Nyingma School
Guru Rinpoche
The Nyingma School was founded in the eighth century by the great enlightened Indian master Guru Padmasambhava or Guru Rinpoche and is the oldest of the four schools of Tibetan Buddhism (Nyingmapa, Kagyupa, Sakyapa and Gelugpa). "Nyingma" literally means "ancient," and the school is often called the "school of the ancient translations" or the "old school" because it was founded on the basis of the first eighth century translations of Buddhist scriptures from Sanskrit into Tibetan. In modern times the Nyingma lineage has been centered in Kham in eastern Tibet.
Six great monasteries of the Nyingma tradition developed in Tibet. These are Dorje Drak and Mindroling in the upper region of Tibet, Shechen and Dzogchen in the middle and Kathog and Palyul in the lower region. Palyul Monastery was built by the great Dharma king of Dege on holy land that had been blessed by many saints and bodhisattvas.
Palyul Lineage
In eastern Tibet, the foremost of the six mother monasteries that upheld the Nyingma tradition was the glorious Palyul. The great treasure revealer Migyur Dorje (1645-1667) instructed the Dharma king of Dege; he instructed Vidyadhara (knowledge holder) Kunzang Sherab (1636-1699) to oversee the monastery. Kunzang Sherab became the first throne holder of the Palyul Lineage. He named the monastery Palyul Namgyal Jangchub Choeling, “The Dharma Land of Victorious Perfect Enlightenment” and caused the Palyul Monastery to become a great source of the Buddha’s teaching.
Palyul Monastery, Tibet
All the throne and lineage holders of the Palyul tradition were well known as great scholars of Sutra, Tantra and the outer and inner sciences.
As with all Nyingma Dharma lineages, the Palyul holds the complete canon of the Mahayana sutras and tantras as well as the Kama (long), Terma (short) and Pure Vision transmissions. However, the Palyul lineage is distinct in that it continues to practice, realize and transmit all the various lineages and transmissions that Kunzang Sherab held and passed on as one vast Dharma Ocean.
The Kama or long lineage combines the oral traditions of Panchen Vimalamitra, the translator Vairocana and master Padmasambhava on the inner yogas of Generation Stage Maha Yoga, Transmission stage Anu Yoga and the Great Perfection stage Ati Yoga. The Palyul also holds the Non-dual Great Seal Mahamudra - Great Perfection Ati Yoga, uniting the highest Nyingma teachings of Dzogchen with the ornament of the Kagyu school, the Mahamudra of Marpa the translator, forefather of the Kagyu. From Kunzang Sherab to the present throne holder, His Holiness Penor Rinpoche, as well as the greater Palyul sangha, all have maintained this tradition as their principal practice. It includes: clear light togyal, inner togyal, darkness practice, dream practice, training in the nature of sound and the practice of the pure realms. The terma or short lineage refers to spiritual treasures (terma) concealed by Padmasambava and his close disciples to be revealed at later, more appropriate times. These termas were hidden both in physical elements and within the mind streams of beings, to be remembered and revealed by later incarnations. Thus, the lineage for these termas is considered historically "short", as opposed to the long lineages that originated with Sakyamuni Buddha. The principal terma lineages of the Palyul are those of Terton Nyang, Guru Chowang, Ratna Lingpa, Jigme Lingpa, Karma Lingpa and Mingyur Dorje.
The Profound lineage of Pure Vision originates with Terton Mingyur Dorje's Nam Cho Great Perfection revelations, transmitted directly to Kunzang Sherab.
Namdroling Monastery, India
