Lineage

Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche (1961 -)

Buddhist teacher, author, film-maker, founder of Siddhartha’s Intent & Khyentse Foundation, student of H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and Khenpo Appey Rinpoche, reincarnation of Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö.

Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Tashi Paljor (1910-1991)

Heart-son of Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö, root teacher of Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, chaplain of the Royal Family of Bhutan, tutor of H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama.

Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö (1894-1959)

Teacher to almost all the Nyingma, Kagyü and Sakya masters of early 20th century, founder of Dzongsar Shedra, reincarnation of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo.

Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo (1820-1892)

Scholar, mystic, and meditator par excellence. Last of the Five Tertön Kings. Founder of the Rimé (nonsectarian) approach. Mind reincarnation of Jigme Lingpa.

Jigme Lingpa, Khyentse Öser (1729-1798)

Dzogchen master, tertön, discoverer of the Longchen Nyingtik cycle of Dzogchen teachings. His name Khyentse Öser is the origin of the Khyentse lineage name.

Khyentse Lineage Tree

The Khyentse lineage from Jigme Lingpa to the present day. PDF available at Tricycle.

Khenpo Appey Rinpoche (1927-2010)

Student of Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö, tutor of Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, founder of Sakya College in India & International Buddhist Academy in Nepal (KF bio / IBA bio / rigpawiki).

Ju Mipham, Jamgön Mipham Gyatso (1846-1912)

Great Nyingma/Rimé master who synthesised Madhyamaka view of emptiness, Mahayana view of Buddha nature and Dzogchen view of luminous nonceptual wisdom (Treasury of Lives / wikipedia / rigpawiki)

Longchenpa, Longchen Rabjam (1308-1364)

Renowned Nyingma master, wrote extensively on Nyingma and Dzogchen including the Seven Treasuries, and transmitted the Longchen Nyingtik lineage to Jigme Lingpa.

Rongzom Pandita (1012-1088)

One of the three “omniscient” Nyingma masters with Longchepa and Ju Mipham, wrote Entering the Way of the Great Vehicle to explain Dzogchen as summit of Madhyamaka (wikipedia / rigpawiki)

Kamalashila (c.740-795 CE)

Went to Tibet with his master Shantarakshita, defeated the Chan master Moheyan (摩诃衍) at the “Council of Lhasa”, thereby founding Tibetan Buddhism on the Indian Madhyamaka tradition (wikipedia / rigpawiki).

Shantarakshita (c.725-788 CE)

Founder of Yogachara-Svatantrika-Madhyamaka, uniting the traditions of Nagarjuna and Asanga. Abbot of Nalanda University. Built first Buddhist monastery in Tibet at Samye.

Chandrakirti (c.600-650 CE)

Follower of Buddhapalita and Prasangika-Madhyamaka tradition, author of Madhyamakavatara (Introduction to the Middle Way), the main text still used by Tibetan monastic colleges to study Madhyamaka.

Bhaviveka (c. 500-578 CE)

Founder of Svatantrika-Madhyamaka, commentator on Nagarjuna’s Mulamadhyamakakarika, criticized Buddhapalita for refuting other views without setting out his own logic.

Buddhapalita (c.470-550 CE)

Founder of Prasangika-Madhyamaka, commentator on Nagarjuna’s Mulamadhyamakakarika, criticized by his contemporary Bhaviveka then later affirmed by Chandrakirti.

Aryadeva (c.175-275 CE)

Disciple of Nagarjuna who devoted his life to continuing his master’s work, writing many Madhyamaka texts. Also known as Kanadeva (迦那提婆), the 15th Chan patriarch.

Nagarjuna (c.150-250 CE)

Founder of Madhyamaka, revealer of Prajñaparamita Sutras, one of the 84 mahasiddhas, author of Mulamadhyamakakarika (Fundamental Verses on the Middle Way).