Dharma Wheel

Khechara wrote:Greetings everyone. Are there any Dharma brothers and sisters who could shed some light on the Ngakpa International's online course on Vajrayana? A friend of mine wishes to enroll for the course and wants some reviews from others who have studied the same.

Thank you

https://ngakpa.org/vajrayana-training/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Karma Dorje wrote:

Khechara wrote:Greetings everyone. Are there any Dharma brothers and sisters who could shed some light on the Ngakpa International's online course on Vajrayana? A friend of mine wishes to enroll for the course and wants some reviews from others who have studied the same.

Thank you

https://ngakpa.org/vajrayana-training/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

See this thread about Pema Khandro/Troma Rinpoche/Kalima:

http://dharmawheel.net/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=16819" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

She is certainly controversial compared to other online programs such as Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche's Dharma Sun or FPMT. I would be cautious.

Jikan wrote: To me the first question is if the teacher behind this program is qualified & capable of leading students through such a program.

Khechara wrote:Greetings everyone. Are there any Dharma brothers and sisters who could shed some light on the Ngakpa International's online course on Vajrayana? A friend of mine wishes to enroll for the course and wants some reviews from others who have studied the same.

Thank you

https://ngakpa.org/vajrayana-training/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

tingdzin wrote: ↑Thu Jul 03, 2014 6:00 am She and her teachers were discussed on the previous incarnation of this board. I personally have met her and found her interesting as a person, but her formal credentials cannot even be called weak.

Pema Khandro is an authorized Lama and lineage holder of the Nyingma and Kagyu lineages, and one of few westerners (and one of the only western women) recognized and enthroned as a Tulku. She is a teacher of Dzogchen and Vajrayana Buddhism, specializing in esoteric Buddhist practices for lay people and householders which focus on direct access to cultivating intrinsic wisdom.

conebeckham wrote: ↑Wed Jul 02, 2014 4:58 pm She's gone by many names, and morphed through many transformations, but the one over-riding element of stability is her interest in marketing herself.

I will say no more.

SatyaDakshina wrote: ↑Thu Sep 06, 2018 5:10 am

conebeckham wrote: ↑Wed Jul 02, 2014 4:58 pm She's gone by many names, and morphed through many transformations, but the one over-riding element of stability is her interest in marketing herself.

I will say no more.

I wonder why the people on dharmawheel keep trying to harass her. Yes, she has a super long Tibetan name with multiple variants, but so do all Tibetan Buddhists. The beneficial thing about using one’s refuge name or titles is that these have meanings that support one’s practice. Some people choose to use their names, some people don’t - it is up to the person. But generally, this is how it is in Tibetan Buddhism, they may have several names. So the people here must not be very familiar with Tibetan Buddhism. Having many names doesn't make a Lama 'un-credible', it makes them a Tibetan Buddhist who has received many initiations. For example, Jigme Lingpa is one of the major teachers in the Nyingma lineage and he had several names:

Primary Title
kun mkhyen 'jigs med gling pa/

Primary Name
'jigs med gling pa/

Personal Name
mkhyen brtse 'od zer/

Personal Name
rang byung rdo rje mkhyen brtse 'od zer/

Personal Name
pad+ma dbang chen/

First Ordination Name
pad+ma mkhyen brtse'i 'od zer/

Primary Name
吉美林巴／钦则俄色·晋美林巴

Jigme Lingpa

Here is the link to TBRC, which is the Tibetan Buddhist Resource Center to see his profile. https://www.tbrc.org/#!rid=P314

Also, look at Jamgon Kongtrol for example, one of the most respected Tibetan teachers there ever was:

Name Variants
Primary Name
blo gros mtha' yas

Other Name
Lodro Thaye

Bodhisattva Vow Name
ngag dbang blo gros mtha' yas

Terton title
'chi med bstan gnyis g.yung drung gling pa

Terton title
bstan gnyis g.yung drung gling pa

Secret Initiatory Name
pad+ma gar gyi dbang phyug rtsal

Secret Initiatory Name
pad+ma gar dbang phrin las 'gro 'dul rtsal

Bodhisattva Vow Name
pad+ma gar dbang blo gros mtha' yas

Secret Initiatory Name
zil gnon dgyes pa rtsal

Primary Name
贡珠·云丹嘉措

Primary Title
'jam mgon kong sprul blo gros mtha' yas

Title
kong sprul 01 yon tan rgya mtsho

Title
'jam mgon kong sprul yon tan rgya mtsho

Title
kong sprul ngag dbang yon tan rgya mtsho

Title
kong sprul yon tan rgya mtsho

Title
karma ngag dbang yon tan rgya mtsho

Tulku Title
'jam mgon kong sprul 01

Tulku Title
Jamgon Kongtrul 01

Here is the link to his profile on TBRC https://www.tbrc.org/#!rid=P264
TBRC lists many texts and profiles on this site.

I would be surprised if you found any Tibetan Buddhist lineage holders that didn’t have more than one name.

SatyaDakshina wrote: ↑Thu Sep 06, 2018 5:10 amI wonder why the people on dharmawheel keep trying to harass her. Yes, she has a super long Tibetan name with multiple variants, but so do all Tibetan Buddhists. The beneficial thing about using one’s refuge name or titles is that these have meanings that support one’s practice. Some people choose to use their names, some people don’t - it is up to the person. But generally, this is how it is in Tibetan Buddhism, they may have several names. So the people here must not be very familiar with Tibetan Buddhism. Having many names doesn't make a Lama 'un-credible', it makes them a Tibetan Buddhist who has received many initiations. For example, Jigme Lingpa is one of the major teachers in the Nyingma lineage and he had several names:

Adamantine wrote: ↑Mon Sep 03, 2018 8:17 pm

tingdzin wrote: ↑Thu Jul 03, 2014 6:00 am She and her teachers were discussed on the previous incarnation of this board. I personally have met her and found her interesting as a person, but her formal credentials cannot even be called weak.

Just came across this statement on an online event add and
it sounds so confidently authoritative I thought it worthwhile
to revisit this quandary:

Pema Khandro is an authorized Lama and lineage holder of the Nyingma and Kagyu lineages, and one of few westerners (and one of the only western women) recognized and enthroned as a Tulku. She is a teacher of Dzogchen and Vajrayana Buddhism, specializing in esoteric Buddhist practices for lay people and householders which focus on direct access to cultivating intrinsic wisdom.

I also know of a person who bugged his lama for a tulku recognition for a long time before finally getting one.

SatyaDakshina wrote: ↑Thu Sep 06, 2018 5:10 am I wonder why the people on dharmawheel keep trying to harass her. Yes, she has a super long Tibetan name with multiple variants, but so do all Tibetan Buddhists. The beneficial thing about using one’s refuge name or titles is that these have meanings that support one’s practice. Some people choose to use their names, some people don’t - it is up to the person. But generally, this is how it is in Tibetan Buddhism, they may have several names. So the people here must not be very familiar with Tibetan Buddhism. Having many names doesn't make a Lama 'un-credible', it makes them a Tibetan Buddhist who has received many initiations. For example, Jigme Lingpa is one of the major teachers in the Nyingma lineage and he had several names:

So the people here must not be very familiar with Tibetan Buddhism.

Lingpupa wrote: ↑Thu Sep 06, 2018 11:55 am

SatyaDakshina wrote: ↑Thu Sep 06, 2018 5:10 am I wonder why the people on dharmawheel keep trying to harass her. Yes, she has a super long Tibetan name with multiple variants, but so do all Tibetan Buddhists. The beneficial thing about using one’s refuge name or titles is that these have meanings that support one’s practice. Some people choose to use their names, some people don’t - it is up to the person. But generally, this is how it is in Tibetan Buddhism, they may have several names. So the people here must not be very familiar with Tibetan Buddhism. Having many names doesn't make a Lama 'un-credible', it makes them a Tibetan Buddhist who has received many initiations. For example, Jigme Lingpa is one of the major teachers in the Nyingma lineage and he had several names:

It's not the names that are the problem. It's the vaporous claims to having received training and authorization that are being called into question.

Your assertion that:

So the people here must not be very familiar with Tibetan Buddhism.

rather in fact suggests the opposite, namely that *you* don't seem very familiar with Tibetan Buddhism.

Who knows?

I do recall an earlier incarnation of Pema Khandro's website which had a whole section devoted to her *lineage*. Sadly, it did not contain the name of one single actual teacher, merely a hand-waving comment something like "her lineage is that of the siddhas..." I didn't keep a copy, so the wording might not be quite right. *That* is the problem - the hand-waving mistiness of it all.

conebeckham wrote: ↑Thu Sep 06, 2018 5:33 pm Needs collaboration.

Malcolm wrote: ↑Thu Sep 06, 2018 5:38 pm

conebeckham wrote: ↑Thu Sep 06, 2018 5:33 pm Needs collaboration.

Pema Khandro has students, that makes her a teacher by fiat.

conebeckham wrote: ↑Thu Sep 06, 2018 5:56 pm

Malcolm wrote: ↑Thu Sep 06, 2018 5:38 pm

conebeckham wrote: ↑Thu Sep 06, 2018 5:33 pm Needs collaboration.

Pema Khandro has students, that makes her a teacher by fiat.

Sure. Nonetheless, claims have been made, and it is reasonable to ask for verification or confirmation. "Examine well the potential Guru," etc., right?