Foremost amongst the many scholars and masters who brought the sutric and tantric teachings of Buddhism to Tibet was Padmasambhava. Knowing that certain teachings would benefit future generations of practitioners, Padmasambhava and his spiritual consort, Yeshe Tsogyal, hid collections of spiritual teachings called terma in the earth and in the minds of disciples knowing that these would be revealed at the appropriate time by treasure revealers called tertöns.
There were one hundred main tertöns. Amongst these, Taksham Nüden Dorje discovered the most important terma related to the wrathful deity Hayagrīva. His tertön name was Samten Lingpa. Padmasambhava prophesized that the tertön who would reveal the main practice of Hayagrīva would have a tiger skin birthmark—taksham means tiger skin skirt—and that this tertön would be the emanation of both Padmasambhava and Hayagrīva.
Per the Pema Kathang (The Chronicles of Padma- the biography of Guru Rinpoche),
“In Tibet, the King will be given one hundred and eight names,
and, through the effect of the deeds of the lions of the glaciers,
the inhabitants of the world will not have a moment of joy.
Warned by these signs not to fail and to bring to light
the treasure hidden at the rock of Chal,
Urgyen Samten Lingpa will appear.”
The incarnations of Taksham Nüden Dorje are considered the emanations of Acharya Salé, who was one of the spiritual consorts of Yeshe Tsogyal. Taksham Nüden Dorje revealed the spiritual biography of Yeshe Tsogyal as terma.
Taksham Nüden Dorje was born in 1655, in the Pato Yamalung region of Kham in Tibet. It is said that he instantly recognized the emptiness of his own mind upon hearing the recitation of the 100,000-verse Prajnāpāramitā Sutra at the age of seven. When he was nine years old, he had vision of Green Tara who gave him blessings and prophecies about his future activities to benefit the Dharma. When he was eleven years old, he had a profound encounter with Padmasambhava who blessed him with his wisdom mind and gave him direct teachings. After these teachings from Padmasambhava, his meditation practice of luminosity caused him to no longer differentiate between day and night. He also had many visions of ḍākinīs and left footprints in rock when he was dancing with them. These footprints can still be seen today in Gawalung in Tibet. At this time, he also found earth terma treasures, but they were not made public. When he was eighteen years old, Taksham Nüden Dorje revealed many terma that were made public. Of these, one of the most important is the Vajrasattva Nyingtik that he revealed in the secret practice cave of the ḍākinīs. When was nineteen years old, he revealed the terma of Vajrakīlaya from the practice cave of Vairotsana. He revealed seventeen main terma of which the most famous is the terma cycle of Hayagrīva called Yidam Gongdü—The Quintessence of the Deity. He revealed this at Gawalung-La, the rock slope shaped like a pig, a scorpion, and a garuda. His seventeen main treasure texts fill thirty-two volumes of Tibetan text.
In addition to revealing important terma, he also built monasteries and retreat centers in Gawalung, Pato Samtenling, and Dodong Gon in Tibet. During the Chinese Cultural Revolution most of these practice centers were destroyed.
Taksham Nüden Dorje conveyed his teachings to the Nyingma, Kagyu, and Gelug traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. His students included Yeshe Dorje, the 11th Karmapa (1676-1702), Shamar Rinpoche, and Chöjé Lingpa. Another connection in particular of Taksham Nüden Dorjee was the Great 5th Dalai Lama. With the wishes of the Wisdom Dakini Yeshi Tsogyal as well as the prophesies of Guru Padmasambhava which had said the treasure holder of the Taksham treasures would be the Great 5th- the Great 5th Dalai Lama of Tibet was the emanation of the Great Dharma King Trisong Detsen. Acharya Salé and King Trisong Detsen were connected through receiving direct teachings from Guru Rinpoche. Taksham Nüden Dorjee presented a significant portion of his treasures to the Great Fifth Dalai Lama, who was very pleased – he remembered the prophesy from Padmasambhava – and gifted him the position of Shebam. Taksham’s termas are practiced in these lineages still today.
At the age of fifty-three, the great Taksham Nüden Dorjee passed away in 1708.
Taksham Nüden Dorjee
The 2nd Taksham Rinpoche, Pema Rabje Yeshe Rolpa, was born in 1709, and was recognized by the 12th Karmapa Changchub Dorje. He received all of the Taksham treasures from Chöjé Lingpa who was the prior Taksham Rinpoche’s heart student. In 1730, when he was twenty-one years old he passed away.
The 3rd Taksham Rinpoche, Pema Tenzin Wangchuk, was recognized by the 13th Karmapa Düddul Dorje (1733-1797) from whom he received the treasure teachings and his monastic and bodhisattva vows. He passed away in 1792, at the age of sixty.
The 4th Taksham Rinpoche was born in 1795, and was named Pema Gyepe Dorje. He was recognized by the 13th Karmapa Düddul Dorje from whom he received the Taksham treasures and many teachings. He was known for his many activities to benefit the Dharma including building the monastery Samten Chöling. In 1843, his merged his illusory body with the dharmakaya.
The 5th Taksham Rinpoche Sangnak Tenpe Dorje was born in 1844. He was recognized by the 14th Karmapa Thekchok Dorje (1797-1867). He spent his entire life in retreat. He left many hand- and footprints in rock. In 1897, his illusory body dissolved into Hayagrīva’s heart.
The 6th Taksham Rinpoche Karma Sangnak Tenzin was recognized by His Holiness Riwoche Kyabgon Jampa Chonyi. After his monastery was by destroyed by the Uyghur, he rebuilt it before passing away in 1948.
The 7th Taksham Rinpoche Karma Yongdu Chokyi Nyima was recognized by the 16th Karma Rangjung Rigpé Dorje (1924-1981). He established a monastery in southern India. In 2005, he passed away.
7th Taksham Karma Yongdu Chokyi Nyima
The 8th Taksham Tulku was born on December 20, 2006 in Columbia Heights, Minnesota as Jalue Dorjee. His father Dorje Tsegyal is from Kham Dergé Dhenma from the family called Sidmed Namgyal Shongchentsang. He is a former monk of Shechen Monastery in Nepal and was a direct disciple of Kyabjé Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and Kyabjé Rabjam Rinpoche. Taksham Tulku’s mother, Dechen Wangmo, is from Nangchen Dzatod. She noticed many wondrous omens prior to his birth.
On April 8, 2007, The 5th head of the Nyingma lineage Kyabjé Trulshik Rinpoche Ngawang Chökyi Lodrö recognized the young boy as the body, speech, and mind emanation of Taksham Nüden Dorjee through a letter. The young boy was now the 8th Terchen Taksham Rinpoche.
That same year, when Jalue Dorjee’s parents heard that Garje Khamtrul Rinpoche Jamyang Döndrup was coming to give teachings in Minneapolis, they invited him to their home. Upon meeting Jalue Dorjee, Garje Khamtrul Rinpoche confirmed the recognition of Terchen Taksham Rinpoche. He conveyed blessings and made aspirations for the 8th Taksham’s long life and for his dharma activities to benefit all beings.
Garje Khamtrul Rinpoche brought forth the letter by Kyabje Trulshik Rinpoche to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, and only a short time later, a letter from His Holiness the Dalai Lama arrived to the household. It was translated to be:
To the faithful Dorje Tsegyal and Dechen Wangmo- their son Jalue Dorjee was recognized to be the body, speech, and mind reincarnation of the Taksham; it was brought upon me to test this declaration and after my own tests, I can conclude that if he is recognized as the reincarnation of Taksham Samten Lingpa and Nüden Dorjee, all signs lead to auspiciousness. Buddha’s monk Dalai Lama on 2009, on the first month, sixth day. Seal.
His Holiness the 41st Sakya Trizin and Sakya Dagchen (Both heads of the Sakya Dolma and Phuntsok Phodrang) confirmed the young boy as the 8th Terchen Taksham Rinpoche and sent their official letters of support. The Dalai Lama bestowed the young Taksham Rinpoche his name: Tenzin Gyurme Trinley Dorjee.
On May 17, 2010, the young Taksham Rinpoche’s parents took him to meet the 14th Dalai Lama in Madison, Wisconsin, at which time His Holiness conferred blessings, the Mañjuśrī transmission, and performed the traditional hair-cutting ceremony. His Holiness also gave a Guru Rinpoche statue and made aspirations for his long life and dharma activities. He also gave advice on how the young tulku should be educated.
His Holiness the Great 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet performing the traditional hair-cutting ceremony for the young Taksham Rinpoche
The incarnations of the Terchen Taksham Rinpoche and of the Dalai Lama have historically been closely connected – as mentioned before- beginning with the first Terchen Taksham, who entrusted his terma to the 5th Dalai Lama. Because of the strong lineage connection, the Dalai Lama’s recognition of the 8th incarnation is considered especially reliable and auspicious.
In that year, Kyabjé Palyul Karma Kuchen Rinpoche, head of the Palyul lineage, came to Minneapolis and gave a Nyingtik Rigdzin long life empowerment. Karma Kuchen Rinpoche along with Khenpo Norgay and their attendants went to Taksham Tulku Rinpoche’s home and auspiciously gave the young boy his first Tibetan reading lesson.
In 2010, Taksham Tulku Rinpoche attended the 100th year anniversary of the birth of Kyabjé Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche in New York. At this time, he met Kyabjé Dilgo Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche and received blessings and empowerments for the Pema Tseye Nyingtik, a terma of Kyabjé Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.
In that same year, Kyabjé Taklung Matul Rinpoche, Kyabjé Garchen Rinpoche, and Kyabjé Ling Rinpoche came to the United States and the young Taksham Tulku Rinpoche received further blessings.
In 2011, his parents took him to Nepal and India for a pilgrimage to the Buddha’s sacred sites. Taksham Tulku met many rinpoches and high lamas and received many blessings and empowerments.
While in Nepal in 2011, he attended the Dorje Sempa Drubchen at Shechen Monastery. At that time, he met with Kyabjé Dilgo Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche and Kyabjé Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche. During the trip, he also met with Benchen Tenga Rinpoche, Tsikey Chokling Rinpoche, Tulku Rigdzin Pema Rinpoche, the 7th Kyabjé Karma Chakmé Rinpoche, Tertön Kyabjé Lama Namkha Drimed Rabjam Rinpoche, Sangnak Tulku Rinpoche, Shugsep Tulku Urgyen Tenpe Rinpoche, and Dakpo Tulku Rinpoche.
Young Taksham Rinpoche with Kyabjé Tertön Lama Namkha Drimed Rabjam Rinpoche
While in India in 2011, he met with Kyabjé Khamtrul Rinpoche in Dharamsala; Kyabjé Ngor Luding Khenchen Rinpoche Jamyang Nyima and Kyabjé Minling Khenchen in Dehradun; and in Bodhgaya, Ngagyur Nyingma Khenchen Pema Sherab gave the Taksham Yidam Gongdü Hayagrīva transmission.
He also visited Og Min Ogyen Mindrolling Monastery, an important Nyingma monastery. On February 28, 2011, Kyabjé Khochhen Rinpoche, conferred the Upāsaka (male lay person) vows and made aspirations that Taksham Tulku Rinpoche’s dharma activities benefit all beings.
Kyabjé Khochhen Rinpoche is one of the most influential and important Buddhist masters for the Nyingma lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, especially as he was the founder and builder of Ogyen Ngedon Gatsal Ling, Ogyen Mindrol Samten Ling, and Denjong Mindrolling Monastery in India. He and the 7th Taksham Tulku Rinpoche had a close dharma relationship. Therefore, we are very grateful that he is taking an active interest in guiding the spiritual development of the 8th Taksham Tulku Rinpoche.
Taksham Tulku with Kyabje Khochen Rinpoche in 2011 (left) and Taksham Tulku with Kyabje Khochen Rinpoche and Kyabje Trulshik Rinpoche Yangsi Tenzin Chokyi Lodro in 2026 (right)
In July 2011, he traveled to Washington DC to receive the Kalachakra empowerment from His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. He also received a Yamāntaka empowerment and transmission in Long Beach, California by His Holiness. He has been blessed to receive all of the empowerments and advice that His Holiness the Dalai Lama gave in Minneapolis.
In 2012, Khenchen Pema Sherab bestowed empowerments related to the Longchen Nyingtik, Tamdrin with garuda, and Rigdzin Düpa.
In addition, in July 2013, he received the Sakya Kalachakra from His Holiness the 41st Sakya Trizin in Minneapolis and he has also received all of the empowerments and advice that he has given in Minneapolis for the past 16 years.
In August 2016, National Geographic broadcasted a television episode featuring Morgan Freeman interviewing Taksham Tulku Rinpoche and his family for the Story of God. Taksham Tulku Rinpoche has also been featured in the Star Tribune, PBS, as well as the Associated Press.
Taksham Tulku with famed Hollywood Actor Morgan Freeman
In 2016, Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso offered Mañjuśrī and Tertön Kyabjé Lama Namkha Drimed Rabjam Rinpoche offered Gesar, Guru Rinpoche, and other empowerments in Columbia Heights at the home of Taksham Tulku Rinpoche.
In April of 2016, Nyingmapa Taksham Buddhist Center was founded in Minneapolis.
2016 was an eventful year for the young Rinpoche.
In 2018, the family traveled to Taiwan to meet with Tulku Kuenga Rinpoche, the former secretary of Kyabjé Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and a long time family friend. Tulku Kuenga provided great hospitality at his dharma center, Thekchö Chöling, as well as traveled around Taipei with Taksham Tulku Rinpoche and his family.
Taksham Tulku Rinpoche was enthroned at Ogyen Mindrol Samten Ling in India in 2019. Kyabjé Khochhen Rinpoche performed the elaborate enthronement using texts and commentaries of Minling Terchen Tsedrup Chime Yangnying and Shechen Gyalstab Gyurme Pema Namgyal.
In the summer of 2023, Taksham Tulku Rinpoche received Taksham lineage empowerments for three days from Tertön Kyabjé Lama Namkha Drimed Rabjam Rinpoche, who is the main lineage holder, at Yangleshö in Nepal at Rigon Tashi Chöling.
In addition, he met with Kyabjé Dilgo Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche at Shechen Monastery. He also attended the 10th birthday of Kyabjé Trulshik Yangsi Tenzin Chökyi Lodrö Rinpoche and visited Khenchen Pema Sherab in France and received the transmission for the Chöying Dzö.
Taksham Tulku with Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche Yangsi
Taksham Tulku Rinpoche also meets with Kyabjé Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche whenever he comes to Minneapolis. In addition, Kagyu Tergar Khenpo Kunga Trinley has been very helpful with writing texts and a close family friend for many years.
Taksham Tulku Rinpoche completed school in the United States in the summer of 2025 and receieved his diploma. Rinpoche is currently studying at Mindrolling Monastery, the mother monastery of all the Nyingma monasteries. Taksham Rinpoche he has a close connection to this monastery because the root guru of the 7th Taksham Rinpoche was the 11th Minling Trichen Gyurme Kunzang Wangyal (1931-2008).