Bhakha Rinpoche has been closely connected to His Holiness Düdjom Rinpoche through his previous two lifetimes, including his present incarnation as the 10th Bhakha Rinpoche. In his previous lifetime as the 9th Bhakha Rinpoche, known as Rigdzin Kunzang Longdrol, he met His Holiness in Pemaköd, where Bhakha Rinpoche had been involved in preserving and propagating the Pema Lingpa tradition. Düdjom Rinpoche gave the 9th Bhakha Rinpoche all the empowerments and transmissions of the Düdjom lineage. Thereafter, up through the present, Rinpoche's practice has incorporated the Düdjom traditions.

In his present lifetime, Bhakha Rinpoche's parents were sponsors and students of His Holiness. Upon meeting the young child, Düdjom Rinpoche recognized him as the 10th incarnation of Bhakha Tulku, as had other contemporary masters, including Jamyang Chökyi Lodro and the 16th Karmapa. His Holiness was asked to give the young Bhakha Tulku all the empowerments and transmissions of the Rinchen Terzod and the Düdjom lineages at Yurigon Monastery, in upper Powo. After receiving all these lineages, the young Bhakha Tulku went with Düdjom Rinpoche to Kongpo, where he received more precious teachings, including the 13 cycles of the Pema Lingpa treasures. While in Kongpo, Düdjom Rinpoche guided Bhakha Rinpoche in intense practice.

As a young teenager, Bhakha Tulku was sent by Düdjom Rinpoche to Mindroling Monastery to explore the different aspects of Buddhist philosophy, and to further his study of the ritual traditions of the Nyingma lineage. He pursued his studies at Mindroling up until the Chinese invasion of Tibet. Shortly after His Holiness the Dalai Lama escaped from Tibet in 1959, Bhakha Rinpoche fled to Bhutan because of his many connections there.

Several years later, Düdjom Rinpoche sent Bhakha Rinpoche to Dalhousie, where many young tulkus have studied. There, for three years, he furthered his studies in language and religion along with many other young tulkus from the four schools of Tibetan Buddhism, among them, Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche.

From 1965 to 1972, Bhakha Tulku served His Holiness Düdjom Rinpoche as a clerk, and received all the teachings given by His Holiness during this time. In 1989, His Holiness recommended that Bhakha Rinpoche travel and teach the Dharma. Since then, Bhakha Tulku has been involved in preserving and spreading the Dharma, and, in particular, the great Düdjom tradition, in Nepal, India, Bhutan, Tibet, Taiwan, and now here in the United States.

History & Background