Most Ven. Drigung Ontül Rinpoche holds both the unbroken lineage of the Maha Mudra and Maha Ati transmission of The Drigung Kagyu Order of Tibetan Buddhism. Rinpoche is a well known Dzogchen Master who has the blessings from His Holiness The Drigung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche and  travels extensively all over  the world propagating precious Dharma to those interested in learning and practicing either the Mahamudra transmission from Buddha Vajradhara or Maha Ati  transmission from Guru Padmasambhava.

Ontül Rinpoche also received many of  the Nyingma transmissions and he frequently  gives teachings, pith instructions, oral transmission and confers empowerment on the Peaceful and Wrathful Yidam and Dharma Protector deities practice by both the Kagyu and Nyingma Traditions

On different occasions Ontül Rinpoche received Mahamudra and Dzogchen teachings from H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche, Ven. Khunu Lama Tenzin Gyaltsen, H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Kyabje Kalu Rinpoche and others. From the yogi Khyunga Rinpoche, Ontül Rinpoche received teachings and his personal instructions on the Drigung Kagyu Five-Fold Profound Path of Mahamudra. In the years which followed, Ontül Rinpoche went to Drigung Kagyu Monasteries in Ladakh where he received most of the important empowerments, instructions and oral transmissions of the Drigung Kagyu tradition from H.E. Choje Togden Rinpoche. From Nyingma scholar namely Ven. Khenpo Thübten, Ontül Rinpoche receives an extensive instruction on the Longchen Nyingthig Ngondro practice. Later Ontül Rinpoche received many more teachings from Khenpo on several important Nyingma texts.

To learn more about the Drigung Kagyu Maha Mudra Lineage or Maha Ati  Lineage Transmission, kindly click on related links.

BRIEF BIOGRAPHY

Series of Re-incarnation
[Emanation of Drog-Ban Khiu Chung Lotsawa]
Onchen Kunzang Drodül (Elder brother of Tertön Lho Jedrung Nüden Dorje).
Ontül Chöyang Rangdül (attained rainbow body)
Ontül Tenzin Thrinle Rabgye Palzangpo (present)

The 5th Drigung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche (Thugje Nyima) (1828-1889) recognized him to be the emanation of Khiu Chung Lotsawa, one of the twenty-five main disciples of Guru Padmasambhava. Since Kunzang Drodül was the elder brother of Orgyen Nüden Dorje, his successive incarnations are known as Ontül, which means ' the elder brother'.

The present Ontül was born in Kham Nangchen in Eastern Tibet in the year 1950. Ontül Rinpoche's family lineage is called Göpe, or also Pebön Thogtrul, which is one of the thirteen noble family lineages that are again explained as stemming from the inner lineage of Lodan Nyingpo, who is one of the four ancient Tulkus of Bön religion, before Padmasambhava's time. Another brother of His is the 8th Bagyod Rinpoche , a  Karma Kagyu master.

In 1954, His Holiness The Drigung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche and His Holiness The 16th Gyalwa Karmapa recognized him as the incarnation of Ontül, and was given the name Konchog Tenzin Thrinle Rabgye Palzangpo. Accordingly, in the same year he was enthroned in the Monastery Dong Med Ogmin Thubten Shedrub Ling. Lama Kalsang Namgyal, the attendant of his previous incarnation, took the responsibility for giving him the basic education such as in reading and writing, reciting texts, etc. After the Cultural Revolution, Ontül Rinpoche visited his previous monasteries in  Tibet and traveled to Drigung Thil where he met The Meditation Master Yogi Pachung Rinpoche and received oral transmissions and teachings, which Ontul Rinpoche repeated thoroughly and then practised. Proceed here to read the complete biography of Rinpoche..................... Long Life Prayer for Rinpoche

THE DHARMA ACTIVITIES
Most Ven. Ontül Rinpoche holds transmissions of the Drigung Kagyu tradition as well as of the Nyingma tradition. His lineage originated in the 19th century in Eastern Tibet under the spiritual guidance of the Drikung Tertön Orgyen Nüden Dorje. To maintain these transmissions, Rinpoche established the Wogmin Thubten Shedrub Ling Monastery in Rewalsar (H.P.) which is traditionally called Tso Pema (Lotus Lake) by Tibetans. Read complete Dharma activities here .......

Y2000 Snake Year Teachings of The Glorious Drigung Kagyu
Oral Transmissions of the Nüden Dorje Kabum, which was transmitted by Most Ven. D. Ontül Rinpoche during the 12 Years Cycle of Snake Year Teachings. The event is held at Drigung Kagyu Institute in Dehra Dun, Uttar Pradesh, India from the 29th November, 2000 to 18th December, 2000. Kindly visit the DKI Snake Year photo album Ontül Rinpoche Photos or General Photos

Where is Ontül Rinpoche conducting Dharma Teachings now?
Rinpoche has a large numbers of disciples and teaches extensively during his yearly Malaysia/S'pore, Germany, Austria and North American Dharma Tour 2001&2.

Drigung Dzogchen Community
In July 2001, the disciples wholeheartedly proposed to Ven. Drigung Ontül Rinpoche in setting up the first  DDC - Drigung Dzogchen Community in Malaysia . The group of devoted disciples drafted out the mission points on the importance of having the Community to support each another in the present and future. Rinpoche agreed to the proposal and thereon presided over it as the Chairman.

Drigung Dzogchen Gradual Study & Practice Courses.
First Year ;  - Preliminary Foundational Practices (Ngondro)
Second Year ;  - Deity Meditation (Yidam Hayagriva)
Third Year ;  - Chöd (Cutting Through Ego)
Fourth Year ;  - Dzogchen Essence Introduction (Nature of Clear Light Mind)
Fifth to Tenth Year ; Course to be confirm
Year 2003 Worldwide Group Retreat in Wogmin Tsopema Rewalsar India, view photos here.
For more info on yearly courses, please visit this page.
Online Audio Compilation on the First Year Preliminary Teachings

THE TSO-PEMA MONASTERY
First Wogmin Thubten Shedrup Ling in Tibet was founded by Drigung Tertön Nüden Dorje, an embodiment of Tibet's great yogi Milarepa. During the Cultural Revolution in Tibet, Most Ven. Ontül Rinpoche escaped Tibet and in early 70's he founded Wogmin Thubten Shedrup Ling Monastery in Tso Pema in order to preserve the spiritual knowledge and tradition started by Lord Jigten Sumgon the founder of Drigung Kagyu Order of Tibetan Buddhism.
After coming back to India from Ladakh, in 1971 from the local Maharaja, Ontül Rinpoche bought a piece of land at Tso Pema (Rewalsar, Himachal Pradesh, India) and build a monastery from the donations which he received from the people of Ladakh. With the help of monastery monks Ontül Rinpoche managed to construct a monastery on this piece of land. Tso Pema means the “Lotus Lake”, and this is one of the sacred places where Guru Padmasambhava demonstrated his miraculous powers. The purpose of his exhibiting miracles on that place was to subdue the king and the people of that region, which was then known as Sahor. It took many years for Ontül Rinpoche to complete the monastery with the sacred objects, ritual instruments, and other necessary things.
There are about 50 monks ranging in age from 5 to 74 years old, many of the young monks are orphans, semi-orphans  and from poor family trying to survive in a difficult situation as their parents are barely able to survive. The compassionate Ontül Rinpoche accepted many of these young monks and with the intentions to maintain the pure Buddhist Tradition in the monastery. The Monastery is situated in Tso Pema (Lotus Lake), a well known lake where Guru Rinpoche performed miracles which has a place in the history of Tibetan Buddhism and are told over and over again to younger generations. Many Buddhist from all over the world frequent this sacred lake during their pilgrimage to holy places of Buddhism.

TULKUS OF LHO LUNGKAR GÖNPA, QINGHAI.
Bongtül Lineage Tulkus.
1. Lho Tshele Lhundrub
2. Lho Drubchen Tendzin Zangpo
3. Lho Tendzin Changchub Zangpo
4. Lho Jedrung Ögyen Nüden Dorje
5. Lho Jedrung Tendzin Gyalbu Nyugü
6. Lho Böngtül Tendzin Drodül
7. Lho Böngtül Tendzin Nyima (present in Lungkar Gön)

Ontül (Elder) Lineage Tulkus.
1. Onchen Kunzang Drodül
2. Ontül Chöyang Rangdül
3. Ontül Tenzin Thrinle Rabgye Palzangpo (Present in Wogmin Tsopema)

Chung (Younger) Lineage Tulkus.
1. Chung Drubgyü Tendzin
2. ???????
3. Chung Ögyen Dorje Chönyi Thundrub (Present in Lungkar Gon)

Gyaltsab Lineage Tulkus (Chief Disciple).
1. Gyaltsab Ögyen Tendzin
2. Gyaltsab Kunchab Senge
3. Gyaltsab Don-Ngak Tendzin (Present in Lungkar Gon)

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BLOOD BROTHERS OF ONTÜL RINPOCHE

All 5 are reincarnated Lamas, from left to right:
Bagyud Tulku - Karma Kagyu, Sonam Tulku - Bonpo, Ontul Tulku - Drikung Kagyu,
(the late) Gyaltse Tulku - Sakya & (Name Unknown) Tulku - Bonpo.
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Bagyud Tulku, Gyaltse Tulku (reincarnated, now in India) & Ontül Tulku.