Drubwang Tsoknyi

The First Drubwang Tsoknyi Pema Drime Ozer

Drubwang Tsoknyi Pema Drime Ozer ( b. 1828 པདྨ་དྲི་མེད་འོད་ཟེར། grub dbang tshogs gnyis pad ma dri med ‘od zer) H.E. the first Drubwang Tsoknyi Rinpoche was born in Nangchen, Kham, Tibet, in the 19th century and was a contemporary and close associate of the three great Lamas of the period, The Choling Terton, Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo and Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoches. He was very advanced in the practice of Naropa’s six yoga’s and was the teacher to the 7th Kamtrul Rinpoche, Tenpai Nyima for the practices of Naropa. Rinpoche also practiced the Nyingma tradition of Ratna Lingpa, as well as his own Nyingma practices. He established many Dharma centers in Tibet. One of the biggest nunneries then had 500 nuns.

The first Drubwang Tsoknyi Rinpoche was a 19th century renowned master of the Drukpa Kagyu and Nyingma traditions, and root guru to the founder of Gebchak Gonpa, Tsang-Yang Gyamtso the first. Drubwang Toknyi was born in Nangchen, eastern Tibet, and was a contemporary of the great masters of the time: Jamyang Khyentse, Jamgon Kongtrul, and Chokgyur Lingpa.

A reincarnation of the terton Ratna Lingpa, he spread the teachings of the Ratna Lingpa Heart Accomplishment practice with great success – a practice still upheld today by the nuns at Gebchak Gonpa. Drubwang Tsoknyi was regarded by all as an actual buddha, and his principal seat in was Tsechu Monastery (Nangchengar) in eastern Tibet. He was responsible for the founding of many retreat centres, which his subsequent incarnations continue to care for. He showed special concern for female practitioners and passed on many teachings to the nuns, and it was Drubwang Tsoknyi Rinpoche who commanded his heart disciple, Tsang-Yang Gyamtso the first, to build Gebchak Nunnery – the first nunnery in eastern Tibet where women gathered to spend their lives in dedicated Dharma practice.

The first Tsoknyi Rinpoche was an emanation of Milarepa’s disciple, Rechungpa and the Nyingmapa Terton Ratna Lingpa. He was born in Nangchen, Eastern Tibet, in the first half of the 19th century and was a contemporary of the three great lamas of the time: Jamyang Khyentse, Jamgon Kongtrul and Chokgyur Lingpa.

He fully mastered the practices of the Six Yogas of Naropa and became the principal guru for the 6th Khamtrul Rinpoche, Tenpa’i Nyima, and the great master Shakya Shri. He excelled in the yogas of the Nyingma tradition of Ratna Lingpa as well, which laid the foundation for establishing many nunneries of this special lineage, which was unique in Tibet.

Tsoknyi Rinpoche speaks to us with an exhilarating freshness, being fully aware of the complexity of modern life and the needs of men and women today. He is gifted with an ability to unravel the most profound topics in a way that is clear and easy to understand, and as he maps out the teachings, he draws listeners constantly back to their own experience, allowing them to discover the truth of the dharma within themselves. In the depth of his understanding, he reminds me of the outstanding masters of the past, and I find it incredibly encouraging that a master as young as he is can embody so deeply the wisdom of this tradition.

~ Sogyal Rinpoche (Author of The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying)

The most perfect circumstance for realizing the correct view of emptiness is upwardly to generate devotion to all the enlightened ones and downwardly to cultivate compassion for all sentient beings.

~ Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche