Regarded as one of the major tertöns in Tibetan history, his termas are widely practiced by both the Kagyu and Nyingma schools.

Chokgyur Lingpa was the "manifestation," meaning the reincarnation, of King Trisong Deutsen's son, Prince Damdzin.

One of the reasons for this is that no other terton has revealed a teaching that includes the Space Section (Longdé) of Dzogchen.

Chokgyur Lingpa's main consort was Dechen Chodron (Lady Degah) and Padmasambhava predicted that his three children would be emanations of the three family lords: Avalokiteshvara, Manjushri and Vajrapani.

[3][4] This lineage traces back to Trisong Detsen, the Tibetan king who invited Padmasambhava to Tibet.