Visits in 2004
Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche giving lung at Sherab Ling
India
In March, Rinpoche went to Gyuto Monastery in Dharamsala
to pay his respects to H.H. Karmapa and to receive his blessings.
From there he went to Sherab Ling, the main seat of H.E.
Tai Situ Rinpoche, who had been asking Nyenpa Rinpoche for
some time to come to and give the oral transmission
(lung) of the Kagyur, which consists of 103 volumes, and the Rinchen Terdzöd, one
of the five Great Treasures of Jamgon Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye. At
that time, 25 monks from Benchen Phuntsok Dargyeling Monastery
in Kathmandu went to receive the oral transmissions. On the 27th
of May, Rinpoche completed the lung of the Kagyur, and will
return soon to Sherab Ling to complete the Rinchen Terdzöd.
H.E. Tai Situpa thanking Nyenpa Rinpoche
Tai Situ Rinpoche himself participated as did other
Rinpoches, monks and laymen. From 3rd -13th June
Nyenpa Rinpoche participated in the Drubchen (intensive practice
retreat) of Thugje Sangwa Düpa, one aspect of Chenrezig, the Lord
of Compassion.
Benchen Phuntsok Ling, Belgium
Nyenpa Rinpoche's European seat is Benchen Phuntsok Ling in Allmuthen, Belgium. On 18th July Rinpoche made his second visit to the center, and it was a great pleasure for all the disciples to be in his presence. They were very happy that Rinpoche decided to give teachings on The Jewel Ornament of Liberation by Gampopa, which is the Gradual Path according to the Kagyu tradition and is a very important teaching in order to learn how to practise the Path gradually and perfectly.
During the teaching, Rinpoche strongly recommended that the dharma practitioners learn the View correctly, which would help them to go into the practice much deeper since the View helps the practitioner to understand what dharma is about.
Without understanding the View or the Gradual Path, we
can practise but we can become lethargic and our practice can
seem like a duty. However, if we understand the View and the
Gradual Path, we will be able to practise with enthusiasm and our
practice will become clear and we can achieve realization swiftly.
H.E. Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche at the Summer Course
H.E. Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche
For this reason, we are going to transcribe the teachings
of the Gradual Path section by section in this and
subsequent journals so that the meaning can be reflected upon.
Rinpoche welcomed the participants and also conveyed Tenga Rinpoche's wishes and regards to the participants. Rinpoche explained that this year Tenga Rinpoche is 73 and, according to the Tibetan lunar calendar, this is considered an obstacle year, so he decided to limit his traveling and do a Tara retreat.
Nyenpa Rinpoche performing the incense offering
During the two-week course he gave Vajra Kilaya, Manjusri and Marpa Guru Yoga initiations. Rinpoche gave the Vajra Kilaya empowerment at the beginning of the course in order to dispel possible obstacles so that this dharma course would continue smoothly. In conjunction with the Teachings of Gampopa, committee members asked Rinpoche to lead them in the Gampopa Guru Yoga practice in order to receive the Guru's blessings to practise the Gradual Path successfully.
The lungta, or wind horse, (prayer flags) were raised up in order to increase the activities of the dharma as well as to increase the wisdom and fortunes of the dharma practitioners in order to be successful in dharma practice and for peace to prevail.
This year a new, young class was added. From 2:00 to 3:00 pm every afternoon, the children came to the meditation hall and heard Buddhist stories and teachings from Lama Rinchen and Lama Tashi. The childcare workers and some of the parents also accompanied the children. This activity gave children the opportunity not only to learn about the Buddha and his teachings, but also to become more active participants in the Summer Course.
As part of the tradition of the Benchen Summer Course,
the participants of the children's corner invited Nyenpa Rinpoche
to
Lama Rinchen and Lama Tashi with the children's classes
their Children's World to talk to them. The children offered
small performances and read delightful poems. The child care group
is better organized every year. To conclude the ceremony,
Rinpoche offered cake to the children.Every evening from 8:00 to 9:00
p.m. all the Tumo practitioners gathered together to practice.
Edward Henning, who has been working on the English translation of
the Tumo text and had asked Tenga Rinpoche many questions
regarding the meaning the text during his stay in Kathmandu, clarified
the questions the practitioners had with regards to the text.
Nyenpa Rinpoche at the children's corner
Rinpoche with the translators
The participants were grateful to have such meticulous
and tireless translators, Christoph Klung and Thomas Roth, to
convey Rinpoche's profound teachings. The committee members
and disciples had worked hard to increase the existing infrastructure
of the center, and all the participants really appreciated the
improved and expanded facilities. Rinpoche giving Marpa empowerment
The summer course ended on 8th August with a
Milarepa Tsok offering, and committee members made a Body, Speech
and Mind offering to Nyenpa Rinpoche. The participants, as well as
the committee members, repeatedly requested Rinpoche to come to
his European seat again and again to teach and lead them in their
dharma practice. Poland and Spain
During Rinpoche's stay in Poland, he gave public
teachings in Warsaw and then went to Benchen Karma Kamtsang in
Grabinic, a one-hour drive from the city. In this center, which is situated
in the countryside, Rinpoche was asked to give teachings on
the Aspiration Prayer of Maitreya. More than 300 people attended
the 10-day course.
At the invitation of the disciples of H.E. Kalu Rinpoche
at Dagshang Kagyu Ling in Graus-Huesca, Spain, Rinpoche
traveled there and gave teachings on Mahamudra: the Ground, the Path
and the Fruition. He also gave a Mahakala initiation.
Marik, India
As soon as Rinpoche returned from Europe he made an
urgent detour to Bokar Ngedon Chöling in Marik, India, to participate
in the Parinirvana ceremony of The Very Venerable Bokar
Rinpoche. Rinpoche made many wishing prayers for Bokar Rinpoche's
quick return.
Benchen Monastery, Tibet Benchen Monastery in Tibet
His Eminence Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche made a very
short visit to Benchen Monastery, his main seat in Tibet. He was
received in a very traditional way by colorful processions of the local
people as well as monks from several Kagyu monasteries.
On the 17th of October, Rinpoche led a Mani Dungdrup
puja of Red Chenrezig for the recitation of billions of
mantras. Participating in the puja were over 600 monks from different
Kagyu monasteries and over 1000 lay people. These people came in
all kinds of motor vehicles, on horseback and by foot. Within this
week of intensive Mani Dungdrup puja, they completed 46
billion recitations of the mantra of the Compassionate One, Om
Mani Padme Hung. On the 23rd, the concluding day,
approximately 14,000 people gathered in and around the monastery, wherever
they could find space.
The monastery was filled to capacity, as were the inner and outer courtyards. In the vast space outside the monastery compound, nomads from miles around brought their yaks, goats, sheep and other animals. Dungdrup means 'accomplishment of a billion Mani recitations'. As a tradition, in order to signal the completion of a billion Mani mantras, conches were blown and everyone who heard the sound had the opportunity to make prayers to receive blessings and to dedicate whatever merit was accumulated by these mantras for the benefit of all sentient beings and also for world peace. Those who could not attend but knew when the conches would be blown, put their hands together in prayer and visualized themselves and all sentient beings receiving blessings. Those in attendance at the puja who had cell phones called their families and friends so that they could also receive the blessings through the sound of the conches and make prayers for the benefit of all beings.
At the request of the monastery community, Rinpoche
gave the oral transmission of the 12 volumes of Prajna Paramita
between the sessions of this one-week puja.
Lama Yonten
Lama Jampal
The participants also expressed their appreciation of dedicated work the two lamas of Benchen Monastery, Lama Yonten Palsang, who is the resident lama of Benchen Phuntsok Ling, Almuthen, and Lama Jampal, who is the resident lama of the Benchen Monastery Center in Concello, Verona, Italy. During the course, Lama Yonten and Lama Jampal helped to ensure that the participants were able to receive the lungs and instructions on their practice. Besides helping with the Children's Corner, Lama Rinchen and Lama Tashi have been offering their assistance during all the summer courses, and the participants were appreciative of their untiring work.
The participants with blindfolds during an empowerment
Mani Dundrup participants
