Introduction to Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö

Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö was recognized by Jamgön Kongtrul as one of the reincarnations of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo due to a request by the Third Katok Situ Chökyi Gyatso, the nephew and disciple of Khyentse Wangpo, who wished to install a Khyentse incarnation at Katok Dorje Den Monastery in eastern Tibet. Thus when Chökyi Lodrö was seven years old he was enthroned at Katok and taken under the care of Katok Situ who oversaw his education. However, when the Khyentse Tulku installed at Khyentse Wangpo's primary seat at Dzongsar Tashi Lhatse Monastery passed away at the age of thirteen, Katok Situ was compelled to allow Chökyi Lodrö, fifteen years old at the time, to be installed as his replacement. Thereafter he came to be known as Dzongsar Khyentse and would go on to become one of the most highly revered Tibetan masters of the twentieth century.

      Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö was one of five incarnations of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo recognized by Jamgön Kongtrul. By the time he was approached by the Third Katok Situ Chökyi Gyatso, Kongtrul had already identified incarnations of Khyentse Wangpo's body, speech, and mind, therefore he sought out the incarnation of his master's enlightened activity.

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Further Reading

• The Life of Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö by Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche.

• 'jam dbyangs mkhyen brtse chos kyi blo gros. 'jam dbyangs chos kyi blo gros kyi rtogs pa brjod pa sgyu ma'i rol rtsed. In Rdzong sar mkhyen brtse 'jam dbyangs chos kyi blo gros kyi gsung 'bum, Vol 1: 1-33. Bir, H.P.: Khyentse Labrang, 2012. For a translation of this work see The Play of Illusion: An Autobiography on Lotsawa House.

• 'jam dbyangs mkhyen brtse chos kyi blo gros. gsang spyod mkha' 'gro'i snyan brgyud kyi brgyud pa'i rnam thar kha skong. In Rdzong sar mkhyen brtse 'jam dbyangs chos kyi blo gros kyi gsung 'bum, Vol. 6: 703-709. Bir, H.P.: Khyentse Labrang, 2012. For a translation of this work see A Short Story of the Life and Liberation of Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö on Lotsawa House.

• 'jam dbyangs mkhyen brtse chos kyi blo gros. khyab bdag bla ma 'khor lo'i mgon po pad+ma ye shes rdo rje'i gsang ba'i rnam thar gyi cha shas dad gsum pad dkar bzhad pa'i nyin byed. In Rdzong sar mkhyen brtse 'jam dbyangs chos kyi blo gros kyi gsung 'bum, Vol. 1: 35-340. Bir, H.P.: Khyentse Labrang, 2012.

• Khyentse, Dilgo. rigs dang dkyil 'khor rgya mtsho'i khyab bdag rje btsun bla ma 'jam dbyangs chos kyi blo gros ris med bstan pa'i rgyal mtshan gtsug lag lung rigs nyi ma smra ba'i seng+ge dpal bzang po'i rnam thar cha shas tsam brjod pa ngo mtshar yongs 'du'i dga' tshal. In Rdzong sar mkhyen brtse 'jam dbyangs chos kyi blo gros kyi gsung 'bum, Vol. 1: 341-728. Bir, H.P.: Khyentse Labrang, 2012.

• Khyentse, Dilgo. The Life and Times of Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö: The Great Biography by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and other stories. Translated by Drubgyud Tenzin Rinpoche, Khenpo Sonam Phuntsok, and Janine Schulz. Boulder: Shambhala, 2017.