Rigdzin Khamsum Yongdröl, the eighth Bhakha Tulku, was known as a united incarnation of Dorje Lingpa and Pema Lingpa. From early childhood on, the lotus of his intelligence unfolded. He attended the eighth Pema Lingpa (his disciple in his previous lifetime), receiving the common treatises on logic, the uncommon sutras and tantras, the general oral and treasure lineages, and, in particular, the complete Pema Lingpa Dharma Cycle. The eighth Pema Lingpa directed the master, Bhakha Tulku, to go to Kham, where he received an abundance of teachings from various spiritual masters, including Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo and Jamgön Kongtrül Lodrö T'haye. Of particular interest is the fact that he received from Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo the empowerment lineage of Pema Lingpa's Tsedup Norbulam Khyer ("Integrating the Jewel of Long Life"), which had heretofore been lost. Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo had received these empowerments and instructions in a pure vision, directly from Pema Lingpa himself. Thus Bhakha Tulku became the first to receive this particular short lineage. Bhakha Tulku passed it on to Jigme Rangdröl Dorje, also known as Lama P'huntsog, who in turn greatly spread the transmission lineage of this empowerment. The eighth Bhakha Tulku then offered the complete empowerments and instructions of the Pema Lingpa Dharma Cycle back to his teacher, Jamgön Kongtrül Lodrö T'haye.

The eighth Bhakha Tulku, Rigdzin Khamsum Yongdröl, practiced in all these places: Tharpaling, Kündrak, Shugdrag, Tamshing, and at Dorje Lingpa's seat, Buli Ogmin Lhundrup Chöling. He also compiled information about holy places such as Shugdrag and Kundrak. The eighth Bhakha Tulku was an accomplished artist, and in Bumthang, in the temple of Uru Rangbi, he made statues of the eight manifestations of Guru Rinpoche, as well as an image of the eighth Pema Lingpa, which we can still see today. He compiled and collected the Norgyam Thinley Nyingpo, Ngakso Yeshe Chugyun, Tsedrup Norbu Lamkhyer, P'hagmo Yangsang Lamë, and the sadhana of Chagdor Tumpo. Many years later, the great treasure finder, Düdjom Rinpoche, gave great praise to his compilation of Khamsum Yongdrol, as well as that of the fifth Thugsey Rinpoche.

In the latter part of his life, the eighth Bhakha Rinpoche settled in Lagyap Khenlung and Lhalung, in Bhutan. He was also the throne holder and main teacher of Lhalung Monastery, where he cherished all the monks, giving them Dharma teachings as well as material support. Thus this master greatly served the Dharma in general, and, in particular, the lineage of Pema Lingpa.

History & Background