Gebchak meets Google

Wangdrak Rinpoche of Gebchak Gompa, and Caterina De Re give a presentation about the Gebchak Nunnery at Google's headquarters in San Francisco.

Words from the Karmapa

View this movie at cultureunplugged.com

Wonderful liberation through seeing and reading

The writing is by the precious master Dudjom Jigdral Yeshe Dorje - Mara-Tamer Fearless Wisdom Vajra, who is mentioned with deep veneration by Tulku Urgyen in Blazing Splendor.

Photo from Rinchen Lhamo.

Bringing Buddhism to the West

A conversation with Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche October 1988

Question: The question always seems to come back to the same thing, which is how an ancient tradition, which grew up in a certain cultural environment and comes from a background entirely different from our modern world can come into the modern world, with all the forces at work here that are so different from—and even against—the spiritual search. What adjustments need to be made and how do you see the particular problem of modern people? Modern civilization with its technology and economic situation has created an entirely different atmosphere than the tradition that you grew up in. What do you see as the specific first steps that need to be taken for us, for modern people?

Answer: It is very true that the whole of our world is becoming modernized. However, we have also to understand that Buddhism first developed in India and adapted itself to the cultural tradition there. And later, when Buddhism was brought into Tibet from India, it also had to adapt itself to the Tibetan tradition. But the essential Buddhist teaching has remained very much unchanged. The essential quality of Buddhism and the meditation practices never really changed in going from one country to another.

So, therefore, Buddhism emphasizes two aspects of the teaching: the “view” aspect, and the “practice” or “meditational” aspect. The “view” aspect of Buddhism teaches the ultimate nature of outer phenomena and the ultimate nature of ourselves. That ultimate nature never changes, whether considering ancient times, a thousand years ago, or the modern era. So Buddhism speaks philosophically about the ultimate nature of external and internal being, and about that ultimate nature remaining unchanged.

Therefore, what is made available to the new generation of the Western world is that very essential, or ultimate, part of Buddhism, which is called the Dharma. And again, speaking from experience, if the Dharma were false or if the new practitioners in the West had to adopt a Buddhism which included the Tibetan culture, then it would become conflicting and could create considerable misunderstanding and confusion in the minds of the beginning practitioners. This has been the case since ancient tunes.

So what seems proper is for the Western mind to adopt the essential nature of Buddhism, the Dharma, and not necessarily the cultural aspects. And it seems important for all of us to maintain a responsibility not to mix the Dharma with a culture or tradition.

One must not look at the Dharma as belonging to somebody or some nation; if one does so, this can be the beginning of the greatest confusion. So Rinpoche believes that the Dharma can be adapted to any culture, but one cannot make the Dharma into a culture.

read more

Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche Teaching

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

Wonderful video - trailer

Benefits of reciting the Vajra Guru Mantra

The Vajra Guru Mantra is the mantra associated with Guru Rinpoche, also known as Padmasambhava. This is a draft translation of a treasure text which explains the Vajra Guru Mantra. It was originally concealed during the time of Padmasambhava in Tibet and later rediscovered by Karma Lingpa (14th century) who brought it forth from its place of concealment and copied it down on reams of gold. It is simply known as "The Syllable by Syllable Commentary Explaining the Benefits of the Vajra Guru Mantra." It begins with an invocation and then goes into a dialogue between Yeshe Tsogyal, the spiritual consort of Padmasambhava, and Padmasambhava himself.

Here is the full text >>click<<

Devastating earthquake around Yushu

Please consider donating generously to the efforts of supporting the people of Nangchen who lost family members and their dwellings, and to rebuild the monasteries that are so important in their lives. Many of the lamas and Rinpoches mentioned in Blazing Splendor come from this area and will spearhead these efforts.

You are welcome to post the links to them here as comments.

News of Adeu Rinpoche's reincarnation

A moving and personal account from Choegon Rinpoche of Dechen Chokhor Ling. Click >>here<<.

Kela Chokling has passed on.

It is with great sadness we inform you that the Kela Chokling incarnation has left his body. After the strict suppression of Buddhist practice eased off in the '80, Kela Chokling worked tirelessly to restore one of the three main "seats" of the great treasure revealer Chokgyur Lingpa. He also was able to transmit the entire collection of Chokling Tersar teachings on many tulku, lamas, monks, nuns, and laypeople, which he has received primarily for the Tsikey Chokling and Tulku Urgyen in Nepal.

Among the tulkus present were his sons and lineage holders as well as Trungpa Tulku and Rolpey Dorje of the Surmang lineage.

Two great masters of the 20th century

Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Lodro together with one of his chief disciples, Dilgo Khyentse Rabsel Dawa.

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.

Crystal Lotus Cave

A special thanks to Michael and Helen for sharing these photos of their pilgrimage to Pema Shelpuk.

Tangton Gyalpo Iron bridge

on the way to Pema Shelpuk (Crystal Lotus Cave)

view of terma site

entrance to the cave where the Dzogchen Desum was revealed

caretakers of the cave

altar inside the cave

statue of Padmasambhava

retreat huts offered  free to those doing retreat or kora

Two precious reincarnations

The two reincarnations of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche - seated together at Shechen Monastery in Boudhanath, Nepal.

Khandro Rinpoche on pilgrimage

Khandro Rinpoche explained at Karma Shedrup Ling, Norway in 2007 why it is beneficial to do Buddhist pilgrimages.

A new Three-year retreat begins

Due to Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche's constant endeavor, a large temple structure was built around the Asura Cave of Padmasambhava. It is now continued and has been enlarged by Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche. Many groups of monks and many other people have since then been in the traditional three year retreat at this sacred location. Here you see one such group about to enter.

Lotus Outreach

Don't miss this rare opportunity to bid on priceless original works of art by Lotus Outreach Chairman and Founder, Khyentse Norbu! 100% of proceeds from this exclusive 10-day auction will benefit the women and children served by Lotus Outreach in India and Cambodia. Adorn your home and support the cause. Place your bid now at http://shop.ebay.com/lotus_outreach/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=25!

More details here.

Tulku Urgyen Yangsi Rinpoche returns to Nepal

The Return of Tulku Urgyen Yangsi Rinpoche

We are delighted to report that at 3:45pm, Saturday, November 21, 2009, Tulku Urgyen Yangsi Rinpoche arrived at Kathmandu’s Tribuvan Airport aboard an Indian Airlines flight direct from Delhi. Accompanied by his parents, Neten Chokling Rinpoche and Khandro Tendzin Chöyang Gyari, Yangsi Rinpoche was escorted to Nepal by Tsoknyi Rinpoche, Namdol Gyatso Lama and two attendants. So much joy and excitement was in the air! The afternoon was very reminiscent of Yangsi Rinpoche’s arrival at Tribuvan Airport in November 2008 when he landed in Nepal for the first time for the special occasion of his formal enthronement at Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling Monastery.

At the airport, more than 30 lamas, nuns and laypeople made up the joyful welcoming party — including Tsikey Chokling Rinpoche and Phakchok Rinpoche, with their respective wives and families, as well as Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche. Tsoknyi Rinpoche’s wife and his mother were also present, as was Tenpa Yarphel and Tenpa’s son, Tashi. Ani Maya, head nun at Nagi Gompa and Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche’s close personal attendant for several decades, was also present to welcome Yangsi Rinpoche.

Just as he had done at the airport one year ago, Yangsi Rinpoche serenely and graciously accepted a kata (white scarf) from each person who had come to greet him. Smiling, he touched his forehead to theirs. Seeing this special child, a Nepali passerby in the crowd immediately stopped and bowed before him; Yangsi quickly responded by warmly touching his forehead to this fellow’s forehead, too.

More details on www.shedrub.org
and video

Rejoice!

Buddhist Literary Heritage Project

Buddhist Literary Heritage Project
November, 2009

Article Title
Dear Supporter of Dharma Translation,

In March of 2009, over 12,000 of us signed a letter of support to the Translating the Words of The Buddha conference­––a gathering of over 50 of the world's top Tibetan-English translators––letting Dharma translators around the world know that we appreciate and support their translation effort. At the conclusion of this conference, the assembled group of translators and patrons pledged to translate the entire collection of Buddha's teaching and commentaries into English within 100 years.

Also at the conclusion of the conference, the attendees co-created the Buddhist Literary Heritage Project (BLHP) as an organizational structure charged with overseeing this tremendous endeavor. The conference participants further requested Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche to take on the interim responsibility of overseeing the establishment of the necessary structure. Khyentse Rinpoche recently appointed Huang Jing Rui as the interim executive director of BLHP. Following this note is a letter from her describing the progress made so far.

We look forward to keeping you up to date on this exciting undertaking.

If you are receiving multiple copies of this email, it may be because you had signed the petition or registered with us using different email accounts. In this case, please contact us at info@buddhistliteraryheritage.org to inform us which email account(s) we should be sending our updates to.

"If you are receiving this as a forwarded email, you are welcome to join our mailing list by sending an email to info@buddhistliteraryheritage.org, with the subject title: Subscribe."

Thank you again for supporting Dharma translation.

Sincerely,
The BLHP Team

Article Titl
Dear Friends,

My name is Huang Jing Rui, and I am honored to be newly appointed as the interim executive director of the Buddhist Literary Heritage Project (BLHP). The goal of this new initiative is to see all of the vast and extraordinary riches of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist literature, particularly the Kangyur and Tengyur, translated into English and other modern languages and made universally accessible within a hundred years.

Over the past few decades, many groups and individuals have been working with great dedication to translate a wide range of Buddhist teachings into English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, and other languages. The BLHP grew from the jointly expressed wishes of more than 50 such translators, teachers, and academics who met in Bir, India, in March 2009 at the Translating the Words of the Buddha conference.

Conceived as a project with its own activity and funding, and not simply as a forum for discussion, the BLHP clearly needs an effective organizational structure. At the Bir conference, the participants requested Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche to take on the interim responsibility of overseeing the establishment of the necessary structure.

In the six months since the conference, many interesting developments have taken place toward setting up that interim organizational structure, together with the key policies and strategic plans that will get the BLHP going. These steps include:


* May: Planning meeting
* June: Editorial policy meeting
* July: Appointment of executive director and working committee
* July: Confirmation of two “proof of concept” pilot translations
* September: Four-day working committee planning meeting


The Buddhist Literary Heritage Project will officially begin to operate in January 2010, managed by an interim working committee consisting of eight members:


* Chair: Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche
* Executive director: Huang Jing Rui
* Committee members: Ani Kunga Chodron, Gene Smith, Ivy Ang, John Canti, Steven Goodman, and Cangioli Che


The BLHP interim working committee is committed to an open, inclusive, and collaborative approach that seeks the involvement of Dharma teachers, translators, academics, scholars, and researchers from all segments of the Buddhist community.

The BLHP has taken birth from the great aspirations of teachers, translators, and people like you, but it is still in its infancy. As we develop, learn, and move forward, we humbly seek your patience, understanding, and goodwill. Your ongoing support is absolutely necessary for the project to accomplish its objective of preserving and making available the precious teachings of the Buddha.

Finally, we wish to express our heartfelt thanks to all the past and present volunteers and donors, who have generously offered time, money, experience, expertise, effort, and goodwill to the BLHP. We look forward to your continued support.

Please feel free to forward this letter to anybody whom you feel might be interested in our project. Thank you.

Yours in the Dharma,

Huang Jing Rui
Executive Director
Buddhist Literary Heritage Project (BLHP)
For more information and to find out how you can support this project, please email us at info@buddhistliteraryheritage.org.

You can download a PDF of the conference proceedings from
http://khyentsefoundation.org/pdf/Translation_Conference.zip.

You are also welcome to join our BLHP Facebook group site on
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=59296950597&v=wall.

Good news - the life story of a great master

Togden Shakya Shri - The Life and Liberation of a Tibetan Yogin

This Namthar, or traditional Tibetan biography, welcomes the reader to the extraordinary dimension of a realized yogin. Its pages recount the inspiring milestones in the life of the revered Togden of Drugu (1853-1919), a portrayal which is also precious as the mirroring of a vanished world. The chronicle glows with inspiring facts and miraculous happenings, as well as insights provided by numerous letters between the Togden and some of the greatest masters of that era.