Chatral Sangye Dorje

Chatral Rinpoche
Title	Rinpoche
Personal
Born	1913 Kham, Tibet
Religion	Tibetan Buddhism
School	Dzogchen

Chatral Rinpoche, Sangye Dorje (Tibetan: བྱ་བྲལ་སངས་རྒྱས་རྡོ་རྗེ་, Wylie: Bya-bral Sangs-rgyas Rdo-rje) (born 1913) is a Dzogchen master in his mid-90s. He is a reclusive yogi known for his great realization and strict discipline. Rinpoche is one of the few living disciples of Khenpo Ngagchung and is widely regarded as one of the most highly realized Dzogchen yogis. In addition to his relationship with Khenpo Ngagchung, Chatral Rinpoche also studied with some of the last century's most renowned masters, including Dudjom Rinpoche, Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Lodro, and the famed dakini Sera Khandro. Rinpoche is one of the primary lineage holders of the Longchen Nyingthig, and in particular the lineage that descends through Jigme Lingpa's heart son Jigme Gyalwe Nyugu and then on to Patrul Rinpoche.

Rinpoche currently divides his time between Salbhari, India, and Kathmandu, Nepal. He has two daughters, Tara Devi and Saraswati, with his wife Kamala.

Teachings

Rinpoche has shunned institutional and political involvement his whole life, choosing instead to live the life of a wandering yogi. To this day, despite his great age, he continues to move about, rarely remaining in one place for more than a few months. A lay yogi, he is also greatly concerned with maintaining strict discipline in the context of the Dzogchen view. He is especially well known for his advocacy of vegetarianism and his yearly practice of ransoming the lives of thousands of animals in India. In addition to his emphasis on the union of view and conduct, Rinpoche also stresses the practice of retreat. He has established numerous retreat centers throughout the Himalayas, including in Pharping, Yolmo, and Darjeeling.

Primary teachers

• Khenpo Ngagchung (also known as Khenpo Ngaga, Ngawang Palzang)
• Dudjom Jigdral Yeshe Dorje
• Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Lodro (previous incarnation of Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche)
• Sera Khandro

Primary lineages

Though his main lineage is the Longchen Nyingthig, Chatral Rinpoche is also closely associated with the Dudjom Tersar lineage. He was empowered as the regent of His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche and is currently passing on this lineage to this master's reincarnation, who lives primarily in central Tibet.

• Longchen Nyingthig
• Sera Khandro Terma
• Dudjom Tersar

Bibliography

• Chatral Rinpoche. Compassionate Action. Ithaca, NY: Snow Lion Publications, 2007. Edited, Introduced and Annotated by Zach Larson. [1]

• Chatral Rinpoche. Compassionate Action: The Teachings of Chatral Rinpoche. Kathmandu: Shechen Publications, 2005. Edited with commentary by Zach Larson.

Online texts

• Chatral Rinpoche Series by Lotsawa House

External links

• A wonderful translated biography of Chatral Rinpoche's life story (rnam thar)
• His Holiness Chatral Sangye Dorje Rinpoche
• Declaration of Chatral Rinpoche With Regard to Misuse of His Name at April 2007
• Chatral Rinpoche and Abstaining From Eating Meat
• High Resolution Picture of Chatral Rinpoche (for personal use only)
• Photograph with explanatory text