Their Holiness

All the enlightened energies, blessings and teachings have been handed down through the great Drikung Kagyu masters to the present 36th and 37th lineage holders, His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgön Chungtsang and His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgön Chetsang. These are among the most precious spiritual masters in the Drikung Kagyu lineage and the direct lineage holder of Kyobpa Jigten Sumgön. Among his disciples, Jigten Sumgön prophesied repeatedly, “In the future my teachings will flourish by the two Bodhisattvas, who are like the sun and the moon, through their compassion and wisdom.” His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgön Chetsang is like the sun. He is the emanation of Chenrezig, the deity of compassion. His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgön Chungtsang is like the moon. He is the emanation of Manjushri, the deity of wisdom.

The reincarnation lineages of the Chetsang and Chungtsang Rinpoches was initiated in the 17th century. The two youngest sons of the 21st throne holder, Chögyal Rinchen Phuntsog (1579-1602), Gyalwang Konchog Rinchen (1590–1654) and Kunkhyen Rigzin Chödrak (1595–1659) became the last heirs to the throne of Drikung; the Kyura familial lineage died out with them. Upon the death of Konchog Rinchen the Drikungpa began to seek the reincarnations of their throne holders. A system of two lineage holders was established, that of the elder (Chetsang) and the younger (Chungtsang) brother. In the Drikung chronology Konchog Rinchen is considered as the first Chetsang Rinpoche and Rigzin Chödrak as the first Chungtsang Rinpoche.