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FIRST NAMKHAI NYINGPO RINPOCHHE
RIGZIN LOBZANG LHACHHOK
As prophesized by Guru Rinpoche, there were many successive reincarnations of Nubchen Namkhai Nyingpo such as Treasure Revealers Jangchub Lingpa Palgi Gyaltshen and Dawa Gyaltshen. Further, to benefit the sentient beings of a degenerated period Namkhai Nyingpo, however, took rebirth in 1672 in a place close to the seat of Guru Chowang called Lhodrak in Southern Tibet to father Tshewang Nidup and mother Logok. At the age of eight, the fifth Dalai Lama officially recognised Rigzin Lobzang Lhachok as the reincarnate of Nub Namkhai Nyingpo and installed him as the abbot of Lhodrak Kharchu monastery. Since then, Lhodrak Kharchu Dudjomling has been the seat of the Namkhai Nyingpo reincarnates .
His Holiness began his early education at the age of eight along with other ordinary monks at Lodrak Kharchu Dudjomling monastery. Jangchubsempa Rinchen was the tutor for Rinpochhe. Rinpochhe learned all reading, writing and other monastic skills without much difficulty. Rinpoche received entire Je Thsongkhapa’s ‘Lamai Nyeljor’, and various oral and mind transmission from well known master Ngawang Norbu, where Rinpoche visualized the Je Tshongkhapa in his meditation. At the age of 25, Rinpoche received ordination of Gelong (monk) and Kagyed blessings from Gelong Jamyang Drakpa at the Potala palace.
Realizing worthless affairs of the world, Rinpoche left for Thubten Dorji Drak Monastery in Tibet and met with Rigzin Pema Thinley. He received entire blessings and transmission of ‘Thukjey Chenpo Khorwa Yeingdoel’, ‘Naro Khachoed Nyeljorma’, ‘Thukdrub Dranktshel’ and ‘Dzongchen’ from Rigzin Pema Thinley.
Second Namkhai Nyingpo Rinpochhe
Kelzang Pema Wangchuk
Kalzang Padma Wangchuk the Second Namkhai Nyingpo was born in the vicinity of Ketsal Metog-Ling during the 13th Rabjung Cycle and he was installed upon the seat of Dudjom Ling. He took Kalzang Pema Wangchuk, the Fifth Knowledge Holder of Thubten Dorji Drak as his root guru and he was then named Padma Thekchog Ngedhen Drubpai Wangchuk Yeshey Nyingpoi Dhey. After receiving empowerments and pith instructions on Kagyed Deshek Duepa, etc. he returned to his abode. Thereafter, he conducted the administration, management and propagation of the Buddha Dharma in the manner adopted by his predecessors ultimately passing into Nirvana.
Third Namkhai Nyingpo Rinpochhe
Jampel Ngawang Drukdrak
He was born in a prosperous village known as Tshona and was installed on the seat of Kharchu. He studied with great perseverance and propagated the vast Buddha Dharma. Then it dawned upon him that the place of conversion was in Lhomon Druk (Bhutan). In order to make a pilgrimage to India, he travelled via Kurtoed and he had to halt a few months in Chhali in Mongar. During that period, one Aum Dedon became his patron for whom Namkhai Nyingpo constructed a Jangchub Choeten (Stupa of Purification). On the way to Kengkhar in Mongar, he left his foot print on a stone as his legacy, which can be seen even today, and passed into Nirvana.
FOURTH NAMKHAI NYINGPO RINPOCHHE
KUNZANG NGAWANG TENZIN
He was born with wonderful signs in Chamkhar near Kurjey the holy site of Guru Rinpoche in Bumthang during the Fourteenth Rabjung Cycle and was installed on the seat of his predecessor. He attained great wisdom from great people like Thuksey Padma Thekchhog Rigzin Dukpa Khamsum Zilnon. He also became the abbot of Thubten Dorji Drak, the post he held for five years. Besides, he newly installed the receptacles of offerings in Kharchu, Beyul Wormo Lhasa, Sengri and Lhodrak Khothing Lhakhang. He made the Vajra Dharma Protectors his servants and annihilated Tsangoed Yamshud Marpo. He benefitted the sentient beings as though the second eon of universe had emerged. Ultimately, he entered into Nirvana in Kharchu during the holy month of Monkey at the age of fifty.
Fifth Namkhai Nyingpo Rinpochhe
Kelzang Sanga Thekchok
Towards the end of the Fourteenth Rabjung Cycle, he was born in Lower Lhodrak in the vicinity of Terton Sangye Lingpa’s Kudung and was installed on the seat of his predecessor. He successfully completed studies both in Sutras and Tantras and by the age of around seventeen, he lived a life of Jadrelwa (the one who has forsaken worldly life). He travelled from Sengri to Benpa Samdrup within about three . He exhibited many such miraculous feats. During the Fifteenth Rabjung Cycle, when he was 25 years old, enroute to Eastern Benpa, he fell sick. There he uttered the words, “This time I have not been of any benefit to the sentient beings. However, I will come back as an excellent monk and benefit the Dharma and the sentient beings.” Then squeezing a stone he gave it to his drinking partner Choeje Pawo saying, “We will meet soon.” and he passed away.
Sixth Namkhai Nyingpo Rinpochhe
Pema Tenzin Namgyal
Sixth Namkhai Rinpoche was born in 1670 in Lhodrak in Southern Tibet as Rigzin Lobzang Lhachog. At the age of eight, the Fifth Dalai Lama officially recognised Rigzin Lobzang Lhachog as the reincarnate of Namkhai Nyinpo and installed him as the abbot of Lhodrak Kharchu monastery. Since then, Lhodrak Kharchu Dudjomling has been the seat of the Namkhai Nyinpo reincarnates. However, in 1959 the sixth Namkhai Nyingpo was forced to flee south towards Bhutan where he spent the remainder of his life.
Kharchu Monastery, the present seat of the Seventh Namkhai Nyingpo, is situated in a sacred place blessed by dakinis at a mountain stretch overlooking Chamkar town in Bumthang. The monastery had a humble beginning with the main temple and few temporary dormitories including a library housing about 70 monks. Over the years, due to the gracious blessings of Rinpochhe, the monastery has been expanded both in terms of number and size which includes:
1. Tshokhang (prayer hall) capable of housing about 500 monk,
2. Residences for Trulkus, lamas, khenpos & lopons (teachers)
3. Shedras (classrooms)
4. Library
5. Office
6. Hostel, kitchen and dining room, and 7. Guest houses
The construction of the above infrastructures has been made possible with valuable support extended by His Majesty the 4th King Jigme Singye Wangchuck and the Royal Grandmother Ashi Kesang Choden Wangchuck in particular and generous support received from other Dharma supporters, domestic and foreign. At present, there are a total of 400 monks with 230 in the dratshang and 170 in the shedra.
The regular curriculum includes reading, recitation of daily prayers, grammar, poetry, karika, dharma dances, mandala drawings, melodies of sacred rituals, use of ceremonial instruments and art of making sacrificial objects, and meditation aspects. The monastery currently offers three main stream of studies, namely shedra (course work), drupdra (meditational aspects) and monastic rituals. While the expenses on providing the above courses are generally borne by the monastery, the monks have their choice as to which stream they would like to be enrolled. At the same time, if a monk, for any reason, decides to leave the monastery, he is relieved without any form of obligations.
Presently there are six centers mostly in central and eastern Bhutan.