Tertön Sogyal
Tertön Sogyal, Lerab Lingpa (Wyl. gter ston bsod rgyal las rab gling pa) (1856-1927) - the incarnation of Nanam Dorje Dudjom, a disciple of Padmasambhava who attained siddhis through his practice of Vajrakilaya, and was able to move, unhindered, through space like the wind, and to pass through solid rock.
In his previous incarnations he had appeared as numerous great bodhisattvas and vidyadharas, including the bodhisattva Vajragarbha who compiled the Dzogchen teachings given by the Buddha Samantabhadra in Akanishtha. Later he appeared as Buddha Shakyamuni’s aunt and stepmother, Prajapati Gotami, the founder of the order of nuns, and in Tibet he appeared as Nanam Dorje Dudjom, Trophu Lotsawa and the great Rigdzin Gödemchen (1337-1408), founder of the Northern Treasures (Changter) tradition.
He was born in the year of the Fire Dragon of the fourteenth calendrical cycle (1856) in Upper Nyarong in Kham. His father was Dargye from the Shyipa family and his mother was Orgyen Drolma.
His main teachers were Dzatrul Kunzang Namgyal, and Jikmé Yönten Gönpo, the third Trimé Shyingkyong of Katok Monastery. He was also a close student of Nyoshul Lungtok, Jamyang Khyentsé Wangpo, Mipham and Jamgön Kongtrul, and also received teachings from Nyala Pema Dudul and Patrul Rinpoche.
Students
His numerous lineage holders, many of whom were also his own teachers, included the Thirteenth Dalai Lama Thupten Gyatso, Jamgön Kongtrul Rinpoche, the Fifth Dzogchen Rinpoche, Dzogchen Khenpo Pema Vajra, Mipham Rinpoche, Nyoshul Lungtok, Dzahka Choktrul Rinpoche, Tertön Trimé, Kathok Situ Chökyi Gyatso, Minyak Khenpo Kunzang Sonam, Dodrupchen Jikmé Tenpé Nyima, Demo Rinpoche, Dorje Drak Rigdzin Nyamnyi Dorje (1886-1932/5), Minling Trichen Rinpoche, Sakya Trichen, the Fifteenth Karmapa Khakhyab Dorje, Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö, Tsultrim Zangpo and his main consort, Khandro Pumo.
His lineage also continued with his sons, including Rigdzin Namgyal and Chöpel Gyatso, and passed on to his grandson, Tromgé Tulku Dechen Dorjé, who lives at the Tromgé encampment in eastern Tibet.
Incarnations
He had several incarnations as indicated in the texts of his terma discoveries and in predictions made to his disciples, including Sogyal Rinpoche, who was recognized by Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö, and the late Khenpo Jikmé Phuntsok (1932-2004), who received all the transmissions of Tertön Sogyal from Lama Gendun Dargye, a direct disciple of the tertön.
Major Revelations
Tertön Sogyal was a prolific tertön, whose collected revelations fill twenty volumes.
Writings
- Commentary on Chetsün Nyingtik