| Sixth Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche:
Jigtral Tsewang Dorje (1925-62) The sixth Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, Thupten Jigdral Tsewang Dorje, was born in Denkhok, Derge - Kham, to the family of Athub Tsang in the year of the Water Dragon of the 16th Rabjung. His father was Tsewang Phuntsok and his mother was Kalsang Chodron. His brother was His Holiness the Sixteenth Karmapa, head of the Kagyu Lineage. The sixth Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche was recognized by the fifth Dzogchen Rinpoche, who conferred on him the name of Thupten Jigdral Tsewang Dorje. 
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Detail from a thangka by the sixth Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche
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While a youth, he studied with Khenchen Thupten Nyendrak of Dzogchen. Later he received the full Dzogchen transmissions and instructions in the Nyingthik lineages and others from Khenchen Pema Thekchok Loden, Khenpo Lhagong and other masters. In addition to his duties at Dzogchen Monastery, the sixth Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche spent a lot of time with His Holiness the Sixteenth Karmapa at Tsurphu Monastery, the main seat of the Gyalwa Karmapas in Central Tibet. In 1959, the Sixth Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche and the Sixteenth Karmapa escaped together from Tibet to Sikkim, India, the location of Rumtek Monastery, and the seat of the Gyalwa Karmapas in India. The sixth Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche spent most of his life in strict retreat, and was widely acknowledged as a realized master. He stayed at Rumtek until his death in 1962, at the age of thirty-seven. The Seventh Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche  |
