His Holiness Drubwang Pema Norbu Rinpoche entered into Parinirvana in March 2009, and the cremation of the Kudung (Holy Body) will be held on May 23, 2013, in Namdroling Monastery. The ceremony will be conducted by many high lamas and is expected to be attended by many followers from around the world.

Please join us in supplication and prayer for His Holiness' swift rebirth.

His Holiness Penor Rinpoche Swift Rebirth Prayer
Extensive and Concise (PDF download)

Dear Sangha and Friends,

There have been so many inquiries about Gyatrul Rinpoche meeting H.H. the Dalai Lama in Portland that it seemed fitting to share a photo and a bit of wonderful news. As many of you know, it was His Holiness who sent Rinpoche to the West back in 1972 with the first group of Tibetan refugees to enter Canada. Later, Rinpoche immigrated to the U.S. and became a citizen. Over the years, Rinpoche has met with His Holiness for brief moments in various locations around the world, and in 1980 Rinpoche and the Yeshe Nyingpo sangha in the bay area were honored to host His Holiness in San Anselmo for a press conference and general blessing ceremony.

It has been about eight years since Rinpoche last met His Holiness, so Rinpoche made the effort to travel to Portland in order to do so. With the help of Jampal [Clark Hansen], Rinpoche attended the public talk in Portland and then, as karma would have it, even before leaving the auditorium I received a phone call out of nowhere from one of the Tibetan organizers mentioning that an audience would likely be possible for Gyatrul Rinpoche. In truth, Rinpoche is never pushy and was taking a humble position without really asking for any private time. Nevertheless, the opportunity came up naturally, so on Saturday the 11th of May we went to the hotel in the early morning and waited to be taken up to see His Holiness.

We went up, and in fact, His Holiness was already late for his engagement at the Portland Memorial Coliseum, but he came walking around the corner and Rinpoche was waiting right there to greet him. When His Holiness saw Rinpoche he called,"Grandpa, Grandpa! So good to see you!" in a very endearing way that is customary in the central Tibetan dialect. He asked Rinpoche several questions and embraced Rinpoche for a long time. He said that to accomplish good health, long life and benefit for beings and the doctrine is the best life one can ask for. His Holiness then greeted the rest of us, and was given a DVD with a film of the dharma centers and events that have transpired in recent years that Jane, Ian and Shashi worked hard to make in time for this meeting. Then His Holiness got in the elevator and we were left standing there in tears and a state of ecstasy and disbelief!

It was one of the most important moments that comes around in life and for Rinpoche it marked the full circle of events in his life as well. Now Rinpoche is resting in Portland and hoping to give a little encouragement and energy to the sangha there before returning home to Tashi Choling.

The inspiration and endeavor to translate these volumes began over two decades ago with the late Dr. Robin Kornman, who was both a student of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche and a scholar of comparative literature. Fortuitously, he met Sangye Khandro and Lama Chönam, and they worked for many years together on the initial translation. Several months of the year, Sangye and Chönam sat at Robin’s dining-room table in his eastside Milwaukee lower flat, working—word-by-word and line-by-line—through the text with illuminating digressions spurred by Robin’s great curiosity and expansive mind. Each session was recorded. Later on, Jane Hawes became Robin’s close friend and Tibetan student; and after Robin’s death in 2007, she, Sangye Khandro, and Lama Chönam pursued a collaboration that completed the translation. Jane listened to the tapes of all the sessions; and again line-by-line, the three translators worked through the text.

This is a marvelous story of the foils of human existence told as the Tibetan bards sung it in prose, in proverbs of the cultural wisdom of Tibet, and in poetry of the precious jewel of Buddhism.

“The Gesar story is one of the Tibetan people’s most popular epics, its stories being enacted and sung at festivals and on important ceremonial occasions. By making the epic of Gesar available in English, the translators are offering the modern reader a chance to experience the particular character of this Tibetan tradition that has brought hope and fortitude to many generations across the Tibetan-speaking world.”

--His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama

The book is available here

For those who have had Dzogchen empowerment, please feel free to download this new translation by Sangye Khandro of Paltrul Rinpoche’s commentary on Garab Dorje’s last testament called The Three Statements that Strike the Crucial Point entitled Commentary on the Exceptional Instruction of the Learned Shri Gyalpo.

This was translated on April 18, 2013 for the occasion of Kyabje Yangthang Rinpoche visiting Pema Odsal Ling to bestow teachings on this commentary.

Download translation

Excerpts:

On the meaning of Empowerment:

"...Being brought to maturity – awakening of Buddha-Nature from within one's mind, and it comes through the process of the transmission and the connection between a highly qualified vajramaster and a faithful disciple whose heart is open . . . and so the lotus bud of their buddha nature is able to blossom." 

On Restricted Vajrayana materials:

For those who aspire to study secret mantra..."These opportunities to sit in the presence of a highly realized master and receive empowerment are the way to connect to the translations that we’re doing."

Watch the video now.

In order to read, contemplate and practice the Guyagarbha Tantra or Secret Essence, the individual must have the corresponding empowerment. That empowerment is the Kama empowerment for the Peaceful and Wrathful pantheon of deities that lasts approximately two to three days. It very extensive because one is empowered for and blessed by each of the one hundred deities in these combined mandalas. The three higher empowerments are also given. It a rare opportunity to receive this in its entirety and especially from Yangthang Tulku Rinpoche, a great senior master who is highly realized as well.

The empowerment will be given from March 22-24th as far as we know**. It is of course good to attend the entire event. But if not, then those of you who wish to purchase and read our translations of the Guhyagarbha Tantra (a restricted series) should go to Orgyen Dorje Den and receive this empowerment in order to have the complete authorization. "This is something that you will surely not regret doing in this and future lifetimes."

We hope to see you there and stay tuned for updates as the event approaches and begins.

Thank you,
Lama Chonam and Sangye Khandro

** Dates are subject to change. We recommend you get on the Orgyen Dorje Den email list to receive updates.

The following excerpt is offered in honor of the imminent visit by the Venerable Yangthang Tulku Rinpoche, who will arrive in Alameda, California on March 12^th and confer the great empowerments of the Nyingma Kama Tradition beginning on March 15^th for three weeks at Orgyen Dorje Den. Translation will be offered by Light of Berotsana Translation Group. We encourage everyone to attend this rare and blessed event, or to come to whatever is possible. Please click to find out more details about this auspicious event!

An Ambrosial Ocean of Sublime Explanations by Pema Lungtog Gyatso

Excerpt from Guru Devotion Section
Translated by Light of Berotsana

Printable PDF version available here

      It is possible to prove that the master is a buddha. Up until now, I have given many quotes from the scriptures to prove this. To prove this through reasoning, the master is an actual buddha because he reveals enlightened deeds from the perspective of showing us the dharma, which is a deed of a an enlightened being. In that way, we are led upon the path of complete omniscience and liberation and set free from the fear of samsara and the lower realms. Even if we were to actually meet the Buddha, there is no better way to benefit beings than by showing them the dharma.

      In the text Special Utterances [Udanavarga, compiled by Dharmatrata], it states:

      For the sages, negativity cannot be washed by water; their hands cannot dispel the suffering of beings; and their realization cannot be transferred to others. But when it comes to revealing the tranquility of the dharmata, others will be brought to liberation.

      As taught, the disciples to be tamed by the actual sambhogakaya buddhas were exclusively given instructions on the Mahayana doctrine. Previously, our teacher turned the dharma wheel of the great secret doctrine for King Indrabhuti. In order to tame others, he only taught the Vinaya and the common Mahayana Sutra doctrines. For some common disciples, he did not even show the Mahayana sutras. On the contrary, our present-day masters give us everything, beginning with refuge as the gateway to the doctrine all the way up to empowerment conferral, transmissions, and upadesha instructions. This dharma shower of whatever is desired, which includes the entire teachings of Sutra and Mantra, surpasses even what the Buddha has taught in terms of enlightened deeds.

      Furthermore, when all buddhas initially cultivated the bodhichitta, we were held as the objects for that cultivation. In particular, during this excellent Eon of Light in the field of this Saha World, our guide Buddha Shakyamuni actually revealed the twelve enlightened deeds in the exceptional field of Jambudvipa in order to tame beings. More than that, during the time of the five dregs, it is this land of Tibet that was predicted to be a country where the dharma would flourish. Many of us have taken rebirth here, met the dharma and are disciples of the Buddha. Having attained a unique form through which to practice dharma, possessing faith in dharma, and feeling inspired to accomplish it, even we have reached the time to be tamed. Since all of this is true, it is impossible to consider that the buddhas would abandon their own disciples.

      The sutras tell us that it is possible that the ocean’s sea monsters and their waves could miss their timing. However, it is impossible for the buddhas to miss their timing when it comes to taming disciples.

Thus it is as taught.

      There exists no one other than the master who is said to be an emanation of the buddhas who can tame disciples. Hence, one must determine that the master is the actual buddha. Omniscient Longchenpa has said:

The master is the emanation of the Victors who guides beings to liberation. In the degenerate times, he appears in this way.

So it is taught.

      The master is an actual buddha because buddha abides within his mind stream. For example, it is like how the protector Damchen Dorje Lekpa enters the body of an oracle. That, too, is the presence of the protector. That they abide in this way is also stated in the Oral Transmission of Manjushri:

I abide in that body. I accept offerings from other practitioners and by pleasing me the karmic obscurations in their mind streams are purified.

Thus, and in the sutras:

It is said that whoever utters any positive word that serves as an antidote for the passions will be someone who mentally abides with the wisdom of the buddhas of the three times. Like that, by attaining the higher stage of the path of accumulation and when revealing the dharma as a supreme nirmanakaya, that teacher has many exalted qualities such as samadhi, omniscience, and clairvoyance. Once attaining the first ground called Extreme Joy and while revealing the dharma as a sambhogakaya, the face of one-hundred buddhas will be seen in a single instant. There will be the potential to traverse hundreds of realms of the world, to open the doorway to hundreds of dharma categories, and to bring hundreds of beings to fruition. Hence, the qualities are inconceivable. Once attaining the second ground, all of that is increased by ten. [For a bodhisattva] who then reveals the dharma, that resembles giving food and clothing to those who are already completely endowed with abundance. Compared to that, when the master teaches us, it is like giving food and clothing to those who are extremely poverty stricken and helpless; so the benefits derived are exceedingly significant. Based on that, buddhas appear to those who are superior objects to be tamed, not otherwise. Conversely, the master appears to everyone so the master is exalted.

In the sutra of Stainless Space, it states:

O Ananda! All tathagatas appear to sentient beings with pure karma. The virtuous spiritual guide appears to everyone, teaches the dharma, and plants seeds for liberation. Hence, one must cherish the spiritual guides even more than the tathagatas. 

Thus, it is as taught.

      For each verse of dharma that our teacher has spoken, he or she underwent hardships such as having one thousand iron nails pierced through the body or one thousand candle wicks burn the body, having forsaken all wealth, power, worldly abundance, and so forth. Similarly, the bodhisattvas Norzang, Naropa, Mila, Atisha, and others underwent many hardships for the sake of dharma. For us, although it is not necessary to undergo hardships, nevertheless—like a mother instructing her child—without concealing anything, to joyfully give all sacred instructions is an expression of great kindness.

      If perhaps [the masters] did not compassionately care for us, still the other buddhas would not be met and even the sound of the Triple Gem would not come to our ears. Unable to know anything about virtue and nonvirtue, just how would we be set free from the fears of samsara and the lower realms? Now, as long as we do not lose our mental capacity and are not afraid to attempt [to traverse the path], there is no shortage of methods for awakening in a single lifetime. How amazing is that! From the depth of one’s heart, devotion should be cultivated.

      The master’s kindness surpasses that of the Buddha’s deeds, so it is the greatest expression of kindness. Yet due to our delusion and ignorance, we fail to see the qualities of the master while digging around for faults. By thinking there is no limit to one’s heartless endeavors, bring shame upon yourself by thinking in these ways. By training in pure vision repeatedly like this, one will eventually see the master as a buddha; and according to that capacity, blessings similar to that will enter the mind. However many blessings enter the mind stream indicates how deeply the master is seen as a buddha. However strong devotion and faith are will ensure that all positive, excellent qualities without exception will unite with one’s mind.

            The teacher Tonpa requested Lord Atisha, “Although in Tibet there are practitioners of dharma, there are no exceptional qualities being attained. Why is that?” Atisha replied, “All qualities derived on the path of the Mahayana come by relying upon the master. Nevertheless, you Tibetans are unable to see the masters as anything other than ordinary, so how can qualities arise?” Just as he said, since it is extremely crucial to see the master as a buddha I have taken the time to further illuminate this point

Printable PDF version available here

2013 Year of the Water Snake

We send our prayers for your long life and happiness in this New Year with the special aspiration that we all fulfill our goals and dreams as swiftly as possible and continue to work for the benefit of all beings. As many of you know, the first month of the Tibetan New Year is called the miracle month, as Buddha Shakyamuni was said to have performed a different miraculous deed each day, particularly on the first fifteen days of the waxing moon. It is said that whatever virtue is accumulated will proliferate one-hundred thousand times.

This year we look forward to sharing news and updates from time to time with you via email. We invite you to visit our website where you will find our published transcripts, books, CDs and translations in progress.
 
The Epic of Gesar Ling
The long-awaited book The Epic of Gesar of Ling, translated by Lama Chonam, Sangye Khandro, and the late Robin Kornman is now available to preorder.

To be released in April, this book contains Volumes 1-3, which tell of Gesar's birth, his mischievous childhood, his youth spent in exile, and his rivalry for the throne with his treacherous uncle. This great Tibetan epic tells how—in order to defend Tibet and the Buddhist religion from the attacks of enemies—the enlightened warrior-king Gesar conquers those enemies one by one in a series of adventures and campaigns that take him all over Asia. He is assisted in his adventures by a cast of heroes and magical characters who include the major deities of Tibetan Buddhism, as well as the native religion of Tibet.

Preorder at Shambhala Publications.
 
Dakini Power
We are also thrilled to announce that Sangye Khandro is one of the featured teachers, translators, and practitioners in a new book by Michaela Haas, called Dakini Power, Twelve Extraordinary Women Shaping the Transmission of Tibetan Buddhism in the West.

Dakini Power highlights the life stories of some of the most accomplished female Tibetan Buddhist teachers in the West in twelve stories of courage, determination, and wisdom.

Due to be released in April 2013 by Shambhala Publications, you are also able to preorder this book with a 30% discount if you order by May 1, 2013. Order here and use the discount code DPPC12.
Dakini Power website.

If you would like to receive our status updates, please subscribe to our email list.

Happy Losar and Best Wishes!
 
 

The extensive chod commentary by Pema Lungtog Gyatso has now entered the editing process. Lama Chonam and Sangye Khandro have finished the first rough-draft translation, and Sangye is now quickly reviewing that draft. Once the review is completed, she will send the manuscript on to the editor to finalize the editing process. Discussion of the choices for printing and distribution of the book have also begun.

For those of you interested in the source of the text, offered here is a translation of the Colophon from the end of the manuscript. More about the project.

Translation of the Colophon

Having composed this clear exposition on the close lineage of chod entitled An Ambrosial Ocean of Sublime Explanations, the embodiment of all the victorious ones, the great dharma terton king of incomparable kindness [i.e., Heruka Dudjom Lingpa] installed me—through proclamation—as the dharma holder of this doctrine.

Knowing I was armored with full permission to compose this, my own disciple Lama Gendun of Rekong persistently requested me to write this for a long time. He himself is highly praised and acknowledged as an incarnation of the great yogi Matog [i.e., Rinchen, one of the twenty-five disciples], who accomplished supreme hearing, contemplation, and meditation. Later, the mantra adept and Kilaya dagger holder, Kunzang Pema Chodzin, and the faithful samaya holder from Dronlung, Dorje Namgyal, sent me a scripture composed by Lord Tanagpa entitled The Great Determination of Reasoning [tsad ma’i ntha’ dpyod chen po] along with their request [to write this]. In addition, the wise one named Sherab offered a silver coin with a white scarf. The great terton’s son, himself a rinpoche with a wealth of knowledge and compassion, requested this along with a stainless white scarf.

More recently, this was again requested by the supreme one—prophesied through vajra speech—the mantra adept Dorje Namgyal, along with a mandala offering of an ounce of silver. The faithful and learned yogi Kunga offered five silver coins with his request as well.

Based on all of this and by placing the feet of many living enlightened masters upon the crown of my head and knowing the profound crucial points of the ecumenical tenets of the Earlier and Later Translation Schools, I, who was born with the name Pema Lungtog Gyatso, composed this. My scribe was Namgyal, a principal disciple who also made this request.

By this virtue, may the doctrine in general and specifically the supreme doctrine of the mara-severing chod lineage spread and increase throughout all directions. May virtue prevail!

An Ambrosia Ocean of Sublime Explanations: A Clearly Compiled Commentary Based upon the Close Lineage of Chod, colophon translated by Light of Berotsana.