PO Box 6483, Ithaca, NY 14851 607-273-8519 SUMMER 2002 NEWSLETTER & CATALOG SUPPLEMENT TAKLUNG TSETRUL RINPOCHE COMES TO AMERICA prominent TaklungTse monastic Gyaltsen, a personal student of the center affiliated with Thubten Dorje great Dzogchen Khenpo Shenga. Drak, the seat of the Northern Trea- When I was fifteen, the elder Khenpo sure (Jang Ter) Nyingma dharma from Gotsa monastery, who was a tradition. In the 19th century, the personal disciple of the previous great Khenpo Namkha Longyang Dodrak Rigdzin, gave the empower- from Dorje Drak recognized an ordi- ments and transmissions of the Jang nary monk from the monastery as Ter lineage to the current, great the incarnation of Ngok Chosku Dodrak Rigdzin, Namdrol Gyatso. At Dorje. That tulku continued to study that time I most humbly was able to and train as an ordinary monk, and receive most of these empowerments eventually became the Vajracarya of and transmissions, as well as other the monastery. He devoted his whole dzogchen instructions. Re-establishing life to practice and the attainment When I was twenty I received the of superior realization. It is said that complete empowerments and trans- the special protector of Ngok, the missions of the Rinchen Terdzod and Buddhism in Mongolia glorious goddess Dudsolma, pledged others from the previous Shechen her service to him. His reincarnation Rabjam Rinpoche. From the retreat For many centuries Buddhism was forced to join the army or to marry, [Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche is the head also moved up through the ranks master at Mindroling and from the an integral part of Mongolian cul- sent to Siberia or killed. Consequently of the JangTer (Northern Treasure) of the ordinary monks to become previous Lalung Sungtml Rinpoche, ture. Prior to 1921 and the advent they had no teachers. Nyingma lineage, as the throneholder the Acarya, but departed for the I received most empowerments and of communism in Mongolia, Tibet of Dorje Drak (Vajra Rock) monas- pure realms at a young age. The transmissions for the treasures of and Mongolia had strong historic Panchen Otrul Rinpoches tery, one of the six great seats or ninth Dodrak Rigdzin, Choswang Padma Lingpa, and from Golok links. They both followed similar Work in Mongolia "mother" monasteries of the Nyingma Nyamnyid Dorje, in accordance with Chewo Rinpoche I received all the Buddhist lineages and there was art Panchen Otrul Rinpoche, a lama born lineage. He is a holder of all of a meditation vision, identified me as transmissions for the seven great interchange of scholars and monks in Kham [see sidebar on page 2], has the great Kama and Terma tradi- the next rebirth. treasuries and other teachings of between the two countries. especially close links with Mongolia. tions of Nyingma. He is also one of I arrived at Taklung Tse monas- the omniscient Longchen Rabjam. The monastery of Drepung His first teacher was a Mongolian the three foremost holders of the tery and received my first ordination At Dorje Drak I received all of the Gomang facilitated the training of scholar. Rinpoche has a strong wish Nyingma monastic tradition, along when I was five years old, as well as empowerments and transmissions young monks from Mongolia. This to repay the kindness of his first with Trulshig Rinpoche and H.H. the title and enthronment of a tulku. for the higher and lower Jang Ter has recently begun again and young teacher by now helping the Mon- Penor Rinpoche.) When I was eight years old I was treasure teachings, as well as Kama Mongolians monks are travelling to golian people in the desire to re- given my dharma seat at the mother (oral) teachings, and instructions on the re-established Gomang Monas- establish their spiritual heritage. I was born in the central part of monastery Thubten Dorje Drak. I mind nature. I became the Khenpo of tery in India in order to study Dharma Since 1995, he has traveled exten- Tibet, near the famous lake called studied and became proficient in all Dodrak monastery for several years, in the traditional way. sively to remote areas of the country Yardrog where Guru Rinpoche left of the monastic arts and rituals. From and then was requested to return to In 1991, when Mongolia became as well as working in Ulaanbaatar. his handprint, in the Western year the age of fourteen I studied with a my own Taklung monastery. a democratic state, it was to the re- Traveling in Mongolia is a long and 1926. Close to my birthplace, in the lama named Pawo Rinpoche, who On the occasion of the 2500th established Tibetan monasteries in arduous task, but with great enthusi- region known as Taklung, was the was a student of Khenpo Thubten anniversary of the Buddha's para- India that Mongolian Buddhists turned asm and dedication Rinpoche fulfils nirvana I went on pilgrimmage to to for help with the re-establishment as many invitations as he can each India with my family. Circumstances of their monasteries. Most of these had year. He is one of the very few visiting worsened from year to year in Tibet been destroyed during the comnumist Lamas who is able to ordain monks Change Ithaca, PO Snow until it became impossible to remain purges in the 1930s and the monks and give refuge and initiations. He Box there; and so, in 1959, some compan- teaches both monks and lay people Lion ions and I stole away at night, leav- NY at every opportunity. He visits the Senice 6483 ing our homeland, until we reached prisons, the Mongolian oiphanage, 14851 Publications Above photo: Panchen Otrul (front, (Continued on page 23) far left) with Mongolian Buddhists. (Continued on page 2) Requested ESSENTIAL PRACTICE "In presenting the very first medi- Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche tation instruction crafted for Tibet- Teaching on Kamalashila's trea- ans by the master Kamalashila, tises outlining the stages of medita- Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche distills tion, Thrangu Rinpoche explains the wisdom of India in an intimate, the need for compassion and the personal instruction, as true for the way to develop it, the necessity for a contemporary western practitioner bodhisattva's vast and durable altru- as it was in eighth century Tibet. This ism, as well as the means to generate, text is a must for every serious Bud- stabilize, and fortify it, and the ele- dhist meditator."—Judith Simmer- ments key to the meditative practices Brown, Professor of Buddhist Stud- of calm abiding and insight. ies, Naropa University The following is an excerpt from "Centuries ago, the Indian master the chapter "The Selflessness of Phe- Kamalashila taught Tibetans the nomena" from Essential Practice. essential points of Mahayana practice in a clear, step-by-step, and easy-to- In our study of the master follow way. Now, the great scholar Kamalashila's Tlie Stages of by Klienchen Thrangu Rinpoche, and meditation master Khenchen Mcdilalion,we are considering his trans. & intro. by Jules Levinson. Thrangu Rinpoche makes these pro- presentation of the mind turned toward supreme awakening. That ITHACA, 155 pp. #ESPR $14.95 found teachings readily accessible PERMIT U.S. to Western students. I encourage mind has two aspects: conventional PRSRT —Available in September and ultimate, We are now consider- all those interested in beginning PAID POSTAGE ing the ultimate mind of awakening. or deepening their practice of the NY14851 NO. "Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche STD Mahayana path of wisdom and com- Generally, that consists in the way is among the wisest and most com- to meditate upon the selflessness 746 passion which leads to the highest passionate Buddhist masters alive enlightenment for the benefit of all of persons and the way to meditate today."—PEMA CHODRON beings to read this book."—Khenpo (Continued 0)i page 12) kxxM^^i^'hr.JKMKJxiki^t. EWS RE-ESTABLISHING BUDDHISM and spiritually in the future. IN MONGOLIA This is why His Holiness the Continued/mm page 1 Dalai Lama has given his full support to the work of children's camps, nomadic families Panchen Otrul Rinpoche in in their gers (tent homes), and set- Mongolia. His Holiness will tlements in the Gobi. He teaches also be visiting Mongolia increasingly to lay people who bring again this August, which their children for his blessing. They underlines the importance view this as a vital step overcoming he attaches to it. Panchen the many problems they have. In The construction of a 1997, Rinpoche's requested two of facility in Ulaanbaatar is his Tibetan monks to settle in Ulaan- committed to helping two rural settle- urgently needed to provide a firm Otrul baatar in order that this work could ments, as well as individuals in Ulaan- foundation for Rinpoche's Mongolia be ongoing throughout the year. baatar. The Management Committee Project, which is a long-term undertak- It is obvious as he travels in Mon- is made up of five of Rinpoche's ing and will need continuing effort. Rinpoche golia that many Mongolians need Mongolian students who offer the We have raised half the money help even to survive, and poverty benefit of their local knowledge and necessary to complete the building governs the lives of most. Responding wisdom. In 2002 selected families but need a further $130,000 to com- to these needs, Rinpoche now assists are being helped to grow their own plete this stage of the program. The Panchen Otrul Rinpoche was born in Kliam around 1939. In 1951, Mongolians in whatever way he can. vegetables organically as a means of facility will be used for teaching he was taken to Lhasa as a possible re-incarnation of the Panchen The problems and the needs are great improving their diet.