The ten incarnations of the Bhakha Tulkus are known as the combined wisdom manifestations of the great Tertön Dorje Lingpa (the third of the five tertön kings), and Tulku Chogden Gönpo (the main disciple of the great tertön, Pema Lingpa, who, in turn, was the fifth pure rebirth of Lhacham Pema Sel). Since Pema Lingpa was the immediate incarnation of the great 14th century Nyingma master, Longchen Rabjam, this means that all the Bhakha Tulkus, from the first to the present Bhakha Rinpoche, have been Longchen Nyingthik (i.e. Longchen "heart essence") practitioners.

History & Background