Tulku Pema Rigtsal

Tulku Pema Rigtsal

Tulku Pema Rigtsal (b. 1963) is a contemporary lama and monk of the Nyingma tradition, whose main area of activity is in Humla, a remote area in the northwest of Nepal. He is one of the main Dudjom Tersar holders in Nepal.

Birth and Recognition

Tulku Pema Rigtsal (or Riksal) was born in 1963; his father was the Second Degyal Rinpoche and his mother Kyama Tsering. At the age of three, he was recognized by Dudjom Rinpoche and Ling Rinpoche as the reincarnation of Kusho Chime Purang, the head lama of Ngari Purang She Pheling Monastery. His main enthronement ceremony was held in 1977 at the Shedphel Ling Monastery at Mongod, India, which was overseen by Pema Kundol Rinpoche.

His brother was Shiva Rinpoche, the reincarnation of Golok Serta Rinpoche.

Training

Until the age of nineteen, Tulku Pema Rigtsal received an early education in reading, writing and ritual practices with his father the Second Degyal Rinpoche. He especially received from him all the practices of the Dudjom Tersar.

After, and during more than ten years, Tulku Pema Rigtsal, accompanied by Khenpo Dawé Özer, received teachings from Khenpo Chöying Khyapdal Rinpoche.

He has mainly received empowerments, transmission and teachings from:

• Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
• Dodrupchen Rinpoche
• Dudjom Rinpoche
• Thinley Norbu Rinpoche
• Khenpo Dawé Özer, from whom he received teachings on the thirteen major philosophical treatises for ten years
• Khenpo Chökhyap Rinpoche
• Penor Rinpoche
• Trulshik Rinpoche
• Yangthang Rinpoche
• Khenpo Petse

He has completed a closed three-year retreat, and a six-month retreat as well.

Activity

In 1985, in Humla Yolwang, in the far northwest of Nepal, he established Namkha Khyung Dzong monastery, which follows the Dudjom Tersar tradition. There, Tulku Pema Rigtsal has given to about 150 monks teachings on the sutras, tantras, the Shyung Chenpo Chusum, with a special emphasis on the wisdom view of Mipham Rinpoche.

Tulku Pema Rigtsal gives teachings on the Dudjom Tersar Ngöndro, the The Words of My Perfect Teacher, Bodhicharyavatara, and the Richö, Nang Jang, Neluk Rangjung, and other Dudjom Tersar teachings, to the people of Humla and those from the Ngari part of Tibet.

Tulku Pema Rigtsal also holds Summer and Winter Dharma Teaching sessions every year for more than five hundred practitioners including monks, ngakpas (yogis) and nuns residing in Humla and Ngari, Tibet. Hundreds of hermits are practising in caves and solitary locations in Humla, Nepal and Ngari, Tibet under his instruction and guidance.

Besides Nepal, Tibet and India, Rinpoche has many disciples in Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong and the U.S.A..

Writings

Among his writings, there are:

1. a commentary on the Calling The Lama From Afar of Dudjom Rinpoche
2. a biography of the Degyal Rinpoche (the first).
3. his first book in Tibetan, entitled “Semkyi Sangwa Ngontu Phyungwa” (The Great Secret of Mind).

Further Reading

• “The Great Secret of Mind”, Tulku Pema Rigtsal (Snow Lion, 2013)

Teachings Given to the Rigpa Sangha

• Rigpa Melbourne, Australia, 9 February 2019: Absolute and Relative Bodhicitta
• Rigpa Melbourne, Australia
  • 13 January 2024: Calling the Guru from Afar
  • 14 January 2024: The Four Thoughts that Turn the Mind away from Samsara

External Links

• Texts by and about Tulku Pema Rigtsal Rinpoche on Lotsawa House, including a Brief Autobiography
• Namkha Khyung Dzong Monastery