The ninth throne holder of the Palyul lineage, Drubwang Palchen Dupa, also known as Pema Kunzang Tenzin Norbu, was considered to be an incarnation of Panchen Vimalamitra. He was born in the Fire Female Pig year, 1887. He was recognized by the great Khenpo Ngawang Palzang as a direct incarnation of the second Dodrupchen, Kunzang Shenphen, and also as an…

Palyul Namgyal Jangchub Choling is one of the six mother monasteries of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism. It was founded in 1665 by Rigzin Kunzang Sherab (1636–1698) in Dege,  or what is now Baiyü County, Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in China’s Sichuan province. Rigzin Kunzang Sherab was also the first throneholder of the Palyul lineage; currently Karma Kuchen Rinpoche is the 12th throneholder. Palyul Monastery has…

Ogyen Dognag Chӧkyi Nyima, the eighth throneholder of Palyul Monastery, was born in 1854 in Alo Kha Teng, Derge County, in accord with the prophecy by his previous incarnation—Karma Gyurme Ngedon Tenzin, the sixth throneholder. The prophecy says, “My reincarnation will be born in Kha Teng.” This was written on parchment before his passing away. The parchment was found on…

Pema Dongag Tenzin, the mahapandita, was born to a family of a minister of the Emperor of China with many marvellous signs in 1830, the Iron Male Tiger year of the 14th rabjung cycle. From a very young age, the signs of awakening his potential were evident. As a child’s game, he would keep the soles of his feet on…

According with a prophecy from the great Vidyadhara Dudul Dorje’s Damchö Tulkui Nyingthig, the reincarnation of Khenchen Karma Tashi, His Holiness Karma Gyurme Nyedon Tenzin Zangpo, was born in Mesho Mechugang in the Kham region in 1794, amidst many auspicious signs. He was recognized by the great realized master Dzigar Rinpoche and was enthroned in Palpung monastery in the presence…

Khedrup Karma Lhawang, the great learned and accomplished master, was born in the mid-eighteenth century in Ahchog in the Palyul region of Kham, within the family of Rigzin Kunzang Sherab, with many marvellous signs. Having awakened the sublime potency from a very young age, he could easily master the art of writing and reading without any difficulty. With the three…

The first Karma Kuchen Rinpoche, Karma Tashi, recalled that he was a manifestation of Terton Migyur Dorje. In some prophecies, Karma Tashi was predicted as the incarnation of the condensed essence of Sangdag Dorje Cho, Kungawo, Lotsawa Vairotsana, Shudpu Palkyi Senge, the Yogi of Riwo Palbar, Minling Terchen, Gaden Tripa, the Throne Holder of Gaden, Ngawang Chogden, the tutor to…