Vision
Since ancient times, the great Buddhist masters and their monasteries, study colleges, retreat centres and publishing works have been supported almost entirely through the kindness and generosity of their students and sponsors. This spirit of generosity is a defining characteristic of the Buddhist tradition and its practice continues to the present day.
The Lineage and Legacy initiative aims to contribute to the flourishing of the authentic Buddhist teachings in the West and thus to bring benefit to the world long into the future. It primarily aims to do this through securing the key pillars of Rigpa’s unique Tibetan Buddhist heritage. This will be accomplished through vital financial support for the activities of those who are teaching, studying and practising within this lineage.
The Lineage and Legacy Initiative is a partnership between Rigpa and the Tertön Sogyal Foundations, established by Rigpa’s International Steering Group and the Lineage and Legacy Team.
History
Recognizing the need to assure the long-term sustainability of Rigpa, 30 years ago a group of students set up a network of Tertön Sogyal Foundations. The Foundations differ from National Rigpa non-profit organisations in that they specialise in investing larger gifts through the Rigpa Endowment Fund and restricted funds. In recent years, the Tertön Sogyal Foundations have provided financial support for the Treasury of Wisdom, Prajna, Dzogchen Beara, and Lotsawa House.
Through the Lineage and Legacy Initiative, the Tertön Sogyal Foundations and Rigpa through the restricted funds held at the Congregation Rigpa Lerab Ling will support students and practitioners in need of financial assistance for their studies and practice at every stage of their path as well as projects and programmes that make the Dharma available through various types of grants.
Tertön Sogyal Foundations have been established in each country where Rigpa has a significant presence, to receive donations and legacies. To date, these foundations have been established in:
Lerab Lingpa Tertön Sogyal (1856-1926)
Lerab Lingpa Tertön Sogyal (1856-1926) was a great nineteenth century Tibetan saint and mystic, who was the teacher of the thirteenth Dalai Lama and a leading figure in the revitalisation of the Buddhist teachings in Tibet. His visionary teachings have a profound relevance for our modern times and are the inspiration behind the work of Rigpa.
As a child, Tertön Sogyal was taught by Nyala Pema Duddul, Patrul Rinpoche, and Khenpo Pema Vajra at Dzogchen Monastery. In the later years of his life, he stayed near Dodrupchen Monastery, often exchanging teachings with Dodrupchen Jikmé Tenpé Nyima.
Tertön Sogyal died on the tenth day of the second lunar month of the year of the Fire Tiger, March 23, 1926 according to the Gregorian calendar.
Terön Sogyal’s disciples also included great masters such as Jamgön Kongtrul, the Fifth Dzogchen Rinpoche (Thubten Chökyi Dorje), Dzogchen Khenpo Pema Vajra, Jamgon Ju Mipham Gyatso, Nyoshul Lungtok, Dzahka Choktrul Rinpoche, Tertön Drimé, Kathok Situ, Minyak Khenpo Kunzang Sonam, Dodrupchen Jikmé Tenpé Nyima, Demo Rinpoche, Dorje Drak Rigdzin Nyamnyi Dorje (1886-1932/5), Minling Trichen Rinpoche, Sakya Trichen, the Fifteenth Karmapa Khakhyab Dorje, Amdo Geshe Jampal Rolwe Lodrö and Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö.
Less well-known disciples included Tulku Tsultrim Zangpo (aka Tsüllo) of Shukjung Monastery, who composed a biography of Tertön Sogyal which is more than 700 pages long. His lineage also passed on to his sons, such as Rigdzin Namgyal and Chöpel Gyatso, and to his grandson, Tromgé Tulku Dechen Dorjé, who currently lives at the Tromgé encampment in eastern Tibet (Kham).
