The Karmapa and Lagon

There is a historical text in which the 2nd Karmapa (Karma Pakshi) himself is said to state that he is the reincarnation of Nyakre Sewo (Lagon Drubthob Nyangyon). In the Kagyu lineage he is therefore regarded as an important previous incarnation.

This is especially important because the tradition of the tulku, or reincarnation lineage, is connected very closely with Lagon Drubthob Nyangyon. According to these Tibetan accounts, he is regarded as one of the earliest, and in some accounts the beginning, of the formal tulku tradition in Tibet.

What makes this especially fascinating is that Lagon is such an ancient figure.

For generations, many people only knew the stories—that there was a great yogi who built 108 monasteries, had a vision of Tara, built the Tara temple, and performed many extraordinary things. People heard the stories, but very few people had access to the old texts or understood the historical connection.

And nobody really imagined that this ancient yogi, whom people had only known through these old stories and texts, would actually have a reincarnation who is alive today.

During the earlier Kagyu period, there were many Rinpoches and recognized incarnations within the lineage, and I was one of those connected with the Kagyu lineage.

Later, when the Gelugpa tradition became established in Tibet, some lineages and monasteries changed from Kagyu to Gelugpa. However, some continued to maintain practices from both traditions.

So there is an interesting history of how the different Tibetan Buddhist lineages developed and sometimes overlapped with each other.

The Kagyu lineage is much earlier than the Gelugpa tradition. The Gelugpa, or Yellow Hat tradition, became established in Tibet around the 15th century, whereas the Kagyu lineage goes back much earlier.

The Early Tulku Tradition

"The Lagon story is important when discussing the early development of the Tibetan tulku tradition. It places Lagon within that very early period when the recognized reincarnation lineage system was developing in Tibet.

The connection between the Karmapa lineage and Lagon lineage goes back to the same earlier master - Nyakre Sewo (Lagon Drubthob Nyangyon).

Today, there are traditionally 17 Karmapa incarnations recognized within the lineage.

In comparison, for me, Lagon, I would theoretically be the 17th Lagon if every rebirth had continued as a direct, uninterrupted succession. But according to our lineage, Lagon has only manifested in this world five times that we can identify.

This is also significant because, in one of Lagon’s early poems or writings, he said that he would only be born a few times in this world and then would disappear somewhere.

From our Buddhist perspective, this can be understood as meaning that after those manifestations, he may have taken birth in another realm or another world in order to continue benefiting and serving sentient beings.

So, according to the evidence and lineage tradition we have, I am the fifth Lagon to have manifested in this world."

- Lagon Tulku Rinpoche

The Lagon Lineage

"I believe that Druthob Nyagnyon was one of the great masters of his time. In Tibetan Buddhist tradition, we believe that great masters, such as Guru Rinpoche and other highly realized masters, can manifest through different emanations of body, speech, and mind.

From our lineage tradition, I believe that Karmapa is one of the emanations of Druthop Nyagnyon, and Lagon is also another emanation.

So, from the perspective of our tradition, Karmapa and Lagon come from the same source or “seed,” but can be understood as different manifestations—one associated with body and another with mind." - Lagon Tulku Rinpoche

The Book of Drub Thob Nyag Re Bse Bo

The book of Nyakre Sewo was published jointly by Dropen Tsuglag Petrun Khang in Dharamsala and the Amnye Machen Institute in McLeod Ganj. The title is Autobiography, Spiritual Songs and Prophecies of the Drub Thob Nyag Re Bse Bo (1141?–1201). These are respected sources for Tibetan historical and religious texts in exile.

The book was carefully collected and edited by Tashi Tsering, a senior monk from Dharamsala who has unfortunately already passed away. He worked hard to collect old texts and accounts from important Lamas and high masters about Lagon and preserved them together in this book.The book was also sponsored by the 17th Karmapa.

That is why this is so important. It preserves the old evidence and stories about Lagon, and it connects with a lineage that is still alive today.

"The Connection with the 17th Karmapa

I have never met the 17th Karmapa myself, unfortunately. But I really hope that one day I can meet him.

I would love to show him this very book that he helped sponsor and tell him:

“You helped preserve the story of this ancient master, and I am the Lagon you were supporting the preservation of.”

I would also love to share my own story with him and talk about this connection personally. I feel there is something very special about that."
- Lagon Tulku Rinpoche

Jigten Gonpo Rinchen Pel (1143–1217) was an important early Kagyu master and the founder of the Drikung Kagyu school. He was a direct disciple of Phagmodrupa Dorje Gyalpo, as was Nyakre Sewo.

Although Nyakre Sewo was slightly older, Tibetan sources preserve a tradition that he regarded Jigten Gonpo as a lama or teacher. This connection may provide an important way to better understand Nyakre Sewo’s life and historical period.