A single thread of wisdom weaves through a dozen remarkable lives—each Gyalwang Drukpa steadily passing the torch of compassion and insight from Tibet’s 12th-century mountains to the modern global stage.

Lineage Holders of the Gyalwang Drukpa
1. Tsangpa Gyare Yeshe Dorje (1161–1211) – founder of the Drukpa Kagyu, famed for the “Nine Dragons” miracle.
2. Chakna Dorje (1209–1270) – solidified monastic foundations at Ralung.
3. Sönam Chörpel (1254–1315) – spread the teachings into Bhutan, laying early roots there.
4. Pagsam Wangpo (1514–1595) – first to bear the formal title “Gyalwang Drukpa,” renowned for scholarly works and establishing the Hemis monastery.
5. Pema Karpo (1527–1592) – “Eminent Lotus,” whose encyclopedic writings still guide practitioners today.
6. Mipham Chögyal (1593–1643) – instrumental in extending Drukpa influence into Ladakh and Sikkim.
7. Shekyong Kunzang Phuntsog (1644–1710) – built the towering fortress-monastery of Tashi Takpo.
8. Ngawang Trinley Dorje (1710–1793) – a bridge between traditional Himalayan practice and the shifting political tides of the 18th century.
9. Sangngag Chopel (1794–1867) – navigated a turbulent era, keeping the lineage alive through turbulent border conflicts.
10. Dorje Tenpa (1868–1905) – revitalized seminaries across Bhutan and eastern Tibet.
11. Jigme Palden Dorje (1906–1952) – witnessed the dawn of modernity, fostering unity among scattered Drukpa communities.
12. Ogyen Kunzang Chökyi Nyima (b. 1963) – today’s Gyalwang Drukpa, blending ancient practice with 21st-century activism.

Today’s Gyalwang Drukpa carries forward a legacy that doesn’t just rest on its laurels. A familiar face at global climate forums—most recently at COP28—this incarnation has spearheaded the Karma Surf environmental initiative, literally riding waves to raise awareness for ocean health. Scholarly debates at Harvard, pilgrimage treks in the Himalayas, community kitchens in Leh and Kathmandu: all flow from a single well of compassion first tapped by Tsangpa Gyare more than eight centuries ago.