The Jamgon Kongtrul incarnation line began with the reincarnation of Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Taye, a master of Pelpung Monastery who was one of the most influential Tibetans of the nineteenth century. Multiple other incarnations of Lodro Taye were identified, including the Dzogchen Kongtrul line based at Dzogchen Monastery, the Zhechen Kongtrul based at Zhechen Monastery, Dzigar Kongtrul, based at Tsokha Monastery, and Kalu Rinpoche, based at Tsādra Rinchen Drak.
Biographies
Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Taye
b.1813 - d.1899
Jamgon Kongtrul is often described as one of the greatest scholars in the history of Tibet. A Karma Kagyu lama and model of rime ecumenical activity, he collaborated closely with the Sakya lama Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo and the Nyingma treasure revealer Chokgyur Lingpa, in the opening of sacred sites and the revelation of treasure. His prodigious literary output, categorized as the Five Treasuries, cover the entire range of Tibetan Buddhist theory and ritual as well as numerous other topics, and preserved scores of Tibetan religious traditions that were at the time in danger of being lost. Based primarily at Pelpung Monastery, in Derge in eastern Tibet, he built the nearby hermitage of Tsadra Rinchen Drak, which became his personal seat. Multiple incarnation lines were recognized after his death, including the main Jamgon Kongtrul line, based at Pelpung, the Dzogchen Kongtrul line and the Dzigar Kongtrul line.
Kalu Rinpoche Karma Rangjung Kunkhyab
b.1905 - d.1989
Kalu Rinpoche was one of the most prominent Tibetan lamas of the twentieth century, active in both exile communities and in the West. As a young man he spent over a decade in isolated retreat, coming out only to serve as retreat master at Tsādra Rinchen Drak. Although never formally enthroned, he was commonly recognized as a reincarnation of Jamgon Kongtrul. In exile he settled in India, where he was a primary teacher to many contemporary Kagyu lamas and served as the main propagator of the Shangpa Kagyu tradition. In the later decades of his life he traveled multiple times to Europe and North America, where he established dharma centers and three-year retreat centers and initiated the translation of Kongtrul's Treasury of Knowledge into English.
The First Dzogchen Kongtrul, Konchok Tenpai Gyeltsen
b.1900? - d.1952?
Konchok Tenpai Gyeltsen was the First Dzogchen Kongtrul of the Dzogchen Monastery, one of five recognized reincarnations of Jamgon Kongtrul Yonten Gyatso. He was a student of the Fifth Dzogchen Drubwang and a teacher of the Sixth Dzogchen Drubwang.
The First Dzigar Kongtrul, Lodro Rabpel
b.1901 - d.1958?
The First Shechen Kongtrul, pad+ma dri med
b.1901 - d.1960
The Second Jamgon Kongrul, Khyentse Wozer
b.1904? - d.1953
The Second Dzogchen Kongtrul, Konchok Jigme Wangpo
b.1953 - d.1961
Konchok Jigme Wangpo was the Second Dzogchen Kongtrul of Dzogchen Monastery in Kham.
The Third Jamgon Kongtrul, Lodro Chokyi Sengge
b.1954 - d.1992