Pema Lingpa Lineage

From left to right in the above image: Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Dudjom Rinpoche, and Gangteng Tulku Rinpoche.

Among the treasure revealers prophesied by Guru Padmasambhava, the Second Buddha of Uddiyana, there would arise more than one thousand tertöns and one hundred and eight great tertöns. Yet among them, only five would be known as the Great Treasure Kings.

Only those capable of fully revealing the Guru Accomplishment teachings, the Dzogchen accomplishment teachings, and the Great Compassion accomplishment teachings are worthy of the title “Treasure King.”

The father-and-son lineage of the Treasure King Pema Lingpa — the heart-son of the Second Buddha of Uddiyana — is regarded as the final of the five pure rebirths of Princess Pemasel.

Within the prophetic testament known as the Lotus Legacy Prophecy, Guru Rinpoche foretold:

“The treasure concealed within the Burning Lake shall be revealed through fearless courage;
he shall be known as Uddiyana Pema Lingpa.”

Exactly as prophesied, Pema Lingpa was born in 1450, in the region of Bumthang in southern Mon, within the clan known as “Nyö.” His father was Do-ngag Zangpo (“Excellent Noble Virtue”), and his mother, Pema Drolma (“Lotus Lamp”), was a shepherdess bearing the signs of a dakini. At the time of his birth, countless rare and wondrous auspicious signs appeared.

Because he was the reincarnation of the omniscient Dharma King Longchenpa, Pema Lingpa displayed extraordinary qualities from childhood. Without formal study, he naturally understood literature, craftsmanship, and many branches of knowledge.

Especially on the tenth day of the Monkey Month in a Monkey Year, Guru Padmasambhava personally appeared before him at Mani Monastery, bestowed blessings upon him, and entrusted him with the catalogue of one hundred and eight hidden treasures.

At the age of twenty-seven, Pema Lingpa revealed the Longsal cycle from Nari Rock, thereby beginning his vast activity of revealing profound and secret termas.

Among the most famous events was his revelation at the Burning Lake of Bumthang, near Nari Rock — a mysterious lake hidden deep within mountain valleys, whose waters were unfathomably deep and whose waves swirled like spinning lotus flowers.

Before a large gathering of witnesses, Pema Lingpa leapt into the lake holding a burning torch. When he emerged from the depths, he carried beneath his arm a sacred treasure casket, while the torch in his hand remained completely unextinguished.

Seeing this miracle, all who witnessed it were filled with astonishment and unshakable faith. From that moment onward, the fame of the great treasure revealer spread throughout the land.

At Samye Chimphu, he revealed The Complete Gathering of Samantabhadra’s Intent, the great Dzogchen cycle. From various sacred sites, he also revealed:

• the Child Tantra cycles of the Nondual Dzogchen Tantras,

• The Ocean of Guru Mind Accomplishment,

• the Red Avalokiteshvara cycle Lamp That Dispels the Darkness of Great Compassion,

• the Eight Great Heruka cycle Mirror of Enlightened Mind,

• the Extremely Secret Phurba cycle Blade of Life,

• medicinal accomplishment practices,

• Vajrapani subjugation practices,

• wrathful Vajrapani practices,

• the three levels of wrathful rites,

• the outer, inner, secret, extremely secret, and unsurpassed wrathful Guru Rinpoche cycles,

• The Vajra Garland of Longevity of Amitayus and consort,

• longevity accomplishment practices,

• the Three Black Deity cycles,

• and many karmic accomplishment practices.

In addition, he revealed sacred substances, ritual objects, and supports of body, speech, and mind, including:

• the liberating medicinal nectar known as the “Seven-Lifetime Brahmin Medicine,”

• and the Guru Rinpoche substitute form known as Pema Guru.

Throughout his life, Pema Lingpa revealed an inconceivable number of treasures.

Guru Padmasambhava also personally prophesied that in the future, Pema Lingpa would attain unsurpassed enlightenment within the Lotus Adorned Pure Realm, where he would become the Buddha known as Tathāgata Vajragarbha.

All beings who establish a karmic connection with him in this life are likewise destined to be reborn within that pure realm, where they will become disciples guided by him and ultimately attain buddhahood there.

A Brief Lineage of the Pema Lingpa Tradition

• Samantabhadra and Samantabhadrī

• Vajrasattva

• Garab Dorje

• Guru Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche)

• Lady Yeshe Tsogyal

• Princess Pemasel

• Ugyen Pema Lingpa (Treasure King Pema Lingpa)

• Utsa Drubpa Kundu

• Chöje Na Tsorang Zhonnu

• Tenzin Drakpa

• Pema Trinlé

• Chöthing Dorje

• Tenzin Jume Dorje

• Lépé Dondrup

• Kunsang Dorje

• Jume Chödrub Palbar

• Tenzin Chökyi Dorje

• Jume Pema Chadral

• Tenzin Sipa Namgyal

• Dechen Dorje

• Kunsang Rigzin Dorje

• Tenpé Nyima

• Jigme Chökyi Wangpo Norbu

• Gendün Gyatso

• Dudjom Rinpoche (Jikdrel Yeshe Dorje, the Second Dudjom Rinpoche)

• Gangteng Tulku Rinpoche (Kunsang Rinzin Pema Namgyal)