Tsewang Norbu
Tsewang Norbu (Precious Longevity) was the son
of Chokgyur Lingpa and Jamyang Khyentse
Wangpo’s niece. Up until he was about 12 months old, an eagle
perched on the roof of his parents’ house every single day. Later,
Jamyang Khyentse said that this was Shokgoma, the Eagle-Winged
Goddess, who was one of the guardians of the Dzogchen Desum.
When the Dzogchen Desum was transmitted the very first time, 25 people
were present. Kongtrul, Karmey Khenpo and, of course, Jamyang Khyentse
were all there. As the Desum terma was the heart essence of Vairotsana
and Yudra Nyingpo was his foremost disciple in Kham, the incarnation
of Yudra Nyingpo had to be the first to receive the empowerment. So,
as soon as the terma was revealed, Khyentse wrote it down and then Chokgyur
Lingpa conferred the empowerment on Tsewang Norbu who was no more than
six months old at the time. This was even predicted in the terma itself.
When Tsewang Norbu grew up, he remembered receiving the Dzogchen Desum.
In his own words, “I will never forget lying there, in my basket,
wrapped in sheepskin, between Chokling and Khyentse, and receiving the
Desum empowerments. I can still remember it as clear as day.”
Tsewang Norbu was regarded as extremely learned, almost equal to Karmey
Khenpo; but he said this was merely due to spending his early years
with Jamyang Khyentse. He said, “Staying with Khyentse when I
was young made me a wealthy man — rich with teachings.”
He was also a bit eccentric and had a very direct yogi type of personality.
During the first half of his life he was a monk, but Jamyang Khyentse
and Kongtrul took back his vows and he became a ngakpa. He had
two consorts but no sons. I have heard that he later said, “Darn!
I totally missed out in this life; I didn’t get to keep my monk’s
vows nor did I get any children by giving up my vows. I’ve been
a total failure.” Upon hearing remarks like this, other lamas
would often be quite unsettled by his deadpan humor. 
Nor did he ever
listen when a dignitary or high lama told him to do something. Khakyab Dorje asked Tsewang Norbu for the transmissions of the New Treasures,
but was unable to force him to do it. Karmapa is Avalokiteshvara in
the flesh and who wouldn’t rejoice in giving him Chokgyur Lingpa’s
termas as an offering? But Tsewang Norbu never did.
Tsewang Norbu was also a disciple of Paltrul Rinpoche. Once in
Kham, he went up the mountainside for a short stay in a cave with just
a small bag of tsampa. One night there was a heavy snowfall and he was
snowed in for six months. Word went around in Paltrul’s camp
that Tsewang Norbu had perished. Since it was assumed that he couldn’t
have survived, virtuous acts were done in his name. Six months later,
when the snow began to melt, Tsewang Norbu walked into the camp. Someone
asked him, “How is it you didn’t starve to death?”
He replied, “Why would I have starved to death? When I was thirsty
I ate snow and when hungry I ate from my bag of tsampa. Everyday I ate
a spoonful of tsampa. So why would I die when I had tsampa to eat and
water to drink? People don’t die when they have provisions, do
they?” In other words, he wouldn’t admit to a thing. The
truth is he had attained mastery in yoga, and had full control over
the channels and energies. Tsewang Norbu also had amazing clairvoyant
powers, to such an extent that he frightened people.
Once at Riwoche, after conferring the empowerments of the Rinchen
Terdzo,
he continued to transmit the Chokling
Tersar. At that time he told the
lamas present — Tsikey Chokling, Neten Chokling, Samten Gyatso,
and Tersey Tulku — “Don’t search for my reincarnation!
In my next life, I will work on my own for Chokgyur Lingpa’s teachings
automatically. In no way shall you try to find him! Promise me that,
all of you!” So the four of them had to swear not to look for
his tulku.
--extract from Blazing
Splendor, the momoirs of Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche
In Derge, the daughter of the Somo Tsang
family had a son by Chokgyur Lingpa named Tsewang Norbu. Being an incarnation
of Yudra Nyingpo, he became the teaching holder of the Dzogchen Desum.
He was very young when Chokgyur Lingpa conferred the transmission of
the Dzogchen Desum on him. He studied with Jamyang Khyentse, Jamgon
Kongtrul, Mipham Rinpoche and many others and became very learned,
attaining a high level of realization through practice. He stayed in
Neten and Kela Monasteries for a long time, helping them grow. He received
the entire Tersar from Chokling, Khyentse and Kongtrul and passed
it on to others.
He passed on the empowerments of Dzogchen Desum to the second Chokling,
Ngedon Drubpey Dorje. Slowly, he traveled about Tibet with his
consort, visiting Lhasa, Central Tibet and Tsang. He gave many empowerments
and transmissions of the Chokling Tersar and had many disciples. Later,
the king of Bhutan, Orgyen Wangchuk, invited him to Bhutan. Finally
he returned to Tibet. Since he composed many written arrangements for
the New Treasures, he was extremely beneficial in spreading these
teachings. He passed away in Lhasa at the age of 73. Some people still
alive today met him. His life story is quite amazing. Unfortunately
he left no children.
--extracted from "The Life of Chokgyur Lingpa"
as told by Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche
Translated by Tulku Jigmey Khyentse and Erik Pema Kunsang,
1983
