The life of Degyal Rinpoche

Better known by the name of Degyal Rinpoche or Kunkhyen Etaraja, Pema Dewai Gyalpo was recognized as an emanation of Ananda (one of Buddha Shakyamunis main disciples), of Thnmi Sambhota (the minister of the king Songtsen Gampo who created the Tibetan script in the VIIth century), of Berotsana (one of the great Tibetan translators and a Dzogchen master in the VIIIth century), of Drapa Ngnshe (the teacher of Machik Labdrn) and of Terdak Lingpa. Elder son of a family belonging to the Mukpo Dong bloodline, Degyal Rinpoche was born in 1873 at Golok Serta (Eastern Tibet). His behaviour was different from the other children and he Embalmed body of Degyal Rinpoche could keep for a long time a deep concentration. When he asked to his father the authorization to devote his life to religion, he ended up accepting in view of his determination. Degyal Rinpoche entered Horshu Gn monastery at the age of 5. From the age of 8, he received empowerments, transmissions and instructions concerning the dharma-cycles of Ratna Lingpa, Chagme Rinpoche, Guru Chwang, Karma Lingpa, Dorje Lingpa, along with the Mahamudra, the Six dharmas of Naropa, etc., from teachers like Lama Kunsang and Pema Dutsel Rinpoche. Practicing with a great diligence, he met lamas and deities in pure vision and visited the Buddha fields. From 10 to 12, he studied in particular the Bodhicaryavatara, the Prajnaparamita and the Ynten Dz with Khen Lama Chdrak. At the age of 13, he took the novice vows with Shukgang Lama Thegchok Tenzin, who gave him the name of Tsultrim Lobsang Jangchup Pelzangpo. Soon afterwards, the lama explained to the young monk that his root-guru from the past lives was Dudjom Lingpa and advised him to continue his studies and practice under his guidance. As soon as Degyal Rinpoche heard the name of the great tertn, his thoughts suddenly stopped and he felt a spontaneous devotion towards him. Along with his maternal uncle, he went to the upper Do valley where lived Dudjom Lingpa in the hermitage of Dartsang Kelsang Gn but, at the time he reached it, the great tertn was still in retreat for two weeks. Degyal Rinpoche was demoralized. Yet, after fifteen days he could meet him. At that instant, he saw the five aspects of Thrma Nagmo in the steam which billowed from his cup of tea, in the midst of rainbow lights. Having been accepted as a disciple of Dudjom Lingpa, he received from him all the empowerments, transmissions and instructions related to the Dudjom Tersar four dharmacycles, he studied and practiced diligently. In 1904, Dudjom Lingpa left this world after having announced his intention to open the gate of the sacred land of Pemak. A group of disciples including Degyal Rinpoche went to this hidden place and discovered the new emanation of their teacher, Kyabje Dudjom Jigdral Yeshe Dorje, who was 3 years old. The child recognized them and called each one by his name. After one month in Kongpo, Degyal Rinpoche left for a pilgrimage in Central Tibet. He visited the sacred places in Lhassa and around, meditated in caves and hermitages and had many mystical experiences.

Degyal Rinpoche kept moving as far as Upper Tibet with a handful of followers (Gonpo Tashi, Khusho Ajam, Thinley Chpel and Tarna Lama). When he approached Mount Kailash, he prostrated himself all along the path, regardless of the pain in his legs. At the foot of the sacred mountain, he remained secluded for 3 years in the Elephant cave , well-known for having been a meditation place of Guru Rinpoche. After his retreat, he spent 5 days to write a commentary of Sherig Dorje Nnpo tantra (shes rig rdo-rje rnon-po) at the request of his disciples. Afterwards, he stayed 2 years long in another cave located in the west side of Manasarovar lake and managed to print the Neluk Rangjung tantra (gnas-lugs rang byung) along with the Sherig Dorje Nnpo. At this time, Tsogkhang Rinpoche, a great disciple of Dudjom Lingpa, visited Degyal Rinpoche and stayed with him for one year. Then, he spent the following year in the drikung kagyu monastery of Gyangdrak before settling in Lemi Chaye. For his part, Degyal Rinpoche was invited by the local deity of Namkha Khyung Dzong, the twelve Tenmas and the Menmos. He accepted and moved to the south-west of Mount Kailash to settle in the Dakinis secret crystal cave (mkha-gro gsang-bai shel phug) where he accomplished a 3 years retreat. After it, his followers increased gradually. He taught them during summer. Afterwards, on the 25th day of the 7th Tibetan month, he celebrated a great ganachakra feast and, after its completion, he met his disciples one by one to give them instructions for their practice in seclusion during winter. He remained himself in retreat until the 10th day of the third Tibetan month of the following year. Then, in the fourth month called Sagadawa, he organized a white Nyung-ne which was followed by teachings of the Dudjom Tersar, from the preliminary practices up to the instructions of Ch and Dzogchen. One winter, rainbow lights and a pleasant scent were noticed everywhere in the area. The disciples of Degyal Rinpoche asked to him which was the cause of such wonderful signs. He answered that in a vision he had, he was Ananda and the Buddha Shakyamuni was in front of him. At that instant, as he was feeling an intense sadness, the lord Buddha became actually present and bestowed to him many instructions for 7 days. The other people couldnt see anything but the outer manifestations in the surroundings... When he was 61 years old, in the water-bird year (1933), Degyal Rinpoche seemed to suffer of severe rheumatics during the Tenth day celebration of the 3rd Tibetan month. His disciples carried out rituals for his health and longevity and then, he seemed to feel better. On the 7th day of the 4th month, he recited an aspiration prayer called Dharmakaya relics (smon-lam chos-skui ring-srel) and asked for someone to open the window. At that instant, three white flowers fell at his feet and he dissolved his mind in Dharmadhatu, remaining 3 days in thukdam, the Clear light contemplation. The sky was filled by iridescent lights and all kinds of rainbow clouds appeared above the teacher residence. A reliquary stupa was built to keep his embalmed body and four years after his leaving, he took birth again at Tsegya Gn, on the shore of Rakshas Tal lake, as a son of his most famous disciple, Golok Serta Rinpoche. When he was born, a white cloud appeared in the sky and prophetic words could be heard from the deities. The sublime tulku was enthroned at 3, in Namkha Khyung Dzong, and the ceremony was followed by a great feast. Pema Dewai Gyalpo was an extraordinary teacher whose fame spread far away throughout Tibet. The 13th Dala Lama chose him as one of his supporting teachers for longevity and a governmental delegation used to come every year to pay homage and bring offerings to him. Outwardly, he kept the perfect monk discipline. Inwardly, his mind was filled by the vast enlightened mind and secretly, he had reached the highest levels of realization. At the request of his disciples, Degyal Rinpoche wrote a substantial number of texts including many instructions and prayers imbued by the scent of his Dzogchen realization.
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Yet, the centerpiece of his works is the Zungdzin Trulpa Rangdrl (gzung dzin khrul-pa rang grol rgyud). Connected to the Daknang Yeshe Drawa terma cycle (dag snang ye-shes drwa-ba), this tantra was revealed to him by the dakinis in his mind which was inseparable of Dudjom Lingpas mind. He transcribed him in 1928 at the request of some eminent disciples, when he was 56 years old. His collected works were published in 1985 in Delhi by Tsewang Dorje Rinpoche, son of Serta Rinpoche. Degyal Rinpoche was a non-sectarian teacher. Without any discrimination, he welcomed disciples belonging to each of the five spiritual traditions (nyingma, kagyu, geluk, sakya, bn) and from every place in Tibet and Ladakh. Among his many disciples, were:

Pema Lungtok Gyatso (well known as Serta Rinpoche) Namkha Dorje from Ladakh Rolpai Dorje from Nangchen Drime zer from Kham Yeshe Palden from Khunu Pema Gepel from Nagchu Getse Togden from Getse Khyungtrul Rinpoche Jigme Namkhai Dorje from Khyungpo. (this learned and accomplished bnpo teacher founded Gurugyam monastery in Khyunglung valley, close to Mount Kailash. Thus, he revitalized the Yungdrung Bn tradition in this area but practiced also the Nyingma teachings under the guidance of Degyal Rinpoche, especially the Thrma Nagmo cycle).

Gurugyam monastery