H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III has been recognized by the most highly realized practitioners of Buddhism as the third incarnation of the original Buddha- Dorje Chang Buddha. Dorje Chang Buddha is the teacher of all buddhas–past and future–including the buddha of our current era, The Most Honored One, Shakyamuni Buddha. Only one other time, did this great holy being incarnate in this world and that was as the layman, Ven. Vimalakirti, at the time of Shakyamuni Buddha. The Vimalakirti Sutra documents His teachings at that time. Other sources such as The Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism: Its Fundamentals and History by the former leader of the Nyingma Sect, Dharma King Dudjom Rinpoche also talk about the role of Vimalakirti in bringing others to help propagate the true Dharma.