Jigme
Gyalwai Nyugu
(1765-1843)
Jigme
Gyalwai Nyugu, truly the embodiment of the exalted Avalokiteshvara, was
from the highlands populated by nomads north of Derge in the eastern
Tibetan region of Dokham. Born to a wealthy family amid amazing signs
and portents, he eschewed a worldly life for one of Dharma practice.
His journey led him to Rigdzin Jigme Lingpa who took him under his care
and granted him the complete transmission of the tantras, explanatory
commentaries, and pith instructions of the secret Nyingtik teachings.
Along his path Jigme Gyalwai Nyugu had countless meditative experiences
and dreams. Visiting a site in the Chimpu Uplands he met a remarkable
stranger who gave him a prophecy predicting how long and where he would
live, adding that later in life he should return to his native region
to pursue his spiritual practice. This stranger was later revealed as
Guru Rinpoche himself. Jigme Gyalwai Nyugu alternated periods of time
listening to spiritual advice from his guru with periods of solitary
practice. Returning to his home area he became renowned as Lama Tsampa,
the “retreat lama,” for he spent his time primarily
in spiritual practice. In the final days of his life Jigme Gyalwai
Nyugu founded a monastery in Dzagyal called Puntsok Norbu Ling
dedicated to maintaining the lineage of The Heart Drop of Longchenpa.