His Eminence the Seventh Dzogchen Rinpoche, Jigme Losel Wangpo, is the holder of the Dzogchen lineage. He was born in Sikkim in 1964 into the Lakar Tsang family, a noble family whose connection to the Dzogchen tradition and the great masters of Tibet dates back over many centuries. His Eminence’s father was the late Tsewang Paljor, whose family lineage is of terton descent traced back to Dudul Nuden Dorje. Tsewang Paljor was greatly respected and renowned as the private secretary to the second Jamyang Khyentse of Dzongsar, Dorje Chang, Chökyi Lodrö. His Eminence’s mother is Pema Tsering Wangmo of the Lakar Tsang family, known as great patrons of Dharma in the Kham region of eastern Tibet.
Around the time of Dzogchen Rinpoche’s birth, both parents had many auspicious dreams. There were also many auspicious signs to indicate the incarnation of a great master. Even before his official recognition, many respected lamas came to visit this incredible young boy. His Holiness the Fourth Dodrupchen Rinpoche, Thupten Trinley Palzang, recognized Rinpoche as the Dzogchen lineage holder in a clear pure light vision at the time of his conception, and later performed his enthronement ceremony in Sikkim’s Royal Palace in Gangtok on the eighth of October, 1972.
Rinpoche began his spiritual training at the Nyingma Institute, where he received private teachings from Dodrupchen Rinpoche and Khenpo Rahor Thupten. At the age of twelve, Dzogchen Rinpoche was invited to study at the Buddhist School of Dialectics in Dharamsala by His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, who personally supervised his education. Rinpoche was also instructed by many other great lamas in ritual practice and academic study. Among them were His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche, His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, and His Holiness Trulshik Rinpoche. Other senior masters trained Dzogchen Rinpoche in ritual and grammar under the guidance of His Holiness Dodrupchen Rinpoche, Khenpo Tsundu was responsible for his training in Nyingma philosophy, and Khenpo Mewa Thupten gave him the deep philosophical teachings of the Nyingma tradition. Rinpoche also simultaneously undertook Gelug philosophical studies under the guidance of Geshe Lobsang Gyatso. Later on, he received Dzogchen lineage transmission, including the teachings of Longchenpa, from Khenchen Pema Tsewang.
Dzogchen Rinpoche excelled as a scholar and obtained the title of Rabjampa at the age of nineteen. He displayed a great capacity to realize the highest teachings across both the Nyingma and Gelug traditions and was ahead of the rest of his class despite being much younger than his fellow students. This vigorous training prepared Dzogchen Rinpoche for his role of leading Dzogchen Monastery a few years later at the age of twenty-one.
Historically, the Dzogchen Rinpoches have a close connection with the Medicine Buddha, and he is known to have transformed the health of many people. The Seventh Dzogchen Rinpoche’s work also has charitable dimensions. Recognized by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government in Exile for his outstanding commitment to the welfare of the Tibetan community, Rinpoche has transformed the Dhondenling Tibetan settlement through two decades of community development.
The Dzogchen Rinpoches are known as the guardians of the Dzogchen lineage and are responsible for the preservation of its ancient rituals and teachings. Rinpoche travels the world teaching the Khandro Nyingthig and he preserves the authentic rituals of this wisdom tradition that is so beneficial for the modern world through the activities of Dzogchen Monastery. As holder of one of the remaining unbroken spiritual traditions in the world, His Eminence the Seventh Dzogchen Rinpoche is an authentic guide revealing to us our true nature and showing us, through his example, that we have everything we need within ourselves to unlock our own inherent wisdom.
