Yungtön Dorjepel

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Yungtön Dorjepel, also known as G.yung ston rdo rje dpa, was born in 1284 in Gorma near Shalu Monastery in Tsang, western Tibet. He came from the Len clan, a family of tantric priests.

As a young man, he went to China by order of the emperor and, after a long drought, helped bring rain. He studied the Kalachakra teachings with Putön Rinpoche and practiced esoteric instructions, especially Dzogchen, inspired by Rangjung Dorje, the 3rd Karmapa.

He taught and lived in several places, including Paro in Bhutan, Phungpo Riwoche, and Ratam Trak. He died in 1365.

In the Panchen Lama lineage, there were said to be four Indian and three Tibetan incarnations of Amitābha before Khedrup Gelek Pelzang, the 1st Panchen Lama. The lineage begins with Subhuti, one of the original disciples of the Buddha. Yungtön Dorjepel is regarded as the final Tibetan incarnation of Amitābha before the Panchen Lamas.