The Treasury of Lives

The Samding Dorje Pakmo is a long, powerful and influential female incarnation line. The line dates from the fifteenth century and has its seat at Samding monastery in Yardrok, established by the Second Dorje Pakmo. The first Dorje Pakmo was Chokyi Dronma, the daughter of a royal family from Gungtang, and one of the few women historically to receive full ordination and start an incarnation line. Chokyi Dronma's companion Delek Chodren located her rebirth in the person of Kunga Zangmo, born in eastern Kongpo, thus initiating the incarnation line.