A Brief Story of Vajra Raja—a Great Tibetan Buddhist Master
And the Creation of Vajra Raja —the Organization

Vajra Raja is the Buddhist master’s name in Sanskrit; his Tibetan name is Dorje Gyalpo, or Phamodrupa Dorje Gaylpo.

Phamodrupa Dorje Gyalpo (1110-1170), also known as Deshek Phamo Drupa, was one of Gampopa’s * (1079-1153) most important disciples. He came from the Kham area in Tibet. Before they met, Phamodrupa Dorje Gyalpo was already a learned Buddhist scholar and practitioner - he had learned and practiced all aspects in Buddhism with many renowned Tibetan Buddhist masters - which earned him the name “Khampa Geshe” **. However, he considered Gampopa as his Guru Rinpoche and stayed with him for the last eleven years of Gampopa’s life. Gampopa placed Rinpoche in the highest position of all the sangha and said,” There isn’t a horse tail hair’s difference between Khampa Geshe and I.” thus empowering him to be the master of his lineage of meaning.

Phamodrupa Dorje Gyalpo’s disciples were countless; many of them became great Buddhist accomplishers. Among his disciples, there were five hundred who were worthy of being shaded by parasols ***. Among the five hundred, there were eight who were the most important, and they each established a Kagyu Lineage which is collectively called “The Lineages of the Eight Saints” *. Drikungpa who established Drikung Kagyu was one of them.

It is said that Phamodrupa Dorje Gyalpo resembled Buddha Shakyamuni in that he had the supernatural power to know the distinct karma, capacity and characters of each student; this enabled him to give each of his disciples a unique spiritual guidance, and bring each onto the path of maturation and liberation. The story of Marpa Sherab Sengge **, one of his disciples, is an excellent example.

Phamodrupa Dorje Gyalpo was also a prolific writer whose works cover all aspects of Buddhism. There is a saying in Tibet describing Phamodrupa Dorje Gyalpo: “If you were to write about Phamodrupa Dorje Gyalpo’s Buddhist knowledge using the water of Yarlung Tsangpo, the riverbed would be dry before you finished writing.” Nine hundred years later, the full collection of his works is still amazingly well preserved by the three Kagyu lineages: Dirkung, Drukpa, and Taklung Kagyu.

One of the Vajra Raja’s spiritual teachers, Lamchen Gyalpo Rinpoche dedicated the first two decades of his life to his homeland people in Kham, Tibet. He then dedicated the next four decades to the Tibetan Exile Government, his exiled countrymen, the office of Drikung Kagyu lineage holder H.H. Drikung Kyabgon Rinpoche, and Drikung Kagyu Institute. In addition, he also propagated Tibetan Buddhist Teachings around the world. In 1997, he resigned and moved to the U.S. Since then, he has not only been dedicating most of his time to recovering, compiling, and preserving damaged and existing Tibetan Buddhist Teachings and  works, but also teaching lay people and the sangha. He named the organization Vajra Raja after this great Buddhist master, who was also the emanation of Sugata Krakucchandha ***, and pleads Lord Vajra Raja to bestow his blessing ceaselessly upon the organization so that it can achieve all of its missions without obstacles.
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