Cheoje Gompopa Sonam Rinchen was widely known like a sun among the innumerable disciples of the great Yogi, Jetsun Milarepa. He engaged in vast activities in the interest of Buddha Dharma through infinite emanations. It is the very nature of noble beings to benefit others through direct and indirect means. Here is a brief biography of Dhagpo Tulku Rinpoche.
In the Sutra, it reads: Seeing smoke one can deduce the existence of fire, And one can infer the existence of river at the sight of water fowl. Likewise, one can recognize bodhisattvas Through his nature and characteristics.
Though most of the noble beings come to the world through five predeterminations like family clan, emanations of Buddhas are unpredictable as mentioned in the Precious Treasury of Virtues (yon tan dzod) and Perfection of Wisdom (Prajnaparamita) by Maitreya. Thus we can infer that it is not contradictory through abovementioned scriptural citation.
Birth of Dhagpo Trulku
Among the hidden lands blessed by Guru Rinpoche necessary for the decadent age, Dremoishong and Khenpalung in Bhutan are extolled to be the kings of them. He was born in Nyari, the place named after a fish-like landscape of the place. It is part of Khenpalung and a place located facing Richen Bumpa where Guru Rinpoche meditated for three months, and Kuritoed, a seat of Omniscient Longchen Rabjam and Pema Lingpa. He was born in the Fire Rabbit Year in the 17th sexagenary cycle to authentic yogi Yeshey Rigzin, who was adept in tantra practice and to Sonam Pelki, the niece of a great master Ngawang Choedra who was the main disciple of Azom Drukpa Rinpoche. His father Yeshey Rigzin was the main disciple of Dungtse Lopen alias Tashi Phuntsho who was the direct disciple of Togden Yeshey Nyingpo. During the birth, numerous miraculous signs appeared like covering the residence with rainbow from both inside and outside. He was named Kunzang Ngamgyal by his father. At four, with his super knowledge that recollects former lives, he narrated the accounts of his previous lives. Unable to believe his ears, his father took him to Samling Trulku Rinpoche and narrated the stories. He was profoundly happy and declaring him to be the reincarnation of Peerless Dagpo Rinpoche, he offered scarf. He named him Jigme Thinley Jamtsho. He was advised to keep clean and take to the seat (Monastery)of Gyalwang Karmapa as soon as possible. Back at home, he started to learn reading and writing from his father which he did with ease. With his innate knowledge, he impressed all. Owing to the long distance, he couldn’t go right away to Gangtok. In the meanwhile, at the age of seven, his father passed away and he couldn’t go anywhere. At village he was enrolled to a meditation center and learned ritual practice thoroughly from Lopen Monlam Namgyal. At the age of fourteen, he recited Kangyur for two years at the seat of Drubwang Lama Sonam Zangpo in Serzhong. He received empowerments of Hayagriva, Vajrapani, and Garuda-deity and underwent other process of maturation and liberation like completion of preliminary practice of Five Times Hundred Thousand practice From Lama Rigzin Samdrup. He received empowerment of Four Heart-Essences (Nyingtig Yabshi) life-empowerment of Manjushri from His Holiness Penor Rinpoche, the emanation of Vimalamitra. Moreover he received oral transmission of Omniscient Mipham Rinpoche’s encyclopedia from His Eminence Trulku Rigzin Pema Rinpoche; empowerment of Dudjom Rinpoche’s encyclopedia from His Eminence Dungzin Garab Rinpoche; preliminary practice of Nyingthig from Lam Serpo; Longchen Rabjam’s Heart Essence preliminary practice and other teachings of peaceful and wrathful Manjushri, empowerment of Sarasvati, Life Entrustment of Tsheringma, Method of Attainment of Manjushri, Method of Attainment of Sarasvati, Tersar Preliminary practice, Manjushri Nama Sangirti, Attainment of the Vidyadhara Life and many other Buddhist text from Khenchen Rinzin Dorji Rinpoche at Ngagyur Tholop Thekgu Lekshedling (Taktse Nyingma Institute) in Gangtok Sikkim India.
He received teachings of, seven-word guru sadhana of Mipham, Brief Life of Padmasambhava, Manjushri Nama Sangirti, Attainment of Manjushri of Chagme Rinpoche, Conquering All Diseases, Vajra Subjugator (A Mahayana sutra) from His Holiness Drayab Khamtrul Rinpoche.
He received Kama (a canonical teachings) from His Eminence Yangthang Rinpoche, and received Gyübum(The Hundred Thousand Tantras of the Nyingma School) from Ladhak Choeje Togden Rinpoche. He also received Seven-point Mind Training and Spinning Blade of Mind Training from Khenchen Pema Sherab.
The three roots (guru, yidam, dakini) instruction, empowerment of sutra of Embodiment of Realization and Four Heart-Essences (Nyingtig Yabzhi), Three Roots of Terton Nyidrak, Life-empowerment of Dakini Dechen Gyalmo from His Holiness Dodrupchen Rinpoche; sutra of Embodiment of Realization, Palyul liturgical text and Notes for the Development Stage(bskyedrim) from Khen Rin