Lama Yeshé Dorje Rinpoche’s Proclamation

This “proclamation” letter by Lama Yeshe Dorje Rinpoche authorized his student, Ngakpa Chögyam, as a tantric lama (“root guru”). It also appointed Ngakpa Chögyam as his “vajra regent.” (A vajra regent acts on behalf of a lama when the lama is unable, due to being elsewhere, dead, or—after rebirth—too young.) Ngakpa Chögyam is now known as Ngak’chang Rinpoche, one of the Aro lamas.

This was written in 1983, when Rinpoche intended Ngakpa Chögyam to set up a center for him in Britain. To do that, Ngakpa Chögyam would need clear authorization to act as Rinpoche’s representative. (The center never happened.)

The proclamation also confirms Düdjom Rinpoche’s approval of Ngakpa Chögyam’s own organization, Sang-ngak-chö-dzong, which remains the principal legal institution of the Aro lineage.

Lama Yeshé Dorje Rinpoche’s letterhead gives his name as “Khamtral Yeshi Dorje.” As is common for Tibetan Lamas, he had several names that he used at different times or according to context. This name is more commonly spelled “Khamtrül Yeshe Dorje” (as on this page). There is no standard way of spelling Tibetan words in English. The letterhead was probably designed by a Hindi-speaking typesetter, who would hear Khamtrül as Khamtral and Yeshe as Yeshi. The seal shows the more common spelling.

You can click here or on the letter to see a larger, color version. There is also a high-resolution black and white scan.