The Jamagon Kontruls

The First Jamgon Kontrul Lodro Thaye (1813-1899) is an emanation of one of the twenty-five exceptional disciples of Guru Padmasambhava, the Great Lopon Vairotsana. Known as Jamgon Kongtrul the Great, his birth was prophesied by the Buddha in the Lankauatara Sutra. A great bodhisattva, he upheld the Dharma by preserving the teachings in writing and transmitting the Dharma through an unbroken lineage.

Jamgon Kontrul was born in Kongpo, east of Lhasa, where at that time, the Bon religion was prevalent, yet the Bon people recognized and upheld him as their supreme spiritual guide. As a simple monk, carrying his basic needs on his back and seeking alms, he travelled all over Tibet receiving teachings and transmissions from over one hundred of the most learned and realized masters of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism: Kagyu, Gelug, Sakya, and Nyingma. He never revealed himself as a greatly learned and awakened being.

Ultimately, Jamgon Kontrul Rinpoche compiled the most important teachings of the Buddha that are common to all four lineages of Tibetan Buddhism; these teachings are called the "Five Great Treasures (mDzod-lnga) of Jamgon Kongtrul the Great." He has provided clear, complete commentaries on all these teachings and maintained an unbroken line of empowerment, instructions, and other forms required in a continuous line of transmissions. Due to his work in compiling the "Five Great Treasures" an unbroken line of Dharma teachings has been preserved; without him, these teachings would have degenerated and possibly even been lost due to the Chinese invasion of Tibet in 1959.

Jamgon Kontrul the Great's personal root guru was the 9th Situpa, Situ Pema Nyinje Wangpo. Because of this, Jamgon Kongtrul the Great is among the golden chain of Kagyu Lineage masters. Before his passing late at the age of 87 on January 19, 1899, he prophesied that he would have five incarnations of Body, Speech, Mind, Qualities, and Activities.

The second Jamgon Kongtrul, Khentse Oser, was born in 1902 as a prince son of the Fifteenth Karmapa, Khakhyab Dorje. He became teacher to His Holiness the Sixteenth Gyalwa Karmapa; again, establishing himself among the golden chain of the Kagyu Lineage. He passed away on May 10, 1952, having accomplished great deeds for the benefit of the teachings and sentient beings.

The third Jamgon Kontrul, Karma Lodro Chokyi Senge, perfect guide of unequalled kindness, was born in 1954 into a noble family from a dakini mother. He was brought up under the special care of His Holiness the Sixteenth Gyalwa Karmapa and received full transmission and education from both His Holiness and other eminent masters of the Kagyu Lineage. In 1976 and 1980, Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche accompanied the His Holiness Gyalwa Karmapa on a tour of numerous places in America, Europe, and Southeast Asia. After His Holiness' parinirvana, His Eminence Jamgon Kontrul continued to travel widely and play a major role in the expansion of the Buddhadharma.

He died suddenly in an automobile accident at the young age of thirty-nine "due to the obstacles for Buddhism and people in general, and in particular for the Kagyu tradition." (Ven Bokhar Rinpoche).

His Holiness the Seventeenth Gyalwa Karmapa prophesied the rebirth of the Third Jamgon Kontrul, and in August of 1996, the Fourth Jamgon Kontrul, only 8 1/2 months old, was located and identified. EMA HO!

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