His Eminence the 7th Dzogchen Rinpoche, Jigme Losel Wangpo

His Eminence the 7th Dzogchen Rinpoche, Jigme Losel Wangpo, is one of the highest lamas in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. He is the head of Dzogchen Monastery, one of the six major Nyingma monasteries, and the authentic holder of the Dzogchen lineage, the renowned Great Perfection or Great Completion teachings. With his totally natural, relaxed dignity, His Eminence is the embodiment of Dzogpachenpo, the fully awakened mind.

His Eminence was born in Sikkim in 1964 and recognised at an early age as the 7th Dzogchen Rinpoche by His Holiness the 4th Dodrupchen Rinpoche, Thupten Trinley Palzang. This was confirmed straightaway by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso. Significantly, there was a very close link between the 1st Dzogchen Rinpoche and the 5th Dalai Lama. This close connection has been maintained to this day.

Pema Rigdzin

The Dzogchen Rinpoches go back over 400 years to Pema Rigdzin, who in 1685 founded Dzogchen Monastery in Kham, the easternmost province of Tibet. Pema Rigdzin became known as the Dzogchen Rinpoche, the personification of Great Perfection teachings, because of his extraordinary realisation and spiritual wisdom. One of his teachers said that he knew Dzogchen as a teaching, but knowing Pema Rigdzin was the first time he had seen Dzogchen as a person. Since this time, all the incarnations of Pema Rigdzin have been known as the Dzogchen Rinpoche.

H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama with H.E. Dzogchen Rinpoche

H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama with H.E. Dzogchen Rinpoche

His Eminence's aunt Khandro Tsering Chondron; His Eminence's father Chakdzo Tsewang Paljor; His Eminence's mother Mayumla Pema Tsering Wangmo

Left to right: His Eminence's aunt Khandro Tsering Chondron; His Eminence's father Chakdzo Tsewang Paljor; His Eminence's mother Mayumla Pema Tsering Wangmo

Kenchen Pema Tsewang and H.E. Dzogchen Rinpoche

Kenchen Pema Tsewang and H.E. Dzogchen Rinpoche

His Eminence' father was the late Tsewang Paljor, whose family lineage is of tertön descent traced back to Düddul Nüden Dorje. Tsewang Paljor was greatly respected and renowned as the private secretary to the 2nd Jamyang Khyentse of Dzongsar, Dorje Chang, Chökyi Lodrö. His Eminence' mother is Pema Tsering Wangmo of the Lakar Tsang family, known as great patrons of Dharma in the Kham region of eastern Tibet.

Enthronement ceremony

On the 8th of October 1972, at the age of eight, His Eminence Dzogchen Rinpoche was enthroned in Sikkim's Royal Palace at Gangtok. The enthronement ceremony was officiated by H.H. Dodrupchen Rinpoche along with many other great lamas.

H.H. Dodrupchen Rinpoche with a young H.E. Dzogchen Rinpoche

H.H. Dodrupchen Rinpoche with a young H.E. Dzogchen Rinpoche

Enthronement of His Eminence, 1972

Enthronement of His Eminence, 1972

H.E. Dzogchen Rinpoche

H.E. Dzogchen Rinpoche

His Eminence' extensive studies and link with His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama

Following his enthronement, His Eminence Dzogchen Rinpoche was directed to Khenpo Rahor Thupten who became his tutor for the next three years. At the age of 10, His Eminence received Nyingma Kama from H.H. Dodrupchen Rinpoche, terma Rinchen Terdzö Chenmo from H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and the complete teachings of Pema Lingpa from H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche.

In 1976, at the age of just 12 years, His Eminence left Sikkim to go to His Holiness the Dalai Lama's seat at Dharamsala, where he became a student in the Buddhist School of Dialectics and where he stayed for the next seven years obtaining the title of Rabjamp. His Holiness personally supervised His Eminence the 7th Dzogchen Rinpoche's studies and was delighted by his diligence and accomplishment as a scholar.

During this time, His Eminence received Dudjom Tersar from H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche, Könchog Chidü from H.H. Trulshik Rinpoche and Chogling Terdzö and Nyingma Kama from H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.

H.E. Dzogchen Rinpoche and H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

H.E. Dzogchen Rinpoche and H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

Left to right: 1. Sangye Nyenpa 2. Dzongsar Khyentse 3. H.E. Dzogchen Rinpoche 4. H.H. Dilgo Khyentse 5. Gonjang Tulku 6. Kongtul

H.E. Dzogchen Rinpoche held by Mayumla, Pema Tsering Wangpo, his mother, with lamas, khenpos and senior monks

H.E. Dzogchen Rinpoche held by Mayumla, Pema Tsering Wangmo, his mother, with lamas, khenpos and senior monks

Second from left: Khenpo Dhazar; behind Mayumla: Venerable Gen Rangjung; sixth from right: Khempo Rahor Thupten

At the same time His Eminence studied Longchen Dzödun, Nyelso Korsum, Kunzang Lamai Shalung, Prajnaparamita, Pramanavartika and Madhyamaka with Khenpo Mewa Thupten and the great Geshe Lobsang Gyatso. His Eminence also received the Tsig Sum Ne Deg from the great Indian master Khunu Lama Tenzin Gyatso and received all the great teachings from Khenpo Rahor Thupten, Khenpo Tsundue, Khenpo Dhazer and Khenpo Pema Tsewang. His Eminence was up to six years younger than all the other students but soon outshone them and completed his studies in record time, revealing an exceptionally high degree of wisdom. He showed a particular talent for memorizing the texts he would later study and for the art of debate.

Visit to Tibet

In 1985, at the age of 21, His Eminence was welcomed back to his seat at his monastery in Tibet, accompanied by his family. As they approached the Rudam valley, where the monastery is situated, the news had spread that the 7th Dzogchen Rinpoche, Jigme Losel Wangpo, was on his way and he was greeted by many thousands of Tibetans from all the Dzogchen Monastery branches in Kham and Amdo. To give you some idea of how His Eminence is regarded; many of them had walked for three weeks to get there, knowing that, if they were lucky, they might catch a glimpse of the top of his head. His Eminence was offered gifts of 500 horses and 500 yaks as well as gold, silver and precious jewels and the celebrations went on for weeks.

Dzogchen Monastery

Following his visit to Tibet, His Eminence Dzogchen Rinpoche took on full responsibility for his monastery in south India. Today Dzogchen Monastery is home to over 200 tulkus, khenpos and monks. Through his leadership of Dzogchen Monastery and its spiritual activity, His Eminence works tirelessly to uphold and preserve the authenticity of the Dzogchen lineage.

Mandala offering to H.E. Dzogchen Rinpoche by Khenpo Palden Sherab and Khenpo Rahor Thupten

Mandala offering to H.E. Dzogchen Rinpoche by Khenpo Palden Sherab and Khenpo Rahor Thupten

H.E. Dzogchen Rinpoche with Geshe Lobsang Gyatso and Khenpo Rahor Thupten

H.E. Dzogchen Rinpoche with Geshe Lobsang Gyatso and Khenpo Rahor Thupten

Dzogchen Shri Senha Charitable Society

His Eminence' work also has a charitable dimension and in 1995 he founded the Dzogchen Shri Senha Charitable Society (DSSCS). His Eminence is the president of DSSCS, a registered charity that works to improve the educational, health care and social needs of the surrounding Dhondenling Tibetan refugee settlement and Indian community.

Shenpen

His Eminence has also founded Shenpen, an international network of organisations that support the spiritual and charitable activities of His Eminence and Dzogchen Monastery. Shenpen, meaning "benefiting others", has branches in America, Australia, France, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland and United Kingdom. For His Eminence, being a student of Buddhism is more than meditation or ritual practice, it means putting shenpen into action in all that we do.

Transmission of the Dzogchen Lineage

One of the foremost Tibetan lamas alive today and renowned both as an exceptional scholar and debate master, His Eminence is regularly invited to lecture throughout the world at universities, at medical institutions and to participate in interfaith dialogues. More specifically, His Eminence also teaches in Asia, America, Australia and Europe, giving public talks, empowerments, teachings and retreats, continuing the transmission of the Dzogchen lineage.