by phantom59 » Tue Sep 06, 2011 1:50 pm
His Holiness Kyabjé Trulshik Rinpoche Ngawang Chökyi Lodrö, head of the Nyingma order, entered parinirvana on September 2 and remained in thukdam until September 5 at Thupten Chöling, his monastery in Kathmandu, Nepal. The public will begin to pay respect to his memory on September 6.
The Central Tibetan Administration has mourned the demise of His Eminence Kyabje Trulshig Rinpoche, head of the Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism, describing his passing away as a loss to the Tibetan Buddhism. He passed away at the age of 88 on 2nd September 2011 at 8:30 am.
As a mark of respect for one of the greatest teachers of our times, Kyabjé Trulshik Rinpoche, and to pray for his quick rebirth, Kyabjé Thrangu Rinpoche and Sangha members of Thrangu Monastery Canada will be performing Monlam and Lamp Offering prayers on Tuesday, September 6, 2011, at 7pm.
Kyabje Trulshik Ngawang Chokyi Lodro was born in 1923, in Yardrok Taklung, in central Tibet. He was recognised as a youth to be the reincarnation of Trulshik Dongak Lingpa. His first master was Dzatrul Dorje Chang, who was one of the three main disciples of Trulshik Dongak Lingpa.
His first master was Dzatrul Dorje Chang, who was one of the three main disciples of Trulshik Dongak Lingpa. One day, Dzatrul Dorje Chang, after the passing away of his guru, witnessed two flying sparks which he perceived to be coming from the Copper Colored Mountain. One landed in a village near the seat of his master and the other one landed in his very own lap. The obvious meaning
to him was that there would be two incarnations of Trulshik Dongak Lingpa. One would be found in that village and the other would be found by him and would be under his care. This is what transpired.
The spark in the village became extinguished after only a short time, unlike the spark that came to him. Later, he understood that this was a foreshadowing that indicated that the incarnation in the village would not live long, because that is how things took place. Whereas, the incarnation which came to his care, that of Trulshik Rinpoche, had a long life, indicated by the bright, long-lasting light of the direct message from the Copper Colored Mountain. Indeed, this
message was pure joy, corresponding to the pure joy of the living Trulshik, who is still with us. Kyabje Trulshik approached the greatest masters of his time and received a complete traditional education. Kyabje Trulshik stayed with his disciples in a remote place to the south of Everest.
Seventeen of Trulshig Rinpoche's previous incarnations were in Tibet, including Rechungpa. Rechungpa, was one of the main disciples of the great poet and mystic, Milarepa. Trulshig Rinpoche, also appeared as Lalung Palgi Dorje, who ended the reign of terror of the evil king, Langdarma. Langdarma, systematically killed all religious practitioners in Tibet. Lalung Palgi Dorje performed the Black Hat dance for the king, concealing an arrow in the wide sleeve of his
robe. Out of compassion, both for the victims and for the king, who in future incarnations would suffer the pain he now inflicted on others, the monk drew the hidden arrow from his sleeve and killed the king.
H.H. Trulshig Rinpoche studied at Dza Rong Phu with Ngawang Tenzing, and took novice vows at the age of 10. When he was 19, his beloved teacher died, and following his wishes, Trulshig Rinpoche took his place as Khenpo (abbot) of Dza-Rong-Phu Monastery. Shortly after, he went to Mindroling College for further
teachings.
He took Gelung vows with Chung Ngawang Chodar Rinpoche and
Kyentse Norbu Rinpoche, who were his two main teachers at Mindroling. He also studied with 34 different Lamas, including Mindroling Dechen Choenzing, learning many aspects of Buddhist scriptures and practice.
Later, he studied in Lhasa, and took teachings from Chusep Jetsun Rinpoche, a famous female Lama, and Dudzom Rinpoche, the late head of the Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism. He studied with Dzongsar Kyentse Rinpoche, Dilgo Kyentse Rinpoche, and His Holiness The Dalai Lama.
In 1959, when the Dalai Lama fled from the Chinese occupation of Tibet, Trulshig inpoche also fled south across the Himalaya, into the Everest region of Nepal. He stayed at the monastery in Thame for one year, then moved to Chiwong Monastery for 5 years. He later established a monastery at Sengye Puhk (the lion cave), above Thupten Choling, on the lower slopes of Shyorung Yul Lha. Later still, he and his followers established the monastery of Thupten Choling, now the largest monastery in Nepal, with 150 monks and 350 nuns studying and meditating there.