Mingyur Namkhai (1793-?)

Also known as the Fourth Dzogchen Rinpoche, Mingyur Namkai was one of the most interesting adepts in the Longchen Nyingthig Lineage.

From the time he was an infant he was said to, while beating a drum, recite the Guru Rinpoche mantra and repeat the word Dzogchen over and over again.

He was recognized as the incarnation of the Third Dzogchen Rinpoche at the age of seven, enthroned at Dzogchen Monastery and given the name Jigme Khyentse Wangchuk.

He spent his early life going through the regimen of an incarnate lama, receiving teachings, transmissions and empowerments of the Nyingthig lineage teachings. From the age of twelve, for seven years, he spent at least six months of each year in retreat.

At the age of twenty he met Dodrupchen. One day the master gave him a skull cup filled with beer. Mingyur Namkai drank it even though he was a monk. Instead of getting drunk, all of Dodrupchen's realizations arose in his mind and he lost all discrimination. From then on he had no hope for good or fear of evil and became a renowned adept.

For the rest of his life, he gave teachings and transmissions all the time to any who requested them.