Wednesday, October 05, 2005

The road to Bodhgaya

The road to Bodhgaya is not level;
there are moun­tain passes, valleys, rivers, precipices and so forth.
No matter what your personal road is like,
do not lose courage,
but repeatedly relax loosely in nondual aware­ness.
If we practice like this then one day,
we will arrive in Bodhgaya,
which means we will attain enlightenment.
If we do not set out on the road, we will never arrive.
-- from the words of Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Last night at Open Secret I asked you what the difference was between Dzogchen and Mahamudra. This morning in my email was the following announcement. Another step on the road to Bodhgaya for this ignorant, but fortunate one.
Thanks you for your efforts to share the Dharma and this precious insight into the life of Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche.

His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche
at Shambhala, Seattle
Nov 26-27th, 2005

Events Schedule
Saturday, Nov 26th
10AM-noon
Union of Mahamudra and Dzogchen, part 1 Saturday, Nov 26th
2PM - 5PM
Union of Mahamudra and Dzogchen, part 2 Suggested Donation for Sat. - $50



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Sunday, Nov 27th
10AM - noon
Union of Mahamudra and Dzogchen, part 3 2PM - 5PM
White Tara Teachings Suggested Donation for Sun.- $50 (or $25 for the Tara Teachings.)

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Both events at:
Seattle Shambhala Meditation Center
3107 E. Harrison Street
Seattle, WA 98112

Union of Mahamudra and Dzogchen

Is a famous teaching by the 17th century Tibetan master, Karma Chagmey. These teachings extract the essence of the Vajrayana path and present it in 8 short 'songs' that have come to be treasured by laymen and yogis, alike, for their clarity and accessibility. The contemporary master, Tulku Urgyen, found them particularly suitable for Westerners. They were translated into English and published, along with excellent commentary by Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche, in a book with the same title . (And translated by Erik Pema Kunsang)

His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche is a Drikung Kagyu Lama known for his realization and great kindness. His previous incarnations include; the Siddha Gar Chodingpa (a heart disciple of Kyobpa Jigten Sumgon the founder of the Drikung Kagyu lineage , the Mahasiddha Aryadeva (a disciple of the great Nagarjuna) and Lonpo Gar (the minister of the Tibetan Dharma King Songsten Gampo).
Garchen Rinpoche was recognized and enthroned at an early age by the former Drikung Kyabgon Zhiwe Lodro. At the age of seven, he was brought to Lho Miyal Monastery, which he administered from the age of eleven.
Studying and practicing under the direction of the Siddha Chime Dorje, Garchen Rinpoche received vast and profound instructions. However, at the age of 22, he was imprisoned for 20 years during the political turmoil of China's Cultural Revolution. There he received meditation instruction from his root lama, the Nyingma master Khenpo Munsel. By enduring hardship and practicing secretly, Garchen Rinpoche attained realization of the lama's wisdom mind.
Since his release from prison in 1979, Rinpoche has made great efforts to rebuild Drikung Kagyu monasteries in eastern Tibet and to reestablish the Buddhist teachings. In the US, Rinpoche founded the Garchen Buddhist Institute in Chino Valley, Arizona where he serves as the spiritual director.


Garchen Rinpoche has this same ability to extract the essence from a difficult topic and present it in a clear, comprehensible manner. Therefore, we're particularly fortunate to have the opportunity to receive these profound teachings from Garchen Rinpoche.

Anonymous said...

That is quite a coincidence, for Thrangu Rinpoche will be teaching the same text, and even closer to Bodhgaya !

March 6 - 17 Sarnath, India Vajra Vidya Seminar 2006 at the Vajra Vidya Institute
Subject: Commentary on "The Union of Mahamdura and Dzogchen"
Root text by 1st Karma Chagmey Rinpoche Sarnath, India

Anonymous said...

"The road of Bodhgaya"

Words of Tulku Urgyen Rimpoche.

WOW!