Lama Tokden Tsewang Chöpel

A Bhutanese disciple of Trülshik Rigdzin Lingpa (?-?), Tokden Tsewang Chöpel (Year?-Year?) often visited his teacher by traveling to see him in Zangri Khangmar, the stronghold of Machik Labdrön’s tradition in Central Tibet.

In 1952, it was Tokden Tsewang Chöpel who welcomed Trülshik Rigdzin Lingpa when he had fled Central Tibet to settle in Western Bhutan.

Seeing the need for his teacher to settle in a place here he could establish himself and the lineage of Machik Labdrön, Tokden Tsewang Chöpel pledged the third king of Bhutan Jigme Dorje Wangchuck (1928-1972) and to the governor of his home district for permission to grant the Tibetans a portion of his family’s ancestral land in Bhutan to offer a piece of land.

This request was honored, and it is on this piece of land, located in Rawabi, that Druk Zangri Khangmar was founded.

After the passing of Trülshik Rigdzin Lingpa, Tokden Tsewang Chöpel became in charge of Druk Zangri Khangmar, and led the of group of gomchen (lay great meditators).

Among the children of Tokden Tsewang Chöpel is his son Lama Rigdzin Longyang, who has been recognized by Kalu Rinpoche as an incarnation of Trülshik Rigdzin Lingpa.