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Tersey Tulku

Miraculous display of Wangchok Dorje, with the name Tsewang.

The fourth son and youngest of my uncles was Tersey Tulku (Tersey means ‘son of the terton’). He was the reincarnation of Wangchok Dorje who was an emanation of King Jah. After Wangchok Dorje died, the people at Chokgyur Lingpa’s seat at Tsikey Monastery sent an inquiry to Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo asking where his rebirth would be found. Khyentse’s immediate response was, “Previously they were related as brother and sister, now I wonder if they will be linked as mother and son.” This turned out to be a clear prophesy as Wangchok Dorje’s sister, Konchok Paldron, later came to be his mother.
There are indications that even when quite young Tersey Tulku had many visions and received prophecies, but, being a hidden yogi, he rarely spoke of them. He refused to write the outer version of his life story, let alone the inner one. It would be hard to find anyone more secretive than he was. About himself he said, “It is Jamyang Khyentse who said that I am the tulku of Wangchok Dorje and I don’t want to say he was lying because he was definitely a master who sees past, present and future. He not only made the prediction but he verified it in writing as well. He also said that Wangchok Dorje’s emanation-basis was King Jah. So, from that angle, I can’t dispute being the rebirth of Wangchok Dorje. On the other hand, when I scrutinize myself and try to find any resemblance to these two masters, I don’t see even as much as a mustard seed of qualities. As far as I am concerned I’m more likely the rebirth of a dog. I have no feeling of having been a master.” I heard that he displayed miracles and had clear foreknowledge on several occasions, but he refused to confirm these himself. In this way he showed true integrity.
Once Tersey Tulku left Kham to go on pilgrimage in Central Tibet. He was a very strong man and carried his own provisions on his back. He brought two trusted attendants, each carrying a backpack. Unlike most travelers, they didn’t have a single pack animal; nevertheless they traveled everywhere, even to India. On his return he connected with his karmically destined guru, the great realized master Shakya Shri and came to live in his Dharma encampment. Shakya Shri wasn’t his only root guru but his main one, as Tersey Tulku also had the Chokling Tersar lineage. For this and various other reasons, he didn’t return to Kham for many years, living the unbound life of a lama-yogi.
Back in Kham Tersey Tulku’s status had been equal to that of the Chokling tulkus in the sense that, during ceremonies at the main seats, his throne was level with that of the residing lama. Because of his status, at some point, the need arose for his presence in the Eastern monasteries. So, his mother and three brothers all went off to Central Tibet to get him and bring him back. Still, it took them three years to get him back in Kham. By then Tersey Tulku was suffering from an illness which forced him to walk with two canes and I heard it mentioned that this might have been a type of ‘dakini punishment’ due to taking monastic ordination in his previous life.
Upon his arrival in Kham Tersey Tulku took up residence at Tsikey monastery. The lamas at Riwoche had great trust in him and also invited him there to give teachings. Then, after Samten Gyatso passed away, he was invited to give teachings at Dzong-go.
Tersey Tulku had many disciples and was regarded as a very learned master. After Karmey Khenpo and Tsewang Norbu had left this world, it was Tersey Tulku who was the most knowledgeable and capable writer. He arranged many manuals for empowerment and instruction, including an explanation of the deities in the Tukdrub Barchey Kunsel cycle. No one compiled his writings after he died, but altogether there must have been enough to fill over 5 volumes. In particular, I remember an explanation of the deities for the Tukdrub Trinley Nyingpo which amazed whoever read it. I still haven’t seen a surviving copy of that text, but who knows, someday it may still surface in Kham. He wrote the Zurgyen for Kunzang Tuktig and many other similar texts that are included in the Tersar. He did a lot of work to develop the practices found in the Tersar. All this despite never having undertaken any serious education. When someone has deep insight it is possible to be like a khenpo.
Dilgo Khyentse spoke of Tersey Tulku with a lot of affection. They were close friends and had exchanged many teachings so that they were one another’s disciple. Tersey Tulku, on the other hand, would never describe himself as Dilgo Khyentse’s teacher, but only as his disciple.
Tersey Tulku’s main practices were Chetsun Nyingtig and Kunzang Tuktig. He was also very fond of a particular practice of Padmasambhava known as Guru Mahasukha, a mind treasure of Shakya Shri which he had received personally from Shakya Shri. He had incredible devotion for this master.
He died in his late sixties.

--extract from Blazing Splendor, the momoirs of Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche

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Tersey Tulku.

Tersey Tulku was Konchok Paldron’s fourth son. When Wangchok Dorje, Chokling’s second son passed away, his mother and others asked Jamyang Khyentse about his rebirth. Khyentse Rinpoche replied, “He will be reborn to his sister. They were relatives in the past and will now be related as mother and son.” Tersey Tulku met the two Jamgons, as well as Tsewang Norbu and Paltrul Rinpoche, but his special root teacher was Shakya Shri. He is said to have gained realization of Mahamudra after meeting Shakya Shri, but Tersar was his main practice. He was a tantric lay practitioner with several consorts. Learned in the Chokling Tersar tradition, he composed many arrangements of these teachings and wrote many other things as well. His main residence was Kela Monastery where he spent most of his time in retreat. He also contributed greatly to the development of both the seats of Chokling. He restored the temple at Kela, had many new statues made and many blocks of the Tersar teachings carved. At Neten Monastery, he personally made 1,000 statues of Guru Rinpoche.
He carried a representative statue of Guru Rinpoche with him wherever he went, considering it to actually be Guru Rinpoche in person. He received the four empowerments first thing each morning and shed tears of devotion every time. He stayed at Neten Monastery for a long time. My father told me he would rise early in the morning to see whether or not Tersey Tulku was crying. He gave many transmissions of Tersar and had many disciples, frequently giving Maha Ati instructions. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche received many teachings from him. He passed away a few years before the Chinese took over Tibet. Presently no reincarnation of him has been recognized but there must be one. We should search for him.

--extracted from "The Life of Chokgyur Lingpa" as told by Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche:
Translated by Tulku Jigmey Khyentse and Erik Pema Kunsang, 1983

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A reincarnation of Tersey Tulku was enthroned at Tsikey monastery in Kham, in 2003. [epk]