Wangdor Rinpoche

Druwang Wangchuk Dorjee Rinpoche or Wangdor Rinpoche (1925-2019) was a noted Tibetan Dzogchen master and monk based in Tso Pema, India, where he lived in the Holy Caves. Through his teachings on Dzogchen heart texts and Mahamudra he reached students throughout the world. He was both from the Nyingma and Kagyü schools. Trained first in Dzigar Monastery in Kham, he became a main student of Thuksey Rinpoche, among other Dzogchen teachers. After fleeing from Tibet to India in 1959, carrying Thuksey Rinpoche upon his back, he settled there. They lived together at Dzigar Monastery and Wangdor Rinpoche spent 12 years receiving Dzogchen teachings from Thuksey Rinpoche. Thuksey Rinpoche was the son of the tenth Gyalwang Drukpa and the grandson of the great Dzogchen master Tokden Shakya Shri, who confirmed Thuksey Rinpoche as one of his precious heart sons. He lived at Dzigar Monastery in Tibet since he was little more than an infant and spent most of his time in continuous meditation. While meditating at Dzigar Monastery, Thuksey Rinpoche finally was persuaded by his students to leave his external retreat and come out into the world to teach and benefit beings who were desperately in need.

Wangdor Rinpoche meditated spontaneously early in life and spent over 60 years in cave retreat, under the direction of Dudjom Rinpoche and Khunu Lama (Tenzin Gyaltsen Rinpoche). Wangdor Rimpoche is a lineage successor of both Dudjom Rinpoche and Khunu Lama, who His Holiness the Dalai Lama stated “Khunu Lama is the Shantideva of our time.” Wangdor Rimpoche was a close vajra brother of His Holiness. They received many teachings together from Khunu Lama. Regardless of the circumstances, whenever His Holiness saw Khunu Lama, he did a full body prostration.