In 1942, Lama Pema Dorje Rinpoche was born on the banks of the Indus River, wrapped in a long placenta, resembling a meditation belt, an auspicious sign. His father, Kasar Rinchen Dorje Rinpoche, was a disciple of the treasure-revealers Gangsha Rinpoche and Chudong Rinpoche, receiving the complete teachings of Longchen Nyingthig and Makgyur Lhundrub. He received the teachings of the Black Wrathful Dakini from Tsurphu Trulku Serta Rinpoche, a holder of the first Jamgon Kongtrul’s treasury lineage.
Serta Rinpoche indicated signs that Lama Pema Dorje Rinpoche was the reincarnation of an Indian siddha; later recognized by Sakya lineage holder Rikzin Chaza Rinpoche as the incarnation of the great Indian Guru Padampa Sangye (the father lineage of the Chod practice from Patriarch Bodhidharma).
At age four, Lama Pema Dorje began studying under Serta Rinpoche, learning the upper tradition of the teachings of Jamgon Kongtrul’s Southern Dzogchen, including the preliminary practices of Black Wrathful Dakini and The Profound and Secret Heart Essence of Dakini, along with the main teachings of Awareness (Chod practice) empowerment, Nanjang (The teachings on the natural state of Dzogchen and the uncontrived path of Buddha), and the Phowa.
At 15, Lama Pema Dorje received teachings from Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche’s disciple, Rikzin Rinpoche, on The Heart Essence of the Sea of Dzongsar, The Heart Essence of Dakini, and Vajrakilaya (Iron Vajra that annihilates upon touch), including complete empowerments, oral transmissions, and practical instructions.
At 17, he went to India to study under the Second Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, receiving guidance on the nature of mind and teachings of The Dzongsar Rock Transmission, Nyingma’s Hundred Thousand Tantras, and The Great Treasure of Nyingma tradition. Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche instructed Gön Tsang Dorje Rinpoche to teach him the teachings of the channels and winds, which Gön Tsang Rinpoche then fully transmitted to Lama Pema Dorje, followed by detailed teachings from the holder of Dzongsar lineage of channel practices, Pema Wangchen Rinpoche; these included the secret teachings of The Essence of Dakini Practices, channel practices of Vajrakilaya, The Six Yogas of Naropa, and The Skillful Means.
He received the teachings of The Great Treasure from His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and many empowerments and oral transmissions from treasure-revealer Chökyi Lingpa, including The Chöling Tersar, receiving both common and uncommon instructions. Lama Pema Dorje then completed various retreats on the practices of different yidam deities, including Phurba Vajrakilaya, Vajra Varahi, Padmasambhava, and the practices of Dzogchen and Ati Yoga’s Trekchö and Tögal, witnessing auspicious signs of achievement.
In 1992, Dilgo Khyentse authorized and encouraged him to spread the Dharma. He was invited by Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche. to teach in the United States, subsequently spreading the Dharma in Brazil, Sweden, Russia, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, New Zealand, Australia, Mexico, and Outer Mongolia.
Lama Pema Dorje tirelessly traveled and taught, spending his days and nights in diligent propagation of the Dharma. He was particularly adept in guiding retreat practitioners, attracting many to the retreats he led in overseas Buddhist centers. In 2018, at the age of 77, Lama Pema Dorje’s consciousness merged with the Dharmakaya, demonstrating his final passage in this life.
Lama Pema Dorje personally wrote the Prayer for the Deathless Dharma Drum and bestowed it upon Venerable Guru Lung Du as a blessing for his long life and wellbeing. Venerable Pema Dorje’s wife, the esteemed Khandro Kunsang, passed on the robes of a yogi, worn by the Guru throughout his life, and his personal vajra and bell, symbolizing the transmission of teachings, to Venerable Guru Lung Du.
The practice of Dzogchen is the principal teaching of the Nyingma School (the Red Sect of Tibetan Buddhism). What is Dzogchen? It is the understanding that samsara and nirvana, as well as all phenomena, are inseparable from their true nature, hence the term Great. Among the nine vehicles of Buddhism, Dzogchen is the pinnacle, representing the highest essence of the Vajrayana path, embodying ultimate wisdom that directly perceives the intrinsic purity of one’s nature, transcending the duality of practitioner and practice, hence Perfection.
Countless practitioners since ancient times have attained the Rainbow Body, achieving Buddhahood in their lifetime. Historical records of the Nyingma tradition state that a hundred thousand Rigdzins have realized the Dzogchen and attained the Rainbow Body. Such accomplishments continue even in modern times.
Dzogchen is the most profound of the 84,000 Dharma gates, the heart essence realized by Primordial Buddha Samantabhadra. The significance of the Dzogchen teachings is immense! Before studying Dzogchen under Lama Pema Dorje, Guru Lung Du spent many years close to various Gurus of the Dzogchen lineage, studying secret terma and original scriptures, and undergoing various practical training.
Guru Padmasambhava prophesied, “When the iron bird flies, the Dzogchen will spread to the land of Shambhala.” This prophecy speaks directly to our age. Therefore, Guru Lung Du made a great vow to correctly and precisely transmit the precious teachings of Dzogchen, which can lead to the attainment of the deathless Rainbow Body. Through his own practice and internalization, he aimed to comprehensively document his experiential understanding of these teachings for future practitioners with the fortunate karma to seek this path.
Compassionate Guru Lung Du moved the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Due to the profound karmic connection from past lives with Lama Pema Dorje, their first meeting was filled with immense joy, leading to the unreserved transmission of the precious Heart Essence teachings, culminating in Guru Lung Du’s complete path of Dzogchen.
Guru Lung Du also shared a deep connection with The principal holder of the Longchen Nyingtik teachings, the fourth Dodrupchen Rinpoche. Not only did he receive a precious statue of Guru Padmasambhava, personally consecrated and blessed by the Rinpoche, but he also received Rinpoche’s rosary, worn garments, and Dharma hat. These blessings and transmissions symbolize a rare and unbroken lineage.
In January 2022, the fourth Dodrupchen Rinpoche, at the age of 95, merged his wisdom mind with the Dharmakaya. His passing was accompanied by many auspicious signs, including earthquakes, and his body shrank to the height of an elbow, a sign of the extraordinary realization and accomplishment of a Dzogchen practitioner—manifesting as a Rainbow Body!
Not only did he display the Dzogchen rainbow halos, but also various auspicious patterns such as chakras and lotuses in the sky. During his cremation, the flames took on the form of protectors. Unusual auspicious signs were observed in the sky and around the monastery before and after the cremation ceremony.
A Close Teacher-Student Relationship in Dharma Practice and Retreat ─ The transmission of the exalted Dzogchen Dharma has always been a one-on-one instruction from teacher to student since ancient times. This oldest and most secret oral tradition is essential for those seeking to directly realize the nature of their own mind.
Ngari Panchen, Pema Wangyi Gyalpo, a forefather in the Nyingma lineage, once elucidated the nine yanas in this context:
“Here, according to the tradition of the Dzogchen, the sravakabuddhayana, pratyekabuddhayana, and bodhisattvayana are the three causal vehicles of characteristics; kriyatantra, ubhayatantra, and yogatantra are the three outer tantras; and the unsurpassed father tantra of mahayoga, that known as the mother tantra (anuyoga), and the nondual tantric class of atiyoga are the three inner tantras (completing the nine vehicles).”
The three causal vehicles of exoteric Buddhism: Shravaka, Pratyekabuddha, and Bodhisattva
The six vehicles of Esoteric Buddhism: three outer tantras and three inner tantras
Three outer tantras : Kriya, Ubhayatantra and Yogatantra
Three inner tantras : Mahayoga, Anuyoga and Atiyoga. Dzogchen belongs to Atiyoga.
Traditional teaching requires the preliminary practices (Ngöndro) of Dzogchen, which includes the five common and uncommon preliminary practices, before entering the main practice. Traditionally, each preliminary practice should be completed at least 110,000 times (including 10,000 extra for making up for any lapses) before progressing to the next stage. In the extraordinary realization state of Dzogchen, there are stages of Trekchö (cutting through solidity) and Tögal (direct crossing).
Driven by an earnest longing for the supreme secret teachings, Guru Lung Du sought out Gurus of the Dzogchen. The profound and subtle depths of these teachings, honed over thousands of years, are not easily grasped in a short period. Hence, Guru Lung Du continuously prayed before the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas for blessings. Perhaps due to the karmic connections from past lives, the two met in Taiwan, feeling an immediate familiarity. Due to Guru Lung Du's fervent requests for teachings, he received many precious teachings from Lama Pema Dorje, marking the beginning of their close teacher-student relationship in Dharma practice and retreat.
In 2006, Guru Lung Du, with immense reverence, requested the teachings of the supreme Dzogchen, including the entire practical instructions on channels, winds, and thigle retreats. Under the guidance of Guru Pema Dorje, he began the practical achievement of the Six Yogas of Naropa, including Tummo, and could dry wet cloths wrapped around his body using meditation heat, even in the depths of winter.
In 2007, Guru Pema Dorje further taught the practices of Trekchö and Tögal. Subsequently, whenever Guru Pema Dorje returned to Taiwan from teaching abroad, he would provide one-on-one teachings or lead retreats for Guru Lung Du. After years of teachings and multiple retreats, Guru Lung Du fully Gurued the profound teachings of Dzogchen, integrating its view and complete practical stages through various major and minor retreats.
The teachings of Dzogchen are exceptionally profound! What prerequisites are needed to receive the teachings of Dzogchen at Guan Yin Shan? Compassionate Guru Lung Du taught, “One must be a disciple who has taken the fourfold refuge of the secret mantra at Guan Yin Shan, and at the very least, completed 300 prostrations as part of the refuge ceremony and accomplished the sadhana of the principal deity’s heart mantra.”
In 2011, at the request of disciples from Guan Yin Shan, Guru Lung Du first taught The Five Preliminary Practices of Dzogchen and expounded on the meaning of these teachings for nearly three years.
The monastic and lay community of the Sakya Temple in Taiwan has organized several Dzogchen retreats. Under Guru Lung Du’s guidance, the monastic community embarked on the path of practical realization, with disciples progressively completing the preliminary practices of Dzogchen.
Guru Lung Du stated, “As per the scriptures, a practitioner of the Dzogchen teachings who maintains their precepts without violation can achieve realization in this very life. If one cannot achieve realization due to transgressions, liberation can still be attained in the bardo state. Otherwise, liberation is assured within seven lifetimes at the latest.”
The bodhicitta vow of Compassionate Guru Lung Du can be summed up as, “May the light of the Dharma torch of wisdom shine throughout the three realms, dispelling the darkness of sentient beings, and may it forever abide.” Guru Lung Du, upholding and transmitting the sublime teachings of Sutrayana and Tantrayana, offers us the precious opportunity to practice under his guidance at Guan Yin Shan, a rare and auspicious karmic connection.
The Propagation of the Buddha Dharma / The Education of Dharma Dharma Teachings and Lineage / Khenchen Appey Rinpoche
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