- Gyalwang Drukpa
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The Gyalwang Drukpa or Drukchen ("Druk" means "Dragon", and "Chen" means "Chenpo" or "Great" in Tibetan, an unofficial address of His Holiness Gyalwang Drukpa) are a line of re-incarnate lamas or tulku who are the head of the Drukpa school, one of the independent Sarma (new) schools of Tibetan Buddhism. They are considered to be re-incarnations of Tsangpa Gyare the first Gyawang Drukpa and founder of the school. The present Gyalwang Drukpa, Jigme Pema Wangchen is the twelfth Gyalwang Drukpa.
Contents
School
Main article: Drukpa LineageThe Drukpa Lineage of Tibetan Buddhism traces its origin back to the primordial Buddha Vajradhara (Dorje Chang in Tibetan) through an unbroken line of masters.
The early founders of the lineage include the great teachers Tilopa, Naropa, Marpa, Milarepa, Gampopa, Rechungpa, Phagmo Drupa and Lingchen Repa. Lingchen Repa was the guru of the first Gyalwang Drukpa, Tsangpa Gyare.
Tsangpa Gyare was recognized as the Buddha of Compassion, (Tibetan Chenrezig, Sanskrit Avalokiteshvara), in human form, as well as an incarnation of the first Buddhist King of Tibet, Songsten Gampo, the great sage Naropa and Milarepa's son-like disciple Gampopa.
The Drukpa order spread throughout Tibet, Ladakh, Northern India and Bhutan, and is renowned for the pure qualities of its practitioners and the numerous yogis who have attained enlightenment.
Following the death of fourth Gyalwang Drukpa, Pema Karpo, there were two reincarnations, as he prophesized. One, Pagsam Wangpo, remained in Central Tibet with the patronage of the King of Tsang. The other, Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, went to Bhutan after seeing in vision the deity Mahakala offering him the Kingdom. In Bhutan, the Drukpa lineage is now the official religious order of the state. Ever since Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal appointed Pekar Jungne as the first Je Khenpo, the spiritual head of all monasteries in Bhutan, the successive Je Khenpos have acted as the Spiritual Regents of Bhutan.
The Gyalwang Drukpa in Alice Springs, Australia 1991
List of successive Gyalwang Drukpas
Incarnation Name Lived 1st Gyalwang Drukpa Drogon Tsangpa Gyare 1161 - 1211 2nd Gyalwang Drukpa Kunga Paljor 1428 - 1476 3rd Gyalwang Drukpa Jamyang Chodrak 1478 - 1523 4th Gyalwang Drukpa Kunkhyen Pema Karpo 1527 - 1592 5th Gyalwang Drukpa Pagsam Wangpo 1593 - 1641 6th Gyalwang Drukpa Mipham Wangpo 1641 - 1717 7th Gyalwang Drukpa Kagyü Trinle Shingta 1718 - 1766 8th Gyalwang Drukpa Künzik Chönang 1768 - 1822 9th Gyalwang Drukpa Jigme Mingyur Wangyel 1823 - 1883 10th Gyalwang Drukpa Mipham Chökyi Wangpo 1884 - 1930 11th Gyalwang Drukpa Tendzin Khyenrab Geleg Wangpo 1931 - 1960 12th Gyalwang Drukpa Jigme Pema Wangchen 1963 - present See also
References
External links
- Homepage of His Holiness Gyalwang Drukpa
Categories:- Religious leadership roles
- Tibetan Buddhist titles
- Gyalwang Drukpa
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