Drogön Rechen

Drogön Rechen was born into an educated family in the Yarlung region of Tsang, part of Central Tibet. As a young child, he was introduced to and encouraged in the gradual paths of Hinayana and Mahayana by his father. He recognized Drogön Rechen’s trust in the Dharma and his awareness that an ordinary life has no true value. At the age of nine, Drogön Rechen connected with a Kagyü master named Zangri Repa and received teachings from him, including secret oral transmissions and spiritual songs from the Mahamudra masters. He meditated wrapped in cotton cloth and was therefore called “Rechen,” which means “great yogi dressed in cotton.” It is said that during his meditation he experienced many signs of meditative accomplishment.

When Drogön Rechen was 15 years old his teacher passed into parinirvana. Before he died, he advised Drogön Rechen to find the disciples of Milarepa’s lineage, to receive the complete lineage transmissions and to practice hard so that he could become a great master in this tradition. Following his teacher’s advice, he studied and practiced under the guidance of many Kagyü masters.

He also received teachings from the Nyingma tradition, especially from the Indian master Vimalamitra, who was a great Dzogchen master and spread the Dzogchen teachings widely in Tibet.

Although Drogön Rechen attained the great qualities of meditative realizations, he was not yet satisfied. He decided to leave his homeland to further develop his practice and set off for Kham, in eastern Tibet via Kongpo. On his journey he received additional teachings, such as the complete transmissions of the Chöd lineage, transmissions on the practice of Vajrapani and Vajrasadhu, the peaceful and wrathful Manjushri and Mahakala. Along the way, He founded 18 tantric seats of learning, which produced many great practioners.

It was also at this time that he is said to have realized the Practices of Inner Energy, which gave him some small pride in his realization. Upon hearing the fame of the 1st Karmapa Düsum Khyenpa who lived in Kampo Nenang, Drogön Rechen decided to meet him. His primary idea was to meet Karmapa, receive some teachings, transmissions and/or empowerments and then leave again. But Karmapa only told him to meet some of his disciples first. So he followed Karmapa’s advice. Probably contrary to Drogön Rechen’s expectations, Karmapa’s disciples were able to show their tantric abilities naturally. Drogön Rechen was deeply impressed by them. It became clear to him that Karmapa, their teacher, should have even more outstanding realizations. For this reason, he decided to stay with Karmapa in the circle of Karmapa’s disciples. He then made a strong promise and practiced under their guidance for seven years, fully deepening his meditation and realization.

Drogön Rechen became one of the most important heart disciples of the 1st Karmapa. He was fully ordained as a monk at the age of 37 and received the name Sönam Drakpa. He received the full Kagyü transmissions from the 1st Karmapa over the next three years and became the lineage holder. When Karmapa traveled back to Central Tibet, Drogön Rechen stayed behind in the Kham region and continued Karmapa’s activities (and the lineage) at the seats of Karma Gön and Kampo Nenang. Prior to his death, he said to the 2nd Karmapa: “For me, there won’t be an intermediate state after death. I’ll go directly to Maitreya to his Pure Land of Tushita and attain enlightenment there without any obstacles.” He died at the age of 70. Many relics arose from the cremation.

His principal disciple and the next Kagyü lineage holder was Pomdrakpa Sönam Dorje.