Jamyong Khyentse Chokyi Lodro

TBorn in 1893 in Golok, Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Lodro, was recognized as the incarnation of Padmasambhava and of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo. His first master was Kathok Situ, at Kathok monastery. Later, he studied with Khenpo Thubten Rigdzin, Adzom Drukpa and Khenpo Kunpel.
At the age of fifteen, at the death of the young Khyentse Tulku who was to be the head of Dzongsar monastery, he was chosen to occupy the throne of the monastery founded by his predecessor Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo. After having received many Sakya and Nyingma transmissions, he was ordained a monk at Dzogchen monastery. There Shechen Gyaltsap transmitted to him the Northern Treasure (changter) and the termas of Orgyen Terdak Lingpa, then he returned to Dzongsar where he founded a study college. At twenty-eight, he paid a visit to Jigmed Tenpe Nyima (the IIIrd Dodrupchen) in Golok to receive the transmissions of the Longchen Nyingthik. Then from Terton Sogyal, he received Vajrakilaya. At Shechen monastery, he received a number of transmissions from Shechen Gyaltsap, who became one of his principal masters. At the death of Kathok Situ, he watched over the important monastery of Kathok. Then he went to receive high Gelugpa transmissions from Jampel Rolwai Dorje who was known as Amdo Geshe. He studied in all with close to eighty masters from all Tibetan buddhist traditions.
Erudite, with a vast comprehension and a great meditator, he rapidly became known as the holder of all the Sakyapa and Nyingmapa lineages. At the age of fifty-six, he fell seriously ill.
According to the prophesies of Khyentse Wangpo, of Jamgon Kongtrul and his own prophecies, he should marry to clear the obstacles to his life. He took as a spiritual wife Khandro Tsering Chodron (born in 1925) and rapidly recovered his health. From 1955 on, given the worsening of the situation in Tibet, he left on pilgrimage to India, then settled in Sikkim as the guest of the king of this small kingdom. There he pursued his teachings, but fell ill in 1959 and died shortly after. His departure was felt as a terrible loss by the whole Tibetan community already frightened by the Chinese invasion.
Extract from the book “Padmasambhava” by Philippe Cornu.