The Kela Chokling - Tsikey Chokling

Extracted from "The Life of Chokgyur Lingpa" as told by Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche

When Chokgyur Lingpa passed away his sons had no children, so the two Jamgons felt reincarnation was necessary. The second Chokgyur Lingpa, Konchok Tenpey Gyaltsen, was then found and recognized. He was from Derge and his family name was Kyensa. Placing him on a high throne one day, the two Jamgons invoked the wisdom aspect of Chokgyur Lingpa in the sky, which then dissolved into the boy, blessing him to be inseparable from Chokgyur Lingpa. Konchok Tenpey Gyaltsen then had the same mind stream as Chokgyur Lingpa. On the day of his enthronement many rainbows appeared and a rain of flowers fell.
Jamyang Khyentse was his actual root teacher and he also received many teachings from Jamgon Kongtrul and other lamas. After he had attained a good education, the two Jamgons said, “Go to Kela. Most of your work is there. You also have termas,” they continued asking him, “Do you want to continue the teachings of the previous Chokling or would you like to find your own termas?” “I will continue the previous Chokling’s teachings,” he answered, pleasing the two Jamgons. “We hoped that would be your answer,” they said. “Whether you build an earthen temple at Kela or a temple of gold anywhere else the merit will be equal.” Then they sent him off.
At Kela he met Wangchok Dorje and they worked together, expanding the temples, the practice center and shrines and then making statues. Kela Chokling had wood blocks for more than 30 volumes of the Tersar teachings carved. He performed the Chokling drubchens and many dances, and also gave many teachings. Dzongsar Khyentse Chokyi Lodro received many empowerments and transmissions from him. Once during a medicine drubchen the medicine all turned into self-appeared statues of Guru Rinpoche. He recited more than 100,000,000 Vajra Guru mantras and was considered by people to be perfect at everything.
Due to fighting between Tibet and China, the Chinese army once arrested him and put him in chains. Thinking he would die, he prayed to Jamyang Khyentse. Jamyang Khyentse appeared, the size of a mountain, in a vision and said, “Today you need not fear.” Chokling then spoke to the Chinese soldiers: “I don’t want to see ordinary soldiers, take me to your highest ranking official.” They took him to the highest official. After their conversation, the official liked Kela Chokling and asked him to act as conciliator between China and Tibet. Chokling agreed and arranged for a meeting between the heads of China and Tibet; both countries respected him for this. He later made a pilgrimage to Central Tibet.
He benefited the tradition of Chokgyur Lingpa greatly. Had he not had the wood blocks of the Tersar carved, these teachings would probably be almost nonexistent today. At the base of Kela mountain he established a retreat center. In the later part of his life, he reached the level in Maha Ati called the exhaustion of dharmata.
When my father met Kela Chokling as a boy, Chokling recognized him as one of the Chokling tulkus and gave him many teachings. He always used to say, “When I die, I will be reborn in Yarlung, the most delightful place in all of Tibet.” He lived to an old age, passing away at seventy-five.

Kela Chokling’s reincarnation was born in Yarlung near the seat of Jigmey Lingpa, and was recognized by the Karmapa. The tulku was then taken to Kela and enthroned. He studied very hard and everyone hoped he would become a great lama. Because of inauspicious events and things going against his wishes, however, he passed away at the age of thirteen.

This tulku again had two reincarnations. One, born at Tinglung in Derge, was recognized by Khyentse Chokyi Lodro and taken to Kela Monastery to be enthroned. Just after that, the Chinese took over Tibet and he went to Derge. He presently stays at Kela under the Chinese occupation.

At Tsurphu, the 16th Karmapa, Rigpey Dorje, recognized another incarnation of Kela Chokling, the second son of Tulku Urgyen, called Lungtok Gyatso. After arriving in India, he was enthroned at Rumtek Monastery and given the name Dewey Dorje. He has completed many studies. This tulku of Kela Chokling is not an ordinary person and has had many visions of Guru Rinpoche. At times he gives very reliable predictions. I think that he is a true incarnate terton and I have complete confidence that he is a tulku of Chokgyur Lingpa in the Kela lineage. He is married to Dechen Paldron, a daughter of the Terdhe family and they have two sons. One son has been recognized as the tulku of Dilgo Khyentse. Everyone now puts great hopes in this new son.

Extracted from The Life of Chokgyur Lingpa as told by Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche

Translated by Tulku Jigmey Khyentse and Erik Pema Kunsang, 1983