Tsepak Dorje Rinpoche - short biographical note

The ‘divine bloodline of Tsangsar’ belonging to the Nangchen area of southern Kham in east Tibet has for many generations, up until today, seen many accomplished masters all of whom have upheld the victory banner of the Buddha’s teachings.
For instance, centuries ago it was in this family line that the great master Lhasung of Tsangsar who was foretold in the terma treasures of Namchö Mingyur Dorje as an emanation of Bernakchen, the protector Mahakala, and the learned and accomplished Karma Chagmey described Lhasung of Tsangsar as someone with exceedingly high realization of both the development and completion stages, whose powers of wrathful mantra were unexcelled and who passed away in a rainbow body. This respected line of masters has continued — like the flow of the Ganges — to uphold and propagate the Buddha’s teachings up until the present days.
In this family line recently appeared one by the name Chimey Dorje whose oldest son was Penjik, followed by Tenga Tulku and then our lord of refuge, Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche. Penjik’s son was the venerable lama Gyurmey Dorje and his sons and lineage holders include the noble Tsepak Dorje Rinpoche.
From an early age Tsepak Dorje Rinpoche naturally has had a gentle and temperate character and delighted taking responsibility for his forefathers’ lineage and tradition. As he grew up his father and community encouraged him to study with Jigmey Puntsok Rinpoche, the great khenpo who was like a king among learned and accomplished masters, at the Ngagyur Nyingma College in the northern Kham. Here Tsepak Dorje studied and reflected on the topics of Sutra, Tantra and the other areas of learning. At the glorious Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling Monastery in Nepal, he continued his studies at the monastic college and also received empowerments, reading transmissions and instructions from master of all traditions and from the root masters who uphold the doctrine. Up until recently, Tsepak Dorje Rinpoche has attended the Dzongsar Chokyi Lodrö College of Higher Buddhist Studies in the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh.
The people of Nangchen (in the southern part of the Qinghai province) have great hopes for the noble traditions of my Tsangsar forefathers to continue and have urged our assistance. Out of their deep trust in the undeniable value of the Dharma, the local people have already helped restore the Lhalung temple hall at Tsangsar as well as a retreat center. In addition, I have urged Tsepak Dorje Rinpoche to construct a college for higher Buddhist studies and for this purpose I encourage all benefactors with faith in the Dharma to assist him generously.

Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche
Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling Monastery
February 28, 2005

Grandson of Tsangsar Chimey Dorje

Older brother of Tsangsar Tulku, Karma Tekchok Nyima