Saturday, September 02, 2006

Tsechu Gompa


Here's a lovely picture of Tsechu Gompa from Adeu Rinpoche's website.

Adeu Rinpoche met Tulku Urgyen when he was quite young as he describes in this excerpt from an interview:

CTF: When did Rinpoche first meet Kyabje Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche?
Rinpoche: The first time I met Tulku Urgyen was when Samten Gyatso came and gave the extensive empowerments of Tukdrub Barchey Kunsel which lasted about an entire month. During this time Tulku Urgyen, we called him Tulku Karma Urgyen, acted as the shrine master and made all the tormas, he was also Samten Gyatso’s attendant together with another servent named Dudul. Another time we met was when Samten Gyatso was giving the Barom Kagyu empowerments and Tulku Urgyen alternated with another as umdze (chant master). On another occasion he came back with his father, Chimey Dorje, his brothers Pema JigmĂ© and Tenzin Dorje. They all came and it was during this time that I became good friends with Tulku Urgyen.

CTF: Could Rinpoche please tell us what Kyabje Tulku Urgyen was like at that time?
Rinpoche: I was really young, just a kid, and Tulku Urgyen was young too. He seemed to become quite fond of me and, you could say he would act as my babysitter. He was very skilled in different games, we would carve wood together and make drawings and masks. He was quite adept at these sorts of things, so he would distract me by playing with me. Sometimes he would run around with me on his shoulders. His brother, Tendzin Dorje, wasn’t interested in playing any games at all, he would just stay by himself and never do anything, so I never got close to him. But Tulku Urgyen was much more playful.

(read full interview)

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

so does that mean Adeu Rinpoche is Samten Gyatso's last living student?

pensum said...

That's an interesting question. I must assume there are other old practitioners tucked away in Kham who were students of Samten Gyatso's, but from Tulku Urgyen's accounts i am under the impression Samten Gyatso didn't have that many "students" as it seems most people were afraid of him. But perhaps Erik can give a more knowing answer, as mine is only conjecture.

Erik Pema Kunsang said...

Adeu Rinpoche is one of the only important lamas that I know of. In 2003 Marcia and I met many other lamas who had received teachings from Samten Gyatso, but several have died within the last three years. There are however many who received his lineage through Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, something Tulku Urgyen doesn't mention in Blazing Splendor.

Anonymous said...

I guess I have to go back and read Blazing Splendor again...I didn't notice that Samten Gyatso was a fearful character...why were people afraid of him?

pensum said...

Funny you could have missed that aspect of his character, but then the book is so full of information and stories etc. not surprising. A second read will reveal all kinds of things i am sure. But on page 99 in the chapter titled "My Guru Samten Gyatso," Tulku Urgyen relates the following: "Everyone was afraid of him. It wasn't the way he dressed for he wore the simple robes of a monk, yet even lamas were completely intimidated by him... He even intimidated the sixteenth Karmapa."

Anonymous said...

found this:
http://ccbs.ntu.edu.tw/FULLTEXT/JR-BH/bh117534.htm

Anonymous said...

Yes, Michael, a second reading (of just some sections so far) has revealed much more to me. I am able to put more into context so to speak. And you're right - the book is full of so much information and stories that it may indeed take even more reading. And actually, the English in my post wasn't even very good (and it's my native tongue, so to speak!) I should have said, "I didn't notice that he was such a fearsome character" - not "fearful" -of course, he wasn't "fearful".
Thanks again.

Anonymous said...

When willthe Wellsprings of the Great Perfection become available? Looking at the index and contents descriptions, can't wait!

http://www.rangjung.com/wellsprings/contents.htm

Quintessential Dzogchen is such a wonder to behold.
Thank you so much.

Erik Pema Kunsang said...

It's at the typesetter right now. So, another month at least before the printer completes it.

Anonymous said...

Anything about Dilyak Drubpon? I also read a story about him in a book by Choki Nyima Rinpoche, it was very inspiring. Are there any known photos of him?

Anonymous said...

Thre is some photos of his reincarnation at:
http://www.nalandabodhi.org/dhilyak_drupon_rinpoche.html

Anonymous said...

Have any of Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche's western students spent many years in retreat practicing the new treasure?

Erik Pema Kunsang said...

Yes, I know of quite few. They mainly practice Barchey Kunsel, Vajra Kilaya, and The Heart Essence of Samantabhadra.