Within the Nyingma tradition, certain figures stand out as luminous sources of transmission and inspiration. Foremost among them is Padmasambhava, often called Guru Rinpoche, the tantric master who is regarded as central to the establishment of Buddhism, and specifically the Nyingma school, in Tibet. Alongside him, Śāntarakṣita appears as the great Indian abbot and scholar who helped found Samyé Monastery and laid philosophical and monastic foundations. Vimalamitra, another Indian master, is closely associated with the early transmission of Dzogchen teachings to Tibet, shaping the contemplative heart of the tradition. Yeshe Tsogyal, Padmasambhava’s main consort, is revered as a highly realized female master whose life embodies devotion, realization, and the preservation of esoteric instructions.

The early Dzogchen lineage is further illuminated by figures such as Garab Dorje and Mañjushrimitra, regarded as key human holders of this profound contemplative stream. Over time, the tradition of treasure revelation (gter ma) became a distinctive hallmark of Nyingma, with masters like Nyangrel Nyima Özer and Guru Chöwang recognized as pioneering treasure revealers. Rigdzin Gödem, known for the Northern Treasures, and Jigme Lingpa, whose revelations formed the Longchen Nyingtik cycle, exemplify how hidden teachings periodically emerge to revitalize practice. These tertöns are seen not merely as discoverers of texts, but as visionaries who reconnect practitioners with the living intent of Padmasambhava and the early masters.

On the level of philosophical and literary articulation, Longchen Rabjam, or Longchenpa, stands as a towering figure who systematized and clarified Dzogchen and broader Nyingma thought, authoring many influential works. In a later era, Ju Mipham (Mipham Rinpoche) revitalized Nyingma scholasticism, composing authoritative treatises on philosophy and practice that continue to shape study and reflection. Patrul Rinpoche, renowned as a wandering master and author, gave the tradition a deeply practical and accessible voice, especially through his guidance on the stages of the path. Together, these scholars and yogins demonstrate how rigorous analysis and direct contemplative experience can mutually illuminate one another.

In more recent generations, the continuity and renewal of Nyingma have been carried by masters such as Dudjom Rinpoche, who served as the supreme head of the school and compiled important tantric collections, and Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, an influential teacher and lineage holder of central Nyingma transmissions. Figures like Dodrupchen Jikme Trinle Özer and Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok further exemplify the living dynamism of the lineage, nurturing both intensive practice and broad-based education. When viewed together, these masters form a tapestry in which founding adepts, treasure revealers, philosophers, and modern teachers each play a distinct yet harmonious role, ensuring that the Nyingma vision remains both rooted in its origins and responsive to the needs of practitioners across time.