Dhardo Rinpoche (Thubten Lhundup Legsang), 1918-1990, was the 12th in a line of tulkus from Dhartsendo in Eastern Tibet. After Sangharakshita had known Rinpoche for nearly ten years and had come to revere him as a living Bodhisattva, he requested the bestowal of the Bodhisattva Ordination which Rinpoche gave on 12th October 1962. Dhardo Rimpoche was eager that Sangharakshita return to the West to spread the Dharma, describing him as ‘a very big spiritual person’. He subsequently always felt a strong link to the Triratna Buddhist Order, even regarding Sangharakshita’s disciples (many of whom he met) as disciples of his own.