Our Teachers at Vairotsana Foundation
THE VENERABLE BHAKHA TULKU RINPOCHE
The Venerable Bhakha Tulku Rinpoche is a holder of the Tibetan lineage of Rigdzin Pema Lingpa, one of the Five Great Kingly Tertons (Treasure Revealers) of the Tibetan Buddhist Nyingma tradition. He is also the incarnation of the great Terton Dorje Lingpa, and an emanation of the eighth century scholar, translator, and meditation master Vairotsana, one of the first seven monks ordained in Tibet and a close heart disciple of Padmasambhava. Bhakha Tulku Rinpoche was recognized as such by both H.H. the 16th Karmapa and H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche (Jigdrel Yeshe Dorje), former Supreme Head of the Nyingma Lineage.
The present Bhakha Tulku is the 10th incarnation of the Bhakha Tulku line. The Bhakha monastery is in the Powo region of southeastern Tibet, but the line has many ties with Bhutan as well, as Pema Lingpa is one of the most revered figures in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition in Bhutan. The 8th Bhakha Tulku served as Royal Priest and was a close friend of the first King of Bhutan. Rinpoche’s seat in Bhutan is the Tamshing Gonpa in Bumthang Valley.
Bhakha Tulku Rinpoche holds many lineages, including the Pema Lingpa lineage, the Dzogchen lineage of the Namchoe tradition, the Longchen Nyingthig, and the Chetsun Nyingthig.
He received the Rinchen Terzod and many other teachings from H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche, whom he served for 7 years as an attendant and secretary. Bhakha Tulku Rinpoche studied at Mindroling Monastery, the great Nyingma center of learning in central Tibet, but fled to Bhutan in 1959 during the Chinese occupation. He then studied at the school for young Tulkus in Dalhousie, India and received many teachings from great masters such as H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche, H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, H.H. DoDrupchen Rinpoche, H.H. Chatral Sangye Dorje Rinpoche, H.H. Penor Rinpoche, and others. Bhakha Rinpoche has served both H.H. Penor Rinpoche and the great Dzogchen master H.H. Chatral Rinpoche. Over the past 20 years, Bhakha Tulku Rinpoche’s Dharma activity has taken him to India, Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet, Taiwan, Mexico and the United States. Rinpoche’s teachings and translations in the West have been of great benefit to many people. Rinpoche agreed to come to the United States at the request of many, with the sole intention of helping spread the teachings of the Buddha-Dharma here, for the benefit of all beings. He established Vairotsana Foundation to serve this purpose.
Venerable Gyalsey Lama Urgyen Tenzin is a Tibetan monk who was born in Nepal. He studied Buddhist philosophy at Bhakha Sangak Choling Monastery, graduating with honors in May 1993. Under Bhakha Tulku Rinpoche’s guidance, he attended the Palyul Monastery at Palyul Gon, where for four years he studied Tibetan Buddhist philosophy, literature, ritual and sacred art, and then completed a three-year retreat under Ven. Tulku Thubten Palzang. After his seven years of training at Palyul Gon, Lama Urgyen returned to Bhakha Sangak Choling Monastery, where he served as the administrator for five years, overseeing and training all of the junior monks. Lama Urgyen has received empowerments, transmissions and teachings from H.H. Penor Rinpoche, Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Kyabje Thinley Norbu Rinpoche, Bhakha Rinpoche, and others, and he is highly skilled in all aspects of Tibetan Buddhist religion and ritual. In September 2010, Bhakha Tulku Rinpoche enthroned Lama Urgyen Tenzin as Dorje Lhopon - an honor granted to monks with special qualities.