Phakchok Rinpoche

The present Phakchok Rinpoche is considered to be the seventh emanation of a great master of the Kagyu lineage, whose seat is at the Riwoche monastery in Tibet. This monastery was founded by the great master Taklung Kagyu, of whom the prophecy by Padmasambhava speaks:

When Dharmatala nurtures the Buddha's teachings,
The monk known as Taklungpa will appear.

Two principal monasteries appeared through the aspirations of this master. One of these two, Taklung Martang, also known as Riwoche Monastery, was the seat of the vajra-holder Phakchok. Phakchok Rinpoche's emanation-basis is the Lord of Secrets Dharmevajra, the compiler of the teachings of the Great Secrets (Vajrayana) of all buddhas; the arhat Ananda, the foremost disciple of our teacher, Buddha Shakyamuni; Lhalung Palgyi Dorje, the direct disciple of Padmasambhava; (Rechung) Dorje Drakpa, the lord of siddhas; and many others. Phakchok Rinpoche is the supreme head of the Taklung Kagyu lineage connected to the Riwoche monastery.

The current reincarnation of this sublime master is the seventh Phakchok Rinpoche, Tendzin Jigmey Drakpa, born in the Year of the Iron Bird, 1981. The family he was born into is, among the six original clans, the Nangchen Tsangsar of the Khepaga line which were chiefly holders of the Barom Kagyu Dharma lineage, a family line of great masters who maintained an unbroken tradition of combining Kagyu and Nyingma.

It is from this lineage the glorious guru, Kyabje Karma Urgyen Rinpoche (Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche), appeared. His son is the lord of beings, Mingyur Dewey Dorje, the fourth incarnation of Tsikey Chokling, who is Phakchok Rinpoche's father. The mother is Dechen Paldron, who belongs to the Gatsal Tashi Delek family of Gyangtse, a family line descending from Zurchung Sherab Drakpa, the life-pillar of the teachings of the Early Translations.

Phakchok Rinpoche was born to this noble family accompanied by wondrous signs. He was later recognized by the Kagyu regents as being the sixth in the line of the Riwoche Phakchok incarnations. He received ordination from Tendzin Gyatso, the fourteenth Dalai Lama and was given the name Tendzin Jigmey Drakpa.

Due to his outstanding brightness and inherent qualities from former training, he quickly comprehended reading and writing, and when he later studied the topics of knowledge with Kungo Kalzang, Karma Urgyen Rinpoche's younger brother, he gained effortless understanding by simply hearing what was said. He completed in seven years the traditional nine-year curriculum of Buddhist philosophy. Among his teachers were Khyentse Rinpoche, Dudjom Rinpoche, Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, Penor Rinpoche, Trulshik Rinpoche and Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche.

Phakchok Rinpoche is the Abbot of monasteries in Tibet an d Nepal, and the head of the new Riwoche temple recently built in Toronto, Canada. He is president of Rangjung Yeshe Shenpen Nepal, a volunteer-based, non-profit organization that serves the poor and disadvantaged in areas of health, education, vocational training, street children, the elderly, and animals. He is directing the development of the Vajravarahi Monk School, and the Vajravarahi Free Clinic, which will provide free allopathic, Tibetan, Chinese, and Ayurvedic health care to the disadvantaged in the local community.
 

"Introduction to Meditation" by Phakchok Rinpoche

 

 

Photos from visits of Phakchok Rinpoche

2006