2nd Pawo Rinpoche, Tsukla Trengwa

The 2nd Pawo Rinpoche, Tsukla Trengwa (1504-1566) was born in a family of Dharma practitioners at Ganggu in Nyetang. When he was four years old Genyen Chelungpa identified him as the reincarnation of the 1st Pawo, Chowang Lhundrub. He was enthroned on the seat of the lineage Sekhar Gutok, the tower that Milarepa built at Marpa’s command.

When he was nine years old, the 4th Shamarpa, Chodrak Yeshe gave him the vows as a monk and at the age of 12 he received many tantric teachings in both Nyingma and Sarma traditions. He studied a great deal, receiving teachings on both sutra and tantra with many instructions and transmissions as well as Mahamudra for 20 years.

When he was 29 years old, he met Mikyo Dorje, the 8th Karmapa, while he was traveling to Kongpo. He and the 8th Karmapa exchanged teachings and empowerments and he became his disciple.

Tsuakla Trengwa lived a simple life and devoted everything he had to his students in the form of
books, statues, etc.. When Karmapa died, he enthroned the 5th Shamarpa as the leader of
the Karma Kagyü tradition and the 8th Karmapa’s successor. Later, he helped identify the
9th Karmapa and was responsible for the traditional enthronement ceremony at Tsurphu
and later became one of his main teachers.