Jigdral Yeshe Dorje (2nd Dudjom Rinpoche)

Jigdral Yeshe Dorje (2nd Dudjom Rinpoche)

Dudjom Rinpoche (Tibetan: བདུད་འཇོམས་, Wylie: Bdud-'joms) is the title of a prominent line of tulkus of the Nyingmapa order of Tibetan Buddhism. Dudjom Rinpoche was born in 1904 on the tenth day of the sixth month in the year of the wood dragon in Southern Tibet in a region called the "hidden land" (Tibetan: beyul) of Pema Ko. He died on January 17, 1987 at his residence in Dordogne, France. He was the head of the Nyingma school in exile.

Dudjom Rinpoche was also known as Jigdrel Yeshe Dorje, Jigdrel meaning fearless; a title given to him by the 15th Karmapa, Gyalwa Khakyab Dorje. He was named Jnana as a child. His father was Kathok Tulku Norbu Tenzing, who was a famous tulku in the Pema Ko region who had been trained in the Kathok monastery. His mother was Namgyal Drolma descended from Ratna Lingpa. Dudjom Rinpoche descended from Nyatri Zangpo and from Puwoo Kanam Dhepa, the king of Powo.

Followers believe that it was written in tantras and old prophesies that during the eon of the Buddha Pranidhanaraja, Dudjom Rinpoche was the yogin Nuden Dorje Chang, who vowed to appear as the 1000th and the last Buddha of this Light aeon as Sugata Mopa (Od) Thaye. According to the biography of Dudjom Rinpoche on the Wogmin Thubten Shedrup Ling web site, a Kagyu monastery, in his previous lives amongst many notable historic figures he was Sariputra, one of the foremost disciples of Buddha Shakyamuni in India; Saraha, the first and greatest of the 84 Mahasiddhas of India; and Humkara, who was also a Mahasiddha.

The Nyingmapa incorporate many diverse lineages and practices often varied in each area — though they all trace their lineage sources to Padmasambhava — and as a result they have not historically appointed a head of their lineage. The new position of lineage head of Nyingma was requested by the Tibetan Government in Exile for a representational purpose in that body and the Nyingma leaders asked Dudjom Rinpoche to hold that role on behalf of the Nyingma school.

Dudjom Rinpoche is known for preserving many of the historic terma teachings and practice lineages that were at risk of being destroyed. He is described by followers as an exceptional scholar in various fields such as Sutra, Tantra, literature, poetry and history. He wrote an account of the teachings of the Nyingmapa lineage with the intent of creating an authoritative account of the lineage, encompassing 25 volumes., as well as other teachings, poetry and terma teachings. He presented a new framing of the philosophical schools used within Buddhist debates. He also helped transfer many texts out of Tibet to preserving them from destruction after the invasion of Tibet and during the Cultural Revolution. He organized the building of monasteries, teaching and retreat centers in India, Nepal, Bhutan and other countries.

The system of teachings of the Nyingma is categorized as Dzogchen, or "Great Perfection", (also known as Ati yoga). His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, like some of the previous Dalai Lamas is also a holder of the Dzogchen teachings. Both of the 14th Dalai Lama's teachers in the Dzogchen tradition — Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and Trulshik Rinpoche — were disciples of the most recent Dudjom Rinpoche.

After his death Dudjom Rinpoche's physical body was moved a year later from France and placed in a stupa in one of his main monasteries near Boudhanath, Nepal in 1988. Pilgrims may view his body through a glass window in the stupa. In a letter Dudjom Rinpoche appointed the Dzogchen master Chatral Rinpoche as his Vajra Regent.