The Namchö teachings are the mind treasure revealed by Tertön Migyur Dorje. They were initially transmitted to Tertön Migyur Dorje by Dharmakaya Samantabhadra in a dream, through signs such as receiving a long-life empowerment and the empowerment of the six clairvoyances. Later, in a meditative experience, Avalokiteshvara conferred upon him the most extensive empowerment of Thugje Chenpo (a form of Avalokiteshvara). Buddha Amitabha also transmitted to him an ocean of sadhanas, empowerments and oral transmissions of about forty deities, which were recorded later. Guru Rinpoche in person bestowed upon him the four types of empowerment—the vase empowerment, the secret empowerment, the wisdom empowerment and the word empowerment—and many other teachings, as well as deity empowerments, sadhanas and instructions from the manifestations of various forms of deities.
The Namchӧ Mind Treasure cycle includes the following previously unknown teachings: the Tantra of Amitayus, the Tantra of Gongdu (Gathering of all Intentions), the small Tantra of the nine deities of Gyalwa Gyatso, the Tantra of the White Great Compassionate One, the Tantra of the Etymology of Names, the Lehur Tantra, the Guru Dragpo Tantra, the small Tantra of Roza, the Tara Tantra, the Red Chakrasamvara Tantra, the Detui Tantra, the Senge Dradog Dharani, the four tantras of the four tantra holders, the Four Expressions of Realization (liberation stories), the Drag Tsal Thog Tantra, the Wealth Dharani, the Horse Dharani, the small Tantra of Uparaja, the Gongdu Dharani, and the Dharanis of Lilavajra, which are also included in the teachings of Lord Buddha. The peaceful and wrathful aspects of Amitayus, Hayagriva, Kagye, Vajrakilaya, Mashin, and so on, are also included, which were already known, as well as the Roza Tolder Tantra, Detu and Lehur Ma, the Wisdom Bhairava, Uparaja, and Dorje Goed. The Namchӧ contains numerous tantras, sadhanas, empowerments, yogic activities and attributes of many deities. The tertön entrusted Karma Chagme Rinpoche to be the holder of his teachings and bestowed upon him all the Namchö teachings twice.
As the text called Prophesy of the Namchö Teaching Holder says:
Towards the eastern and western direction from here,
Ones named Chagme and Tsultrim Zang,
Adorned with moles on their necks,
Are karmically destined persons.
So, entrust them with the teachings.
As prophesied, Karma Chagme Rinpoche compiled all the Namchö teachings and later gave them, especially the Dzogchen Sangye Lagchang (Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand) and Tsalung (Winds and Channels) practice, to Rigzin Kunzang Sherab, the first throneholder of the Palyul lineage, amidst a large assembly in Utsang. He also received all the Namchö teachings, particularly the detailed explanation on the Dzogchen Sangye Lagchang, from the tertön himself. He not only received the teachings but also gained accomplishment through practicing them. This was the commencement of the spread of the Namchö lineage in Palyul monastery.
Rigzin Kunzang Sherab passed the Namchö teachings to his nephew Padma Lhundrub Gyatso, the second throneholder of Palyul monastery. Padma Lhundrub Gyatso also received the Namchö teachings, including the empowerments and oral transmissions, directly from Tertön Migyur Dorje. He conferred all the empowerments, transmissions and pith instructions of the profound treasure of the Namchö teachings to Drubwang Padma Norbu (the first Penor Rinpoche), the third throneholder. Drubwang Padma Norbu passed the teachings, especially the Dzogchen Sangye Lagchang, to Karma Tashi (the first Karma Kuchen Rinpoche), the fourth throneholder. Karma Tashi bestowed this sacred teaching to Karma Lhawang, the fifth throneholder. Karma Lhawang also received these teachings from Drubwang Padma Norbu. Karma Lhawang re-introduced the Ngondro and Dzogchen practices in Palyul monastery. He gave the body and mind teachings, transmissions, and empowerments of the Palyul tradition to Karma Gyurme Nyedon Tenzin Zangpo (the second Karma Kuchen Rinpoche), the sixth throneholder. Later this lama granted many teachings, especially the Namchö, to Padma Dongag Tenzin, the seventh throneholder. Padma Dongag Tenzin also received all the Namchö teachings twice from him. He took responsibility for the monastery at the age of 22 and conferred the teachings, empowerments and transmissions, including the Namchö teachings, to many devotees in the mother Palyul monastery and the various branches. He passed the transmissions and empowerments of all the teachings, including the Dzogchen Sangye Lagchang, Osal and Threkchö, to Ogyen Dongag Chökyi Nyima, the eighth throneholder.
Later Ogyen Dongag Chökyi Nyima (the third Karma Kuchen Rinpoche) passed the preliminary commentary of the Dzogchen Sangye Lagchang, Threkchö and Tögyal, and the profound transmission of Tsalung and Tummo (inner heat), including all the Namchö teachings, to Rigzin Palchen Düpa (the second Penor Rinpoche), the ninth throneholder, and many other devotees several times. Rigzin Palchen Düpa granted the Namchö Ngondro, Tsalung and Dzogchen teachings to Karma Thegchog Nyingpo (the fourth Karma Kuchen Rinpoche), the tenth throneholder, in the monastery amidst thousands of devotees. Karma Thegchog Nyingpo conferred the instructions of the preliminary practices of the Namchö teachings and many other profound teachings to Jigme Thubten Shedrub Chokyi Drawang Pal Zangpo (the third Penor Rinpoche), the eleventh throneholder.
His Holiness also received the Namchö preliminary practices, Tummo Dedro Rangbar (the practice of generating mystic heat called Heat of Self-Blazing Bliss), Dzogchen Sangye Lagchang, Thugchen Marthrid (the Naked Instruction of the Compassionate One) and all the other teachings that had been passed down from the previous incarnations, from Chogtrul Rinpoche in Darthang Monastery. His Holiness conferred all the Namchö teachings to the present (fifth) Karma Kuchen Rinpoche, the twelfth throneholder. Karma Kuchen Rinpoche also received various common and particular empowerments, instructions and transmissions of the Nyingma lineage and the Namchö teachings from Gyangkhang Chogtrul Thubten Palzang Rinpoche, Khamtrul Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche and many other great masters. He is the current holder of the entire Namchö lineage and is shouldering all the responsibility for the Palyul tradition. He will pass down all these precious teachings to Yangsi Rinpoche, Migyur Dechen Garwang Zilnon Dorje Pal Zangpo (the fourth Penor Rinpoche), in order to preserve the Namchö teachings for future beings.
By Kunzang Dorji
6th Year, NNI
