Palyul Lineage – 11th Throneholder – 3rd Pema Norbu

Name: Thubten Lekshed Chökyi Drayang,
Dongag Shedrub Tenzin Chog-lei Namgyal
Meaning: The Eloquent Melodious Sound of Dharma Speech of the Buddha’s Doctrine
Years: 1932 – 2009

 

The first Drubwang Pedma Norbu Rinpoche was born in 1679, the eleventh rabjung year of the Earth Sheep, in Chagril. Pedma Norbu was an emanation of the great Pandit Vimalamitra and the Vidyadhara Terton Jatson Nyingpo.

His principle root guru was Pedma Lhundrub Gyatso, from whom he received full ordination and all the transmission of the lineages of Kama and Terma as practiced in the Palyul tradition. He accomplished and perfected the practices of the stages of clear light togyal and confidently realized the view of original purity, trekchod. Because of these accomplishments in practice, Pedma Norbu received the title, Drubwang, meaning Powerful Lord of Accomplishment.

Once Drubwang Pedma Norbu was invited by the dharma King of Dege, Tenpa Tsering, to visit and bless his palace. During the visit, Drubwang Pedma Norbu said he would perform the Vajrakilaya lama dance, from the Sakya tradition. Although unfamiliar with this tradition having never practiced it before, Drubwang Pedma Norbu performed the dance flawlessly and several fortunate observers saw that his feet were not even touching the ground. Simultaneously, Sakya Dagchen Rinpoche, who lived far away in central Tibet , looked toward the east and said, “Today, in the eastern region of Kham, an Arya Bodhisattva is performing the Vajrakilaya lama dance, which will liberate the boundless sentient beings who see or hear of it.”

In 1757, at the age of seventy-nine, the first Drubwang Pedma Norbu Rinpoche dissolved his mind into the great sphere of truth, producing astonishing signs. His sacred body was placed just as it was, inside a large wooden stupa, erected within the innermost chambers of his private quarters.