Wisdom Buddha on a Lion.

[tib. Dzam bha la] a Buddha aspect giving wealth

[c. 1880 - 1947] The Fifth Shamarpa stated that the Karmapa and Shamarpa incarnations are inseparable on an absolute level of mind. They are two distinct emanations "manifesting sometimes as father and son, sometimes as brother like relatives." This occurred when the Twelfth Shamarpa Jamyang Rinpoche, became the Fifteenth Karmapa's son. The Twelfth Shamarpa led a quiet but fruitful life. He was a bodhisattva yogi, who taught and guided those who had the good fortune to know him and his blessings radiated out to all who were receptive. He left his foot imprint in a rock as a symbol of his attainment.

[1820 - 1892] He was one of the greatest lamas of the last century, and one of the most important Tertons. He was considered to be a body emanation of Jigme Lingpa. At 19 he received the Longchen-Nyingthig transmission from Jigme Gyalwe Nyugu (Phowa Lineage). He and Patrul Rinpoche were the main students of Jigme Gyalwe Nyugu.

During a thirteen year period he received all of the existing teachings of the various lineages from some 150 Lamas. During that time he studied about 700 works. Dilgo Khyentse, who is one of his reincarnations, said that Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo's main practice was that of Guru Yoga. In the Autobiography of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo it is written that he realized the true nature of mind during his Ngondro practice.

Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo was heavily involved in the development of the non-sectarian Rime-movement. During that time many lineages and practices were under the threat of extinction. The goal of the Rime movement was for the practitioner to attain complete mastery of the teachings of all the lineages, so as to then be able to give each of his students the precise teaching to fit their individual needs.

[1893 - 1959] Jamyang Tschokyi Lodro, the activity-incarnation of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo's (Phowa Lineage), is considered to be one of the greatest Dharma Masters of this century. As a child he had already received the Longchen-Nyingthig-transmission from Adzom Drukpa. As a fifteen-year-old he became the abbot of the Dzongsar monastery, which had been the seat of his predecessor Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo. In 1956 he crossed Lhasa to travel to India, and visited many holy sites in India and Nepal and spent the last years of his life in Sikkim.

Already as an adolescent Senge Wangtschug was very learned in the Dharma and had received transmissions from Dangma Lhungyel Gyeltsen (Phowa Lineage). Inspired by a vision of Drime Shenyen (Vimalamitra) he freed himself of any attachment to his physical body and reached rainbow-body realization at age 125. He was reborn in the 19th century as the famous Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo.

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Main philosophical work of Gampopa. It explains the view and path of the Great Way. Excellent introduction to the basic teachings.

[1765 - 1843] Jigme Gyalwa Nyugu was one of Jigme Lingpa's (Phowa Lineage) main students. He was also a student of Jigme Lingpa's main lineage-holder, the first Dodrupchen Rinpoche. First he practised many years in Kham and then spent much time with his teacher Jigme Lingpa in Central Tibet. After he had reached realization he returned to Kham upon the advice of his teacher. He practised there in austerity for 21 years on a lonely mountain. His reputation spread fast and soon some two hundred yogis became his students and lived with him in tents. He became one of the main teachers of Patrul Rinpoche, who twenty-five times received the teaching of the preparatory exercises from him and who recorded them. This is how the Kunsang Lame Shalung was created. This was published in English under the title "The Words of my perfect Teacher". Today it is a standard text in the Nyingma, and one from which many Kagyu Lineage-teachers like to quote. Jigme Gyalwe Nyugu together with the Dodrupchen Rinpoche spread the Longchen Nyingthig throughout Tibet, especially in East Tibet.

[1729 - 1798] Jigme Lingpa is one of the greatest and, even today, one of the most important teachers of the Dzog chen lineage. He received three visionary transmission from Longchen Rabjam and realized his teachings, which were to become famous throughout Tibet under the name of Longchen Nyingthig. He kept them secret for about seven years, until the time had come to teach them since it is very important that a Terton practises the teachings himself, before he passes them on to others. Jigme Lingpa had many excellent students. The first Dodrupchen Rinpoche, Jigme Trinle, became his main lineage-holder. Among Jigme Lingpa's reincarnations are many famous Lamas such as Do Khyentse Yeshe Dorje (his mind-emanation), Patrul Rinpoche (Jigme Lingpais speech-emanation) and Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo (his body-emanation) (Phowa Lineage).

[1865 - 1926] Jigme Tenpe Nyima was the third Dodrupchen Rinpoche, a reincarnation of the main-lineage-holder of the Jigme Lingpa. He received many teachings from Patrul Rinpoche, with whom he had a very close relationship. When Tenpe Nyima was only eight years old, Patrul Rinpoche invited everyone in the area so that Jigme Tenpe Nyima could give them teachings on the Bodhicarayavatara ("Entering into the Bodhisattva Way of Life" by Shantideva). Later on he received from Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo (Phowa Lineage) the transmission of the Longchen Nyingthig.

Lama Jigme Rinpoche was born into the family of His Holiness the 16th Karmapa Rangjung Rigpe Dorje and as the brother of His Eminence Shamar Rinpoche, as the reincarnation of the Tibetan yogi. He received extensive teachings from the Karmapa, who, during his first visit in the West, left him there as his representative. Since that time, Lama Jigme Rinpoche is guiding Karmapa's main seat in Europe, Dhagpo Kagyu Ling in France.

He has given countless Dharma teachings there and has watched the center grow from a small farm house in the countryside into a large center. Besides his great organizational skills, he is highly respected as a lama. Many have already benefited greatly from his profound knowledge, his understanding of western lifestyle, and his practical wisdom, warmth and humor. more

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