A brief biography of Tulku Theglo also known as Padma Theg Chog Tanpa'i GyaltsanMy
father was Dzongter Kunzang Nyima also known as Rigdzin Nuden Dorje and
my mother was Rintso of the Tug gya family. Among the eight sons of
Tragthung Dudjom Lingpa I was recognized by Jamyang Khentse Chokyi
Lodru as the incarnation of his second son, Padma Dorje. When I was
five years old they enthroned me and at age ten I entered the
Dodrubchen Monastery in Golog and began my formal studies. I studied
under four great Khenpos from that Monastery such as Khenpo Gangnam,
Thrindar, Wangdei Gyangtrul Dondrub Dorje and Washul Khenpo Lodru. I
received empowerments from Dzongsar Khentsei Jamyang Chokyi Lodru,
Dzogchen Rinpoche Jigdral Changchub Dorje, Shechen Kongtrul Rinpoche
Padma Lekpai Lodru and Dodrubchen Tubten Thrinley Palzangpo, Dodrubchen
Rigdzin Tenpai Gyaltsen also known as Rigdzin Jalu Dorje, Dungkar
Chogtrul Ngedon Gyatso and others. The empowerments I received from
them included the Rinchen Terdzod, the thirteen sadhanas of the Kama
lineage, the Nyingthig Yabzhi, the Nyingthig Tsapod, the Dupa Do, the
eighteen divisions on the meaning of Ah from the mind class, the Vajra
Bridge of the expanse class, the Damcho, Dechen lamchog, the three
aspects of Kagyad, the Sakya'i kunrig, the generation and completion
stage of liberation through hearing, including all the reading
transmissions.
From my father Dzongter Kunzang Nyima I received
the entire transmissions for all of the terma of Tragthung Dudjom
Lingpa. Among my father's terma there were sixty volumes for which I
received all the empowerments as well as the transmissions.
Nevertheless due to the circumstances of the time, at present there are
only twenty seven volumes remaining.
The Dzogchen upadesha that
I received from my father includes the Dzogchen Nanjang and the Chod
commentary several times. In addition I received the Nelug Rangjung
Tantra and the Sherig Dorje Nonpo Tantra, the six month Togal retreat
and the 108 day Togyal practice. I received the tsalung of Vajrakilaya
and in particular from my father I received the extremely secret
Dzogchen transmission that he was only allowed to give three times
during his life as a mandate from his root Guru. From my father I also
received his terma Dzogchen teachings called Directly Seeing the
Fundamental Nature and the method of placement called Blazing
Luminosity.
Now concerning my own activities of propagating
these lineages, I have given the entire empowerments of Tragthung
Dudjom Lingpa's terma on four occasions. One time was in Serta Golog
Tibet, one time by the invitation of Chadral Sangye Dorje in Siliguri
India, one time in Landow China, and one time at the banks of Lake
Kokonor. I have given the entire empowerments of my father's terma four
times as well. Once in Serta, again in Landow, in Parping Nepal and at
Lake Kokonor. In Parping the empowerments were given at the request of
Chadral Rinpoche which included the Dudjom Vajrakilaya, Phurba Deshek
Nyingpo and Troma Nagmo. I also gave the transmissions for Dzogchen
Nangjang and the Nelug Rangjung. In Chadral Rinpoche's retreat I gave
the empowerments for Yumka Dechen Gyalmo and Lhadrub Thigley Gyachen of
the Longchen Nyingthig tradition. At his retreat in Gotabhari Nepal I
gave the empowerments for the three roots of the Nyingthig and also
Lhadrub Thigley Gyachen.
Now to mention who some of the
recipients were during these transmissions, the principal ones were the
third Dudjom Rinpoche, Ahpang Chogtrul Tsepo, Dungkar Chogtrul Chokyi
Gyaltsan, Lama Padma Tumpo, Chogtrul Hungkar Dorje, Chogtrul Kabu kye,
Sogtrul, Zhalpa Rinpoche, Wanggyal, Chogtrul Odzer, Chogtrul Kunzang
Nyima, Jamyang Tragpa, Chogtrul Jamyang Trodral, Terton Tulku
Drongdzong, Terton Tulku Thrinley Tendzin, Tulku Tubten Rigdzin and
many others.
My main project of this life has been to create an
opera performing the deeds of the bodhisattvas as requested of me by
the fourth Dodrubchen Rinpoche, Rigdzin Jalu Dorje. At present I am
also making an opera for the Horse Race of the Epic of King Gesar of
Ling as well as the biography of Prince Drimed Kundun. These operas are
now available in DVD format and have pleased many teachers.
