Dudjom Reincarnation- Nyingma Head

Left- Bhutan Dudjom Yangsey, Right-Tibet Dudjom Yangsey Rinpoche

Two boys have been recognised as the Yangsi of   Dudjom Rinpoche, Jigdral Yeshe Dorje.  Multiple rebirths of great lamas are not all that unusual and surprising. Reincarnation of high Lamas will have more than three, for benefits of sentient beings. Such as (Ku, sung, thug, yonten and Thinley), as like Khentse Wangpo popularly known as Khentse Denga, and pedling trulsum in Bhutan, reincarnation of Terton Pema Lingpa.

Tibet Dudjom Yangsi Rinpoche Sangyay Pema Zhepa was born in the Iron Horse Year of the 17th Rabjung Cycle (1990) in Kyegudo (Yuesue County of Qinghai Province in China) to Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche's own son, Dola Tulku Jigmed Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche, and his wife Pema Khandro. Following many auspicious signs including rainbows and there was much speculation as to who this child might be the rebirth of even before he was born. It was the terton and wisdom dakini, Tare Khandro (Tare Lhamo), the daughter of another great terton in Golok, Aphang Terton who first recognised him as the tulku of HH Dudjom Rinpoche. Ven. Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche III came to see Yangsi Rinpoche in Kyegudo and gave him the name "Pema Osel" (Lotus Light).  While Dzongshar Rinpoche performed important initiations for Dudjom Yangsi Rinpoche, three layers of rainbows appeared above the roof of the house. After receiving a letter from Tare Khandro, His Holiness Chatral Sangye Dorje Rinpoche said he believed the child to be the Dudjom tulku and wrote to HH Dudjom Rinpoche’s eldest son, HH Dungse Thinley Norbu Rinpoche who agreed with his view and visited the young tulku in Chengdu, Sichuan to meet Yangsi Rinpoche in 1993.

Amongst other senior lamas, H.H. Minling Trichen Rinpoche, H.H. Penor Rinpoche (the present Head of the Nyingma School), H.H. Sakya Trizin Rinpoche, Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche and Kathok Situ Rinpoche have all recognised Kyabje Dudjom Yangsi Rinpoche.

On 25th November, 1994, the day of Lha Bab Duchen (the day that celebrates Buddha Shakyamuni descending from heaven after giving teachings to His mother) in Kathmandu, Nepal, Yangsi Rinpoche was enthroned. Many thousands of people gathered for the ceremony at Godavari, the holy place of Vajrayogini. HH Kyabje Chatral Rinpoche presided over the eight-hour enthronement ceremony, with H.H. Penor Rinpoche, Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche, Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche, Kathok Situ Rinpoche and many other Nyingma lamas present. Kyabje Dudjom Yangsi Rinpoche sat as still as a statue for the entire length of the ceremony. Kyabje Chatral Rinpoche commented to Yangsi Rinpoche's father Dola Rinpoche that it was amazing, even miraculous, that a 4-year-old boy could do that while Chatral Rinpoche himself could not do that.

Yangsi Rinpoche's teachers include Ven. Bhakha Tulku Rinpoche, Ven. Urgyen Chemchok Rinpoche and Khenpo Nyima Dorje from Kathok Monastery. He has also received many important initiations and teachings from such great masters as Kathok Moktsa, Gonjo Tulku Urgyen Chemchok, Dungse Thinley Norbu Rinpoche, Dzongsar Jamyang Khysentse Rinpoche, and from HH Chatral Rinpoche, his Tsawai Lama.

Bhutan Dudjom Yangsi, Tenzin Yeshe Dorje was born by caesarean section on 9th October 1990.  His father is Kesang Dadul, the son of Dasho Drongong, a descendant of Nyo lineage of Bumthang. His mothers Sonam Chokyi, daughter of Colonel Penjo Ongdi and Choden. Choden is the daughter of the mayor of Kyengkar who too was from the Nyo lineage.  Sonam Chokyi feels a strong connection with H.H Dudjom Rinpoche, Jigdral Yeshe Dorje and it is recounted that following a dream she had, Dudjom Rinpoche interpreted it to mean that Guru Rinpoche himself had directly blessed her.  Messengers came to her in dreams and told her that she was bearing the Tulku of Dudjom Rinpoche and these coincided with dreams and signs experienced by Sangyum Kusho, H.H Dudjom Rinpoche’s first wife.  These were further supported by a prediction letter given to Sangyum Kusho by Rinpoche while was still alive. Thus it was that when Sangyum Kusho learned that Sonam Chokyi, whose name corresponded to His Holiness' prediction letter, had an extraordinary son, it seemed that all auspicious conditions for finding the genuine incarnation had spontaneously appeared.  But even though Sangyum Kusho felt in her heart that Tenzin Yeshe Dorje was His Holiness’ Tulku, there were other remarkable children at the time, so she collected information on five and sent them to HH the Dalai Lama requesting his guidance.  A month later, the Dalai Lama gave his decision, saying that since the recognition was of utmost importance to the Nyingma tradition, he had made very careful divinations which pointed to Shonnu Senge and to the names of his parents as well. Following this, His Holiness issued a detailed letter recognizing Shonnu Senge, which was his birth name, as the incarnation of His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche. The Gomchen Draktsang of the Kudung temple performed the long life ritual of the Chime Sogtik for the Tulku, at his residence in Nepal; this occurred on the fourth day of the sixth month of the Water Monkey Year. The enthronement ceremony was conducted by Late HH Trulzhig Rinpoche, fifth head of Nyingma lineage with Dudjom Dungsey Shenphen Dawa Rinpoche. At this time, Sangyum Kusho offered a golden robe, a white scarf and a lotus hat to the new incarnation. When the child was ceremoniously placed on his golden throne, many disciples of HH Dudjom Rinpoche were present including many tulkus, lamas and sangha members from India, Tibet, Sikkim, Bhutan and Nepal as well as Western disciples from France, America, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore, altogether three hundred representatives from fifteen countries.

In March 1993, His Holiness the Dalai Lama called Shonnu Senge to Sikkim to receive his official name, Tenzin Yeshe Dorje. Thousands of followers travelled to see him as word of the young incarnation spread among the devotees. En route to Sikkim, the Tulku stopped at Zangtok Pelri, his own Gompa situated on a mountain top in Kalimpong. This was the first monastery built by His Holiness after his departure from Tibet in 1954. The construction of this Gompa was carefully guided by His Holiness, who had precious statues brought from Tibet that were placed there. Enthronement Ceremony of His Holiness Dudjom Tenzin Yeshe Dorjee In a ceremony spanning three days, September 30 to October 2, 1993, thousands congregated from around the world to witness the auspicious enthronement ceremony of His Holiness Dudjom Tenzin Yeshe Dorjee at Orgyen Dorngak Choling Gompa, Boudhanath, Nepal. His Holiness left his residence for his monastery in an open jeep decorated with colourful scarves and shaded by a symbolic umbrella born by two lamas. At Chabahil, His Holiness' motorcade was swamped by crowds lining the route to the monastery. His holiness was then escorted from the road to the monastery by lamas and monks in a traditional ceremony. The ceremony was conducted by HH Dzarong Trulshik Rinpoche in the sanctified hall of the Kudung Chorten of His Late Holiness. The main ceremony inside the monastery was attended by His Holiness' family, Dudjom Sangyum Kusho and family, and high Nyingma Lamas from other lineages, including His Holiness Drubchen Rinpoche. Guru Lau was present leading followers from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia. All offered Kusum Mendel to His Holiness. At the ceremony, the host country was represented by the Prime Girija Prasad Koirala; the King of Bhutan by the Lord Chamberlain Dasho Gyalpo Zimpon; His Holiness the Dalai Lama by his religious chief secretary; the Monastic Order of Bhutan by His Excellencies Tulku Jigmi Choida and Tse-Ngon Lopon. Due to the special circumstances of the occasion, His Holiness had to sit on his throne in a crowded hall for up to six hourly stretches, giving blessings to thousands each day. His Holiness, though barely three years old, was patient and performed his duties faultlessly. All who witnessed His Holiness skilful competence were deeply moved. Yangsi Rinpoche had kept many miracles of hand and foot prints during special occasion, where we can see today.

His Holiness returned to Bhutan in November 1993. His Late Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche had a very special relationship with Bhutan. His Holiness made a special visit to Tango Chen monasteries to meet H.H. Je Kinley, who had received many transmissions and empowerments from His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche. For both, it was a touching moment. H.H. Je Khenpo invited His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche to his winter retreat in Punakha, where His Holiness was received by the government officials and lay and monastic devotees.

In May 1994, His Holiness and entourage once again ventured forth into Bhutan for the pilgrimage to the picturesque valley of Sinye Dzong. His Holiness had to traverse through much of Eastern Bhutan being warmly welcomed wherever he went.

Dudjom Rinpoche resides and studies at Dudjom Namdrol Choling across the valley from the Yanglashoed cave in Parphing, Kathmandu, and at his main residence in Sartsham Chorten, opposite Takshang Monastery, Paro, Bhutan, where he has founded a gomdey, or study and practice centre for lay practitioners. Rinpoche also heads and oversees the activities of the Nyimalung Monastery Dratsang in Bumthang and Gelephu, Bhutan. He was appointed as the monastery’s head abbot, or spiritual director, in 2005 by Bhutan Govenrment.

In the last few years, Rinpoche has performed many drubchens (multi-day ceremonies) and conferred initiations at various monasteries in Bhutan and India, and has presided annually at the Ngagyur Nyingma Menlam Chenmo world peace prayers at Bodhgaya, India.

He has received all the major initiations of the Nyingma kama and terma teachings from several lineage holders, particularly the late Kyabje Trulshik Ngawang Chokyi Lodro Rinpoche. Other lineage holders from whom Rinpoche has also received initiations and teachings include H.H. the Dalai Lama, the late Penor Rinpoche, Dodrubchen Rinpoche, Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche, Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche, Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche, Namkhai Nyingpo Rinpoche and the late Lhalung Thugsey Rinpoche.

Both Yangsis appear to have inspired by all who have come close to them with their authenticity from high lamas to the general public. And respected equally everywhere in this dharma world.