The Lineage
Introduction As emanations of the Wisdom Buddha, every incarnation that arose before Dorje Shugden manifested was a fully Enlightened Being. Each incarnation contributed greatly towards the growth of Dharma throughout the Buddhist world. Dorje Shugden’s lineage of incarnations includes past great Mahasiddhas (highly attained practitioners), renowned Buddhist scholars, monastics of high moral discipline and outstanding…
Manjushri
Bearer of the Wisdom Sword Dorje Shugden is a sublime emanation of Venerable Manjushri, Buddha of Wisdom. Highly attained masters like Mahasiddha Tagphu Pemavajra, Kyabje Pabongkha Rinpoche and Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche have mentioned this in their teachings and written works. Venerable Manjushri’s name is…
Mahasiddha Biwawa
Lord of Miracles The earliest recognized incarnation of Dorje Shugden was born in ancient India as the famous Mahasiddha Biwawa. Mahasiddhas are spiritual practitioners (yogis) who have achieved profound spiritual realization, and are characterized by their often unconventional and outrageous behaviour and…
Thonmi Sambhota
The legendary Thonmi Sambhota is widely regarded as one of the earlier incarnations of Dorje Shugden. His life, although shrouded in legend, is still very much an integral part of early Tibetan history…
Trisong Detsen
Another of the earlier incarnations of Dorje Shugden, King Trisong Detsen would eventually become one of the Three Great Dharma Kings of Tibet, laying the foundation for Buddhism to take root in the Tibetan plateau…
Naropa
The great Mahasiddha Naropa was exceptional in his maturity, wisdom and compassion, and would eventually be counted as one of the 84 great Mahasiddhas of ancient India…
Lotsawa Loden Sherab
In the course of his life, Ngok Lotsawa Loden Sherab translated over 137,000 verses and trained countless students in Buddhist philosophy, logic, and tantric practices. He is also credited with bringing the lineage of the Dharma Protector Setrab Chen from India to Tibet…
Ra Lotsawa
One of the previous lives of Dorje Shugden is the renowned lama Ra Lotsawa Dorje Drak, who was most famous for introducing the powerful Yamantaka tantras to Tibet…
Shakya Shri Bhadra
In the year 1127, one of Dorje Shugden’s previous incarnations took rebirth in a Brahmin family in Dasobhara, Kashmir. Little is known of Shakya Shri Bhadra’s family except that he had a brother by the name of Buddhacandra. He was given the traditional Brahmin education of the time…
Butön Rinchen Drub
Great Collector of the Kangyur and Tangyur Next in the line of Dorje Shugden’s previous incarnations is the prolific scholar Butön Rinchen Drub from Zhalu Monastery. He was born in western Tibet in the same area where Tashi Lhunpo Monastery would later be built. As a child, Butön Rinchen Drub displayed all the extraordinary behavior…
Sakya Pandita
Unparalleled Master of the Sakya School The next incarnation subsequently manifested in Western Tibet as the legendary Sakya Pandita, the renowned lineage holder of the Sakya School in Tibet. Many decades later, Dorje Shugden was first enthroned as a Dharma Protector and practiced within the Sakya school…
Duldzin Drakpa Gyeltsen
Immaculate Disciple of Je Tsongkhapa In a previous lifetime, in1327, the great being Dorje Shugden emanated in Central Tibet as Duldzin Drakpa Gyeltsen. As in his previous incarnations, he displayed a compelling inclination towards spirituality from a very young age, and took on his studies with tremendous zeal and astonishing…
Panchen Sonam Drakpa
Great Scholar and Spiritual Master of the Dalai Lama In 1478, a special child was born in Tsethang, in the Lhoka region of Central Tibet. He grew up to become known as the great scholar, Sonam Drakpa. ‘Panchen’ is translated from the Sanskrit word ‘Pandit’ and is an honorific title referring to Panchen Sonam Drakpa’s…
Sonam Yeshe Wangpo
The Supreme Spiritual Friend After Panchen Sonam Drakpa passed away, he took rebirth as Sonam Yeshe Wangpo near Tölung Lampa in Tibet. From birth, he spoke with clairvoyance and seemed to remember people and events of his past life. After he was recognized, he was brought to Drepung Monastery and presented to the Omniscient…
Ngawang Sonam Geleg Pelzang
The Virtuous Spiritual Master The following incarnation, Ngawang Sonam Geleg Pelzang was born in Olka Ribug. From a young age, he was already reciting long Dharani mantras and had clear knowledge of his past life. Soon, students from his previous life came to take him back to his residence in Drepung to be taken cared…
Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen
The Compassionate Martyr During the era of the Great Fifth Dalai Lama, Dorje Shugden took rebirth in the form of a very special incarnate Lama. This would be Dorje Shugden’s “last” incarnation before arising as a Dharma Protector. From childhood, this incarnation exhibited many signs of a superior being. For example, he had…
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