Khandro Tare Lhamo had connections with the Dudjom lineage through her root teacher, Dzongter Kunzang Nyima (1904-1958), who was the grandson and speech emanation of Dudjom Lingpa (1835-1904), and through her first marriage to his son, Mingyur Dorje (1934-1959). In the early 1990s, Khandro Tare Lhamo recognized one of the reincarnations of Dudjom Rinpoche Jigdral Yeshe Dorje (1904-1987), the renowned reincarnation of Dudjom Lingpa who served as the head of the Nyingma lineage in exile.

Dudjom Lingpa was a terton (treasure revealer) and a towering figure in the Golok treasure scene and his eight sons all became important religious figures in the region. Several years ago, I wrote a series of three short essays for the Tibetan Buddhist Resource Center (TBRC) website on the Dudjom lineage according to historian Pema Osal Thaye. “The Scions of Dudjom Lingpa” discusses the importance of family lineage in the transmission of Nyingma teachings, particularly the revelations of “treasures” or terma. “Articulating Lineage in Golok” explores different modes of religious authority and lineage transmission in the case of Dudjom Lingpa and his scions. And “Who’s Who in the Dudjom Lineage” provides an overview of his family lineage across four generations.

Statue of Dudjom Lingpa at Tsimda Monastery, photo by Holly Gayley.