Kyabje Dzongnag Rinpoche

(Zonang Rinpoche)

His Eminence Patrul Jampal Lodroe Rinpoche (1931-1989) was born in the year of the Iron Sheep and recognized as the incarnation of the great Dzongnang Jewon Kunzang Gyurme and enthroned at the Palyul Namgyal Jangchub Choling Monastery.

From a very young age, he received numerous profound teachings, transmissions and empowerments of the Kater lineages and excelled in all the various forms of Buddhist philosophy and meditation. In particular, from the age of sixteen he received various profound transmissions such as the Namchoe Tsalung, Dzogchen Sangye Lagchang, Thugchen Martri, Chagchen Zabtri and so forth, from the great Kyabgon Choekyi Dawa.

After feeling from Tibet upon the invasion, he undertook numerous responsibilities of reviving the Tibetan Buddhist teachings, building many temples and creating leadership positions within the newly established Tibetan settlements. Beyond the many activities, Rinpoche in particular came together with Kyabje Khochhen Rinpoche to work in establishing the Mindrolling Monastery in Dhondup Ling Tibetan colony in Dehra Dun.

Kyabje Patrul Jampal Lodroe Rinpoche’s enlightened activities also included establishing many Dharma centers in Nepal, Taiwan and other parts of the world.

Palyul Dzongnang Chogtrul Jampal Lodroe Rinpoche was born in Dida Zalmo Gang in Dege, Dokham Province, to father Nyinmo Kunzang in the Iron Female Sheep year of the 17th Rabjung cycle (1939). He was born to the same family in which the previous Dzongnang Rinpoche Gyurmed Kunzang was born. Drubwang Palchen Duepa recognized him as the unmistaken incarnation of the first Dzongnang Rinpoche and invited him to Palyul Namgyal Jangchub Choling Monastery, the main seat of the Palyul tradition.

Under the kind guidance of Lama Jamyang and Khenpo Lodroe, Jampal Lodroe Rinpoche learned minor skills like writing, reading and other basic traditional sciences. From His Eminence Mugsang Jampal Zangpo, he learned Tibetan grammar, poetry, elemental divination and many other skills. He received a vast number of teachings like the Namcho and Ratling treasure cycles, the Guhyasamaja teachings, the development and completion stages of peaceful and wrathful deities and many other sutra teachings, including essential instructions and empowerment, from Karma Thegchog Nyingpo. Rinpoche received his novice vows at the age of thirteen from Jigmed Chokyi Dawa Rinpoche, who was considered to be no different from Lord Manjushri himself. He also received the Rinchen Terzod empowerments, the full cycle of the Kama teachings, the preliminary practices of the Namcho and many other secret teachings.

At the age of sixteen, Dzongnang Rinpoche went to Palyul Darthang Dongag Shedrub Chokhorling Monastery and met His Holiness Chogtrul Jamyang Chokyi Dawa Rinpoche, receiving from him the Namcho Tsalung, Dzogchen Sangye Lagchang ("Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand"), Thugchen Marthid, Chagchen Zabthid, the general sutra that Gathers all Intentions, Karling Zhithro and the treasure teachings of Rigzin Jatson Nyingpo. Rinpoche then the Kangyur and Tengyur texts from Khenpo Pema Jigmed and from Khenchen Ngagi Wangpo Pema Ledel Tsal, and he received many other scriptural transmissions of the collected works of highly accomplished masters of Tibet.

Dzongnang Rinpoche also accompanied Drubwang Rinpoche to Gyalrong and many other places in Gonjo province where he was offered a great deal of valuable things like gold and turquoise. After the tour he returned to Palyul Namgyal Jangchub Choling monastery and received the Treasury of spiritual Instructions from Khenchen Legshed Jorden and received dodrel ziden charkhai wodnang from the most accomplished master of the time, Khenchen Nuden (sometimes also called Khyentse Lodroe). He also received Nubchen Sangye Yeshe's commentary on the sutra teaching on the essential exposition called the "Lion's Roar", the "Precious Wish-Fulfilling Treasury" by great Longchen Rabjam, the commentary on Madhymakalamkara (the "Ornament of the Middle Way") by Jamgon Mipham Rinpoche called the "Words of the Delighted Master Manjugosha", "Lamp of Definite Understanding", and many other sacred teachings from him. Subsequently he understood the true essence of the Dzogchen teachings.

Rinpoche also had the opportunity to meet with Kathog Khenpo Asher, Shechen Khenpo Gangshar and Palyul Khenpo Lodroe, from whom he received Madhyamika teachings, Abhidharmakosha (the "Treasury of Explicit Teachings"), the Vinaya Sutra, the five treatises of Maitreya, Guhyagarbha (the "Tantra of the Secret Quintessence"), Rigzin Jigmed Lingpa's Precious Knowledge Treasure and many other teachings.

Rinpoche received his fully ordained monk's vows from Chogtrul Jigmed Chokyi Dawa Rinpoche at Palyul Dharthang Monastery. During his stay at the monastery he represented Chogtrul Rinpoche and took care of everything. He led the drubchen for three consecutive years as the Dorje Lopon. At the age of twenty-seven he returned to Palyul monastery via Dege, Kham, and initiated the making of new dance costumes for the Gutor ceremony. He intended to build a massive tent for the monastery which would be used on special occasions, but his wish could not be fulfilled due to certain circumstances and he offered the material collected to the monastery.

At the age of twenty-seven, the fire female Bird year, during the time when the Chinese invasion was about to break out, Rinpoche with his entourage traveled to Powo in Kham province. He met His Holiness Drubwang Penor Rinpoche at Palyul monastery. During his stay at Palyul, he had repeated visions of dharma protectors prophesying that he should travel towards the south, and since the situation in Tibet was so unstable, he was compelled to flee to India.

At the age of thirty-one, corresponding to the Tibetan Iron Male Rat year, Rinpoche and his group reached Balingpur, West Bengal, and then moved to Dehradun in Uttarkhand where he set up a camp to stay in. With the passage of time Rinpoche built Ngedon Gatsalling (Mindroling Monastery). A monastic institute was set up for the monks to learn higher and more advanced Buddhist philosophy, and Rinpoche revived the tradition of conducting different accomplishment practices and sadhanas in the monastery.

Those days when other rinpoches and lamas were without help and were new to their place in exile, Dzongnang Rinpoche was instrumental in helping to bring the Ngagyur Nyingma tradition back to life. He was recognized and highly respected by many dharma centers around the world for his unsurpassable activities in propagating Buddhadharma . At times, when some ignorant lamas and their supporters deliberately made false accusations to discredit Rinpoche, he went and met His Holiness the Dalai Lama time and again to settle the matter. Besides this, Rinpoche was the sole person behind building of Shechen monastery in Nepal and later he handed it over to His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. He visited many Western countries and established many dharma centres around the world, thereby introducing Buddhism to Western students. He bestowed many empowerments from the Namcho treasures, Ratling treasures and various other secret teachings.

Having vastly accomplished his enlightened activities in the service of Buddhadharma in general and the Palyul tradition in particular, Rinpoche merged his nirmanakaya form into the expanse of dharmakaya, accompanied by miraculous signs, at the age of fifty-eight in the summer of 1987 in Taipei, the capital of Taiwan. Soon, a reliquary stupa was built, in which Rinpoche's holy remains were placed, as an object of devotion for disciples in Nepal. This is story of the life Zonang Rinpoche also known as, Jampal Lodoe Rinpoche.