Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel

“Eight years after my mahaparinirvana, a remarkable being with the name Padmasambhava will appear in the centre of a lotus and reveal the highest teaching concerning the ultimate state of the true nature, bringing great benefit to all sentient beings.” — Buddha Shakyamuni,  Mahayana Mahaparinirvana Sutra   The foretelling of Guru Rinpoche can be found in 19 different sutras and tantras.  At one point, the Buddha claimed that Guru Rinpoche would be even more enlightened than himself. Of course, the Buddha had already achieved the highest point of enlightenment, so this claim was merely a figure of speech. Yet, we can tell the reverence the Buddha attached to Guru Rinpoche. Nonetheless, what could be unanimously agreed on was that Guru Rinpoche would appear in this world to help all sentient beings.

  Pema Lingpa was born in Chel, part of the central Bhutanese region of   Bumthang   known as the “Wheel of Dharma.” His father was   Lama   Döndrup Zangpo [1]   of the Nyö clan, and his mother, Drogmo Pema Drolma, was bestowed with all the signs of a   dakini . Their son was born among many miraculous signs. As an incarnation of the Omniscient One Drimé Ozer (Longchenpa), Pema Lingpa was extraordinary even as a child. He learned everything from reading and writing to ironwork and carpentry without receiving any instruction. On the tenth day of the first month of autumn in a Monkey Year,  Padmasambhava  appeared before Pema Lingpa at the holy site of Yigé Drukma, blessed him, and placed in his hands an inventory of one hundred and eight major  termas  to be revealed. However, due to the karmic disposition of beings at that time, during his lifetime Pema Lingpa revealed only about half of the prophesied treasures. Nevertheless, the revealed treasures of Pema Lingpa contain the essence o

tandin tshewang: master editer Tshering Dorji Tamang: pema dorji:    Main story:  It’s bright, the main room where the exhibit is carefully placed behind sealed glasses. There is a special aura in the room. Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel – the founder of Bhutan – who we read in history books suddenly came alive through the sacred relics and objects displayed at the Royal Textile Academy (RTA) in Thimphu. Ap Dorji, an old man from Changangkha, throws himself down and prostate on the carpeted gallery floor. He does this three times and gets up, mumbling prayers. His daughter, Sonam Wangmo, accompanies him. With folded hands, Ap Dorji slowly and carefully observes the relics, bowing his head and making small monetary offerings. To her father, Sonam Wangmo carefully explains every object that is displayed. There are silk  thangkas  of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel that dates back to the 17th century and some brought all the way from Tashigang Goenpa in Hongtsho. There is a jacket ( kutoe ), ceremon