H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche, Jigdral Yeshe Dorje (1904–1987), stands as one of the foremost masters of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism. Born in the sacred region of Pemakö in southeastern Tibet, he was recognized as the reincarnation of Dudjom Lingpa, a renowned nineteenth‑century tertön, and was also regarded as the direct incarnation of Düddul Dorje. From an early age he received extensive training in Nyingma doctrine, tantra, and practice, and became known as a scholar, yogi, tertön, poet, and meditation master. After the Chinese occupation of Tibet, he fled into exile and eventually settled in India, later establishing important centers in Nepal and France. Throughout his life he played a pivotal role in preserving and transmitting the Nyingma teachings, particularly in the context of the Tibetan diaspora.

His spiritual identity is inseparable from his role within the Nyingma lineage, the oldest of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. He was widely regarded as the supreme head, or throne holder, of the Nyingma tradition from around the 1960s until his passing, serving as a central figure in both the “Old Treasures” (Kama) and “New Treasures” (Terma) currents of the school. As the principal lineage holder of the Dudjom Tersar, a cycle of revealed teachings and practices originating with Dudjom Lingpa and further revealed and arranged by himself, he came to embody a living bridge between ancient transmissions and newly revealed treasures. He also maintained and transmitted multiple Nyingma lineages, especially those related to Dzogchen, and received transmissions from other Tibetan Buddhist schools as well, reflecting a breadth of training that did not dilute but rather deepened his Nyingma identity.

His legacy extends through both his writings and his living lineage. He authored a definitive history of the Nyingma school and composed numerous ritual texts, prayers, and practice manuals, while also being renowned for his mastery of poetry and traditional Tibetan arts. At the same time, he established Dharma centers in various countries and trained many Tibetan and Western disciples, who continue to uphold and transmit his teachings. His family line and his recognized reincarnation, Dudjom Yangsi Rinpoche, further sustain the Dudjom lineage, ensuring that the Dudjom Tersar and the wider Nyingma transmissions he held remain vibrant and accessible to practitioners seeking the Great Perfection path.