Riwoche Jedrung 02 Drakpa Gyeltsen

The Second Riwoche Jedrung Drakpa Gyeltsen (rje drung 02 grags pa rgyal mtshan) was born in 1591. He was recognized as the reincarnation of Tsokye Dorje (mtsho skyes rdo rje, 1530-1590) by Karma Drakpa Namgyel Pelzangpo (kar+ma grags pa rnam rgyal dpal bzang po), the reincarnation of Gyelse Pema Gyelpo (rgyal sras pad+ma rgyal po, d.u.). Karma Drakpa gave him teachings on the Kagyu school in general and the Taklung Kagyu in particular, together with the complete transmission and empowerments of the tradition.

Drakpa Gyeltsen took ordination from Yatang Shabdrung Drokawa Namgyel Puntsok (ya thang gi zhabs grung grog kha ba rnam rgyal phun tshogs, d.u.), who gave him the name Namgyel Drakpa Pelzang (rnam rgyal grags pa dpal bzang). Garwang Chokyi Wangchuk also gave him the name Karma Drakpa Gyeltsen Chok Tamchele Nampar Gyelwai Lha (kar+ma grags pa rgual mtshan phyogs tham cad las rnam par rgyal ba'i lha).

Starting at the age of fifteen, in 1605, until the age of forty-three Drakpa Gyeltsen resided at Yanggon (yang dgon), a branch of Riwoche that he constructed, engaging in both New and Old Translation practices such as the ten dharma protectors, Vajrakila and the Kabgye (bka' brgyad). He also renovated the buildings of Riwoche monastery and the hermitage there, Yelpuk (yel phug).

Drakpa Gyeltsen taught a number of young disciples, including the Zurmang Trungpa (zur mang drung pa), Zurmang Garwang Karma Tenkyong (zur man drung gar dbang ka+rma bstan skyong, d.u.), Gyaton Trunpa (rgya ston drung pa, d.u.), Gangchen Lotsawa Lodro Tenpa (sgang chen lo tsA ba blo gros bstan pa, d.u.), and Jangki Ronpa Nangso ('jang gi rong pa nang so, d.u.).

Choje Ngawang Namgyel (chos rje ngag dbang rnam rgyal, d.u.) of Taklung Monastery invited Drakpa Gyeltsen to Tibet, but conditions, primarily the war between Tsang and U, did not allow it for it. A number of lamas from the Tsang area fled to Riwoche following the destruction of monasteries, including the twentieth throne-holder of Taklung, Tashi Peldrub (stag lung khri 20 bkra shis dpal grub, 1600-1671) and the Sixth Sharmapa, Chokyi Wangchuk (zhwa dmar 06 chos kyi dbang phyug, 1584-1630), whom Karma Drakpa asked to take control of Riwoche, briefly changing the tradition of the monastery to Karma Kagyu.

Later, Riwoche was repeatedly attacked by the King of Beri, and Drakpa Gyeltsen and Karma Drakpa fled to Markham, where Karma Drakpa passed away. Drakpa Gyeltsen then went to Taklung. Following Gushri Khan's invasion of Kham and Tibet in the early 1640s, and his defeat of Beri, Drakpa Gyeltsen returned to Kham and to Riwoche, but he passed away while en route, at the age of fifty-two.

Sources

Ngag dbang bstan pa'i nyi ma. 1830. Stag lung pa'i chos srid kyi byung tshul. Unpublished manuscript.

Alexander Gardner
November 2009