Taklung Kagyu

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The Taklung Kagyu is a relatively obscure sub-sect of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism.

[edit] History

The lineage was founded by Taklung Tangpa over 800 years ago. There are three branches of the Taklung--the upper in the Lhasa area, and Talung barthang or middle in the northern tibet and the lower , based out of Riwoche Taklung Monastery at Dokham in eastern Tibet. At present there are three main lineage holders of the upper Taklung: H.H. Matrul Rinpoche, H.H. the 15th Taglung Kyabgon Tsetrul Thupten Gyaltsen Rinpoche, and Taklung Sabdrung Rinpoche; and three main lineage holders of the lower Taklung: H.H. Taglung Kyabgon Phakchok Rinpoche, Taklung Kyabgon Jedrung Rinpoche, and Taklung Shabdrung Rinpoche (not the same one).

The present head of the lower Taklung lineage is His Holiness the Seventh Phakchok Rinpoche, a grandson of Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche; he lives in Nepal and travels widely. The Venerable Khenpo Sonam Rinpoche, another lineage holder, resides in Toronto, Canada. Riwoche Monastery, which was destroyed by the Chinese invasion, has been reconstructed.

H.H. Matrul Rinpoche, also a young lama, is considered the head of the upper Taklung Kagyu lineage. He spends much of his time in Jang Chup Ling, the seat of the Drikung Kagyu in Dhera Dhun, where Garchen Rinpoche is one of his root lamas. He is attempting to build a new monastery for the upper Taklung lineage in Sikkim, India. Ven. Khenpo Samten Drodul Dorjee Rinpoche is contributing to the effort as well, as is the 15th Taklung Rinpoche. Taklung Rinpoche has also established a Taklung center in Europe.

Many of the Taklung Kagyu tulkus are also Nyingma masters. H.H. Taglung Kyabgon Tsetrul Thupten Gyaltsen Rinpoche has devoted considerable effort to reestablishing Dorje Drak monastery.