Kalu Rinpoche’s Parinirvana

Another important master that has come to this Saha world is Kalu Rinpoche.  His Parinirvana is tomorrow, May 20th.  Not without controversy, we certainly can learn a lot from this great, compassionate master.

Beneficial Quotes:

From the book The Dharma: That Illuminates All Beings Impartially Like the Light of the Sun and the Moon

Kalu Rinpoche tells us, “Whether we follow the scholastic or meditative approach really depends on our inclination, but regardless of how extensive or specialized our interest may be, some intellectual basis is certainly necessary. ”

“It is said that someone who tries to meditate without a conceptual understanding of what he or she is doing is like a blind person trying to find the way in the open country: such a person can only wander about, with no idea how to choose one direction over another.” — Kalu Rinpoche

From the Kagyu website:

“If we can practice bodhicitta, develop patience, and pacify all disharmony in our own home, then we have prepared the way leading to the development of limitless bodhicitta.”  He continues…

“If, on the other hand, we cannot maintain patience and harmony in our own home with our own family, then it is very unlikely that we will be able to do this with respect to all sentient beings, who are infinite in number.” — Kalu Rinpoche

From the book Gently Whispered: Oral Teachings by the Very Venerable Kalu Rinpoche

“In the current general cultural milieu of the Western world, expression of desire allows emotions to be actively encouraged, actively stimulated, and over-blown, all within the contextual appreciation of this as something healthy. If one has a desire, one is encouraged to fulfill it.”  He goes on to say:

“If one has an emotion, one is encouraged to stimulate it, to bring it to development by expressing it. Generally, this is seen as a healthy thing to do, while actually, in terms of karmic development, this approach tends to create a disproportionate exaggeration of desire and attachment. — Kalu Rinpoche

The Four ‘Faults’ of Natural Awareness:

1. So close you can’t see it.
2. So deep you can’t fathom it.
3. So simple you can’t believe it.
4. So good you can’t accept it.

A pith instruction:

“The pure nature of mind – emptiness, lucidity and intelligence without limit – has always been inside us.” — Kalu Rinpoche

Offerings:

Offering candles, incense, butter-lamps with a good intention (to the Lama) will create a lot of good karma and positive merit but offering the Tsok Feasts will generate the most merit and wisdom together that will forever be stored in our mind-stream.

The Kalachakra Tantra of Holding the Qualities of the Lama teaches:

“The merit accumulated by making offerings on the anniversary of one’s lama will dispel negative karma and obscurations accrued for countless eons, like the rays of the sun dispelling darkness.

This merit is superior to that accumulated by all beings in the three thousand world systems who gained merit through venerating and serving the Buddha.

Moreover, this merit is greater than the merit accrued by donating eyes, curing disease, and dispelling the sorrow of beings who are blind, ill or tormented by suffering in the hell realms and who are as numerous as the dust particles of the three thousand world systems.”

Tsok Dates:

Kalu Rinpoche passed into parinirvana on May 10, 1989 which falls on the 5th day of the 4th Month of the Tibetan Lunar calendar.    Previous Ganachakra ceremonies have fallen on these days:

• 2016: May 11th
• 2017:  May 30th

The parinirvana date for this year is: May 20th, 2018

Once again bringing forth awareness of the wrong intention and bad behavior within the mind of deluded sentient beings, Kalu Rinpoche’s yangsi (present incarnation) speaks out.  With a sincere heart and good intention he raises our understanding what is happening in the hearts of evil people.

 

Kunzang Dechen Lingpa’s Parinirvana

Kunzang Dechen Lingpa Rinpoche (1928-2006) was a tertön of the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.  He was renowned in his homeland of Northeastern India as a realized master of Dzogchen and terton.  He was especially famous for the special healing ceremony known as Chöd practice.

Kunsang Rinpoche was born in the Earth Snake Year – 1928, in Southern Tibet in Lhodrak.  He was the13th reincarnation of the Buddha Rinchen Tsug Tor Gyen.  From childhood he was only interested in spiritual things.  At 16 he went into full time spiritual retreat, and studied with Dudjom Rinpoche for 10 years.

He became a terton or treasure revealer at age 20.  Rinpoche was recognized by H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche as the Lodhak Terton, the reincarnation of Terton Longsel Nyingpo, of the Drubchen Melong Dorje lineage.

Healing Chod

From the Zangdokpalri website:

Rinpoche was fond of performing the Healing Chöd for masses of Buddhist disciples who were instructed just to lay down and rest for about forty minutes or however long the ceremony lasted.

Chöd is a unique spiritual practice and a path to complete enlightenment.  It is an extremely effective method for healing our body, mind and spirit.  The chief way it does this is by clearing the karmic obstacles and blockages arising from our negative interaction with others in countless past lives.

Normally, obstacles stem from taking lives, vitality, property, honor, confidence or hope from others.  They may also arise from past actions, speech and thoughts, based on greed, attachment, apathy or egotism.

Similarly, the limitless ways in which humans disrespect or despoil the material and spiritual forces of nature, the planet, or the elements (fire, water, air, earth) are the basis of numerous difficulties and life obstacles; socially, materially, physically and mentally.  The way these many debts are repaid in Chöd is by offering our most previous and closely guarded possession – our own bodies – to the universe.

A Short Story:

I had the good fortune to meet Rinpoche back in the summer of 2004.  There are many stories about Kunzang Dechen Lingpa (KDL) but this one stood out in an overwhelming way because of Rinpoche’s compassion and his heroic action knowing his health might diminish.

One time, KDL had met a native Shaman and both got to know each other quite well and after some time became good friends.  Since the Shaman was amazed at the qualities KDL possessed and learned that the Bardo Ceremony would be useful to help deliver his soul during the intermediate stage, he requested help should he pass away before him.

When the Shaman actually did pass away, his disciples notified Rinpoche to fulfill his duties.  As KDL visited the home where the deceased body lay, the Shaman’s disciples said, “OK, now get in bed and lay next to our teacher and for the next few days perform the death ritual.  This is how things have to be done according to our tradition.”

To the horror of Rinpoche’s disciples, they protested vehemently believing that this would severely affect Rinpoche’s health for hygienic reasons.  Despite everyone’s objections Rinpoche acquiesced saying, “Since I made a promise, I have no choice but to uphold my word and perform the Bardo Ceremony and do it according to their needs and fulfill their wishes.”

After this, Rinpoche came down with an illness which affected his knees so much that he always had trouble walking after that day for the rest of his life.  It was obvious that KDL took on the karma without concern for his own well-being.

Namthar:

It’s also good to investigate the various namthars that are available in print to really aide us on our own spiritual path.  A namthar is a spiritual biography or hagiography and in Tibetan Buddhism it can gives us great insight in the conduct of extraordinary Mahasiddhas on their path to liberation.  Namthars can be outer, inner and secret in scope.  Here is a portion of KDL’s Namthar and the rest of the biography can be found here: Namthar

One night, just before dawn, I dreamt of a lama with a body slightly bigger than a human and with an overwhelming and extremely peaceful shining presence.  I was wondering whether or not this was actually Pema Jungney, then he spoke to me, saying “Son, eat this peach” and immediately gave me three peaches.

 I suddenly rose up, and, holding on to his index finger, just like that, we arrived instantly to Zangdokpalri, in the Southwest land of Orgyen.  At the door of a great gonpa, he said to me “Wait here, son, I will go request for you an audience with Guru Rinpoche.”  After saying this he went up a staircase.  Although I waited for a long time no one came.

Now I was wondering where that Lama was, so I went to see.  He was seated on top of a throne, in front of him were placed empowerment implements such as bumpas and so on.  I thought to myself “He is actually Guru Rinpoche”.  Then, while I was requesting vase empowerment, I suddenly arrived back in my bed.

Parinirvana Dates:

KDL passed away on March 28th, 2006 and sat upright unassisted for 2 and half days in what the Tibetans call Tukdom.  The anniversary of his passing is traditionally held on 29th day of 1st month of the Tibetan Lunar Calendar.  The ganachakra feast (tsok practice) ceremony is the best way to generate vast stores of merits.  Tomorrow is the day to make butterlamp offerings, light candles, offer incense and especially perform the grand ganachakra tsok feast to honor this great master.

The Kalachakra Tantra of Holding the Qualities of the Lama teaches:

“The merit accumulated by making offerings on the anniversary of one’s lama will dispel negative karma and obscurations accrued for countless eons, like the rays of the sun dispelling darkness.”

Previous Tsok dates have fallen on these dates:

• 2016 – March 8th
• 2017 –  March 27th
• 2018 – March 16th

The next ceremony will be held on: March 5th, 2019

Texts & Prayers:

LU MED KON CHHOK RIN CHHEN KUN DU PA
The embodiment of the infallible Precious Jewels,

TSHO KYEY PEY JYUNG YAB YUM JYIN LAB KYIY
The Sole Father and Mother Lotus-Born, Pema Jyungnye;

DRO DUL KUN ZANG DE CHHEN LING PA YI
By your blessings may the tamer of sentient beings, Kunzang Dechen Lingpa’s

GYAL SEY TRUL KU NYUR JYON SOL WA DEB
Bodhisattva reincarnation manifest swiftly, I pray!

These four lines are the brief form of the prayer commonly recited in the assembly.

Other rebirth prayers can be found here: Rebirth

Light,
Neo

Yangthang Rinpoche Parinirvana

Venerable Yangthang Tulku Rinpoche was the immediate reincarnation of Dhomang Terchen, Dorje Dechen Lingpa.  He was the revealer of many treasure practices.  As one of the inconceivable great treasure revealers from Eastern Tibet, Dhomang Terchen was highly regarded by the greatest lamas and tertons of his time.

He revealed thirteen volumes during his life, which included treasures found in the earth, in lakes, in rocks, and in space, as well as pure vision treasures.  He is well known as the emanation of the great Vimalamitra, as well as Terton Lhatsun Namkha Jigmed.  Therefore, it is no surprise that his revelations also included many astonishing secret substances and materials necessary for the future propagation of Vajrayana practice.

Biography:

From PathToBuddha website:

In 1959, when the Communist Chinese invaded Tibet, Yangthang Rinpoche fled Dhomang.  He was later captured by the Chinese and imprisoned for 22 years.  He helped many fellow prisoners who could not bear the hardship to die peacefully by performing Phowa and transferring their consciousness to the Pure Land.

Though he witnessed and experienced much torture, he bears no resentment to his captors, only compassion.  In fact, he became a spiritual advisor to some of the guards.  When people express sympathy about his imprisonment, Rinpoche says that because of Dharma, his mind was more free in prison than worldly people experience in the best of circumstances.

“Because of Dharma, my mind was more free in prison than worldly people experience in the best of circumstances.” — Yangthang Rinpoche

Following the death of Mao Tse Tung he was released.  He returned to Dhomang to find his monastery completely dismantled.  He then obtained permission to go to Sikkim.  As a simple yogi he traveled back and forth to Nepal and Bhutan, receiving transmissions and empowerments from His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and His Holiness Dodrupchen Rinpoche.

Parinirvana:

Yangthang passed into parinirvana last year on October 15th, 2016*.  So, as part of Vajrayana tradition, students and close disciples plan on doing tsok (ganachakra feasts) on the 14th day of the eighth month of the Tibetan Lunar Calendar.  The parinirvana date for this year falls on: October 30th

• 2017: October 4th
• 2018: September 23rd
• 2019: September 12th
• 2020: September 30th

*Note: there was a double-month in the Lunar Calendar back in 2016

Stupa:

From Yangthang’s FB page:

The “sung-jug” for the two Relic Stupas of Yangthang Rinpoche has been completed smoothly today, the auspicious Guru Rinpoche Day, at Yangthang Rinpoche’s residence in Yuksom, Sikkim.

The sacred relic of Yangthang Rinpoche, along with his bone relics, and many other holy substance have been successfully offered inside Yangthang Rinpoche’s Relic Stupa (Kutung Chorten).

Benefits:

It is said that performing the Ganachakra feast on the anniversary of the Guru’s parinirvana day will bring immeasurable benefits and negative karma accumulated over many aeons will be extinguished. 

The Tantra of the Protector Crow states:

“One who holds ceremonies during the anniversaries of the lama’s passing will attain the irreversible state and after death will be reborn in the realm of Khachod dakinis.”

Tasihi Delek,
Neo