Documentary

A wonderful documentary including footage of Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, Boudhanath, Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling, Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche, Nagi Gompa. Included at the end is about 30 minutes of unedited footage of Tulku Urgyen with translation by Erik Pema Kunsang.

Blessings

Question: I was wondering if Rinpoche could explain exactly what ‘blessings’ are?

Rinpoche: What people usually consider blessings are what I would call ‘superficial blessings.’ It’s like when you have something you want to get rid of you ask, “Please bless me to be free from what I don’t like,” whether this is being sick or in pain, evil spirits are attacking you, your business isn’t going that well, etc.. So, people ask for something to wear around their necks, something to eat, maybe some charm to be made and so on. Then when they are feeling better, the evil spirits are repelled, business is going well or whatever, they say, “I got the blessings.” These are known as ‘superficial blessings.’

On the other hand, the real blessings are the oral instructions on how to become enlightened in a single lifetime, which you can receive from a qualified master. 

March 5, 1994
Nagi Gompa 

16th Gyalwang Karmapa

Slideshow of the 16th Karmapa. You may recognize Tulku Urgyen and his son Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche in the opening image (at the far right), which is repeated at 7:02. Tulku Urgyen appears again at 8:57 when they appear to have an audience with the late King of Nepal. Lots of other important lamas throughout as well, shame they didn't provide subtitles so we could identify them all. Enjoy!
(and thanks to Ani Jinba for the tip)

last days

One of the last photos of Tulku Urgyen
waving from the window of his room at Nagi Gompa in 1996.
With him is his attendant Dondrub Tara.

photo: David Warren

Preserving a Master's Memories

Erik with Tulku Urgyen during a ceremony at Bright Hill Temple, Singapore circa 1990

Erik Pema Kunsang, co-author of Blazing Splendor: The Memoirs of Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, talks with Daniel Goleman and Tara Bennett-Goleman.

How would you describe Tulku Urgyen to the world at large?

Erik Pema Kunsang: Tulku Urgyen, you could say, was a profound mystic and a unique kind of philosopher, one who could guide people toward a type of insight that goes beyond theory and concepts. Observing how easily and naturally he worked with others, you could deduce what Tulku Urgyen himself experienced on a daily basis. Most of us would view his area of expertise—pointing out what things look like from the awakened point of view—as being very heavy and difficult. Yet, he made it extremely accessible. You practically weren’t allowed to leave the room until you agreed just how easy it was to see things from the awakened point of view. You couldn’t just nod your head in agreement, either. You actually had to experience that ease for yourself.

From the fourteen years you spent living with him as a translator, what can you say about him as a person?

Tulku Urgyen is more like something I have under my skin than an external person. Although he really did get under my skin, he was incredibly mild and gentle. (read full interview at Buddhadharma)

Penjik

Tulku Urgyen's elder brother Penjik with his wife

and their sons Gyurmed Dorje and his little brother

(photo courtesy of Gyurmed Dorje's son Tsangsar Tulku, Karma Tekchok Nyima)

Tulku Urgyen said about his brother:

My half-brother Penjik was supposed to be a tulku, but he didn’t want to be recognized as such. He was incredibly bright. Personally, I haven’t met anyone as sharp as he was. For example, in a single day he memorized the entire text of Chanting the Names of Manjushri.[i] Think about that! Isn’t it astounding? That’s the kind of person he was. I certainly was in awe of him.

If he had gone to Derge to pursue Buddhist studies, there is no doubt that he would have become a great scholar. Everything he heard, he understood. It’s a shame he didn’t stick to a spiritual path.

Penjik was very brave and intelligent; no one could outdo him or dominate him in anyway. If you heard his full story, you would be in awe. Let’s begin with his mundane qualities: He was extremely eloquent—so much so that he could be mistaken for a demon.[ii]

Penjik was known throughout Nangchen for his bravery; he was completely fearless and not intimidated by anyone. He was also tall and broad-shouldered. You should have seen him race his horse or shoot his rifle while riding! He was an excellent marksman. I felt that he had all the important qualities of a hero.

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[i] Chanting the Names of Manjushri—Manjushri Nama Sangirti consists of six hundred verse lines. [epk]

[ii] Free-flowing, perfect eloquence is often considered to be a special power bestowed upon a person by either a deity or a demonic force. [epk]

Return to Nagi Gompa

things my father taught me

Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche Teaching

Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche teaching. The translator is Erik Pema Kunsang. Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche sits behind Erik.

Rare footage of Dilgo Khyentse and Tulku Urgyen together

This video contains wonderful footage of Tulku Urgyen visiting Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche for the last time. Lots of familiar faces including Tulku Urgyen's sons Chokyi Nyima Rp. and Tsoknyi Rp., as well as his close disciple Andreas Kretschmar. Footage begins around the 2:30 mark.

Our thanks to the anonymous person who shared the link.