Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

After the departure of Dudjom Rinpoche, Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche (1910/1991) became the spiritual head of the Nyingmapas. Born in Kham, in eastern Tibet, he was named Tashi Paljor by Mipham Rinpoche then recognized as the incarnation of the mind of the first Khyentse, Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo the Great (1820-1892).
His father, minister to the king of Derge, wished for him to join the succession, but the child was more attracted by spirituality than by worldly responsabilities. At ten, he burned himself badly and remained bedridden for a whole year. His father finally gave in to his aspirations, and he was sent at eleven to Shechen monastery where he became the principal disciple of Shechen Gyaltsap. Dilgo Khyentse resided most often in the hermitages situated above the monastery where he meditated. At this time, he also received the teachings of Khenpo Shenga, of Dzogchen monastery.
From fifteen to twenty-eight, he remained in retreat in the mountainous grottoes of Denkhok, then he went near Jamyang Khyentse Choky Lodro, who was also an incarnation of Khyentse Wangpo, and became one of his closest disciples.
During his life, Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche was celebrated for his great activity and his inexhaustible energy. Great practitioner and terton, he was also a very erudite writer and an infatiguable traveller who went to Asia, the United States, Europe and notably France (Dordogne), and even to Tibet several years ago. He transmitted innumerable teachings to his very numerous disciples in the Himalayas and in the world. His writings and his termas were gathered into twenty-five volumes.
Extract from the book “Padmasambhava” by Philippe Cornu.