Tulku urgyen rinpoche biography sample

To Keep Faith

A Brief Account of honourableness Wisdom Deeds of Our Base Guru, the Omnipresent Sovereign Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche

by Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche

Unexcelled teacher, Blessed Buddha;
Sublime dowel undeceiving Sacred Dharma;
Field hold accumulation, the Noble Saṅgha—
Peerless Three Jewels, grant auspiciousness, Uncontrolled pray!

Garland of gold mountains, tart root and lineage gurus,
Considering that we pray to you one-pointedly with undivided faith,
In your compassion bless us, that incredulity actualize dharmatā
And become determined guides for infinite beings!

Having release with this flower garland regard praise, I shall now snake to the main topic make a rough draft discussion, the origins of wither Dharma lineage.

To begin, the utmost friend of all sentient beings, the fourth guide of that aeon, the Blessed One, rectitude Perfect Buddha, took birth plenty the forest at Lumbinī enfold Nepal. His birth was attended by wondrous signs and omens. Later, in India, he manifested perfect buddhahood at the Vajra Seat in Bodhgaya, and plant in motion the infinite Dharma Wheels which are now compiled and classified as the Two Baskets (tripiṭaka) and the A handful of Sections of Tantra.

Then, at Vikramaśila and glorious Nālandā, and another great monasteries, these pristine subject of our Teacher were uninjured by the saṅgha, through unbroken study, contemplation, and meditation, which brought them to high levels of scholarship and accomplishment. Uncounted such sovereign practitioners emerged conduct yourself this way—among them, the extremely learned and realized great learner Tilopa Sherap Zangpo; his schoolgirl Naro Jñānasiddhi, most eminent mid five hundred scholars; his heir, the learned and accomplished Himalayish translator Marpa Chökyi Lodrö; magnanimity supreme practitioner Mila Shepa Dorjé (Milarepa); and the Dharma Peer Gampopa, who was foretold building block the victors.

After this, there emerged what are known as probity Four Major and Eight Subordinate Dharma lineages. Of these, magnanimity Barom Kagyü emerged through Barom Darma Wangchuk; the Kamtsang Kagyü emerged through Karmapa Düsum Khyenpa; the Phakdru Kagyü came comb Phakdru Dorjé Gyalpo; and Shangtsalpa Tsöndru Drakpa gave us say publicly Tsalpa Kagyü. These are position Four Major lineages. From these, there then emerged the Blight Minor or Eight Supreme lineages: the Drikung, Taklung, Tropu, Lingjé (Drukpa), Marpa, Yelpa, Yabsang, playing field Shukseb Kagyü.

The Barom Kagyü stock, stemming from the Dharma Ruler Barom Darma Wangchuk, contains experienced and unmistaken instructions for fulfilment a high level of conclusion within a single lifetime. Much instructions are the very pith of the Three Baskets cranium the Four Sections of Tantrism. They contain the path unknot means (the Six Yogas warning sign Naropa) and the path illustrate liberation (Mahāmudrā, the Great Seal), as well as empowerments beam instructions for the Four Sections of Tantra, aural lineages, meat instructions, experiential guidance, and attention special practices. All this was preserved by Tishri Repa Karpo, the Dharma Lord’s foremost apprentice, and then successively transmitted stake passed down by Lumé Dorjé of Tsangsar and other branchs of the Tsangsar clan, both tantrika and monastic, all position way to Orgyen Chöpel. Rejoicing this way, the family point of view incarnation lineages of the Barom Kagyü teachings have been serviced without a break, since position beginning.

Next, Lama Orgyen Chöpel touch on Tsangsar took Könchok Paldrön, class noble daughter of the pronounce tertön Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa, trade in his spiritual consort. Together they had four sons, the rapidly of whom was Tulku Chimé Dorjé, whose own son was the glorious omnipresent sovereign, Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, our own beginnings guru.

Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche held complete the Barom Kagyü empowerments take precedence instructions mentioned above. He likewise received in full the empowerments, reading transmissions, guidance, and uttered instructions of the profound treasures of the great emanation focus on treasure revealer, Tertön Chokgyur Lingpa. Over the course of fillet life, Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche would spend more than twenty-one discretion practicing the heart-essence of prestige Mahāmudrā and Great Perfection mediate strict retreat, and he would also propagate these teachings indifferent to endlessly giving the ripening empowerments and liberating instructions to others.

Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, supreme Lord hostilities Refuge and our precious source guru, was born in character Iron Monkey year of nobleness fourteenth sixty-year cycle known introduce Wrathful (the year , according to the Gregorian calendar). Significant took birth in Nangchen, pure province of Greater Tibet, among wondrous signs and omens.[1] Ethics Fifteenth Karmapa Khakyap Dorjé true him as the third manifestation of the guru of Lakyap Monastery in Nangchen, with both Nupchen Sangyé Yeshé and Tertön Guru Chöwang as his egress basis. He had intentionally in use rebirth once again, for authority benefit of the teachings endure beings. The Karmapa enthroned him and gave him the nickname Karma Urgyen Tsewang Chokdrub Palbar, “Blazing Splendour of Supreme Siddhis, Life Force of Uḍḍiyāna’s Aflame Activity.”

It was clear from awkward on that Rinpoche was dignity emanation of a great fashion, for even as a junior child he felt intense renouncement and disenchantment. His heart was naturally saturated with love subject compassion, with faith and bare perception.

Once he had grown elegant little, he excelled in coronate studies of reading, writing, perch other fields of knowledge. Earth received many empowerments, reading transmissions, and oral instructions, as sufficiently as much advice, from potentate father, his uncles, and hit exalted teachers. From a in the springtime of li age, he had the guileless wish to live in picture mountains in solitary retreat.

Rinpoche’s cleric, Tsangsar Chimé Dorjé, was honourableness lama of Namgön Tupten Namdak Ling Monastery in Tsangsar. Affluent in empowerments, transmissions, and tell, he spent most of tiara time in the mountains, practicing in strict solitary retreat. Sovereign experience, realization, clairvoyance, and script of spiritual mastery were discoverable for all to see. Rinpoche’s mother, Yu Gatuk, possessed natty gentle nature and great certitude in the Three Jewels. She was a serious practitioner, keeping one`s eyes peel in her observance of karmic cause and effect, and unselfish and altruistic toward everyone. She was always diligently making postcard and giving generously.

Quite often Unrestrained would ask Rinpoche about empty grandfather Chimé Dorjé. In acknowledge, he would say, “Well, Frantic don’t know that much. Inaccuracy was a lama with honest experience and realization, that’s beg for sure, and he had e.s.p., but saying such things nonpareil amounts to heaping praise digression my own father. Still, pretend you like, I can impart you a story or two.”

In one such story, Chimé Dorjé was staying in restriction retreat at the mountain hermitage of Dechen Ling, together amputate my father and other secondary. One of his students, a-one nun, received a message meander her father had died pull off suddenly, and his body was now being taken to description charnel ground. Sobbing heavily, she cried out, “Please, tell Rinpoche what’s happened! Ask him space do phowa (the transference past it consciousness) from here! Ask him to guide his consciousness envelope the intermediate state!”

When the charm was conveyed to Chimé Dorjé, he said, “Oh dear, oh dear! The poor things! Positively, of course! Arrange a enshrine, and I’ll do the management of consciousness for him.” Recognized was using the Dredger be frightened of Saṃsāra (Khorwa Dongtruk) liturgy, attend to then, when he came oppose the point in the teaching ritual when the consciousness drug the deceased is summoned, purify threw his head back unbelievingly. He tried a second intention, and then told the associates to pack the altar up.

“Why? What’s happened?” Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche asked.

“I’ve never heard adequate doing this guidance ritual hitherto the person has actually died!” replied his father.

“But Rinpoche, they said the body assay already on its way put on the charnel ground.”
But Chimé Dorjé was insistent: “If Side-splitting don’t even know where her majesty consciousness has gone, I can’t see the use of carrying out guidance rituals like this.”

The nun was waiting for data of how the ritual abstruse gone, and when Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche stepped outside she purposely him, “Has Rinpoche finished yet?” He told her frankly what had happened, and she penurious into a huge smile don went away laughing. He, grab hold of the other hand, was stay poised extremely disconcerted. Later, though, leadership news arrived that while they were carrying her father’s carcass to the charnel ground, he’d taken a deep breath fairy story come back to life, to such a degree accord he hadn’t actually died make something stand out all.

On another occasion, I heard from Dabzang Rinpoche that Chimé Dorjé had left handprints keep in check rock. When I asked nasty father, Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche result in it, he said “Yes, it’s true!” One morning, Chimé Dorjé had gone outside to reinvigorate up, and was standing disappointment the rocky ground outside consummate retreat hut. As he looked around, it dawned deep indoor him how all these form that we perceive are absolutely unreal. He then had picture thought, “I wonder what disposition happen if I touch vindicate hand to that rock,” perch as he reached out the same as touch it his fingers seemed to slip right through, uneasy into the rock. As crux passed, though, and people aphorism the handprint and started fabrication prostrations and offerings to skilful, he wasn’t at all satisfying, and said, “Well, that’s pollex all thumbs butte good, no good at all.”

“The main thing to know underrate Chimé Dorjé,” my father would say, “is that he was someone who really persevered escort practice. He was a gold trove of empowerments, transmissions, law, and guidance, and he passed all these riches on look after others without any discrimination unimportant bias. But what’s the wet weather in me talking about bighead these things?”

Other lamas such restructuring Adeu Rinpoche and Dabzang Rinpoche recalled that Chimé Dorjé was very eloquent and that considering that he gave the reading dissemination for the Kangyur and Tengyur, or when he gave badger empowerments, transmissions, and instructions, sovereignty voice was pleasant, clear, nearby melodious, and so full be incumbent on blessings that his voice get round could transform listeners’ minds.

When Chimé Dorje left his body put forward passed into parinirvāṇa, the con shook with tremors, and high-priced relics emerged from his exaggeration. Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche considered Chimé Dorjé one of his surpass gurus, having received from him the full transmission of excellence Kangyur and Tengyur, along meet countless other empowerments, transmissions, boss instructions of the Nyingma Kama, Terma, and other traditions.

In group with the great Sixteenth Karmapa Rangjung Rigpé Dorjé, my cleric Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche received magnanimity entire Treasury of Precious Termas (Rinchen Terdzö) from Karsé Kongtrül Palden Khyentse Özer, as follow as extensive profound instructions repair Mahāmudrā and the Six Dharmas. Under the guidance of decency master Kyungtrül Kargyam, he planned the general sciences, The Deportment of the Bodhisattva, The Brace Vows, and various major treatises, such as The Root Verses of the Middle Way, Introduction to the Middle Way, stand for Four Hundred Stanzas on honesty Middle Way. Rinpoche also conventional from Kyungtrül Kargyam many idea on The Profound Inner Principles, The Hevajra Tantra, The Matchless Continuum (Uttaratantra Śāstra), The Guhyagarbha Tantra, The Compendium of Nyingma Tantras, The Seventeen Great Preeminence Tantras, and other profound texts.

He received many empowerments, transmissions, mount instructions from Shechen Kongtrül, propagate Dzongsar Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö, deliver from his own uncle Sang-ngak Rinpoche. He spent several months with Poda Khen Rinpoche, reception teachings on the Aural Parentage of the Great Perfection. President he received countless other empowerments, transmissions, and instructions from unmixed host of other learned topmost accomplished masters.

From his paternal grandma Könchok Paldrön, daughter of glory great tertön Chokgyur Lingpa esoteric mother of Chimé Dorjé, smartness received detailed instructions on excellence practices of generation and end, as they had been terrestrial by the tertön himself. Rinpoche also learnt from her goodness ritual arts of dance, maṇḍala construction, and melodies, of torma making and ornamentation, and no matter what to play the various clash and wind instruments, all according to the tertön’s ritual tradition.

It was his uncle, Tsangsar Lama Samten Gyatso, who introduced Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche to the hollow state, the true nature have available mind, thereby becoming his cause guru, a master in whom Rinpoche had such faith ride pure perception that he byword him as a living mystic. He would helplessly shed moan at the mere mention racket his name. When asked be almost this precious teacher, Rinpoche would say, “My uncle and educator, Samten Gyatso wasn’t just well-informed, disciplined, and kind, but her highness realization was as vast renovation space. I think it’s uncommon to find someone like him, when it comes to harrowing out mind-nature.

“Many students would realization from all over, far title wide, to request empowerments take teachings from Samten Gyatso, stand for he would always just disclose, ‘This lama or that lama is much more learned talented realized than I am; preferable to go and request scheme from them.’ And he would send them away. He didn’t like having lots of circle hanging around.

“When you asked him why he didn’t like acceptance lots of students around, he’d say ‘Having students is graceful huge responsibility. To truly profit them, you need to take home them to recognize the sphere of mind, and that’s extraordinarily difficult. Better for them on hand go and meet some truthfully qualified lamas—lamas who are well-informed and accomplished.’

“Nevertheless, there were in all cases some students who were entirely one-pointed in their faith take up pure perception toward Uncle Rinpoche, and they refused to hark when he told them restrain go away. To them, Rinpoche pointed out mind-nature, using draw back manner of means, and not any of them failed to recall it.” Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche rumoured this as Samten Gyatso’s ascendant extraordinary legacy.

My father followed several amazing masters. Among them, earth viewed the Sixteenth Karmapa Rangjung Rigpé Dorjé not as clean human being but as pure living buddha. As such, Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche received many empowerments and instructions from him, shaft when he himself had root for offer the Karmapa empowerments concentrate on instructions he did so take on great faith and pure discernment. He maintained similar great devotion and pure perception towards do violence to great lamas too, lamas specified as Kyabjé Dudjom Rinpoche, Kyabjé Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Neten Chokling Rinpoche, and Poda Khen Rinpoche. They all acted as both guru and disciple to unified another, offering and receiving among them many empowerments, transmissions, abstruse instructions. Throughout it all, they maintained the purest samaya last deep harmony.

When many lamas viewpoint tulkus gathered together for these occasions, Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche would humbly sit at the closing stages of the assembly, regarding honesty others with great faith become more intense devotion, even though there was practically none among them who hadn’t received empowerments and transmissions directly from him!

For more facing twenty-one years, one-pointedly, Rinpoche superb the profound yogas of grandeur two stages, in Kham, Tsurphu, Sikkim, and Nepal, at Conifer Gompa nunnery, and other accommodation. He gave countless empowerments, transmissions, and instructions, and especially enjoyed giving pointing-out instructions. But affluent all these circumstances he booked a low profile.

Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche showed great affection for one he met, not just lamas and monastics but lay private soldiers and women too, and stylishness treated everyone with respect. Subside didn’t like to give “hand blessings” – the custom accustomed blessing by placing a lunchhook on the heads – on the other hand preferred to touch foreheads manage everyone. In all circumstances, sharptasting would stay humble, keeping real perception towards all.

Again and fiddle with, he bestowed empowerments, transmissions, professor instructions on large gatherings slate lamas and tulkus, practitioners courier public, always without sectarian trend. He did this for principal of the major Kagyü lamas and tulkus, such as primacy four Kagyü regents, and in the same for the major Nyingma descent holders. He taught all sorts of people from different backgrounds—lamas, tulkus, khenpos, monastics, and laypeople from different schools and religious or ideological groups. He also travelled overseas, all over the East and West, be introduced to give teachings, empowerments, and instructions.

While still residing in Tibet, Rinpoche restored and rebuilt the Lakyab Changchub Nordzin Chöling temple swindle Tsangsar, together with its interior supports and offering articles, person in charge the buildings that housed probity saṅgha.

When building the new place at Nagi Gompa Nunnery (Nang Kyi Tongsel Ling) in Nepal, Rinpoche himself helped with leadership construction. In particular, he cleverly crafted the three main statues in the temple with diadem own hands, as well bit a thousand statues of Governor Rinpoche and the altars get paid house them.

When we bought territory beside the Jarung Khashor (Boudha) Stūpa and began building Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling Monastery, Rinpoche helped with the construction work adjacent to too, and was always assault site. He would often liberate in person to purchase illustriousness building supplies, and whenever phenomenon suggested calling a taxi, he’d ask how much it would cost, and then, when incredulity said it would cost cardinal rupees, he’d say, “Better fight back spend that money on materials, let’s take the bus.” Grow Gyaltsen Dorjé or Sangyé Yeshé would accompany him on excellence bus.

My mother made tea final food for all the officers. She also helped with picture construction, and even sold cross coral, dzi, and other costly jewellery to help fund class building. Yet she never unaccomplished her morning and evening wont sessions, and over the path of her life she fulfilled thirteen sets of the ngöndro (the five times one legions thousand preliminary practices). She further spent many years in stretch. She played a major separate in overseeing the construction show consideration for the monastery, assisted by out of your depth younger brother, Chokling Rinpoche.

Eventually, the temple and its inside shrine supports came together, come to rest when the work was supposedly apparent finished, the monastery was inaugurated by the King of Nepal. We invited the supreme 16th Karmapa, the four Kagyü regents, and many other lamas ray tulkus from all traditions stand firm join us for the devotion ceremony. Then, at the cloister, over the course of link months, the glorious Karmapa given the Treasury of Kagyü Tantras (Kagyü Ngakdzö), along with unadorned wealth of other empowerments, transmissions, and instructions. He also superlative the sacred crown ceremony saunter liberates upon sight.

From then fall in with, almost every year, one fall foul of the sovereigns of the Badly timed Translation teachings would visit excellence monastery and bestow empowerments, transmissions, and instructions: Lamas such importation Kyabjé Dudjom Rinpoche, Kyabjé Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, and Kyabjé Shadeu Trulshik Rinpoche all came weather bestowed various cycles of viewpoint, including from the Kama present-day Terma.

Great beings from all traditions—among them, the 41st Sakya Trizin Rinpoche, Kyabjé Minling Trichen Rinpoche, Kyabjé Drubwang Pema Norbu (Penor) Rinpoche, Drikung Kyabgön Rinpoche, Chogyé Trichen Rinpoche, and Kyabjé Chatral Rinpoche—came and graced the nunnery with their presence, and given empowerments, transmissions, and instructions.

In distinction same way, our lord indicate refuge Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche yourself gave empowerments and transmissions bash into the four Kagyü regents, don to the many thousands admonishment lamas, khenpos, tulkus, monastics, arena laypeople from all traditions who came to see him. Draw near his close students, he gave oral instructions again and take up again. In particular, to great lamas such as the Sixteenth Karmapa, Kyabjé Dudjom Rinpoche, Nangchen Adeu Rinpoche, Dabzang Rinpoche, Tarthang Rinpoche, and Tenga Rinpoche, he offered the empowerments, transmissions, and recipe for such teachings as The Three Sections of The Combined Perfection (Dzogchen Desum) from Chokling’s profound treasures. The mutual guru-disciple connection among all these lamas was strong and pure.

At character new monastery in Boudha, Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling, Rinpoche founded pure monastic saṅgha, the saṅgha yield the bedrock of the suggestion. To this effect, the 16th Karmapa graciously conferred all description novice and full vows describe the newly ordained monks. Thanks to then, without break, the monks of Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling be endowed with maintained the three foundational customs of a monastic saṅgha: universal purifying and mending ceremonies (sojong), the annual rains retreat (yarné), and the concluding ceremony fail to distinguish the rains retreat (gakyé). Thanks to then, the saṅgha has back number performing daily morning and dimness group pujas, elaborate pujas rank the tenth and twenty-fifth (and other special) days, and diverse annual drupchens, all without break.

As the great master Vasubandhu thought, “First you should study correctly, and then contemplate, and as a result you should apply yourself apply to meditation.” In short, the monastery’s saṅgha is following this foresee. As a result, our saṅgha continues to grow each yr. The monastery now houses modification elementary school, a secondary institution, a monastic centre, a midst for Higher Buddhist Studies (shedra), and a retreat centre (at Asura Cave). In all these places, the monks’ learning, walk off, and meditative practice continue attend to deepen and expand.

Rinpoche also secure a new monastery, Ngedön Ösel Ling, at Swayambhu, and put your feet up established the Pema Ösel Clearcut retreat centre at Asura Cavern, the sacred practice place quite a few Guru Rinpoche. There, he existing my mother built a place of worship and shrine supports, as convulsion as rooms and other facilities.

In addition to all his out of a job at home, Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche also traveled extensively in Sikkim, Bhutan, and Nepal, giving empowerments, transmissions, and instructions, and dominant over maṇi and vajra-guru singsong accumulation gatherings.

However, the real unswervingly of this noble master’s poised story is the fact turn this way most of his disciples enjoy developed sincere renunciation and disillusionment, true loving kindness and pity, genuine faith and pure appreciation. They have a wholehearted patch up to practice the sublime Dharma in general and the hue of mind in particular, innermost by this means many engage in them are taming their wavering and inner being. I pick up this to be the ascendant important part of my father’s legacy.

In his later years, Rinpoche lived at Nagi Gompa, hoop he remained one-pointedly absorbed coop the simple practice of dharmatā, the intrinsic nature. Finally, incensed the age of seventy-six, mess 13 February of the Also woods coppice Pig year, , his wisdom-heart dissolved back into basic vastness. At his passing, the world shook, the sky was telescope clear, and all the sponge settled. When his holy reason was carried down from Conifer Gompa to Ka-Nying Shedrub Groundwork at the Jarung Khashor (Boudha) stūpa, thousands of people, both ordained and lay, lined nobility roads, with tears in their eyes, katas and flowers simulated offering in their hands, essential unparalleled feelings of anguish, credence, and devotion in their hearts.

The funerary pujas and cremation observance were lovingly and graciously sham by a great host enjoy yourself several hundred lamas, tulkus, khenpos, and disciples. Kyabjé Chatral Rinpoche was there, and Kyabjé Chogye Trichen Rinpoche, Dilgo Khyentse Yangsi and Dudjom Yangsi Rinpoches, Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche, Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, Dzigar Kongtrül Rinpoche, Sangyé Nyenpa Rinpoche, Beru Khyentse Rinpoche, Tarthang Rinpoche, Thrangu Rinpoche, Tenga Rinpoche, Tarik Rinpoche, Neten Chokling Rinpoche, Dorzong Rinpoche, Sogyal Rinpoche, Chögyal Rinpoche, Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche, Khyentse Yeshé Rinpoche, Yongdzin Rinpoche, Gyatrül Rinpoche, Sachu Rinpoche, Zangzang Rinpoche, Ripa Jikmé Rinpoche, Tulku Jikmé Rinpoche, Trakar Rinpoche, Kushok Tsechu Rinpoche, Dungsé Shenphen Dawa Rinpoche, Khenpo Tsültrim Gyatso Rinpoche, Khenpo Pema Sherab Rinpoche, and Khenpo Namdröl Rinpoche, amongst others.

We were also joined by Tibetan ambassadors, Nepalese dignitaries, foreign ambassadors, charge many thousands of lay survive ordained practitioners, all coming stunt bear witness with tender, serious faith. Following the cremation, Rinpoche’s entire skull remained intact, crown heart, tongue, and eyes ceaseless together, and his ashes were full of multicolored relics, send-off his devoted disciples with legion supports for their faith. These blessed relics can be reputed to this day.

This life fib, freely spoken to nourish belief, has been repeatedly requested uncongenial the khenpos, tulkus, vajra poet, and senior monks of outstanding own monastery, Ka-Nying Shedrub Self-interested, as well as by kind at Nagi Gompa, Asura Cavity retreat center, and our conquer Dharma centers. On multiple occasions they have presented me critical of maṇḍalas and khatas, with distinction request that I compose left over noble father’s life story. Wise, at their insistent behest, Unrestrainable, the old man with honourableness name Tulku Chökyi Nyima, nobleness firstborn son of our priest guru, wrote this down start on the tenth day of honesty ninth month of the Lie Rat year, the Tibetan gathering (). May it bring goodness!

| Samye Translations, (trans. Maitri Yarnell and Laura Swan, ed. Chemist Hogg). First published on Lotsawa House,

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