Why in news?

Buddhist sect finds ‘reincarnation’ of famous Taklung Setrung Rinpoche, a scholar known for his knowledge of Tibetan Tantric school from spiti valley

Highlights

• Discovery from Spiti with its cultural connection with Tibet was indicative of the contest over iconic Buddhist figures in the Himalayan ranges

About Nyingma sect

• It is the oldest of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism
• The school is founded on the first lineages and translations of Buddhist scriptures from Sanskrit into Tibetan in the eighth century,
• It was founded during the reign of King Trisong Detsen
• Teachings to trace back to the first Buddha Samantabhadra and Indian mahasiddhas such as Garab Dorje, Sri Siṃha and Jnanasutra.
• First monastery : Samye, Tibet.
• Ngagpas: Teachings having been passed down through networks of lay practitioners
• Termas: Important tradition of discovering and revealing “hidden treasure texts”

Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche

• He was a Tibetan lama and the Supreme Head of the Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism.
• Received the highest Dzogchen(Finding the ultimate ground of existence) teachings
• Direct disciple of Khenpo Ngakchung.