

rtsis rig pai lo rgyus)

Parent(s): Rje lcags skong A bstan (yab) and Dmu tsha lga yi rigs kyi Bo rdzogs (yum)

Past Lives: Rnal byor dbang phyug Nus ldan rdo rje, Nyan thos rii bu, RigdzinHchen ka ra, Brog ban Khyeu chung lo tsa, Kathog Dam pa bde gshegs, Grum

gyi mkhar nag pa, He pa chos byung, Rig dzin Bdud dul rdo rje, Bdud dul rol ba rtsal

Consorts: Khra bza Bsod nams mtsho (yum che ba), Ske bza Sangs rgyas mtsho (yum

bring ba), and A skyabs bza Skal bzang sgron ma (yum chung ba)

Students: Reb skong ba Dge dun rin po che, Hor bla Phun tshogs bkra shis, Phur thog

pa Rdo rje rnam rgyal, Kathog Situ, Gling sprul Padma lung rtogs rgya mtsho, Nyag

bla Shes rab odzer

Emanations: Jigs bral ye shes rdo rje, alias: Gter chen Gro dul gling pa (sku sprul),

Kun bzang nyi ma, alias: Rig dzin Nus ldan rdo rje (gsung sprul), Bsod nams ldeu

btsan, alias: Rdo rje drag po rtsal (thugs sprul)

SECOND GENERATION

1. Rdo grub rin po che Jigs med bstan pai nyi ma (1865-1926)

Parent(s): Gter chen Bdud joms gling pa (yab) and Khra bza Bsod nams mtsho (yum)

Incarnation Status: Rdo grup rin po chei yang srid, also an emanation of Rgyal po

Dza, Chos rgyal Mu khri btsan po, Gter chen Sangs rgyas gling pa

Recognized by Rdzogs sprul bzhi pa Mi gyur nam mkhai rdo rje


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Enthroned at Yar lung padma bkod Rtsa gsum mkha groi du gling

Teachers: Mkhan chen Padmavajra, Dpal sprul rin po che O rgyan jigs med chos kyi

dbang po, Mu ru sprul sku, Rdzogs sprul bzhi pa Mi gyur nam mkhai rdo rje, Ju Mi

pham phyogs las rnam rgyal, Kong sprul Yon tan rgya mtsho, Dzny ba dge bshes, Jamdbyangs Mkhyen brtsei dbang po

Composed six volumes of scriptural commentaries, sdhanas, histories, songs, and

advice

Students: Mgar ra mkhan po Jigs med od gsal, A mye mkhan po Dam chos od zer,

Ser shul mkhan po Ngag dbang rgya mtsho, Glu shul mkhan po Dkon mchog bstan pai

sgron me, Jam dbyangs Chos kyi blo gros, Gter chen Las rab gling pa

2. Mchog sprul Padma rdo rje (1867-1934)

Parent(s): Gter chen Bdud joms gling pa (yab) and Khra bza Bsod nams mtsho (yum)

Incarnation Status: Sgra bsgyur Mar pai skyes mtha mchog sprul and Rdo grub chen

dgon pai Tsha tsha sprul skui yang srid

Recognized by Rdzogs sprul bzhi pa Mi gyur nam mkhai rdo rje and Gter chen

Bdud joms gling pa

Enthroned at Yar lung padma bkod Rtsa gsum mkha groi du gling

Teachers: Dpal sprul rin po che O rgyan jigs med chos kyi dbang po and Rdo grub

rin po che Jigs med bstan pai nyi ma

3. Mkhyen sprul Dzam gling dbang rgyal (1869-1907)

Parent(s): Gter chen Bdud joms gling pa (yab) and Ske bza Sangs rgyas mtsho (yum)

Incarnation Status: Mdo mkhyen brtse Ye shes rdo rjei yang srid

Recognized by Rdzogs sprul bzhi pa Mi gyur nam mkhai rdo rje, Rdza Mtshams

sprul rin po che Kun bzang bde chen rdo rje, and Gter chen Bdud joms gling pa

Enthroned at Rdza rgyal dgon in 1878


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Teachers: Dpal sprul rin po che O rgyan jigs med chos kyi dbang po, Rdza Mtshams

sprul rin po che Kun bzang bde chen rdo rje, and Gter chen Bdud joms gling pa

Assumed leadership of Brda tshang bskal bzangdgon

Students: Dbal shul Bsod rgan sprul sku

4. Rnam sprul Mi pham rdo rje (b. 1879)


Incarnation Status: Gong smyon sbas pai rnal byor dang che boi rigs dzin chen poi

rnam sprul

Teachers: Dpal sprul rin po che O rgyan jigs med chos kyi dbang po and Gter chen

Bdud joms gling pa

5. Sprul sku Dri med od zer (1881-1924)

Alias: Rig dzin chen po Padma gro dul Gsang sngags gling pa


Past Lives: Dge slong Kun dga bo, Grup pai dbang phyug Dharmlakipa, Rgya gar

mkhan po Vimamitra, Lha lcam Padma gsal, G.yu sgra snying po, Dar phyar ba,

Padma las brel rtsal, Klong chen Rdorje gzi brjid, Padma gling pa, O rgyan bsam gtangling pa, Nam mkha rdo rje, Bzhad pa rdo rje, Gro dul gling pa, Hnag me bar,

Nam mkha jigs med, Klong gsal snying po, Bde chen gling pa, Chos nyid rang grol,

Mkhan po kyadeva, Bla ma Jam dbyangs

Teachers: Rdo grub rin po che Jigs med bstan pai nyi ma and Gter chen Bdud joms

gling pa

Constructed and consecrated a stpa to house the relics of his father, Bdud joms

gling pa, and later a temple to house representations of his body, speech and mind

Consort: Mkha gro Bde bai rdo rje (1892-1940), alias: Kun bzang bde skyong chos

nyid dbang mo or Dbus bza mkha gro Bde bai rdo rje

(Note: So far his treasure collection appears not to have survived.)


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Propagated Bdud joms gling pas treasures and arranged for their printing

Trustees (chos bdag): Bsod rgan sprul sku Sna tshogs rang grol, Rig dzin Kun bzang

nyi ma, Lung zin Tshul khrims rdo rje, Padma lung rtogs chos kyi rgya mtsho, Dri med

od gsal Other Students: Reb gong ba Bya bral lhun grub rig dzin, Drag sngags pa Bsod nams

bum

6. Lha chen stobs kyi rgyal po (1884-1942)

Parent(s): Gter chen Bdud joms gling pa (yab) and A skyabs bza Skal bzang sgron

ma (yum)

Incarnation Status: Gnubs chen Nam mkhai snying poi sprul bai rol gar and Gzhichen A phang sku chen gyi yang srid

Enthroned at Stag rtsed bsam grub chos khor gling in 1893

Teachers: Gter chen Bdud joms gling pa and Sprul sku Dri med od zer

Skilled physician, discovered natural spring of medicinal water

Propagated the treasure cycles of his father, Bdud joms gling pa

7. Grub dbang Nam mkha jigs med (1888-1960)

Alias: Padma mkha klong yangs pa rtsal

Parent(s): Gter chen Bdud joms gling pa (yab) and A skyabs bza Skal bzang sgron

ma (yum)

Incarnation Status: Dpal sprul rin po che O rgyan jigs med chos kyi dbang poi yang

srid

Recognized by Rdza Mtshams sprul rin po che Kun bzang bde chen rdo rje and Gterchen Bdud joms gling pa and enthroned at Rdza rgyal dgon

Teachers: Gter chen Bdud joms gling pa and Dge ming mkhan po Kun dpal

Revealed nine volumes of treasures, constructed abshad grwa at Rdza phu khung

dgon and a zhi khroi sgrub grwa at Rdza rgyal dgon


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Teachers: Kathog Phyag tsha Padma phrin las rgya mtsho, Rdo rje dgra dul, Lung

zin lavajra, Gter chen Las rab gling pa

Revealed material treasures (rdzas gter) and mind treasures (dgongs gter)

4. Sprul sku Bstan dzin bzang po (d. 1984)

Parent(s): Lha chen stobs kyi rgyal po (yab)

Teacher: Rdo rje dgra dul

Lived most of hislife in the vicinity of Mtsho sngon

5. Mchog sprul Bkra shis stobs rgyal (1925-1959)

Parent(s): Lha chen stobs kyi rgyal po (yab) and Dpa ri bza Byang chub sgron ma Incarnation Status: Padma gro dul Gsang sngags gling pai yang srid (aka. Dri med

od zer)

Recognized by Lha chen stobs kyi rgyal po

Teachers: Gyang sprul Don grub rdo rje, Rdo rje dgra dul, Nam mkha jigs med,

Kathog Rmog tsha

6. Mchog sprul Dam pa (1928-1983)


Incarnation Status: Pha dam pa Rgya gar and Rdza khra ma bla ma Jigs med rgyal

bai myu gu rnam gnyis kyi sprul ba

Teachers: Nam mkha jigs med, Rdo rje dgra dul, Gyang sprul Don grub rdo rje, Ka

thog Rmog tsha, Lung zin lavajra, Dpal yul mchog sprul Chos kyi zla ba

Entrusted with the complete teachings of Rdo rje dgra dul and appointed his regent

Propagated the treasures of his grandfather, Gter chen Bdud joms gling pa

Repaired the great stpa in Gser thar and constructed a hospital

Sponsored the construction of sacred objects and printing facilities at Brda tshang

bskal bzang dgon and Rlung shar ri khrod


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7. Sprul sku Nyi zla (1929-1985)


Incarnation Status: Rdo grub rin po che Jigs med bstan pai nyi mai yang srid

Teachers: Nam mkha jigs med, Rdo rje dgra dul, Lung zin lavajra, Kathog Rmog

tsha

Composed one volume of songs, advice, and history

Granddaughters (and remaining grandsons) of Bdud joms gling pa

Sprul sku Nyi zla had three sisters, stated to be kins who intentionally took female

form, named Dbang mo, Mtsho rgyal, and Bsod nams chos sgron. The former has a son

who resides in Padma county, named Gter ston Mi gyur rin po che. A daughter of Rdorje dgra dul had three accomplished sons, namely Dgon pa skyabs (alias: Chos nyid

gling pa), Tshe sgrub skyabs, and Bsod nams grags pa. Two other grandsons existed but

not enough is known about them to includebiographies: Kun bzang lung rtogs phel

rgyas dpal bzang po and Mchog sprul Bstan pai gsal byed. One granddaughter Kun

bzang dbang mo, who appears to be the daughter of Nam mkha jigs med, was

recognized as an emanation of Ye shes mtsho rgyal. She distinguished herself in

protecting the succession of Bdud joms gling pas teachings and currently resides at Zla

rgyal dgon.

FOURTH GENERATION

1. Mchog sprul Shes rab thogs med (1925-1959)

Parent(s): Rdzong gter Kun bzang nyi ma (yab) and Stug rgya bza Rin chen mtsho

(yum)

Incarnation Status: Sprul sku Dri med od zer gyi yang srid

Teachers: Rdo rje dgra dul and Rdzong gter Kun bzang nyi ma

2. Sprul sku Mi gyur rdo rje (1934-1959)

Alias: Padma od gsal snying po


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Parent(s): Rdzong gter Kun bzang nyi ma (yab)

Incarnation Status: Vairocanai yang srid

Teachers: Rdo rje dgra dul, Mkhan po Gang rnam, and Rdzong gter Kun bzang nyi

ma

Consort: Mkha gro T re lha mo (1938-2002)

3. Mchog sprul Padma theg mchog bstan pai rgyal mtshan (b. 1937)

Parent(s): Rdzong gter Kun bzang nyi ma (yab) and Stug rgya bza Rin chen mtsho

(yum)

Incarnation Status: Padma rdo rjei yang sprul

Recognized by Jams dbyangs Chos kyi blo gros and enthroned at Rdo grup chen

dgon

Teachers: Dge rgyan Phyag lo, Mkhan Shes rab grags pa, Grub chen bla ma Lha ri,

Rdo grub rin po che Thub bstan phrin las dpal bzang po, Rdo grub rin po che Rig dzin

Bstan pai rgyal mtshan, Dung dkar mchog sprul Nges don rgya mtsho, Rdzong gter

Kun bzang nyi ma, Grub chen sprul sku Padma rnam rgyal, G.yung shul Padma rgya

mtsho, and Stag bla Nor bu

Received the transmission for his fathers and grandfathers treasures from Rdzong

gter Kun bzang nyi ma before the age of 20

Assumed leadership for Dngos grub dpal bar gling at the age of 20

Founded a performance troupe in Gser thar in 1980

Propagates the treasures of his father and grandfather throughout Tibet, India and

China (Note: Padma theg mchog bstan pai rgyal mtshan also visited the US in early

2008 to transmit his fathers treasures.)

4. Mchog sprul Lhun grub rdo rje (1940-1960)

Parent(s): Rdzong gter Kun bzang nyi ma (yab)

Incarnation Status: Dbal shul Bsod rgan sprul sku Sna tshogs rang grol gyi yang srid


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Teachers: Se ra sprul sku Rin chen phreng ba and Rdzong gterKun bzang nyi ma

5. Mchog sprul Mdo li nyi ma (b. 1946)

Alias: Dpal don grub phrin las rnam rgyal

Parent(s): Gter chen Bsod nams ldeu btsan (yab) and Mgar bza Chos dbyings sgrol

ma (daughter of Mkha gro Bde bai rdo rje)

Incarnation Status: Dgra lha rtse rgyal gyi sprul bai rnam rol

Teachers: Rig dzin Stag sham rdo rje, Mkhan Ngag dbang bstan dzin, and Bla ma

Chos mdzod

Revealed material treasures (rdzas gter) and mind treasures (dgongs gter)

Disappeared during the Cultural Revolution

6. Sprul sku Rta mgrin dbang rgyal (b. 1952)

Parent(s): Gter chen Bsod nams ldeu btsan (yab)

Incarnation Status: Bla ma Che mchog gi yang srid

Teachers: Se ra yang sprul Tshul khrims rgya mtsho, Mkhan chen Jigs med phun

tshogs, Mchog sprul Nyi zla, Mchog sprul Dam pa

Sponsored construction of sacred objects at Brda tshang bskal bzang dgon and O

rgyan bsam yas Chos khor gling as well as temple and rock wall with the Bka gyur

and Bstan gyur inscribed into it at Ne gro Rdo rjei rdzong

(Note: Rta mgrin dbang rgyal passed away in 2005.)

7. Sprul sku Padma dbang rgyal (1953-1990)


Teachers: Se ra yang sprul Tshul khrims rgya mtsho, Lung rig smra bai nyi ma, Sprul

sku Nyi zla, Mchog sprul Dam pa

8. Mchog sprul Gzhan phan nyi ma (b. 1954)



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Teacher: Do grub rin po che Thub bstan phrin las dpal bzang po

Great-granddaughters of Bdud joms gling pa

Rdzong gter Kun bzang nyi ma had two daughters, Lha lcam Chos kyi sgron ma and

Tshe dzin lha mo. The former is considered to be the reincarnation (yang srid) of Mkhagro Bde bai rdo rje.

***

The terms chos bdag, which I have translated above as trustee, refers to the dharma

heir for treasures revealed by a gter ston, either individual teachings or the entire

treasure corpus.

***

This is the third in a series of blog posts on the Bdud joms line by Holly Gayley,

Assistant Professor in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of

Colorado, Boulder. The first post of the series is The Scions of Dudjom Lingpa, and the

second is Articulating Lineage in Golok.

Documents

Four Generations in the Dudjom Lineage