Phakchok Rinpoche visits Lerab Ling

Phakchok Rinpoche, the Supreme Head of the Taklung Kagyu lineage, recently visited Lerab Ling for the first time.

Phakchok Rinpoche is the abbot of a monastery in Chapagaon in the southern Kathmandu Valley, and the Head of Riwoche Monastery in Tibet.

The recently reconstructed Riwoche monastery in Tibet. The original monastery was destroyed in the early 1950's.

Phakchok Rinpoche is the grandson of Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche and the eldest brother of the Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche. His father is Tsikey Chokling Rinpoche. Recognised by the Kagyü regents and ordained by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Phakchok Rinpoche studied with a number of great lamas, including Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Dudjom Rinpoche, Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, Penor Rinpoche, Trulshik Rinpoche and Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche.

He completed in seven years the traditional nine-year curriculum of Buddhist philosophy at the Dzongsar Institute of Advanced Buddhist Studies, in Bir, India and received the khenpo title from the Dalai Lama and H.E. Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche.

During his brief visit to Lerab Ling, Rinpoche taught the Three Year Retreatants and local sangha, as well as the children in the Rigpe Yeshe program.


He also addressed students in the Rigpa Youth group, a new project that brings together young members of the Rigpa Sangha, who range in age from late teens to early thirties.

Phakchok Rinpoche, who is only 28 years old himself, showed a remarkably good understanding of young people in the modern world and was able to give invaluable advice, including how to deal with parents who do not support their children following the Dharma, to how to practise while watching a movie or when you're at a party.


(Photos courtesy of Jurek Schreiner Bart de Natris & www.phakchokrinpoche.org)

Tenga Rinpoche visits Lerab Ling

Tenga Rinpoche arriving at the Lerab Ling Temple.
Jikme Khyentse Rinpoche is standing behind

This week, Lerab Ling and the Three Year Retreatants were extremely fortunate to host H.E. Tenga Rinpoche.

His visit coincided with Guru Rinpoche's birthday (2 July 2009) and he practised with the sangha after his teaching.

Teaching in the Lerab Ling Temple

Tenga Rinpoche was recognised as the incarnation of Lama Tendzin Chögyal by the previous Tai Situ Rinpoche, Pema Wangchok Gyalpo, at the age of seven. He was given the name Karma Tenzin Trinlé Pal Sangpo at the age of 19, when he received his full ordination vows. He received extensive and thorough Buddhist training and education at Benchen Monastery from the Ninth Benchen Sangyé Nyenpa Rinpoche, Karma Shedrup Tenpe Nyima, and at Palpung Monastery from Tai Situ Rinpoche and Karse Kongtrul.

He studied all the tantric rituals and philosophy with many different masters. From his uncle he learned about traditional Tibetan medicine and he completed his studies with a three-year retreat.

Tenga Rinpoche is also an expert in mandala painting and sculpture.

In 1959, after the Chinese invasion, he left Tibet and, after spending one and a half years in Kalimpong, he settled in Rumtek Monastery in Sikkim, the main seat of the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa. There he served the Karmapa for 17 years, the last nine years of which he acted as dorje lopön (vajra master). In 1974 he accompanied the Karmapa on his first tour to America and Europe.

Since 1976, Tenga Rinpoche has been living in Swayambhu, Nepal, where he founded Benchen Phuntsok Dargyeling Monastery. He also founded a retreat centre in Pharping. Since 1978, he has been touring Europe extensively, and has centres in Poland, Italy and Germany.

Tenga Rinpoche is one of the few living meditation masters who hold the still unbroken lineage of the Karma Kagyu tradition.

In 1982 he accompanied Kyabjé Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche when he visited the Rigpa centre in London.

This week's visit to Lerab Ling was his first visit to a Rigpa centre since then.

Tenga Rinpoche in London, 1982.



(Photos courtesy of Heinz Nowotny and www.rigpawiki.org)

Tibetan Anniversary of Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö

According to the Tibetan calendar, today (28 June) is the 50th Anniversary of the great twentieth century master, Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö.

Here's a new, wonderful short film about Jamyang Khyentse's life, courtesy of Remembering the Masters:



The Rigpa Sangha will be celebrating the anniversary today in centres around the world.

The Irish Times: The Art of Living and Dying

A quiet revolution in how we approach death is taking place in a Buddhist retreat centre on the Beara peninsula in Co Cork, writes MIRIAM MULCAHY.

Click here to check out this article in today's Irish Times.

Terchen Chokgyur Lingpa Remembered

In this week of anniversaries of great nineteenth and twentieth century Tibetan Buddhist masters, today marks the anniversary of Chokgyur Lingpa (1829-1870), one of the most famous treasure revealers (tertön) of Tibet.

A contemporary of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo and Jamgön Kongtrul, Chokgyur Lingpa was one of the major tertöns in Tibetan history, whose termas (revealed treasures) are widely practiced by both the Kagyu and Nyingma schools of Tibetan Buddhism.

In fact, one of the most familiar prayers among Rigpa's daily practices is a terma revelation of Chokgyur Lingpa - The Prayer to Guru Rinpoche for Removing Obstacle and Fulfilling Wishes, known simply as Du Sum Sangye.

Chokgyur Lingpa's amazing life story is vividly recounted by his great-grandson Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche in the book Blazing Splendor.

Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö's Fiftieth Anniversary - Photos from Lerab Ling

Here are a couple of photos from yesterday's celebration of Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö's 50th anniversary at Lerab Ling.

Sogyal Rinpoche teaching

Sogyal Rinpoche, Khandro Tsering Chödrön and Mayum Tsering Wangmo

(Photos courtesy of Jurek Schreiner)