Lama Dorje Namgyal Rinpoche

Lama Dorje Namgyal Rinpoche was born at Dorshol Pongyi Ngabhang in Upper Kham, Tibet; his father was named Sonam and his mother was Kyima. Both his parents passed away when Rinpoche was only one year old, and from then on he was taken care of by an older sister. Together they faced many problems during the early years; Rinpoche would console his sister by advising her on karma, showing intelligence and maturity far beyond his young age.

Rinpoche joined the Nyingmapa Drongmo Gon Monastery, where he learned reading and writing, grammar, Buddhist rituals, etc. Later he went into a three-year retreat at that same monastery, where he mastered Dzogchen. After completing his retreat, Lama Dorje Namgyal Rinpoche made a pilgrimage by prostrations to U-lha-den Jowo monastery. This took six months, and he made this effort in order to show his gratitude to his parents.

While on pilgrimage to the six “Mother” Nyingma monasteries of Tibet, Rinpoche met Kyabje Chatral Rinpoche. At their first meeting, Rinpoche had no doubt that Chatral Rinpoche was an accomplished master; he then spent seven years practicing the Longchen Nyingthik preliminary practices as well as Dzogchen with Chatral Rinpoche. He became a very close disciple of Chatral Rinpoche, and was later sent to Kongpo, Tibet, with a letter of introduction from him. Lama Dorje had been advised to perfect his practice of His Holiness Kyabje Jigdral Dorje’s revealed treasures. Lama Dorje Namgyal Rinpoche arrived in Kongpo, where Lama Ling Bhu Chu Rigzin was located; this was the monastery of the second Guru Rinpoche, Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche. Rinpoche spent three years there, practicing Dzogchen and receiving transmissions and empowerments of the Tersar lineage.

In 1959, Rinpoche left Tibet and arrived in Balapung, Assam, where the first Tibetan refugee center was established. Most Tibetans had great difficulty adapting to the Indian heat and many died. Rinpoche met many of his old Lama Ling spiritual friends there, including Lama Sherab Rinpoche (the second president of Dundul Raptenling). He decided to go to Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche’s Zangdok Palri Monastery in Kalimpong, India, where he received the Nyingma Kama empowerments and transmissions from His Holiness. When Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche bestowed the Rinchen Terdzö empowerments at Tso Pema, Rewalser, Rinpoche was the ritual master and fulfilled his duty in front of thousands of devotees.

Once His Holiness the Dalai Lama received permission from the Indian government, a refugee settlement was built in Odisha. Lama Dorje Namgyal Rinpoche, along with Lama Sherab Rinpoche, Chagdud Tulku, Lama Namse Tseso and many other spiritual friends from Lama Ling arrived in Odisha on instruction from Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche. Each Tibetan refugee was given an acre of land, a small home and a year’s food ration from the Indian government.

All the lamas and rinpoches used to gather in a small house to pray, so Lama Dorje Rinpoche built a clay house as a monastery, which was then named Dundul Raptenling by Kyabje Rinpoche. Lama Dorje Namgyal Rinpoche also served as a teacher at the local school for Tibetans during those difficult years.

Lama Dorje Namgyal Rinpoche served for many years as the president of Dundul Raptenling; he oversaw many activities related to the monastery as well as the lay community. It was during his tenure as president that the three-story Dundul Raptenling Monastery that stands today was built. He made a rule—still observed today—that all funeral rites were conducted at no cost, although the local community was asked to provide the wood for cremations when someone passed away. Lama Dorje Namgyal Rinpoche scheduled yearly prayer ceremonies to benefit all sentient beings. He himself went to perform Chöd at the home of any community member who passed away, and he always consoled the families.

In 1982, he was invited to lend his expertise in the Mendrub Drubchen at the Payul Namdrolling Monastery of Drubwang Penor Rinpoche. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and Penor Rinpoche presided. Lama Dorje Namgyal was requested to perform according to the Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche ritual. That Mendrub Drubchen was so successful that Rinpoche was named the Mendrub Lama.

Later, Rinpoche was summoned by Trulshik Rinpoche to perform the Eight Heruka empowerment, since he was an expert in this ritual. This was done to aide and help the cause of Tibet in general. This occurred after a divination had been performed by Trulshik Rinpoche at the request of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Afterwards, Lama Dorje Namgyal Rinpoche went to Shimla at the request of Lama Dawa Chodak. He was requested to subdue the spirits and other elements that were harming students at the Tibetan school. Rinpoche performed Troma Dur for seven days and pacified the area.

In 1985, he opened a retreat center near Dundul Raptenling. The retreat center, which was named Namdrol Choeling by His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche, was a three-year retreat facility, where the students were taught by Lama Dorje Namgyal Rinpoche. Among Rinpoche’s many students was Dundul Raptenling’s late president, Lama Jamphel Sherab. In 1986, Rinpoche visited his homeland of Tibet. He visited Lhasa, and also travelled to Kongpo, where he bestowed empowerment and taught many devotees and relatives.

Rinpoche sent many young Tibetans from Odisha to join the first shedra established by Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche in Nepal, known as Shedrup Dujoeling. Among the many students Lama Dorje Namgyal sent to Nepal was the renowned scholar Khenchen Tsewang Rigzin.

Lama Rinpoche spent all of his life serving the dharma; all of his activity was performed in order to benefit sentient beings. His life was such that no one could point out any flaws. Lama Rinpoche passed into parinirvana near the Boudha Stupa in Nepal at the age of sixty-one.