Recalling the Dudjom Lineage

~ DudjomTersarNgondro ~ Leave a comment
During Tulku Thadral Rinpoche’s recent teaching on Calling the Lama fun Afar,  part of the Dudjom Ngondro Program’s NEW SERIES of monthly teachings, Tulku Thadral Rinpoche spoke about the succession of lives of Kyabje Dudjom Rinpcohe Jigdral Yeshe Dorje, recalling the continuity of this extraordinary lineage.
As part of his commentary, Rinpoche drew attention to a short supplication composed by Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche himself:
Supplication to Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche
In the past you were the Vidyadhara Nuden Dorje,
In the future, the Sugata Möpa Taye,
Now, the representative of Pema Jungne, Drokben himself—
To you, Jigdral Yeshe Dorje, I pray!
I wrote this myself for those with faith.
The prayer is brief, yet within these few lines Dudjom Rinpoche points to a succession extending across past, present, and future—a continuity through which enlightened activity appears again and again for the benefit of beings.
Rinpoche’s comments brought to mind another beloved prayer composed by Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche: the Pearl Necklace, a supplication recalling the great masters of the lineage. For practitioners of the Dudjom tradition, reciting such a lineage prayer is not simply remembering figures from the past. It is a way of bringing the lineage to mind and reconnecting with the living stream of blessing and transmission that has been passed from teacher to student.
Dungse Thinley Norbu Rinpoche, the eldest son of Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche, later illuminated the Pearl Necklace through his commentary The Ruby Rosary: Joyfully Accepted by Vidyadharas and Dakinis as the Ornament of a Necklace.
Through The Ruby Rosary, the names within the lineage prayer open into something much larger. Thinley Norbu Rinpoche recounts the lives and qualities of the great beings being invoked, helping us understand the profound connections through which the Dudjom lineage has continued.
This feels especially meaningful as we begin our new monthly teachings with Tulku Thadral Rinpoche on Calling the Lama from Afar. Calling the lama from afar is itself an act of remembrance—not merely remembering a person, but turning the mind toward the source of blessing and recognizing the connection between teacher, lineage, and our own practice.
The lineage is remembered because it is alive in the transmission we receive and in the practice we carry forward today.
May remembering these great masters strengthen our faith, devotion, and connection to the lineage, and may whatever virtue arises benefit all beings.
Review Part 1 of Calling the Lama from Afar given on September 30th.
Save the date and join Join Tulku Thadral Rinpoche for these precious teachings on Calling the Lama from Afar written by HH Dudjom Rinpoche Jigdral Yeshe Dorje and receive the oral reading transmissions for the Dudjom Tersar Ngondro, Dudjom SaTer Ngondro and the Dudjom Troma Ngondro at Pema Osel Ling or YouTube live for Part 2 of Calling the Lama from Afar on October 14, 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm. Free and open for everyone.
🔗Request for pdf of Calling the Lama
NOTE: If you are wishing to receive the Ngodro lungs (Oral Reading Transmissions), October 14th would be a good time to do so. Due to the full four-month schedule of the Rinchen TerDzö empowerments and oral reading transmissions, the next opportunity to receive the Ngondro lungs will be sometime in spring 2027.

NGONDRO & DHARMA

~ DudjomTersarNgondro

“Alas! Saṃsāra is born from karma. From karma, happiness and unhappiness are made. Whenever conditions are gathered, they make karma, And karma makes happiness and unhappiness again.”

—LORD BUDDHA

There are many ways to understand the meaning of karma from different points of view within Buddhism. To synthesize some of these in a simple way, according to the point of view of the vehicle of cause, karma is the activity of cause and result. Within this vehicle, there are various explanations for the basis of karma. The Vaiśeṣika point of view teaches that karma originates in subjective consciousness; the Sutranta point of view teaches that karma originates in ordinary continuous mind; the Yogācāra point of view teaches that karma originates in the basis of all phenomena; and the Mādhyamika point of view teaches that karma originates in interdependent circumstances. In the context of practice, all points of view within the vehicle of cause teach that there is a basis for enlightenment, a path that leads to enlightenment, and a result of enlightenment.
~ Thinley Norbu, White Sail: Karma

Continue the conversation with Stefan Graves and
Rinchen Palbar (Josh Hayes)
NGONDRO & DHARMA
Monday, September 28th at 6pm pacific
It’s free and open to everyone.
Read along, listen in, reflect, or simply join the conversation
— at your own pace. This week we explore “Karma”.

Join the conversation on Zoom!

ABOUT NGONDRO & DHARMA

Ngondro & Dharma began in January 2026 in response to requests from sangha members for a space to come together, explore Dharma, and share in conversation. Ngondro & Dharma was conceived and originally hosted by Stefan Graves. Today, it is hosted by Stefan and Rinchen Palbar (Josh Hayes), who continue to nurture this informal and engaging exchange.

Held biweekly on Zoom, Ngondro & Dharma offers an opportunity to explore Dharma teachings and consider how they relate to Ngondro practice and to our everyday lives.

Rather than a formal teaching or class, the gatherings are centered around conversation. Participants are invited to listen, ask questions, share reflections, or simply enjoy being part of the discussion. There is no expectation to have completed the reading beforehand.

In Stefan’s words, the spirit of the gathering is:
“Come as you are — read, listen, discover, and share.”

Since its beginning, Ngondro & Dharma has continued to grow, with an increasing number of sangha members joining the biweekly conversations. The growing participation reflects the value of having an informal space to explore Dharma together, ask questions, listen, and share.

Free and open to everyone, Ngondro & Dharma offers a relaxed way to stay connected with Dharma, practice, and sangha — and to continue the conversation.

 

Calling the Lama from Afar

~ DudjomTersarNgondro

📸 Courtesy of Dampai Choki Dudtsi

With heartfelt joy, we share that, at the request of the Dudjom Ngondro Program, Tulku Thadral Rinpoche will offer teachings on the precious prayer “Calling the Lama from Afar,” composed by Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche Jigdral Yeshe Dorje at the request of the noble lady Dechen Chödrön.

“… at the repeated request of Dechen Chödrön, a devoted student whom Rinpoche praised for her virtue, intelligence, and sincere faith.”

The new series begins, Wednesday September 30th 5pm.
Rinpoche will also give the oral reading transmission for the Sater Ngondro, Sater Concise Ngondro and the Dudjom Troma Ngondro.

Calling_the_Lama_4

REQUEST PDF of Calling the Lama from Afar

May these teachings deepen our devotion and
strengthen our connection with the lama.

Listen as Lama Tharchin Rinpoche chants “Calling the Lama from Afar”: