Rigdzin Legden Dorje

The Second Dorje Drak Rigdzin, Lekden Dorje, was born at Lhundrub Choding in the region of Ngari, in a town called Lowo or Lowo Matang. His birth year is usually given as 1488 or 1489, although some sources say 1452. This earlier date comes from the belief that he passed away in 1565 at the age of one hundred and thirteen.

His family was believed to descend from the ancient kings of Tibet. His father, Jamyang Rinchen Gyeltsen, was a famous tantric yogi and was regarded by some as an incarnation of the great translator Marpa. He had eight sons. Five of them were believed to be manifestations of the five Buddha families, and another was considered an emanation of the protector deity Gonpo Lekden. Of all the brothers, only Lekden Dorje and his elder brother, Ngari Panchen Pema Wanggyel, became well known in history.

Lekden Dorje first learned to read and write from his mother when he was seven years old. She often encouraged him to become a hermit because she believed she had received the blessings of Padmasambhava while she was pregnant with him. His father later shaved his head and ordained him, giving him the name Nyida Drakzang. The name Lekden Dorje is said to have come from a prophecy made by the terton Kunkyong Lingpa. Because his father loved him deeply and spoiled him, he became very playful and mischievous, and local people jokingly called him “Evil-spirit Lekden.”

According to traditional biographies, the death of a beloved aunt deeply affected him and inspired him to take Buddhist practice seriously. He began studying commentaries, empowerments, and transmissions on the sixty-five mandalas of Dowang from his father at Lhundrub Choding Monastery. For the next three years he received many tantric teachings, especially on the Guhyagarbha Tantra. After completing these studies, his father asked him to help take care of his elder brother.

Lekden Dorje then chose the life of a wandering student. He traveled widely across U-Tsang searching for teachings, studying with more than one hundred teachers from many different traditions. During one pilgrimage he visited the sacred statue of Buddha Shakyamuni at Kyirong and then continued to many other important places, meeting teachers and receiving instructions wherever he went.

While traveling in the Neshang region he caught smallpox, but tradition says he was able to heal himself through the power of his tantric practice. Later he received teachings on the Khandro Nyingtik and the Six Yogas of Niguma from Namkha Sherab. He then returned home to Lowo, where his brother gave him many empowerments, including practices of Four-Arm Avalokiteshvara and Heruka, as well as numerous treasure teachings. His father also continued to give him important instructions on many tantras, including the Scripture of the Great Assemblage.

Together with his brother he later went on pilgrimage to Samye Monastery. They stayed there for seven days, performing rituals and blessing the land. During this time they founded a small community of tantric practitioners called Evam Chokgar.

After leaving Samye, the two brothers traveled to Nepal, where they studied with yogis at many sacred sites. At a cave near Kathmandu called Yanglasho, Lekden Dorje met Shakya Zangpo, who was later known as the First Yolmo Tulku. Shakya Zangpo had been a main disciple of Rigdzin Godemchen, the founder of the Northern Treasures tradition. He recognized Lekden Dorje as the incarnation of Godemchen and gave him the empowerments and transmissions of the Jangter teachings. They then entered a year-long retreat together at Riwo Pelbar, during which Lekden Dorje received the complete cycle of Godemchen’s treasure teachings.

When he returned home, he learned that his mother had passed away. He and his brother performed funeral rites and made offerings to many teachers and poor people. He then served his father for a year and later entered another year-long retreat in Tangkya cave. After this retreat he traveled to Dolpo with his brother and received further teachings on important tantric systems such as Vajramala, Lamdre, and Naro Khacho.

During this period he began editing a collection of texts on the stages of tantric practice and started teaching from this compilation. He often included verses from the songs of Milarepa in his explanations. He also continued serving Shakya Zangpo as an attendant and ritual leader whenever needed. Later he met other disciples of his previous incarnation and received additional treasure transmissions connected with the Riwo Trazang cycle.

After completing these studies, he entered a very long retreat at Riwo Pelbar that lasted ten years. When he emerged, he again traveled with his brother through U and Tsang, visiting Lhasa and many monasteries and receiving teachings from various masters.

It was during meditation in a cave at Samye that Lekden Dorje began to reveal treasures. In visionary experiences, dharma protectors showed him where hidden teachings could be found. Soon afterward he discovered two scrolls at a place called Drakmar Drinzang. Later, at Wonpu Tashi Chobuk, he gave teachings on the Dzogchen cycle Kunzang Gongpa Zangthal and was also known for performing rituals to bring rain.

At Taktsang he discovered an ancient cave believed to contain the throne of Padmasambhava and many sacred objects. From there he revealed numerous treasure texts, including tantric teachings on Guru Drakpo and Hayagriva. Tradition says that miraculous signs such as natural statues and footprints in the rock could be seen there. He then undertook another strict retreat at Samye, living only on nettle soup. After completing this retreat he continued giving teachings in many places.

He was later invited to teach at important monasteries such as Drigung and Tsurpu. During his travels he revealed more treasure texts and gave extensive teachings on Dzogchen. He also continued to journey to Nepal and other sacred regions, restoring and rediscovering treasures connected with his previous incarnation.

In Sikkim he helped establish sacred Buddhist sites and supported the spread of the teachings in that region. Later he spent much of his life teaching in the Chuwori and Won areas. He had a spiritual consort named Nyemo Cham Khyentsema, and their son was later recognized as an emanation of the great yogi Tangtong Gyelpo.

In his later years he practiced not only Nyingma teachings but also new translation tantras such as Chakrasamvara, Guhyasamaja, and Yamantaka. His biographies describe him as a powerful tantric master who could command spiritual forces. Even the Fifth Dalai Lama later praised his extraordinary accomplishments.

Before his death, he recognized a young disciple, Tashi Tobgyel, as the reincarnation of his own brother and gave him important transmissions and predictions. He spent his final years teaching and guiding a growing monastic community.

Lekden Dorje is believed to have passed away in 1565. Some stories suggest his death may have been caused by black magic. His body was cremated at Chuwori, where a reliquary was built in his honor. Tradition says he promised to be reborn as the son of his devoted disciple Tashi Tobgyel.

After his passing, the community he founded developed into the famous Dorje Drak Monastery, one of the six main Nyingma monasteries of Tibet. In later generations, he and Rigdzin Godemchen were honored as the First and Second Dorje Drak Rigdzins, establishing an important incarnation lineage that continues in Tibetan Buddhist history.