Holy body of khabje 4th Dodrupchen Rinpoche enshrined in stupa at Sikkim

Holy body of khabje 4th Dodrupchen Rinpoche enshrined in stupa at Sikkim Kyabjé Dodrupchen Rinpoche (1927–2022) was one of the most revered and important contemporary masters of the Nyingma and Dzogchen (Great Perfection) traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. He was the fourth incarnation in the line of the Dodrupchen line—a lineage of "Great Adepts from the Do Valley"—and served as the primary custodian of the Longchen Nyingtik (The Heart Essence of the Vast Expanse) cycle of teachings.  1. Lineage and Recognition The Dodrupchen line of incarnations traces its origins back to Prince Murum Tsenpo (the son of the 8th-century Dharma King Trisong Detsen).  The First Dodrupchen (Jigme Trinle Özer): The heart-disciple of Jigme Lingpa, who revealed the Longchen Nyingtik cycle.  The Fourth Dodrupchen (Thubten Trinle Palzang): Born in 1927 in the Golok province of Eastern Tibet, he was recognized at age four by the Fifth Dzogchen Rinpoche and formally enthroned at the Dodrupchen Monastery. His root guru, Yukhok Chatralwa Choying Rangdrol, once famously remarked of him: "Among hundreds of students who practice the Dzogchen, there is no one greater than you, my son."  2. Legacy and Monasteries Following his escape from Tibet to India in 1957, Rinpoche settled in Gangtok, Sikkim, which became his primary seat.  Preserving Sacred Texts: He dedicated vast energy to printing, distributing, and saving crucial Tibetan texts, including Longchenpa’s Seven Treasuries and Trilogy of Finding Comfort and Ease.  Global Presence: He established the Mahasiddha Nyingmapa Center in Massachusetts, USA, in 1973, and traveled frequently to teach in Britain, France, and Switzerland.  Character: He was celebrated worldwide by high lamas and ordinary devotees alike for an incredibly humble, quiet, and unassuming demeanor that was matched by an immense, unmistakable spiritual presence.  3. Parinirvana and Final Resting Place Kyabjé Dodrupchen Rinpoche entered into parinirvana (passing away) on January 25, 2022, in Sikkim at the age of 95. Following his passing, he remained in the state of Thukdam—a profound, post-mortem meditative state practiced by highly realized masters.  Instead of traditional cremation, his Kudung (sacred body) was carefully preserved. In May 2026, thousands of monks, devotees, and state dignitaries participated in a grand traditional ceremonial procession through Gangtok to permanently enshrine his holy remains inside a specially prepared Golden Reliquary Stupa at the Deorali Chorten Gonpa monastery.