Life of Rigdzin Namkha Gyatso Rinpoche

Post sayings or stories from Buddhist traditions which you find interesting, inspiring or useful. (Your own stories are welcome on DW, but in the Creative Writing or Personal Experience forums rather than here.)
Post Reply
phantom59
Posts: 1485
Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2009 7:30 am

Life of Rigdzin Namkha Gyatso Rinpoche

Post by phantom59 »

Rigdzin Namkha Gyatso Rinpoche was born in Dza-Chu-Kha in the province
of Kham, Tibet. His father Thupten Sherab, and his mother Dawa Sherab
called him Drupa Tharchin. Both his father and grandfather were
ngagkpas, and before he died, his father told him to be particularly
careful, since he represents the 18th generation of this yogic
lineage.

The main practice of Namkha Rinpoche is that of the new treasure of
Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche (Jigdral Yeshe Dorje, 1904-1987), the Dudjom
Tersar. He received it from the daughter of Jigdral Yeshe Dorje, Semo
Dechen Yudron, under whose direction he accomplished the traditional
three year retreat. This retreat took place in Kongpo Lama Ling, in
Kongpo province, where Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche lived.

At present Semo Dechen Yudron is in charge of this monastery. It is
near the lake Nam-Tso Chug-Mo, so large that it takes a full month to
go around it. The lake is a pilgrimage spot for Dorje Kundragma, one
of Tibet’s twelve local protectors (Tenma Chu-Nyi). When the lake is
calm and peaceful and no wind ripples its surface, if you climb a
mountain and look at it you can see clearly on its surface the mark of
the hands of Guru Rinpoche. In the middle of this lake there is a tiny
mountain island. There are no boats nor any other means of reaching it
during summertime. During wintertime the lake is covered by ice for
around three months, which allows people to reach this mountain island
by foot. Namkha Rinpoche went to this very special island walking on
the frozen surface of the lake and remained there in retreat for two
years. To return one needs to wait for the following winter for the
surface of the lake to freeze again. However, it can happen sometimes
that the water does not freeze, and then one is stuck there for
another year. This lake is not like those in the west. It resembles
the sky or outer space. There is nothing there and nobody uses it for
any reason whatsoever. There is no activity around it. Also there is
no particular reason for going there. After his retreat on this
mountain island, Namkha Rinpoche gathered around forty-eight monks and
nuns, who were all his close disciples and they prostrated around this
lake for six months.

Later on, Namkha Rinpoche did a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash, which
lasted for eight months. He left Lhasa (Tibet’s capital) to reach the
border of Buthan. He continued along the border until he reached Mount
Kailash, following a pilgrimage route marked out by stops established
by Milarepa and other great masters. Further, Namkha Rinpoche made two
retreats at Samye, being the heart place of the body, speech and mind
of Guru Rinpoche, one lasting for two years, the other one six months.

One of the highest Nyingma lamas, Domang Yangthang Rinpoche (the
reincarnation of the previous Lama Lhatsun Namkha Jigme), to whom
Dudjom Rinpoche himself payed homage, was also present. He is the root
lama of Drubwang Penor Rinpoche. He spent also twenty years in Chinese
prisons. At present he lives in Sikkim in northern India. He is also
the root lama of Thubten Sherab, the father of Namkha Rinpoche.
However, Namkha Rinpoche had never met him before. The same year
Thubten Sherab was to die, he told his son to go and see Domang
Yangthang Rinpoche and tell him about his death, and that he would
feel really relaxed, pleased and happy if he did that. Therefore
Namkha Rinpoche went to India to search for him.

The moment Namkha Rinpoche realized Domang Yangthang Rinpoche was
there, he immediately went to see him. Domang Yangthang Rinpoche was
truly happy to see him and asked if he had already been recognized as
a tulku (reincarnation). Namkha Rinpoche answered him that he had been
recognized as the reincarnation of Rigdzin Trag Ngak Lingpa by Dilgo
Kyentse Rinpoche, who gave him the name Rigdzin Namkha Gyatso.
Yangthang Rinpoche then joined his hands in a gesture of thanks for
Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. But he immediately added that, even though
what the latter had said was certainly true, he had himself had an
extraordinary dream the previous night. In this dream he clearly saw
that Namkha Rinpoche is also the reincarnation of a tulku from his own
lineage, Domang Yeshe Dorje, who was the root lama of both Domang
Yangthang Rinpoche and Drubwang Penor Rinpoche. He then added that
there was no doubt that all Buddhas are One in the extension of
primordial wisdom. Afterwards, Domang Yangthang Rinpoche informed
Penor Rinpoche (who was the head of the Nyingmapa lineage) of the
news. The latter confirmed in a letter bearing his signature and stamp
that Namkha Rinpoche is the reincarnation of Domang Yeshe Dorje. That
is how Rigdzin Namkha Gyatso Rinpoche was officially recognized as
tulku. He also had several other positive indications in this regard,
such as dreams and many other signs
Post Reply

Return to “Dharma Stories”