Kyabje Pabongka Dechen Nyingpo is by far one of the most influential Gelug lamas of the 20th Century. He arose from almost relative obscurity to become one of the biggest and most influential lamas of his time. The advent of his teachings ushered a whole new spiritual movement centring on the tantric deity Vajrayogini and the Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden, propounded to be the new main protector of the Gelug teachings. The success of Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche’s lineage and teachings is reflected in his numerous luminary disciples that span the breadth of the Gelug lineage, from the highest-ranking tulkus to the most ordinary lay disciples. While stories of his many great tulku disciples are numerous and legendary, not much is known about his many lay disciples. Hence in this essay below, Joona Repo recounts the life and circumstances surrounding one of Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche’s aristocrat disciples, the Lady Lhalu Lhacham Yangdzom Tsering, who is also known as the Lady Lhalu, the Lhacham or simply Yangdzom Tsering. Joona Repo’s account details the rise and fall of one of the most renowned matriarchs of Lhasa at that time, and her spiritual success and great patronage of her beloved guru to whom she was extremely devoted. The family into […]