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 clear visions of Yidams and enlightened beings when he was only five or six years old.

At the age of six, the Fourth Panchen Lama, Panchen Losang Chokyi Gyaltsen recognized him as the unmistaken tulku incarnation of his predecessor, Ngawang Sonam Geleg Pelsang, and installed him upon his former throne, giving him the name Dragpa Gyaltsen.

When he was just seven, the young Tulku took novice vows, 'out of his own volition', from Panchen Lozang Chogyen, and received from him Vajra Bhairava empowerment, long life initiation and initiations of Dharmapalas such as Mahakala and Dharmaraja. At that young age, he also received transmission of Lord Atisha's texts on the path to enlightenment.

By the time he was 13, Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen had already studied and mastered the Lamrim. Among other teachings, he also received extremely vast and profound instructions on the Path of Bliss commentary to the stages of the path to enlightenment (Lamrim), as well as transmission and commentary for Guru Yoga of the Segyu Tradition, Ganden Lhagyema, and many other transmissions and commentaries.

Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen received his full ordination vows at the age of 20. From that time onward, like all his previous incarnations, he upheld his ordination vows perfectly and purely, without transgressing even the slightest foundation of the precepts. In the following years, until he was 28, this young erudite Lama continued to request for and received countless teachings transmissions and initiations of the highest practices from his Lama. It seemed his capacity and thirst for learning was without limit.

The relationship between Guru and disciple was very close and governed with great mutual respect. It is said that the Panchen Lama was at one time very busy, but when Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen requested for profound teachings, the Panchen Lama took a break from his schedule to give him the entire Kadam Volume with many other various essential and important teachings such as Lamrim Chenmo and Ngagrim Chenmo, combining instructions of Je Tsongkhapa and Kedrub Rinpoche. After receiving these teachings, Master and student then entered isolated retreat together, where Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen received the rest of the profound teachings of the uncommon ear-whispered Ganden lineage.

Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen was one of the two main disciples of the 4th Panchen Lama, Lobsang Chokyi Gyeltsen, the other being the Great Fifth Dalai Lama himself. Contrary to what is often mistakenly recounted, Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen and the Great Fifth shared a very respectful and close relationship. Though they both studied under the Fourth Panchen Lama, Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen received many direct teachings from the Dalai Lama also. On several occasions Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen also made offerings and served the Dalai Lama directly, coming out personally to receive or escort him on his travels. He even invited the Dalai Lama to his own residence and received from him a hundred long-life initiations.

Throughout his life, from his childhood, Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen was highly recognised for his vast study and incomparable ability to easily absorb and understand even the most subtle and profound points of the teachings. His skill in teaching, speaking, debate, composition were unrivalled and known to have conveyed the Buddha’s original teachings perfectly, without any slightest deviation or error. By this alone, we can see that he did not just study and know the teachings, but had full realization of them.

Further, in his lifetime, he also engaged in many isolated retreats, engaging in purification practices and the accumulation of merit based upon the Guru Yoga. He also accomplished full retreats that focused upon many Yidams, thus achieving all the highest realizations described in sutric and tantric texts.

In his biographical account of Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen, His Holiness Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche writes in Music Delighting an Ocean of Protectors that, "He reached the state of a supreme mahasiddha and the infinite pure simultaneous appearance of the entire ocean of mandalas, and it is with reverent regard for this that he is praised."

Apparently, he had also received many direct visions of deities and exalted Gurus from a very young age but in following the Kadam tradition of humility and keeping such attainments secret, there were only very few and scattered accounts of these visions. (One rare and very precious example of such secret writings of Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen can be read in Music Delighting an Ocean of Protectors).

Tulku Dragpa Gyaltsen became one of the most highly respected and sought-after Lamas of the land who was known to have the complete qualifications for teaching. His body was pure as he held ethical discipline throughout his life and firmly upheld every of his commitments and vows. He was deeply learned and extremely well-versed in scripture, reasoning and the BuddhaDharma. Lastly, because of his pure altruism he was very beneficial to others in all his actions throughout his life.

"He had all of the realized qualities for teaching without exception, making his teachings so exalted that it was as if Arya Nagarjuna, one of his disciples, or the great master Haribadra was actually present." ~ H.H. Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche