H.H. Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche
Exerpt from the Autobiography of Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche

I was born in the central part of Tibet, near the famous lake called Yardrog where Guru Rinpoche left his handprint, in the Western year 1926. Close to my birthplace, in the region known as Taklung, was the prominent TaklungTse monastic center affiliated with Thubten Dorje Drak, the seat of the Northern Treasure (Cang Ter) Nyingma dharma tradition (Northern Treasure). In the 19th century, the great Khenpo Namkha Longyang from Dorje Drak recognized an ordinary monk from the monastery as the incarnation of Ngok Choku Dorje. That tulku continued to study and train as an ordinary monk, and eventually became the Vajracarya of the monastery. He devoted his whole life to practice and the attainment of superior realization. It is said that the special protector of Ngok, the glorious goddess Dudsolma, pledged her service to him. His reincarnation also moved up through the ranks of the ordinary monks to become the Acarya, but departed for the pure realms at a young age. The ninth Dodrak Rigdzin, Chowang Nyamnyid Dorje, in accordance with a meditation vision, identified me as the next rebirth.
I arrived at Taklung Tse monastery and received my first ordination when I was five years old, as well as the title and enthronement of a tulku. When I was eight years old I was given my dharma seat at the mother monastery Thubten Dorje Drak. I studied and became proficient in all of the monastic arts and rituals. From the age of fourteen I studied with a lama named Pawo Rinpoche, who was a student of Khenpo Thubten Gyaltsen, a personal student of the great Dzogchen Khenpo Shenga. When I was fifteen, the elder Khenpo from Gotsa monastery, who was a personal disciple of the previous Dodrak Rigdzin, gave the empowerments and transmissions of the Cang Ter lineage to the current, great Dodrak Rigdzin, Namdrol Gyatso. At that time I most humbly was able to receive most of these empowerments and transmissions, as well as other dzog chen instructions.
When I was twenty I received the complete empowerments and transmissions of the Rinchen Terdzod and others from the previous Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche. From the retreat master at Mindroling and from the previous Lalung Sungtrul Rinpoche, I received most empowerments and transmissions for the treasures of Padma Lingpa, and from Golok Chewo Rinpoche I received all the transmissions for the seven great treasuries and other teachings of the omniscient Longchen Rabjam. At Dorje Drak I received all of the empowerments and transmissions for the higher and lower Cang Ter treasure teachings, as well as Kama (oral) teachings, and instructions on mind nature. I became the Khenpo of Dodrak monastery for several years, and then was requested to return to my own Taklung monastery.
On the occasion of the 2500th anniversary of the Buddha’s parinirvana I went on pilgrimage to India with my family. Circumstances worsened from year to year in Tibet until it became impossible to remain there; and so, in 1959, some companions and I stole away at night, leaving our homeland, until we reached India, making our way to Sikkim, where I stayed for 2 years. At Rumtek monastery I received the empowerments and transmissions of the Treasury of Oral Instructions and Kagyu Mantra Treasury from the great 16th Holiness Gyalwa Karmapa. In Kalimpong, I received the entire empowerments and transmissions of the Great Terma Treasury and the Nyingma Kama, as well as some of the dharma treasures of Dudjom Lingpa, from Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche. In Bhutan, from Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche I received transmissions for the collected teachings of Mipham Rinpoche, and empowerments and transmissions for the Heart Essence of Longchenpa, and other dzog chen practices and tantras.
Later I went to a new Tibetan refugee settlement in Shimla, India, where in the years that followed I worked with the community, local and state government officials, and the office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to found a new Dorje Drak monastic seat in exile, to preserve, foster and expand the teachings of the Cang Ter lineage, since Thubten Dorje Drak monastery in Tibet had been completely destroyed. Today there are almost 80 monks there, and several in retreat.
I have offered the Cang Ter, and other dharma empowerments and transmissions at the direction of prominent lamas of different lineages at various monasteries in Bhutan, India and Nepal, including Namkhai Nyingpo Rinpoche in Bhutan, Kyabje Penor Rinpoche in Mysore, and Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche at Shechen monastery in Nepal. Otherwise, I continually give instructions, empowerments or transmissions on the preliminary and main practices, as are suited to the needs of whomever comes to request dharma teachings.

Changling Rinpoche

In 1985, Changling Rinpoche was recognized by both Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and Penor Rinpoche as the main tulku of Changchub Ling Nyingmapa Monastery in Central Tibet. Rinpoche was enthroned at the
age of ten and admitted into Shechen Monastery in Nepal, where he received teachings and transmissions from Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and ordination from Trulshik Rinpoche. When Rinpoche was twelve years old, he entered Shechen philosophical college and completed his studies at
the age of twenty. He has continued to teach at the college
while at the same time studying with Trulshik Rinpoche, Rabjam Rinpoche, Dodrupchen Rinpoche, Penor Rinpoche and Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche. The Changling tulkus have been associated with the Nyingma lineage known as Northern Treasures for almost seven hundred years. Before Dordrak Rigzen Chenpo IV, Pema Trinley united the three main practice traditions, the Changling Tulkus were head of the Northern Treasures branch which originated from Rigzen Godem’s consort.

In 1998, while Dorje Drak Monastery sponsored the Nyingma Monlam, the lamas of the Northern
Treasure lineage met at Boudhgaya, India. They unanimously agreed that Changling Rinpoche would be the future head of the Northern Treasure lineage. In addition, Changling Rinpoche's last instruction from H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche was to take care of the Northern Treasures.

Rinpoche was warmly received when he began to travel outside Nepal, starting with Australia in 2002. His youthful
enthusiasm combined with his amazing knowledge of Buddhist doctrine made his teachings an enriching experience for all who attended.

His activities in Canada are currently centered in Vancouver, British Columbia. In the US he visits both coasts: In California, Santa Cruz, California and the New York area. He also visits Australia, Germany and the UK regularly.