OM SOTI

LA MED TSO KYE GYAL WAI RING LUG CHOG

KA TER MIN DROL ME NGAG SAM MI KHYAB
PEL DZE CHI WA MED PAI RIG DZIN JE
YANG TRUL NYUR JON DZAD THRIN LHUN DRUB SHOG

Wonderful! Chhimed Rigdzin, you who spread the inconceivable instructions

of initiation and teachings of the Buddha's oral lineage and the hidden treasures
belonging to the ancient tradition of the unsurpassed lake-born Budhha.
May your Tulku-incarnation come quickly
and may all his/her activities be spontaneously accomplished.
 Our Teacher Khordong Terchen Tulku
Chhimed Rigdzin Rinpoche
was born on a full moon day of the 5th month (June/July) in the
year of the water dog (1922) as the 4th incarnation of Nuden Dorje
Drophan Lingpa. He was considered to be an emanation of
Khyeuchung Lotsawa’s body, Nanam Dorje Dudjom’s speech and
Padmasambhava’s mind. When he was 4 years old he was
officially recognized as Nuden Dorje’s reincarnation and was
enthroned at Khordong monastery in Kham/East Tibet. As such
he began to be in charge of other nearby monasteries as well.
Already during his childhood he showed many signs of realization
and siddhis and at the age of 9 he discovered his first terma.
Among his teachers were Tulku Tsurlo, Rigdzin Chenpo
Nyamnyid Dorje (the 9th incarnation of Rigdzin Godem), Bane
Tulku Orgyan Tenzin, Khenpo Sangthar, Yakhe Khenpo Lodro,
Tulku Chokyi Gyaltsen, Khenpo Jigme as well as other great
teachers of his time.
After finishing his studies (philosophy, medicine, logic,
grammar, mandala, astronomy, astrology, tantra and dzogchen)
with the degree of a Dorje Lopon he left his monastery following
the instruction of his main teacher Tulku Tsurlo. Adapting the
lifestyle of an itinerant yogi he went on a long pilgrimage to the
holy Buddhist places in Tibet, Nepal, India, Sikkim and Bhutan.
During this period Rinpoche met his future wife. They had 6
children. Four of their children are still alive: the two daughters
Norzin and Nise and the two sons Migmed and Ugen. Both the
sons have been recognized as tulkus (reincarnations of high
lamas). After the pilgrimage Rinpoche went to Tso Pema for a
traditional 3 year retreat.
Between 1954 and 1987 Rinpoche lived in Shantiniketan and
worked as a teacher and director for the Institute of Tibetan
Studies at Visvabharati University. He taught Tibetan language
and literature as well as Buddhist philosophy and practice. Many
of Rinpoche’s early students studied with him during this period.
One of the most important is probably Tulku Thondup. Many of
them, for example, James Low, Martin Boord and Uli Loserie are
teaching today, translating old texts, writing books and
commentaries to provide Western students with a deeper
understanding of Tibetan Buddhism.
In 1961 Rinpoche founded the Chhimed Rigdzin Society under the
patronage of Dudjom Rinpoche together with his students and
other high lamas. This society has taken up the task to preserve,
to cultivate and to spread the teachings of Padmasambhava. Many
important dharma texts, mainly from the Byangter tradition
(Northern Treasures), have been translated and reproduced.
Rinpoche developed a special translation system that allows the
student to recite in Tibetan language while still understanding the
meaning of the text. During this time he also helped many
Tibetan refugees to start new lives in India, taught as a guest
teacher at different European universities, and worked together
with different European scholars (Prof. Tucci/Italy, Prof.
Hoffman/Munich, etc) on different scientific projects.
In his later years he started to travel to Europe and the United
States on a regular basis to transmit the Khordong lineage, mainly
consisting of the Byangter cycle and the terma treasures of the
Khordong tulkus like Nuden Dorje, Gonpo Wangyal and Chhimed
Rigdzin, to his Western students.
In 1990 Rinpoche travelled to Tibet. He took the teachings and
initiations of his lineage back to his ‘mother monastery’ and
discovered further termas. In India und Poland two centres for
Buddhist studies and practice have been built under Rinpoche’s
guidance. He empowered regents in different countries to guide,
support and strengthen the sangha during his absence. Tulku
Ugen Chemchog was appointed general main regent and Jomo
Gudrun main regent for Europe.
On June 14th 2002 Rinpoche left for the pure land.
During the cremation and the following ceremonies there were
many extraordinary signs that occurred. Parts of his ashes were
scattered/dispersed to the rivers around the world by his stu-
dents and in his monasteries in Tibet and India stupas were con-
structed and were filled with his relics. And like the rays of the
sun his blessing and the power of his lineage reach everyone tur-
ning to him and enlighten our daily confusion.
 Letters to the sangha
OM AH HUNG MAHA GURU SARVA SIDDHI HUNG
Hello dear people,
here it is again, our 2007 Khordong newsletter.
This year started quite turbulently in Berlin, however,
I believe that this stormy period will eventually bring
clarity. According to the Tibetan calendar this is the
year of the fire pig, which means that we will find
truffles!
The theme of the newsletter this year is Byangter.
The inspiration comes, of course, from the initiations
given by Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche in India last year.
The thangka we have chosen for the front cover was
made available by Sebastian and is also directly related to that. You will find more concerning
this in the booklet. Also in this edition, we have decided to include Martin Boord’s article
once more since it demonstrates at length the roots and developments of the Byangter cycle.
This time it has been particularly difficult for everybody ‘to put pen to paper’ and so I am
more than happy to have received each and every contribution. A big thank you to the authors!
Thanks to Marqus, Christian H., Susanne, Frank, Uta, Nele and Olaf for the translations. The
images in this volume have been provided by Nele, Gudrun, Harald (TTC), Anne G., Susanne,
Sebastian, Ania (PL), Lauri, Marcel and Stefan. Special thanks to Robert Beer whose extraor-
dinary linedrawings we were allowed to use. The proofreading was done by Norzin, Heike,
Richard and Moni. Moni was also in charge of the layout and was assisted by Nele. A very
special cheers and thanks to Wolfgang, our background advisor and responsible for the prin-
ting. In case I have forgotten to mention anyone here please pardon my absent-mindedness
(but know that you are appreciated).
If you want to participate in any upcoming projects, please contact me. Some of you have
also wanted to know, if and where they could send donations to support the newsletter. Natu-
rally, we would greatly appreciate any financial support as we have started to doubt if we
would in the future be able to maintain the current standard. Please use the following bank ac-
count:
Khordong e.V., Deutsche Bank, BLZ: 100 700 24, Konto: 324 755 800 (IBAN
DE83100700240324755800, BIC / SWIFT-Code DEUTDEDBBER) Password: Rundbrief
Apart from that, all that remains, is to wish you all the very best and finish with the great
masters Dudjom Rinpoches words:
An Aspiration to the Great Perfection
May we gain conviction in the view werein Samsara and Nirvana are the same.
May we have consumate skill in meditation, a natural flow unaltered uncontrived.
May we bring our action to perfection, a natural, unintended, spontaneity.
May we find the Dharmakaya, beyond all gaining and rejection.
Paris, 1976

Warmest regards,
Anne [email protected]
Editor

4 Newsletter 2007
 Khordong Board

Content

Letters to the sangha

Letter from the Khordong Board 4
Letter from Gudrun 6
Letter from Tulku Thondup Rinpoche 7

Monastary in India
Account of the Byangter Initiations by Taklung Tsetul Rinpoche 8

Polish Center Drophang Ling

Overview, by Anna Siwecka 10
Summer Retreat in Darnkov, by Dagmar 13

Theme: Byangter
Cover Picture, from the Guru Yoga of the Gompa Zhangtal 18
An Account of the Origin and Development
of the Byang-gter or Northern Treasures Tradition, by Martin Boord 20
The Preliminary Practice of the ‘Zer Nga’ of Byangter, by David Cowey 31
The Heart Nectar of the Saints. A Prayer of Aspiration,
that Condenses the Essence of the Oral Teachings,
by H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche 35

Projects
Archives Project 40
Book Project 42

Events/Review 2006
James Low in Berlin, by Liz 44
Tulku Thondup in Berlin, by Ralf 46
Keith Dowman in Berlin, by Andreas 47
Jomo Gudrun in Berlin, by Ralf 49
Martin Boord in Berlin, by Anna A. 50

Comming Events 2007

James Low in Berlin 52
Keith Dowman in Berlin 53
Programm Overview 54

Practice Groups
Information 56

Membership Form 57

Khordong e.V. 5
Letters to the Sangha

Dear members and friends of the German Khordong-Association,

we would like to give you an overview of Following this announcement, the new
the association’s activities. managing committee (Vorstand) was elec-
ted, which now consists of Andreas Ruft
The German Khordong-Association
(1.chairperson), Anne Wanitschek (2.chair-
(Khordong e.V.) was informally founded in
person) and Wolfgang Zimmermann (treasu-
1993. However, in 1996 it was listed in the
rer). Norbert Ohl has once again accepted
Register of Associations (Vereinsregister) of
the accountancy role (Cash auditor).
Frankfurt a.M. In 1998 the office of the asso-
ciation was moved to Tübingen, and in 1999 Next on the agenda of the assembly were
the association got the legal status of an or- the financial reports for 2004/2005, which
ganisation contributing to general welfare. were very detailed and thorough, so a big
thanks to Wolfgang and Norbert. They have
The aim of Khordong e.V. according to
now been eased of this managing committee
§2 of the statute is the cultivation and pro-
task, after having done the 2004/2005 activ-
motion of all schools of the Buddhist religi-
ity reports.
on, particularly the Khordong line of the Ny-
ingma school of Tibetan Buddhism, whilst at The activities of the managing committee
the same time not excluding other lines and were among others:
schools.
– Mailing of newsletter and flyers.
This for instance means: finding rooms
– Providing support for the activities of the
where practice can take place, organizing
monastery in India, such as printing and
events with qualified teachers, collecting and
mailing flyers and detailed brochures
maintaining Buddhist art and ritual instru-
about the big 2006 Byangter Cycle of In-
ments, archiving Buddhist scriptures, audio-
itiations, emailing event information as
and videotapes, translating and distributing
well as posting it on the website, in addi-
these, cooperating with other centers and
tion to informing many centres around the
supporting them, sponsoring of certain prac-
world about the event.
titioners, and much more.
– The Polish Khordong-Association was
Since the death of Rinpoche Gudrun
supported in part through donations. In-
Knausenberger is the spiritual head of Khor-
formation about their events was distribu-
dong e.V.
ted via e-mail and the website, and ap-
The last regular assembly of the members peals for donations were forwarded.
took place on October 22nd 2006 in Berlin.
– The archive was extended and older re-
Rolf Haberer, who had been First Chair- cordings were digitalized.
man of Khordong e.V. since 1999, used this
– Buddhist events were organized and
occasion to resign from his position. The
sponsored; five of these took place in
reason for his departure being that he felt he
Berlin in 2006.
would not be able to devote as much time to
the association as he wished, since he is cur- – Publishing
rently very busy in his job. We would like to The following titles have been already
thank him here cordially for everything he
published (some in cooperation with
has done for the association. Having a deep,
other publishing houses)
heartfelt connection with Rinpoche and be-
ing so close to the Sangha, he has shaped the  MARTIN J. BOORD, A bolt of Lightning
association in a substantial way. We wish From The Blue, The vast commentary on
him rapid and successful business develop- Vajrakila that clearly defines the essen-
ment so that we can work together in the fu- tial points, edition Khordong, Berlin,
ture. 2002

6 Newsletter 2007
 Tulku Thondup

 JAMES LOW, Being Right Here, Com- which could not for various reasons be allo-
mentary on The Mirror of Clear Meaning cated to that purpose, such as the collection
by Nuden Dorje, Snow Lion, 2004 of money for Tara´s journey to Tibet, which
did not take place. It was decided that dona-
 JAMES LOW, Hier und Jetzt Sein,
tions up to the amount of €50 will be given
Edition Mandarava, Gutenstein, 2005
to other projects; however, donors of larger
 JAMES LOW, Being Guru Rinpoche, sums will be contacted.
Commentary on Nuden Dorjes Terma:
Donations, whether meant for a special or
The Vidyadhara Guru Sadhana, Trafford,
general purpose are always very welcome.
2006
If you need a receipt for the donation please
 JAMES LOW, Eins mit Guru Rinpoche, let us know so that we can arrange one for
Ein Kommentar zur Vidyadhara Guru you since we don’t automatically provide
Sadhana, edition Khordong, Berlin, 2007 them.
The yearly fees for the membership have
not changed. They are €60 for singles and
The following titles are forthcoming
€90 for couples. A reduction of the fee can
 MARTIN J. BOORD, A Bolt of Lightning be granted upon request. Whoever wants to
From The Blue (new edition) join the association is welcome to do so with
 JAMES LOW, Commentary to The the attached form in the last pages of this
Butterlamp Prayer, first in English, then newsletter.
in German In case you feel inclined to support our
 JAMES LOW, Revised Translation and projects – we can always use some help.
Commentary on Leo Dünma, first in Whether this could be by translating, ty-
English ping, transcribing, archiving, mailing,
editing of recordings, designing websites and
filling them with content, organizing of or
We also discussed the current office si- helping at events… or even by giving finan-
tuation. Ultimately, we would like a space cial support, we are very happy to receive
where the archives and the publishing house any help and time that you may wish to vol-
material can be stored, which could serve as unteer.
office, and where eventually practitioners
could meet, or it could even be the location Best wishes,
for Khordong´s events. Your Managing Committee of the Ger-
Another issue that was discussed was that man Khordong-Association
of donations intended for a specific purpose, Andreas, Anne, Wolfgang

Khordong e.V. 7
 Monastary in India

Dear Dharma friends,

I have just returned from a short visit to Siliguri. Honestly, I was quite afraid to go back
there. I had feared that I would miss our Rinpoche so much and that his absence would over-
whelm me emotionally. Instead of this, the moment I reached there I felt so much at home and
utterly peaceful during my whole stay. There was nothing missing! Many of the people there
had similar experiences; they felt that Rinpoche was totally present there. So I am very grate-
ful, especially to Ugen and Sashi who have devoted their whole lives to looking after the place
and filling it with life. Bringing young monks there for education and encouraging learned
ones to stay, teach and continue practicing at the temple. It was also a wonderful opportunity
to meet many people of our sangha after so many years. I enjoyed the practices together, the
conversations and just spending time together.
Rolf and I reached Siliguri the day before the last ceremony with H.H. Taklung Tsetrul
Rinpoche. So we were not fortunate enough to receive any teachings or initiations from him
but we had the chance to speak to him personally. On a few occasions I invited him to come to
Darnkow, Poland in the summer to give initiations, lungs and teachings there. He assured me
that he would like to come, but he needs to have an eye operation and can only let us know
after Losar if he would actually be able to come. So let’s please pray for the success of his op-
eration and for his good health. It would be really wonderful to receive his teachings on the
Byangter practices that Chhimed Rigdzin Rinpoche gave us. There are the Guru Drakpo,
Vajrakila, Drowa Kundrol (Chenresig), Thukdrub, Dongdrub, Leudunma, Zer Nga which have
already been translated by Rinpoche and James Low into English.
I hope to see many of you again in Darnkow this year and hopefully we have the good luck
to welcome H.H. Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche there.
But if we don’t meet personally I wish you happiness and good health, joyful and peaceful
practice and I hope that you will accomplish whatever you wish in your life.

Much love to all of you,

Gudrun

8 Newsletter 2007
 Byangter Initiation

Dear Dharma Friends of Khordong Sangha,

Greetings to all the Khordong sangha members!

For many months, I have been hearing a lot of good
news from Drophen Ling in Poland, Berlin, other Euro-
pean centers, and from individual sangha members – they
are active performing Dharma practices at different sangha
centers, in personal shrine rooms, or in the heart-temples
of their individual lives. This will certainly please Rinpo-
che and I am sure that he will give you all a radiant smile
and thunderous laughter of approval. I am rejoicing for all
the spiritual activities that you are pursuing.
I hope that many of you were able to go to Gonpa Land
in India for the great transmission of Byangter (Jangter) cy-
cle given by Kyabje Taglung Tsetul Rinpoche.
In the 8th-9th centuries, Guru Padmasambhava revealed and transmitted many esoteric tea-
chings to Nanam Dorje Dudjom and then concealed them as a Ter. When the time for serving
others through those teachings arrived, Dorje Dudjom was reborn as Rigdzin Godden
(1337-1408) and discovered the teachings from Riwo Trazang in the Northern province of Ti-
bet. And so, it became known as the Byangter – the Northern Ter. Soon these teachings beca-
me one of the great lineages of the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.
Terchen Nuden Dorje was a follower of the Byangter tradition. Also, he himself discovered
many profound teachings of Guru Padmasambhava as Ter. His discovered teachings became
known as Khordong Ter teachings. So Byangter become the mother tradition for the Khor-
dong lineage of Rinpoche.

With my prayers to Guru Rinpoche for his blessings to all,

Khordong e.V. 9
 Polish Center Drophang Ling
Account of the Byangter-Initiation
by S.H. Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche

A nne and Sebastian asked me to write

something about India but after Ma-
xim’s newsletter (see on the website www.
On December 14th we offered Ku Sum
Mandal and various presents to Gonjang
Rinpoche to thank him for having given us
khordong-india.org) there is not much else I the lungs. It was time for him to go as he
have to say, so I will be brief. was expected by his students in Taiwan. We
then had a break and the transmission of the
Gompa Zanthal started on December 18th
2006.
It was at that moment we could say the
mandala was fully completed. This last part
attracted so many that the gompa was packed
with people, including the Chenresig Gompa
and the staircases. We also set up a pandal
outside with a video projector and screen.
More than 1400 people were attending the
wang every day. Around 17 nationalities
were represented and all together 62 foreign-
ers were there. It really looked like a big fes-
tival. It went on this way till the 25th of De-
cember, when we offered a Dakini Dance
and special rituals for the long life of Tak-
lung Tsetrul Rinpoche to close this cycle of
transmission in great spirit.
Meanwhile the 17th Butterlamp retreat had
started and Gudrun and Rolf had arrived.
Rinpoche stayed with us for another 2 days
while most of the crowd had instantaneously
vanished. This gave us some time to breath
and we were able to have close encounters
From November 26th to December 25th the with Rinpoche. Gudrun together with Tulku
program went like a marathon – Wang after Ugen met Rinpoche and officially invited
Wang and Lung after Lung in order to make him to come to Darnkow this year. It was
sure they would all be given. Somehow it also possible then to receive personal advice
took us all this time to build up the mandala from Rinpoche, as well as about the Gompa
step by step and with great effort. However, in India and the sangha at large. Then on De-
thanks to the tireless work and organization cember 28th Rinpoche left. Most of us ac-
of a few, things got done despite constant companied him to Bagdogra airport with a
last minutes requests from the Taklung bus that had been previously arranged. Our
Tsetrul Rinpoche monks, who were rushing hearts were sad and even the sky remained
against time to get ready for the next initia- grey on that day.
tion.
From the next day onwards the usual pro-
Slowly, slowly the number of both local gram followed. It was very inspiring and the-
and foreigner participants increased. The re was a feeling of warmth when more than
number of tents increased, the wood was 30 of us were together once again for a few
full, as well as all the newly built huts and days to do Big Rigdzin and offer the butter-
new guest house rooms. lamps. Yes indeed, it was very encouraging
to see Gudrun leading us for the pujahs and
10 Newsletter 2007
 Overview of Drophan Ling

to see many of Rinpoche’s disciples back come, organize Losar, reinforce the structure
here once again after a gap of several years. of the Society and the organization of the life
here and of course close accounts.
Then one after another, our Dharma
brothers and sisters left to go back home or The transmission has been a great success
continue their journey. We finally matched but it also has its cost. We are very happy to
the number of lamps on Dakini Day, January have been so dearly supported by those who
13th 2007 and the retreat ended on January came here to attend and some of you from
14th with a total of 118, 000 lamps having Europe who could not come but have been
been offered.

Then it all went very fast, most people so generous. We are grateful and fortunate
flew back or went up to the hills. Tulku because such transmissions mean never-en-
Ugen had been invited to Bodhgaya by the ding and unexpected expenses.
organizing committee of the Nyingma Mon-
Thanks to many of you, we could once
lam. So he is there at the moment together
again offer all the lamps as usual. Otherwise,
with Norbu Gyaltsen, it is a great opportuni-
without your support we would have ended
ty for both of them to represent the gompa
the transmission exercise unable to offer the
there and to build new relationships based on
lamps and we would have been empty-han-
the success of the transmission.
ded in the months to come.
Gompalang is now back to its usual quiet
So at the end, all is well…
state. The young lamas went back home for a
Warmest wishes to all,
10 days break and Renate, Jean-Jacques,
Jens, Arnaud, Nathalie and I are staying here
at the moment enjoying a few peaceful days. Sarwa Mangalam.
Soon the time will come to fix things here Alexis
and there, define direction for the year to

Khordong e.V. 11
Polish Center Drophang Ling

Overview of Drophang Ling

Dear Friends in Dharma,

firstly I would like to sum up what has Firstly, the palm oil is higher quality. It
been done this year: burns better without strong smoke. It is ea-
sier to clean lamps and after pouring it sets,
• Doors were put on all the rooms on the so wicks do not sink. Also the oil burns cle-
1st floor of the gompa. anly so we did not have problems with
• Rooms have been furnished with simple, black, burnt butterlamps. After the retreat the
basic furniture – wooden beds, chairs, lamps looked like new ones, mostly thanks
shelves. to sangha members from Germany, who
• We opened the kitchen on the 1st floor – scrubbed all burnt lamps, so that now they
during the retreat tsog was prepared there. are yellow and shiny.
• We moved the Dharma shop to a room on
the 1st floor. It is wonderful that still we are able to of-
fer 111,111 lamps every year for peace as
• The ceiling over the staircase was protec-
our Rinpoche wanted us to do. I hope we
ted against the cold and we insulated the
will always continue this.
roof over the attic. Now the entire buil-
ding is sealed and the gompa can be hea- I am a bit sad that less and less Polish
ted. sangha members have been participating in
• Maciek Szczypka finished facade decora- this unique practice. This year more than
tions – the wall by the terrace over the half of the butterlamp cleaning team were
main entrance – you can see the photos. people from Germany. We should thank
them especially since due to their help we
managed to burn all lamps. Of course, also
We hoped to do the following by the end of
many thanks to sponsors who donated mo-
2006:
ney for oil, wicks and cleaning clothes.
• Finish bathrooms on the 1st floor of the Certainly, it is good that Darnkow is a
gompa center for all Khordong sangha in Europe
• Insulate the roof and plaster the boiler and let it be like that, but Polish sangha seem
house inside to be ready for installation of to be less active and present.
the heating system.
Much the same as last year, we started the
summer retreat from Dordje Drollo practices
And now a few words about the 2006 conducted by Frauke Blohm. It is very good
summer retreat: that we have short retreats with one practice,
Again, we were able to offer 111,111 like Dordje Drollo or Chod with Gudrun in
butterlamps!!! May. We got many practices from Rinpoche,
so I think it would be good to practice then
Although Migme, who was supposed to together here. Maybe in the future we could
conduct the ceremony, could not come to have more time during the year for such
Poland (he did not get a new passport in short retreats of other pujas.
time, his previous passport was invalid) we
were able to do the practice unaided. James Low also visited us this year. Whi-
le it is true that he stayed only 3 days, the in-
This year for the first time we used palm tense teachings made us reflect.
oil and although at the beginning some of us
were dubious about technology – preparing
palm oil is more time consuming, having to
be heated before pouring – the result was
more than satisfying.

12 Newsletter 2007
 Summer Retreat in Darnkow

Gudrun gave the Padmasambhava initiati- lumns, painted elements of the ceiling but
on. I am really glad that although Rinpoche white walls with thangkas on them.
passed away, the Padmasambhava initiation • As it is now – all walls are white but
is given every year (by Gudrun or Tulku painted (now we have only plaster) with
Ugen). Thanks to that Rinpoche`s transmis- thangkas on them.
sion is still alive and new people can get be-
We have to choose one solution. Next
nefit from it.
year, during the summer retreat we will hold
All teachings from 2006 (and teachings the General Members Assembly and make a
and retreats from previous years, also recor- decision, but now all of us can express their
dings of retreats with Rinpoche) are availa- opinions and give input. Soon we will pre-
ble on CD or MP3. You can order them di- sent detailed descriptions of all three soluti-
rectly from Jacek Skirucha – email address: ons on the website and you can vote on one
[email protected] of them. Each of us can present his/her opi-
We also held the Association members nion because the gompa belongs to all of us.
assembly where we also discussed the inside I would like to remind you that next year du-
decoration of the gompa. We came up with ring the general assembly we will elect a
three ideas: new Management Board.
Next year is going to be a special one. We
• Traditional – to invite painters from Bhu-
will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the
tan, who painted Siliguri gompa and have
Center, in 1998 we held the retreat up here at
the whole gompa decorated in the tradi-
the wooden gompa (now used as dormitory).
tional way – all walls covered with pain-
Do you remember? We have to celebrate this
tings.
anniversary. I request you to send photos
• Middle way – elements of traditional de- from 1998 retreat.
coration – maroon paneling, stylized co-

Khordong e.V. 13
Polish Center Drophang Ling

Accounts of the 2006 year retreat:

Income Amount Expenditure Amount Balance

(Zloty) (Zloty) (Zloty)
Retreat organisation (tickets for teachers,
Participation in 22 078 salary for the cook, fuel, waste water -13 322 8 756
the retreat collection, power supply, office, etc.)
Payment for food 6 135 Food products purchased - 5 615 520
donations for oil 8 703 oil, wicks and cleaning towels for - 9 051 - 348
butterlamps
Total 36 916 Total - 27 988 8 926

Also, donations for the gompa in amount of 3 792 PLN were collected.

Tentative plans for 2007: more year and then apply. If we qualify
we can use the money for the canteen
Butterlamps offering as usual. If every-
overhaul repair. With good maintenance
thing goes smoothly we will have a retreat
in winter the gompa can survive one more
with Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche, who has al-
winter without heating.
ready accepted our invitation. Details will be
known after the retreat in Siliguri where Gu- • Overhaul repair of the kitchen and can-
drun will again invite Rinpoche to visit teen
Darnkow. We also invited Tulku Thondup
Rinpoche, but his schedule for next year has • It is necessary especially if we (and I hope
not been fixed and although he would like to we will) have retreats with Taklung Tse-
come, nothing has been decided. trul Rinpoche.
• Inside doors in the gompa

Finally, the most important plan to be • Window sills and painting of walls on the
realized in 2007: 1st floor
• Gompa heating systemI need to explain • Library – buying of bookcases and arran-
why we decided not to install the heating ging and extending the library
system in 2006 although everything was • Finishing of the gompa facade – balcony
ready to do so. It turns out that there is a banisters
possibility of 75% reimbursement of the
costs from EU development funds. The You can see that we still need funds for
only condition is to apply before we start these investments. I hope that thanks to
installation. This should be no problem sponsors, thanks to support of all of you we
because although we have already prepa- will realize our plans, as in the past. Even
red the project, all materials have been the smallest donations make progress.
gathered but we have not started building
anything. All funds for 2006 have been
already allotted, so to get any money we Best regards,
have to wait till the new reimbursement Sarva Mangalam
program starts. It starts in 2007. While it
is true that we do not know the criteria of Anna Siwecka
application acceptance the Association
board decided to take a chance, wait one

14 Newsletter 2007
 Summer Retreat in Darnkow

Summerretreat in Darnkow 2006

week we were feeling as if we

had reached the very depth of
the practise, regretting that it
was already over. The wish was
arising to extend the Dorje drolo
retreat to two weeks, and Frauke
was showing herself open for
the idea. But since it is planned
to invite Taklung Tsetrul Rinpo-
che for the summer 2007, this
seems to be rather a vision for
summer 2008. Let's see... All of
us have been very much appre-
ciating the fact, that Frauke is

B ack in Berlin, writing plying between

Schlachtensee, Bilderbuchcafe, and
the pc at home, the task to author the report
regularly sharing her precious time – indeed
a part of her holidays – with us.
Finally she was staying even a little lon-
of this year's retreat, having been urged so
ger. We were then unpacking the butter-
nicely on me by Anne, is granting me the op-
lamps – this time cleansed and shining (!) :
portunity to review – virtually per zoom –
what a pleasure! – , arraying them and gli-
the rich, colourful time in Darnkow once
ding seamlessly into the butterlamp retreat
again. Like already in the last years, Frauke
with its notorious highs (or ups) and downs.
was preluding the summer with the Dorje
The common coming and going was com-
Drolo retreat. It was a powerful and very in-
mencing, which is invoking in me again and
tensive opening of the Darnkow summer,
again the image of wayfaring yogis and yogi-
though – or even because (?) – only a small
nis, meeting once a year in the place of their
core of practitioners was gathering, proving
hearts, to cherish exchange, to practise to-
itself yet as solid and steady, consisting only
gether, to gain in experience, and to accom-
of about ten applications, a harmonious me-
plish karmic work, before turning back to
lange of polish and german sangha members,
their particular daily tasks, dispersing into
the real Dorje Drolo fans.
the world again. For a few among us this
The big surprise for me was, that Wenzel year's butterlamp retreat has been overshado-
after a never-ending back and forth decided wed by the news, that Migme (due to an un-
against his sisters birthday to come and was fortunate time frame concerning passport
popping all of a sudden up infront of me. and visa) has not been able to come. I, my-
Plus: he was adorned with an operative hea- self have been seeing the chance therein to
ring device. Wenzel able to communicate! configure, shape and personalize the given
We were practising energetic, focused, after time in a prolific manner, on one's own dis-
only a few days almost adeptly, with a lot of cretion and independently from the presence
humour and great joy. Frauke's teachings of a spiritual authority, therefore so to speak
were well-grounded, profound, and at times adultly. For it was feeling, as if we have
very special. been released into independence (from Pad-
Haenne from Denmark was enriching the masambhava..., from Rinpoche...).
days with lively and cheerful contributions Meanwhile great joy was beeing provo-
of song, singing whereever one was meeting ked by the news, that the age of passionate
her, and the evenings with wonderful fire. discussions about the most effective clean-
We were enjoying a highly energetic, harmo- sing technique („hot water – yes or no? De-
nious, and informal atmosphere. After a tergents? Heavens sake, never!) was finally
Khordong e.V. 15
Polish Center Drophang Ling

belonging to the past: literally bucketfuls of Christoph: No, this is not working.
marvellous, sootfree burning palm butter Dagmar: Why not?
was at our disposal. The butterlamps were Christoph: Because the powers are so strong,
beaming and we were beaming, too, murmu- we would disintegrate.
ring mantras or chanting many seven lines
And after we had noticed, it was worth a
prayers in the evening with Christoph or sit-
try to dip the cleaning rags in oil:
ting on buckets and wooden planks in the
Susanne (asking Ralf): How is it running?
sunshine. The distressful time of sticking
Ralf (dead dry): It is running down.
lamps, becoming more and more unsightly
with every burning process was over once Still quite witty in the evening:
and for all. Thought we. Until we learned of Somebody: What is it actually, what we are
the remainders of the year before. Harshly doing here???
being brought back to the reality of cleaning, Ralf: Oil change. Twice a day.

we were deciding instantly a spontanous Not quite as witty in the early morning
campaign for donations for more magnifi- hours:
cent, superb, whitely cooling down palm Susanne: The butterlamp falls to the floor-
butter and were resigning ourselves to the making me gay as a lark once more.
(oh, so terrible!) fate of another – the very Ralf: The butterlamp, the butterlamp
last! – week filled with soybean oil. Aside was burning down the summer camp.
from hushed muttering, cautious grumbling,
and newly flaring up technique debates this The absolute Highlight during the butter-
oil period was giving birth to a rich flouris- lamp time was on account of Compas. Being
hing of unbeatable gallows humour, particu- one evening so obviously occupied with
larly during advanced night hours. mysterious activities, that he was very soon
provoking the most curious questions. Yet
Here are some excerpts:
these were just bouncing against an impenet-
Jacek (the small) was quoting, he had been rable pokerface, being responded by the
reciting so many mantras, he must have had claim for more patience. It was one of those
attained absolute siddhis. periods of long butterlamp nights. Around
Dagmar: In that case, it would really be fine, midnight he was bobbing up again with se-
if you could clean the lamps by virtue of veral utterly stuffed plastic bags in the lamp-
your mental abilities. light of the butterlamp house, where in the

16 Newsletter 2007
 Summer Retreat in Darnkow

mild summernight we were cleansing oursel- Olaf we have been owing much in this re-
ves through the remaining butterlamp spect:without the sight of his figure repea-
buckets. And all of a sudden there was a bar- tedly strolling by, in the long run we would
becue standing beside us on the lawn and we not have been able to liberate ourselves at
were having – like christmas in summer – at least from time to time from our own con-
one o'clock in the morning a completely un- stricting tunnelvision (rag-butterlamp-box-
expected grill party with delicious meat, sau- bucket-rag-butterlamp-box and so forth).
sages, roasted bread, and cheese. It was in- The sight of him however – blossomwhite
credibly gorgeous! Wonderful! Magnificent jeans – tanned body – relaxed defocused
and splendid! And so yummy! A further gaze – was leveraging us not only to unex-
highlight, connected with banquet meal and pected visualisation exercises (e.g. Olaf plus
delicacy was the birthday of Ania's and blossomwhite jeans plus tanned body equals
Hondzik's daughter Drolma, to which all at- Olaf plus surfboard plus Darnkow equals
tendants had been invited. We were sitting Olaf plus surfboard plus beach ambiance
all around the fireplace in front of Ania's and equals us all in California on the beach
Hondzik's house, chatting, watching Drolma equals ice in the sunshine... well, and so on),
sitting amongst her presents, taking care, that but also to the recurring recognition, that
the dogs would not steel our tasty polish sau- everything is transient and that also the „age
sages, drinking beer and wine, and roasting of the butterlamps“ will be eventually follo-
slices of zucchini. I was finding the openness wed by other times.
of Ania and Hondzik most beautiful and spe-
The big Jacek being more beautiful than
cial. I am believing, that this event has been
ever, was bringing fresh cleaning rags exact-
an important contribution to the recently ari-
ly in the right moment: an entire sack with
sing feeling of many that especially the po-
super fantastic, stunning winter bed linen!
lish and german sangha is growing together.
Wow!
As usual Christoph was a rock in the surf
with his enthusiastic endurance, completely But it was gaudy not just around the but-
unswerving. He was bringing us chilling mo- terlamp house, but also in the gompa. Ricar-
ments and refreshing visualisati- da was standing every morning cer-
ons: While we were igniting the tainly at five o'clock in the tsogkit-
lamps at 50°C (or maybe rather chen, which had been relocated and
60°???), we were by virtue of our had outgrown it's provisional com-
spirit enjoying wonderful minutes mencements. She was practising
in fantastic swimming-pools, ti- magic on and on – it was simply
led, and filled with splendid, amazing!!! Raw vegetarian salads
cool, turquoise blue water, till fi- with dressing, yeah!!! Incessantly
nally our concentration was flag- new unimagined creations and com-
ging, and we were surfacing binations were coming into being in
again, bathed in sweat, with the aesthetic variations: stuffed eggs and
notorious grey-black rags and a pancakes, partysnacks, quark dishes
butterlamp in our hands in the ful and so on and on... so much love has
midday-sun. With his sonorous, been flowing through her hands.
at times slightly croaking voice he was mo- Every day. Over and over again. Tirelessly.
reover inducing many a meditative cleansing She has been overwhelming us indeed...
break, pulling us along, often accompanied Whereas Bernhard has been providing us
by Karin radiating real warmness of heart. with another kind of variegation of our daily
Despite the great heat Wenzel was putting practise, through giving a real personal touch
his back admirably into it. With his mean- to the originally rather calm guru-yoga secti-
while legendary humour and unbelievable on of the Big Rigdzin. His biggest hit was
shoves of energy he was ensuring that the his own original modification of the passage
butterlampfraction was enduring even the „...and then he is dissolving from the head
most dark and desertlike periods, defying all UPWARDS and from the feet DOWN-
dead calms and symptoms of fatigue. Also to
Khordong e.V. 17
Cover Picture Gongpa Zangthal

WARDS into a ball of light, which is (mel- Anyway a lot of children have been present,
ting, sinking) through the fontanelle...“etc. which was very much animating the entire
Meanwhile a dictum in our Berlin practise retreat. As far as I can judge this, the mo-
group and unforgettable. Unforgettable, too, thers were supporting each other and taking
the intractable fit of laughter, in which I was regular turns in caring for the kids. And yet
finding myself being catapulted by this inno- it seems to be difficult every now and again,
vative creation. My visualisation was perfect to bring children aand retreat into accor-
and so exhilarating, that I was finally run- dance. Maybe it is making sense to think
ning from the gompa, throwing myself on once about establishing a childcare.
the grass, being shaken still for a long time Looking back the butterlampretreat was a
by fits of laughter. I must have been heard time of small miracles: in times when the
still inside the gompa. cleansing gang was melting and downhear-
And last but not least: Susanne! Susanne, tedness was spreading, many, many hands
whose shoe laces we were knotting from were materializing like out of nowhere and
time to time backhandedly and tacitly, like all of a sudden seventeen human beings were
Ralf who was giving his debut during this re- present and somehow some were finding
treat was formulating impishly. Susanne is again and again the way out of bed, out of
certainly meriting this year's Butterlamp-Su- the sleeping bag to the butterlamphouse, to
pervision-Medal as well as the distinguished ignite the lamps. In the end and to all our
Butterlamp Service Cross. She was not only surprise we could clean and light 2000 lamps
mistress of figures during the last two
and calculations, but days in a completely
also of the fallow relaxed way and fi-
cleaning potential nally have been rea-
and was showing us dy-ready-ready!!!
possibilities, which And were celebrating
many among us were under the pelting
not even thinking of rain, which had been
in their dreams. She setting in several
was encouraging us, days before – a lucul-
consoling, applau- lan festival in the di-
ding, controlling and ning hall with the no-
flourishing during torious sausages,
the terminal phase beer, and wodka from
once again, when she Michael – celebrating
was giving her bles- at the same time
sings to the shining Jaqueline's birthday.
cleaned metal ves- In the dining hall
sels. Hondzik was resi-
ding, flanked by a fri-
Meanwhile Lara
endly, young woman from Kudowa and ac-
(Susanne's daughter) was eating many, many
companied by Ania, who was taking on him
sweet cherries, reading many, many stories
the kitchen during this retreat. There were so
to Yeshe (Anne's daughter), was guarding
few confirmed applications, that the cooking
Yeshe's sleep, undefatigably and extremely
has not been a heavy load for him. On the
responsible. All this to give Anne time for
other hand surely also certain negative re-
her retreat as well as for such swell things as
marks concerning last summerretreat's food
for example carrying me on her back up the
were making this solution advisable. It is li-
whole way from the kitchen to the lamphou-
kely, that the fact, that a sangha member was
se, during a sudden feeling of faintness,
overtaking the cooking, has been the reason
which she was really managing. How beauti-
for the familiar atmosphere prevailing
ful this was!
throughout the whole retreat. Sure, I was
cooking most of the time for myself. But I
18 Newsletter 2007
 Byangter
was tasting often. It was always delicious and powerful place all through the last years,
and dainty. Everybody else was having posi- I am yet appreciating this new quality, which
tive things to tell as well. The tuna-cheese- is slowly but steadily letting us become a
salad has been particularly famous. mutually supporting interwoven community.

Yet not only the butterlamp retreat has Finally some statements concerning the
been a success, but also the polish-german butterlamp retreat:
endeavours for friendship were reaching a
Stanislawa Wojcik-Sulyok:
peak. A profound sensation of growing to-
In the middle of the retreat I was wanting to
gether has been becoming perceptible. A dif-
leave, because I was feeling insulted, but
ferent kind of openness for one another has
now everything is purifying itself. There is
been starting to reign. New connections have
more mutual support among the german mo-
been tied and existing ones intensified. The
thers. I am finding you (germans) more sym-
close frame, being created by the situation,
biotic.
that though not exactly many of rinpoches
students are still coming every year, yet tho- Ralf:
se are doing so constantly and reliably, is One is recognizing always, who has been
providing a fertile ground for this process. freshly arriving, because the eyes are still
Ever more people are knowing ever more of dull. Later they are shining.
each other, a little bit like in a village. Every- Susanne:
body is becoming more and more transpa- Heaven and hell.
rent. I have been experiencing this in the
way, that the challenge to take a stand and to Ula:
be confronted is increasing. Yet at the same Great sangha. People in our sangha change
time the chance of mutual support honestly every year and become better and better.
interlinked with one another, meaning also They are much more quiet, gentle, sensitive.
truthful confrontation, is increasing as well. First time I am not sad, that I am leaving this
There has been but a little fighting during place, because I can feel: what I feel here, I
this retreat, actually none at all. Which is not can feel everywhere. But I am very happy to
meaning, that there have been no conflicts. come here every year and stay here as long
They have been only dealt with in another as possible.
way. Punchs below the belt or violations out Compas:
of ignorance were staying away. Fairness Phat!
was ruling.
If I am sometimes regretting, that so few
are only taking advantage of this wonder- Dagmar Wielart

Khordong e.V. 19
Byangter

20 Newsletter 2007
 Byang-gter Tradition

Cover picture of the Gongpa Zhangtal

T he thanka of Chhimed Rigdzin Rinpoche which we have chosen for the this years cover,
has been painted according to the Guru-Yoga text of Gongpa Zangthal (Dzogchen cycle
of Byangter). Rinpoche himself gave explanations to this thanka (for example the mudra of
Shrishimha). The thanka was painted by Kumbu, a bhutanese artist, who also was responsible
for the artistic decoration of the Khordong Gompa in Siliguri. The colours are natural colours
based on minerals. We scanned the thanka and if you like to download it, you can do it here:

http://www.khordong.info/thangka/

Printed on canvas the thanka looks incredibly beautiful and very similar to the original.
The passage in the text, where the visualization is described, is as follows:

In the vastness of a sky in front of me, on the lotus tree,

I visualize clearly on a sun and a moon
the original Buddha Kuntuzangpo.
He is blue in colour and is sitting brightly in meditation posture
in the middle of a light sphere of luminous rainbow lights.

Below on a branch of the lotus tree is Vajrasattva.

He is white in colour and holds bell and dorje.

Below it is Garab Dorje,

he is white and makes the mudra of teaching.

Below it is Shrisimha, he is maroon in colour

and makes the mudra of Prativasamutpada
(dependent origination/conditional co production).

Below is Padmasambhava,
he is pink and stately beautiful.
He holds a five prong dorje and a skull bowl
filled with nectar.

Below is Khandro Yeshe Tsogyal.

She is white in colour and holds a mirror.

Below sits Tulku Rigdzin Chenpo (Rigdzin Godem).

He is maroon in colour and is holding a dorje and a kapala
filled with nectar.

Below, on a lotus, is my kindest Root Lama in the posture and with the attributes of Dorje
Chang. He is directly in my heart centre.

All these Lamas are preciously decorated and are looking at me. On the other branches of the
lotus tree all the Khandros are gathering. I offer to all of them my body and everything which
gives me pleasure. I give fully everything I love and also those things for which I feel greed –
food, my property, my friends... With great devotion I pray to the assembly with the following
words:
OM AH HUNG, GREAT MASTER, GIVE ME THE REAL ATTAINMENT OF BUDDHAHOOD.

Khordong e.V. 21
Byangter

THE GTER-STON RIG-’DZIN RGOD-LDEM

An Account of the Origin and Development of the
Byang-gter or Northern Treasures Tradition
revised and expanded version [1]
by Martin Boord

Concealment of the treasures

I n the various biographies of the treasure

revealer dNgos-grub rgyal-mtshan
(1337-1408) it is said that his dharmakaya
form is Samantabhadra and his sambhogaka-
ya form is Vajrasattva. His nirmanakaya
career commenced in India, where he mani-
festated in more than two dozen incarnations
[2] before he was born in Tibet in the eighth
century of the Common Era as sNa-nam rdo-
rje bdud-’joms.
At that time, the ruler of Tibet and great
Buddhist patron, Khri Srong-lde’u-btsan,
sent messengers to India with offerings of
powdered gold in order to invite the assistan-
ce of Padmasambhava in the founding of
bSam-yas monastery, and one of the messen-
gers entrusted with this task was his minister
of state (zhang blon) and close companion
sNa-nam rdo-rje bdud-’joms. Following his
return from India, sNa-nam rdo-rje
bdud-’joms became the king’s minister for
religious affairs (chos blon) and one of Pad-
masambhava’s five innermost disciples, [3] images of Vajrakila and the ten wrathful
remaining close by the guru’s side throug- kings, as well as blessed ritual kila which
hout the period of his most intense teaching were stabbed into the rock, and a self-igni-
activity. As a result of practising the many ting fire. All of this was sealed up by guru
esoteric instructions imparted to him, sNa- Padmasambhava himself who inscribed
nam rdo-rje bdud-’joms became master of three symbolic letters on the door to the trea-
mind and breath. Skilled in the accomplish- sure cave and hid three keys on the mountain
ment of Vajrakila, he attained unsurpassed summit. Finally he marked the middle of the
awakening which he demonstrated by such mountain with 600 jewels obtained from the
feats as passing through solid rock and tra- guardian nagaraja. This mountain, he predic-
velling great distances in the blink of an eye. ted, was destined to become the abode of
Said to be of vital importance for the protec- buddhahood and its treasure revealed in the
tion of the future descendants of king Khri future for the benefit of Tibet in general and
Srong-lde’u-btsan, the teachings received by for the welfare of the royal line in particular.
sNa-nam rdo-rje bdud-’joms throughout his
lifetime were carefully concealed in a cave In 1173 sNa-nam rdo-rje bdud-’joms was
in the mountains where once Padmasambha- born again in Tibet, this time in Khro-phu,
va and his retinue had meditated for seven southern Tsang. His name is variously recor-
days. Alongside the texts were placed ded as Byams-pa-dpal the translator, or as

22 Newsletter 2007
 Byang-gter Tradition

Bal-po A-hum-’bar the tantric yogin. In this sNa-mo-lung-pa sLop-dpon bdud-’dul

life he revealed some gter ma from their was also a tantric yogin with expertise in the
place of concealment in sPa-gro, Bhutan, practice of Mayajala, Matarah and the Phur
which were transmitted by dPal dga’-ba bu ze’u smug gu, an early cycle of the deity
lung-pa. By the time of Kong-sprul blo-gros Vajrakila that had been passed down in his
mtha’-yas these texts had disappeared, but family for many generations, and the young
then ’Jam-dbyangs mkhyen-brtse received an dNgos-grub rgyal-mtshan studied these doc-
ancient copy from the hands of a dakini and trines under his father’s tutelage. He de-
Kong-sprul was thus able to include them in monstrated remarkable skill in both under-
the Rin chen gter mdzod, together with his standing and practice from a very early age,
own supplementary notes. perfecting the samadhi of Vajrakila by the
time he was eight years old. Following the
death of his father, he continued to be educa-
Rediscovery of the hidden treasures
ted by his mother and then by dPal-chen
In 1337, on the tenth day of the first
’bum-pa, the teacher from Se, and his brot-
month of the fire ox year, he was reborn in
her Legs-pa-ba.
the area known as gNyan-yul (Place of Sna-
ke Demons) or Tho-yor nag-po (Country of When he was just eleven years old, three
the Black Stone Cairn), near mount bKra- feathery growths appeared on the top of his
bzang in western gTsang, just north of head and when he was twenty-three there
gCung ri-bo-che. [4] The name he was given were five. Because these growths looked like
in this incarnation was dNgos-grub rgyal- the feathers of a vulture he became famous
mtshan (Victory Banner of Spiritual Attain- as rGod kyi ldem-’phru-can, “the one with
ment). The sky was filled with rainbow light vulture’s feathers.” These extraordinary si-
and the air was sweetly scented at the time of gns had been foretold in the prophecies and
his birth. Music was heard and flowers fell were regarded with awe as the marks of a
from the heavens. Upon his newborn body truly special being. He also became known
were seen many auspicious marks including as Mahavidyadhara (Rig ’dzin chen po) and
the sign of a vajra upon his forehead, the sa- this is the title which has been held ever sin-
cred seed-syllable O? upon his chest, a ce by each of his successive incarnations.
conch-like neck and a pair of black and whi- When he was 25 years of age, Rig-’dzin
te moles (sme ba, tilaka) upon the crown of rgod-ldem found the first of the naga jewels
his head. left for him as a sign by Padmasambhava on
dNgos-grub rgyal-mtshan’s mother, Jo- the eastern slope of mount bKra-bzang. It
lcam bsod-nams khye-’dren, was a virtuous had the form of a hexagonal crystal, about
lady of noble descent, daughter of a mantra the size of a goose egg, and was discovered
adept called Do-pa, son of Phug-cha. in the heart of a globular container, immer-
sed in sweet-tasting fragrant nectar that
dNgos-grub rgyal-mtshan’s father, sLob-
sparkled like the sun.
dpon bdud-’dul (Sri-’dul-dpal), belonged to
the distinguished De-gyin-hor clan whose
ancestry was said to trace back to the Mon-
golian king Gur-ser. His forebear De-gyin
deva raja came to Tibet as part of the retinue
of the maternal uncle of the Chinese princess
Chin-ch’eng, daughter of Shou-li, prince of During this same period, while the former
Yung. Chin-ch’eng was one of the wives of rDo-rje bdud-’joms was incarnate in the per-
Khri lde-gtsug-brtsan (Mes-ag-tshom), father son of Rig-’dzin rgod-ldem, the former lha
of Khri Srong-lde’u-brtsan. Upon his arrival sras Mu-khri btsan-po (son of king Khri
in Tibet, De-gyin deva raja became minister Srong-lde’u-btsan) took birth in southern La-
of religious offerings (mchod blon) and his stod as the sprul sku bZang-po grags-pa. Li-
family was bequeathed the estate (gzhi kha) ving as a monk in the bKa’-brgyud school,
of sNa-mo. he practised resolutely for many years in re-

Khordong e.V. 23
Byangter

treat until the signs of success were accom- out the key to the treasures. At the first crack
plished. With the blessings of guru Padma- of dawn on the eighth day of the snake
sambhava, who actually appeared as a yogin month in the year of the fire horse (1366),
and trained him, bZang-po grags-pa unear- there came from the east a beam of white
thed a number of treasure texts, including light “like the trunk of the wish-fulfilling
the famous Seven Chapter Prayer of Padma- kalpalata” that struck the summit of mount
sambhava (Le’u bdun ma) and the Prayer bKra-bzang and a spot beneath that was indi-
Which Clears the Path of all Obstacles (gSol cated by a light fall of snow. Thus, from the
’debs bar chad lam sel). From the temple of vicinity of three obelisks (rdo ring) within
Gram-pa-rgyang, built in the seventh century the cavity of a projecting white rock (’dzeng
by Srong-btsan sgam-po, [5] he took out ri- brag dkar po) beneath the summit of Ri-bo
tuals of both Hayagriva and Maitreya and bkra-bzang, rGod-ldem-can unearthed the
then, in 1364 at rGyang yon-po-lung, he dis- next link in the chain of the Northern Trea-
covered several sadhana of Vajrapani, guides sures in the form of seven paper scrolls
to places of pilgrimage, and keys to the dis- (shog ril). These scrolls were stored in a box
covery of yet more gter ma. Among these of stone, arranged together with others of
texts, eight were related to the bronze and copper so as to ser-
concealed treasures of Zang-zang ve the mountain as its heart,
lha-brag, including the Gab pa mouth and eye. In order to
snying gi lde mig (Key to the compensate for the removal of
Concealed Heart) which specifically mentio- these scrolls, Rig-’dzin rgod-ldem buried
ned the discovery of the naga jewel on the another treasure in their place, sponsored by
eastern slope of mount bKra-bzang, and also the king of Gung-thang, and the resultant ca-
the essential inventory (snying byang) entit- vity known as rLung-gseng (Windy Hollow)
led Man ngag gnas kyi don bdun ma. [6] In is reported to be still in existence today. [10]
the new year (February/ March 1365) bZang- During the new year celebrations on the fol-
po grags-pa entrusted these texts to sTon-pa lowing year, as Rig-’dzin rgod-ldem reached
bsod-nams dbang-phyug [7] and two compa- the age of thirty, a fruit tree spontaneously
nions with instructions to pass them on to “a grew up there which is also thought to have
yogin carrying a statue or rosary in his hand” remained until now.
that supposedly they would encounter to the
Two months later, on the fourth day of
east of the Zang-zang mountain and who
the sheep month 1366, Rig-’dzin rgod-ldem
would begin to engage them in a conversati-
was engaged in the rite of bestowing upon
on concerning bKra-shis-lde, the ruler of
his disciples the abhiseka of Vajrakila. Du-
Gung-thang. [8]
ring the preliminary section of the rite, just
A week or so later, as the three travellers as he was establishing the mandala of deities
were eating their meal on the bank of a within the bodies of his disciples, the guru
stream near Brag-lung monastery in northern arose and led his followers up into the
gYas-ru, rGod-ldem-can arrived there from mountains that look like a heap of poisonous
sNa-mo-lung carrying in his hands a brass snakes (dug sbrul spung ’dra). The texts des-
image of Vajrakila and a rosary. As they cribe the air as sweetly scented and filled
spoke together, Rig-’dzin rgod-ldem lamen- with rainbows as Rig-’dzin rgod-ldem gui-
ted the death of Khri bKra-shis-lde and all ded his disciples to the southwest face of the
the requirements of the prophecy were fulfil- mountain where the atmosphere glowed with
led. Recognizing him as the one they sought, ruby-red light in the splendour of the setting
they handed over the various treasure scrolls sun. They climbed up to a mountain cave
together with a letter of good wishes sealed and, leaving two disciples stationed beneath
by Padmasambhava himself. the entrance, [11] rGod-ldem-can went insi-
de and began to pray. As the sky grew dark
Upon his return to sNa-mo-lung,
following the setting of the sun, the rock
Rig-’dzin rgod-ldem interpreted the rising of
cave began to tremor and shake as a sign that
the planet Jupiter in the eighth lunar mansion
the master of the treasures (gter bdag) had
[9] as a sign that the time had come to take
24 Newsletter 2007
 Byang-gter Tradition

arrived. At midnight they lit a number of The front (eastern) compartment of the
butter-lamps and by their light the group was box was fashioned of white conch shell and
able to discern upon the rock the clear image contained texts of the rGyu ’bras la ldog pa
of a visvavajra. When the guru pressed be- cycle, putting an end to cause and effect, as
neath that mark with his paper scroll (the well as the dGongs pa nam mkha’ dang
symbolic key to the treasures) it seemed to mnyam pa’i chos teachings on the similarity
open like a door onto a triangular chamber of the awakened mind to the sky, and the
within which they found a pale blue snake of tantras of the Ka dag rang byung rang shar
liquid copper with a yellow belly, as thick as cycle concerning the natural presence and
a man’s arm. It was lying in a coil with its arising of primordial purity.
face to the southeast upon a square blue sto-
The golden southern chamber of the chest
ne, the top of which was marked in nine sec-
contained the sNyen sgrub rnam pa bzhi’i
tions with silver coloured nails so that it re-
chos teachings on the fourfold practice of
sembled the back of a tortoise. The coils of
deity invocation, and the texts of the gSang
the snake looked like an enormous eight-si-
sgrub guru drag po rtsal and bKa’ brgyad
ded precious stone and upon its heart were
drag po rang byung rang shar. These import-
three gem-like excrescences from which
ant ritual cycles became famous “like the sun
were extracted a roll of paper and a symbolic
and the moon” due to the brightness and cla-
jewel (rin po che’i rtags tsam cig).
rity that they induced within the minds of
Resting upon the blue stone slab, concea- those who practised them. Also in this cham-
led within the serpent’s coils, lay a maroon ber were found texts relating to Vajrakila in
leather casket, the five-fold repository of the his form as Mahottarakila with nine faces
Northern Treasures. and eighteen hands.
From the central compartment of deep red From the western compartment of red
leather, Rig-’dzin rgod-ldem took out the copper, Rig-’dzin rgod-ldem took out the
Kun bzang dgongs pa zang thal cycle in four rTen ’brel khyad par can and the Phyi sgrub
volumes, said to be the distilled essence of ’gro ba kun grol which form part of the rTen
one hundred thousand profound texts of the ’brel chos bdun cycle. He also took out the
Great Perfection. This cycle was subsequent- Tsan dan gyi sdong bu lta bu’i chos and a
ly to become one of the most famous and re- volume in which were found the rTa mgrin
vered of all the expositions of atiyoga doctri- dregs pa dbang sdud, the ’Khor ’das dbang
nes in Tibet. From within this central com- sdud and the Lha chen teachings, as well as a
partment he also took out the teachings of further volume containing the Byang chub
Bla ma rig ’dzin gdung sgrub and other texts sems dpa’i spyod dbang.
related to the sadhana of guru, deva and da-
Within the black northern compartment
kini, [12] together with the atiyoga texts
of iron were found the most violent of
of Vajrakila and three kila wrapped in
all the wrathful ritual texts. Many Va-
maroon silk, all of which had been acti-
jrakila teachings were taken from this
vated by Padmasambhava himself. The
chamber of the box as well as the dGra
first one he had used on the occasion of
bgegs thal bar rlog pa’i chos, a text
attaining siddhi in Yang-le-shod in Ne-
said to be as pernicious as the stem of a
pal, the second he was using when he
poisonous plant (dug gi sdong po lta bu).
saw the face of Vajrakila at dPal chu-bo-ri,
Eight treatises on the compounding of ritual
and the third he used to subjugate the ene-
medicine (sman gyi tshad byas pa) were also
mies and obstructors in sTag-tshang seng-ge
found there, together with further commenta-
bsam-’grub in Bhutan. [13] Also there were
ries (upadesa) and instructions on the ma-
thirty paper scrolls wrapped in blue silk,
king of ‘thread crosses’ (mdos) [14] but not
lockets of hair from the heads of Padma-
all of these texts were transcribed and disse-
sambhava, Khri Srong-lde’u-brtsan, Ye-shes
minated.
mtsho-rgyal, sNa-nam rdo-rje bdud-’joms
and others, as well as sundry additional sa- Having discovered these five treasuries of
cred articles (byin rlabs kyi rdzas). teachings (mdzod lnga), Rig-’dzin rgod-

Khordong e.V. 25
Byangter

ldem is said to have organized each of the Apart from the gter ma which he himself
sections into one hundred and one parts and revealed, Rig-’dzin rgod-ldem held the key
rearranged the folios of yellow paper (shog to other lists of hiding places (them byang,
ser po ti) into pairs like mother and son, kha byang) and was thus instrumental in the
marked with the seed-syllables (bija) of the unearthing of many more texts and powerful
four goddesses of the gates. Building a small cult objects.
monastery at bKra-bzang which was inheri-
In fulfilment of the prophecies that descri-
ted as the residence of his son rNam-rgyal
be the treasures of Zang-zang lha-brag as
mgon-po, Rig-’dzin rgod-ldem then taught
being of particular importance to the dyna-
the doctrines contained within the fivefold
stic descendents of Khri Srong-lde’u-btsan,
treasury to his son, his wife and his chosen
in 1389 at the age of fifty-two, Rig-’dzin
pupils. [15]
rgod-ldem was appointed the role of perso-
These teachings became known as Byang- nal preceptor to the king of Gung-thang,
gter or Northern Treasures in order to distin- mChog-sgrub-lde. [18] The bla ma bestowed
guish them from the Lho-gter (Southern Tre- a large number of instructions and empower-
asures) that had been revealed in previous ments upon the king, as well as giving him
centuries by Nyang-ral nyi-ma ’od-zer Padmasambhava’s own kila called Srid
(1136-1204) and Guru chos-dbang gsum bdud ’dul [19] and other sundry sacred
(1212-1270). These three gter ston are wide- items of great potency. A particular cult ob-
ly renowned in Tibet as the kaya, vac and ject deemed to be endowed with especial
citta emanations of Padmasambhava himself power for the descendents of the royal line is
and thought to be the three greatest gter ston referred to in our texts as ‘the precious Gong
of all. khug ma.’ It remains unclear as to whether
this item is itself a text, or a ritual kila that
Rig-’dzin rgod-ldem is also credited with
was always carried by the siddha of Oddiya-
the discovery of seven ‘hidden lands’ (sbas
na and inherited from him, together with ap-
yul) in which people could live in happiness
propriate oral instructions, by Ye-shes mts-
in the peaceful pursuit of Dharma. [16] Ha-
ho-rgyal. [20] In either case it is reckoned to
ving gone to Sikkim (’Bras-mo gshong) in
represent the power of Vajrakila and embody
the year of the ox, he resided in the area for
the essence of the Vajrakila doctrines.
11 years (1373-84), experiencing many pro-
phetic dreams, working miracles there for It was during his period of residency with
the benefit of all beings, and blessing the king mChog-sgrub-lde that Rig-’dzin rgod-
land (especially the White Rock Cave of ldem opened up the hidden land of sKyid-
bKra-shis-lding) as a powerful place for me- mo-lung. Most of the period, however, he
ditation. [17] The Chronicle of the rulers of spent engaged in meditation in his monastery
Sikkim describes a local cult dedicated to the at Ri-bo dpal-’bar, a gift from the king.
holiest mountain in that vicinity (Gangs-
During summertime in the year of the
chen mdzod-lnga) as contained in the work
iron snake (1401), Rig-’dzin rgod-ldem be-
of a later Byang-gter gter ston, Shes-rab
stowed the extensive transmission of the
me-’bar. Sacred dances in honour of the dei-
dGongs pa zang thal upon Se-ston thugs-rje
ties thought to reside on the five peaks of
rgyal-mtshan and fifteen of his followers.
that mountain are annually performed by
Thus the important branch lineage in Se was
royal command on the full moon day of the
strengthened.
seventh Tibetan month and Rig-’dzin rgod-
ldem himself recovered further gter ma from Rig-’dzin rgod-ldem passed away in Zil-
the central peak. This secondary revelation gnon, Sikkim, at the age of seventy-one in
was in the form of images: one of Padma- 1408, the year of the male earth mouse. The
sambhava in wrathful guise and one of the large number of teachings and special tantric
goddess mThing-kha. Letters announcing precepts that he handed down to posterity
these discoveries were dispatched to Tibet were transmitted through the three lineages
suspended from the necks of vultures. known as the Mother, Son and Disciple li-
nes. The successive holders of these doctri-

26 Newsletter 2007
 Byang-gter Tradition

nes are renowned as having attained many elder brother was the famous mNga’-ris pan-
higher and ordinary siddhi. chen. His father was his first teacher, but it
was from his root guru Sakya bzang-po that
he received the transmission of the Northern
Maintaining the continuity Treasures. [22] He also studied with a num-
of the tradition ber of other great masters of both bka’ ma
Having thus established the school of the and gter ma, and became a vital link in the
Northern Treasures in Tibet, Rig-’dzin rgod- transmission of the anuyoga teachings,
ldem remains, to this day, committed by his which he received from his father and subse-
vows as a bodhisattva to propagate these tea- quently entrusted to sKyi-ston Tshe-ring
chings so long as they continue to serve the dbang-po along a lineage that descended to
needs of humanity. Thus, in accordance with Rig-’dzin Padma ’phrin-las. From their pla-
his religious precepts, he is said to have ma- ces of concealement in bSam-yas, ’On-phu
nifested an emanation in the mid-14th centu- stag-tshangs and Lha-ri snying-po in Sikkim,
ry known as the rGod ldem yang sprul, the he revealed three further volumes of tea-
glorious (dpal ldan) ’Jam-dbyangs bla-ma. chings. [23]
Appearing in gTsang at upper Nyang, which
His elder brother, mNga’-ris pan-chen
is west of Yar-’brog lake along the Nyang-
Padma dbang-rgyal (1487-1543), [24] a dis-
chu river in the region of rGyal-rtse, from an
tinguished scholar and adept in the Byang-
early age ’Jam-dbyangs bla-ma made his
gter lineage, established a temporary monas-
home within a community of rNying-ma
tery around his mountainside retreat cave, to
practitioners and he was able to clear away
which he gave the name Evam lcog-sgar.
all their doubts and confusions concerning
[25] Anticipating the future expansion of
the teachings of both sutra and tantra. In up-
this encamped community of monks, he
per Nyang, in a secret Dakini treasure cave,
composed a strict code of conduct to be fol-
he discovered gter ma teachings including
lowed by all who dwelt there. [26] In this
powerful prayers to the guru, deva and daki-
way, the teachings of the vidyadhara house-
ni, through which thousands of individuals
holder rGod-ldem-can came to be the central
attained liberation. Bringing particular bles-
field of study for a community of ordained
sings to the local populations of Shangs,
bhiksu. These teachings were further supple-
rTa-nag and ’U-yug, the teachings revealed
mented by Padma dbang-rgyal’s own gter
by him at that time were later incorporated
ma discovery, the cycle of Rig ’dzin yongs
into the Northern Treasures system and the
’dus. [27] Encouraged by the gter ston Shes-
lineage of these teachings remained unbro-
rab ’od-zer, Padma dbang-rgyal continued to
ken even in the time of Kong-sprul blo-gros
build up both the fabric and the reputation of
mtha’-yas, who included several of these
this religious community and eventually
texts in the Rin chen gter mdzod and compo-
established the monastery of Thub-bstan
sed supplementary explanations to accompa-
gser-mdog-can. He died at the age of fifty-
ny them.
six in the village of ’On-sme-thang.
In 1550 Padma dbang-rgyal was reborn in
upper gYas-ru, northern Tibet, as bKra-shis
stobs-rgyal dbang-po’i-sde (1550-1607), the
son of clan chieftain Nam-mkha’ rin-chen, a
The first of his ‘great’ incarnations, ho- descendent of the kings of Mi-nyag. His mo-
wever, said to have been predicted by Kun- ther was Chos-skyong ’dzom-chen. Furthe-
skyong gling-pa, was in mNga’-ris glo-bo ring the work of his predecessor, bKra-shis
[21] as the gter ston Legs-ldan bdud-’joms stobs-rgyal discovered important gter ma in
rdo-rje (1512-1625). His father at that time the temple of ?rya Palo in bSam-yas, and in
was ’Jam-dbyangs rin-chen rgyal-mtshan, a the golden stupa at Lho-brag ’jod-pa. Flying
renowned scholar and yogin, the final incar- up to a cave of secret practice on top of the
nation of Marpa lo-tsa-ba. His mother was Lhang-lhang rock in gTsang-rong, he unear-
the lady ’Bro-lcam Khrom-pa-rgyan, and his thed three further cycles of teachings [28]
Khordong e.V. 27
Byangter

and he became famous for his religious acti- others.

vities in both Khams and China. Among his
Under Ngag-gi dbang-po’s influence, pe-
collected writings is a biography of guru
ace and harmony came to prevail among the
Padma, completed in 1603, and the Byang
feuding warlords of eastern Tibet.
gter mnga’ dbang skor gyi mtha’ dpyod by-
ang pa gu ru ral pa can gyi legs bshad. His Travelling westwards, he shifted the resi-
main Byang-gter teacher was Rig-’dzin legs- dence of Evam lcog-sgar to the northern
ldan rdo-rje, but he also studied with Byams- bank of the Tshang-po river, to an auspicious
pa chos kyi rgyal-mtshan, Ratna bhadra, Rin- location indicated by the self-arisen symbol
chen phun-tshogs and Yan-pa blo-bde. Wis- of a vajra (rdo rje) in the form of a nearby
hing to heal the rift with the rulers of gTsang rock (brag), west of bSam-yas in the central
that had disrupted the peace of the Byang- province of dBus. There, in 1632 (the year of
gter monastic community and forced the the water monkey), he founded the monaste-
monks to wander from place to place, bKra- ry Guru padma’i evam lcog-sgar thub-bstan
shis stobs-rgyal, with the support of his reli- rdo-rje-brag. Since then, that monastery has
gious patron Pho-bo bka’-gnam rgyal-po, been the main seat of learning for the lineage
continued to build up the mountainside retre- of the Northern Treasures and the see for all
at centre mNga’-ris pan-chen evam lcog-sgar successive incarnations of its gter ston, sub-
which he now renamed Guru padma’i evam sequently known by the title “Vidyadhara of
lcog-sgar. rDo-rje-brag.” Ngag-gi dbang-po, the third
incarnation of rGod-ldem-can, was thus also
At the age of thirty, bKra-shis stobs-rgyal
known as rDo-rje-brag rig-’dzin I. During
fathered a son who was to be the last in his
the lifetime of its founder, the monastery of
family line of hereditary princes of Byang
rDo-rje-brag probably housed around two
ngam-ring descended from the kings of Mi-
hundred monks. [29] Growing larger in later
nyag. The boy’s mother was Lha-lcam yid-
years, it was destined to become one of the
bzhin dbang-mo of the divine clan of Za-hor.
principal rNying-ma-pa monasteries in Tibet.
Recognized as the third incarnation of the
Even so, Rig-’dzin Ngag-gi dbang-po was
Mahavidyadhara rGod kyi ldem-’phru-can,
not satisfied with what he had been able to
this great incarnation Ngag-gi dbang-po
achieve by the end of his lifetime and he ent-
(1580-1639) took refuge with the ’Bri-gung
rusted further plans for its development to
chos rgyal Rin-chen phun-tshogs from whom
his leading disciple bsTan-’dzin nor-bu of
he received the name Ngag-dbang rig-’dzin
Yol-mo. [30]
rdo-rje chos-rgyal bstan-pa’i rgyal-mtshan
dpal-bzang-po. Receiving from his father all The great Fifth Dalai Lama, in the year of
the empowerments of bka’ ma and gter ma, his birth in 1617, was given an empower-
he trained as a bhiksu, a bodhisattva and ment of long life by Ngag-gi dbang-po. As
guhyamantrin, upholding all three sets of he grew up he came to receive the full series
vows in perfect purity. Practising with sin- of tantric authorisations of the Northern Tre-
gle-pointed application at Yar-lung shel-brag asure tradition (some of which were said to
and other power places associated with guru have been received directly from the decea-
Padmasambhava, he beheld the faces of deva sed master bKra-shis stobs-rgyal in mystic
and dharmapala so that he gained incompa- visions [31] ), as well as the unbiased tea-
rable siddhi and the ability to bring enor- chings of his own (dGe-lugs-pa) and other
mous benefit to all beings. Among his dis- schools. The Great Fifth admired and honou-
ciples were mKhas-grub bkra-shis rnam- red Ngag-gi dbang-po and composed his bio-
rgyal, author of a seminal work clarifying the graphy.
tenets of the rNying-ma school, and Zur- Ngag-gi dbang-po died in 1639.
chen Chos-dbyings rang-grol, a great guru
whose own disciples included Dalai Lama V Two years later, at Mon-mkhar rnam-
(to whom he imparted the teachings of Va- sras-gling, Blo-bzang padma ’phrin-las
jrakila, the eight heruka sadhana and the (1641-1718) was born as the son of Karma
sNying thig), Rig-’dzin Padma phrin-las, and phun-tshogs dbang-rgyal of the Bya-nag

28 Newsletter 2007
 Byang-gter Tradition

clan. His birth being marked by an unusually powerments of the Kalacakra-tantra and the
high number of auspicious portents, the boy empowerments of mahayoga. Both O-rgyen
was soon recognized as the fourth in the line gter-bdag gling-pa and Lo-chen dharma-sri
of Mahavidyadhara. At the age of six he was were among his disciples. [33]
placed upon the throne of rDo-rje-brag by
his former disciple bsTan-’dzin nor-bu of
Yol-mo. Padma ’phrin-las subsequently be-
came a disciple of the Fifth Dalai Lama from
whom he received both sramanera and bhik-
su vows.
Rig-’dzin chen-po padma ’phrin-las was
Studying intensively under some of the
killed in 1718 when the invading Dzungar
greatest teachers of his day, [32] Padma
Mongols, fanatical protectors of the dGe-
’phrin-las received the empowerments and
lugs-pa, razed the monastery of Thub-bstan
commentaries of a large number of tantric
rdo-rje-brag to the ground. [34]
doctrines from both the old and new schools
which he put into practice during extended The fifth incarnation of Rig-’dzin rgod-
periods of retreat, not only in the monastery ldem was bsKal-bzang padma dbang-phyug
of rDo-rje-brag but also in the power places (1720-1770), born at Nyag-rong lcags-mdud
of sGrags yang-rdzong and Chu-bo-ri, bles- in the district of sPo-’bor-sgang (Bu-bor-
sed by Padmasambhava. As a result of his sgang) in southeastern Tibet, to a family
great erudition and insight, he was able to re- claiming descent from the ancient lHa dy-
vise and greatly extend the teachings of his nasty of Tibetan monarchs. Following his
own incarnation line, the Northern Treasures enthronement as rDo-rje-brag rig-’dzin III he
school of rDo-rje-brag. Gathering together thoroughly repaired all damage to his mo-
all of the teachings that had been handed nastery which, once revitalized, remained a
down in the three streams of transmission major centre for the rNying-ma tradition for
from the original gter ston (the Mother, Son the next two hundred years. His own visio-
and Disciple lineages), he united them into a nary teachings (dag snang) include the bKa’
single line. He composed a number of new ’dus chos kyi rgya mtsho and the Padma
treatises and worked extensively to arrange drag po meditations upon the guru in fero-
the ritual texts of the Byang-gter in proper li- cious aspect. Scenes from these visions are
turgical order, supplementing the original reenacted as sacred dances in the first month
texts with extra parts wherever necessary. of every year, as part of the New Year cele-
Correcting such errors as had arisen in the brations.
transmission, he reinstated earlier traditions After him came Khams-gsum zil-gnon
of ritual activity which had become lost or (Kun-bzang ’gyur-med lhun-grub rdo-rje, the
confused, such as the proper systems of sixth incarnation and rDo-rje-brag rig-’dzin
chanting, laying out of mandala, preparing IV), born at gSer-tog in the region of Dar-
the sacrificial bali and so on, filling thirteen rtse-mdo. [35] He founded a monastery cal-
volumes with his work. led sGar grwa-tshang at Dar-rtse-mdo as a
As well as the great importance attached branch of rDo-rje-brag (rDor-brag-smad),
to his efforts on behalf of the Byang-gter, and this easternmost establishment of the
Kun-mkhyen padma ’phrin-las is renowned Byang-gter tradition became the family mo-
for his role in the transmission lineage of the nastery of the lCags-la rulers of Dar-rtse-
mDo dgongs pa ’dus pa, the preeminent mdo. He also obtained a special longevity
scripture of anuyoga. Urged by the instigati- practice in a pure vision, which was included
ons of his teacher, the great Fifth Dalai in the Rin chen gter mdzod by Kong-sprul
Lama, he composed the ’Dus pa mdo’i blo-gros mtha’-yas.
dbang chog dkyil ’khor rgya mtsho’i ’jug The next incarnation was Ngag-dbang
ngogs and conferred the empowerment of ’jam-dpal mi-’gyur lhun-grub rdo-rje (rDo-
the sutra on numerous occasions. He also rje-brag rig-’dzin V, 1839-1861) who came
transmitted the complete teachings and em-
Khordong e.V. 29
Byangter

from rNam-sras-gling in Mon-mkhar. Unfor- rje-brag. Five years later he took his final
tunately, dying at the young age of 22 years, vows at Yar-’brog brag-ra from the precep-
little is recorded of his lifetime’s achieve- tor Kun-bzang padma ’gro-’dul rdo-rje. In
ments. 1911 he restored the structure of rDo-rje-
brag monastery and in 1916 he established a
The sixth Mahavidyadhara of rDo-rje-
new retreat centre for the monastery, called
brag was sKal-bzang padma dbang-rgyal
Shel-brag ri-bo lho-nub. Having been invited
bdud-’dul rdo-rje, born in upper La-yag in
by the lCags-la prince to visit Dar-rtse-mdo,
lHo-brag. Famous for his skill in fierce tan-
Thub-bstan mnyam-nyid rdo-rje travelled
tric rites, he is said to have repulsed the in-
extensively in Khams, visiting many of the
vading Gorkha army by means of his occult
Byang-gter monasteries and building a great
power, for which service to his country he
stupa. He passed away in the year of the wa-
was rewarded by the government with the
ter monkey, 1932.
title Hu thug thu. He also died young.
The present incumbent (rDo-rje-brag
Thub-bstan chos-dbang mnyam-nyid rdo-
rig-’dzin VIII) is Thub-bstan ’jig-med rnam-
rje, the ninth incarnation of Rig-’dzin rgod-
grol rgya-mtsho who was born in Lhasa in
ldem, was born at Ra-mo-che rgyal-gdong,
1936. Recognized as the tenth incarnation of
near Lhasa, in the fifth month of the wood
the gter ston, he was ordained as a monk by
monkey year (1884). His father was bSod-
Ra-sgreng rinpoche, the regent after the
nams stobs-rgyal and his mother was Tshe-
Thirteenth Dalai Lama. As well as studying
gcig-sgrol-ma. He received his first vows at
the Byang-gter tradition with ’Go-tsha
the age of two from Dalai Lama XIII, who
mkhan-chen Theg-mchog bstan-’dzin, a dis-
also gave him his name. At the age of three
ciple of his predecessor, he has been taught
he was recognized and taken to rDo-rje-brag
by mKhan rinpoche of sMin-grol-gling and
to be enthroned. Having received the entire
bDud-’joms rinpoche. Despite the overthrow
lineage teachings of the Northern Treasures
of Tibet by the communist Chinese, rNam-
school from the masters ’Jigs-med rgyal-
grol rgya-mtsho has remained in Tibet where
ba’i-myu-gu and Yongs-’dzin skal-bzang ts-
he has lately been active in the rebuilding of
hul-khrims, in the year of the iron rat (1900)
his monastery which was almost completely
he was able to welcome his first preceptor,
devastated during the ‘cultural
the thirteenth Dalai Lama, as a guest to rDo-
revolution.’ [36]

Notes
[1] An earlier version of this text was published as the un-mo 'od-'chang-ma, (23) bDe-ba'i 'byung-gnas,
first chapter in The Cult of the Deity Vajrakila, (24) the dakini Gar-gyi dbang-phyug (Nartesvari),
Tring, 1993. (25) the dakini Susati (bDe-'byung II), (26) Ded-
dpon ka-kha-'dzin, and (27) the Nepalese Jinami-
[2] The Fifth Dalai Lama lists the prior incarnations tra.
of the Byang-gter gter ston in India and Nepal as:
(1) Samantabhadra, the dharmakaya, (2) Vajrasatt- [3] Las can dag pa'i 'khor lnga, "the fortunate circle of
va, the sambhogakaya, (3) Vajragarbha, the nir- five", consisted of sNa-nam rdo-rje bdud-'joms,
manakaya who gathered together all the doctrines king Khri Srong-lde'u-btsan, his son prince Mu-
of esoteric Buddhism, (4) Khye'u-chung she-la khri btsan-po, Nam-mkha'i snying-po and the lady
rog-po, (5) rGyal-sras deva bzang-skyong, (6) By- Ye-shes mtsho-rgyal.
ang-sems ye-shes snying-po, (7) bKa'i-sdud-po
Nam-mkha'i mdog-can (also known as Vajragarb- [4] This place is within the myriarchy (khri skor) of
ha II), (8) sKye-rgu'i bdag-mo, (9) mKha-'gro bde- Byang, one of the 13 myriarchies of Central Tibet
ldan-ma, (10) mKha-'gro rig-byed bde-ma, (11) during the Mongolian period (Yuan dynasty). It is
Yid-byin (sbyin) dpal, (12) the Dharma minister part of the area called La-stod (western gTsang),
(chos kyi blon po) Blo-gros-mchog, (13) Byang- the capital of which is Ngam-ring.
sems nam-mkha'i snying-po, (14) Sems-dpa' chen- [5] This is one of the 12 temples built by Srong-btsan
po nor-bu 'dzin-pa, (15) bDe-ba'i rdo-rje, (16) sgam-po to subjugate and hold down the demo-
Drag-po gtum-po, (17) Sakyamitra, (18) the bhik- ness of Tibet. It is said to press upon her left hip.
su Zhi-ba'i snying-po, (19) lha-lcam Mandarava
(Yid-'dzin lha-mo), (20) the beer-seller Vinasa, [6] Other extensive, medium and abbreviated texts
(21) the Dharma minister Ye-shes-gsal, (22) bTs- bore the titles: sNying byang rgyas pa gnad kyi

30 Newsletter 2007
 Zer Nga

them bu, ’Bring po thugs rje’i ’od zer, and bsDus among his discoveries unless these are hinted at
pa thugs rje’i lcags kyu. Together with these were here by the words "mDos... and further upadesa".
the Phyir zlog ’khor lo ’bar ba, the Zhal chems Both Ramon Prats and Tulku Thondup, however,
thugs kyi thig pa, the Kha byang gter gyi bang md- say that rGod-ldem-can is revered by the Bon-po
zod, and the Lam byang gsal ba’i sgron me. as a gter ston (Prats naming him dPon-gsas
khyung-thog) but neither specifies the revelations
[7] A vinaya master involved in the ordination of Rin- attributed to him. R.Prats, "Some Preliminary
chen 'byung-gnas. G.Roerich, The Blue Annals Considerations Arising from a Biographical Study
634. of the Early gTer-ston" 259. T.Thondup, Buddha
[8] The kingdom of Gung-thang lies to the southwest Mind 110.
of Byang. Its capital is rDzong-dkar, situated at [15] According to Dalai Lama V, Rig-’dzin rgod-
the end of the Trisul-gandaki river valley. Bet- ldem bestowed 32 of these teachings upon his son
ween here and lake sPa-gu is the famous Gung- rNam-rgyal mgon-po in the form of instructions
thang pass through which Padmasambhava entered and empowerments. He bestowed 15 of them upon
and left Tibet. bKra-shis-lde ruled from rDo-rje mgon-po and four upon his uncle Sangs-
1352-1365. His son, Phun-tshogs-lde, ruled from rgyas bstan-pa (aka bLa-ma do-pa-ba), both of
1365-1370 (see below, note 10). mChog-grub-lde whom had been present when the treasures were
ruled 1370-1396. originally revealed. He gave another four to his
[9] This auspicious configuration marked the birth of uncle Sangs-rgyas byams-bzang, and seven to his
the Buddha. Buddhacarita I.9, II.36. nephew rDo-rje dpal-ba. Nam-mkha’ grags-pa and
bDe-legs rgyal-mtshan each received three. Other
[10] Khri Phun-tshogs-lde, the king of Gung-thang at recipients of the original teachings included Nam-
that time, was not well disposed towards the gter mkha’ bsod-nams, Sangs-rgyas dpon-chen, Don-
ston Rig-’dzin rgod-ldem and the offerings that he grub dpal-bzang, mGon-po bzang-po, and Ye-shes
provided were meagre. Rig-’dzin rgod-ldem there- mkha’-’gro, as well as sGrub-pa-mo (wife of the
fore took out those scrolls that offered protection governor of Lho-’brag), kings Phun-tshogs-lde
to the royal lineage and reconcealed them at Ri-bo and mChog-grub-lde (rulers of Gung-thang),
dpal-’bar. They were later restored to the king’s Thugs-rje rgyal-mtshan (the teacher from Se, whe-
eldest son, mChog-grub-lde, with whom the gter re an important branch of the Byang-gter became
ston had an excellent relationship. Khri Phun-ts- established), Nyi-ma bzang-po (the young author
hogs-lde was assassinated in 1370. of rGod-ldem’s biography who was with the gter
[11] The two left outside the door were rDo-rje mgon- ston for the last ten years of his life) and, of cour-
po and Sangs-rgyas bstan-pa (see note 15, below). se, Rig-’dzin rgod-ldem’s wife, about whom the
The cave has since been known by the name biography is strangely silent.
Lha’i-skyed-tshal, Pleasure Grove of the Gods. sTag-lung-rtse-sprul rinpoche speaks of “eight
[12] Known as "the three roots" of tantric practice. sons, eight ladies and three pupils.”
A Brief History of rDo-rje-brag Monastery” p.5
[13] In the words of Padmasambhava himself: “Con-
tained within this treasure there is a kila the length [16] The biography of Rig-’dzin rgod-ldem mentions
of my handspan, forged of iron by the blacksmith only two sbas yul: ’Bras-mo-gzhong and sKyid-
dPal-rtsegs of Mon. It has been consecrated as a mo-lung. Dalai Lama V, however, shows that the
karmakila and so, merely by brandishing it in the gter ston possessed guides to the following seven
air, all the mischief of enemies and obstructors hidden lands: ’Bras-mo-gzhong, bde-ldan sKyid-
will immediately be averted. The name of that kila mo-lung, sbas-pa Padma’i tshal, rol-pa
is Srid gsum bdud ’dul (Controller of Demons in mKha’-’gro-gling, rgyal-gyi mKhan-pa-lung,
the Three Worlds) and its activity is such as to Lha’i pho-brang-sdings, and Gro-mo-khud, as well
quell all demonic interferences. There is also a as the keys to Yol-mo-gangs, Bu-le-gangs, ’Bras-
kila which has the blessings of Krodha-mañjusri mo-khud, and rTag-so gangs-ra. Johan Reinhard
(Yamantaka) which was carved by Chinese ex- in his article "Khembalung, the hidden valley"
perts from black rosewood. It is eight of my fin- lists the seven hidden lands as: Khumbu, Helam-
ger-widths in length and is for use in meditation. bu, Rongshar, Lapchi, Dolpo, Nubri and Sikkim.
The name of this kila is ’Bar ba mchog (Supreme Unfortunately it is not possible to match these two
Radiance) and whoever continues to hold it will lists exactly. With regard to Helambu, see Appen-
very quickly see the face of the deity Vajrakuma- dix Yol-mo to the present work. With regard to
ra. There is yet another kila in that treasure which Sikkim, see next note.
was made by an Indian expert from five different [17] See my “Pilgrim’s Guide to the Hidden Land of
kinds of iron. It has the length of five of my fin- Sikkim,” Bulletin of Tibetology, 2003.
ger-widths and goes by the name of Sras mchog
nyi ma (Sunshine of the Supreme Son). Its activity [18] See above, note 8.
is such that the family lineage of its owner will run [19] See above, note 13.
for many generations.” A33, 239-240.
[20] Gong khug means either a small pouch worn
[14] None of my sources list any Bon-po doctrines around the neck or the breast pocket of a shirt, etc.

Khordong e.V. 31
Byangter

In either case, the Gong khug ma is that which was [28] These are the Tshe sgrub sku gsum rig 'dus, the
always kept by Padmasambhava close to his heart. Karma guru'i chos skor and the Ma rgyud khrag
Some indication that the item referred to here is rlung ma (also known as the Ma rgyud snying po
indeed a ritual kila is found in the gSol ’debs bar don gsum).
chad lam sel in which Padmasambhava is descri-
bed as having a kila of bell metal in his right hand [29] The figure given by Rigzin & Russell is 2,000.
(with which the mara and raksasa are subjugated), Both E.Gene Smith (Among Tibetan Texts) and
a kila of khadira wood in his left hand (with which Tarthang Tulku (Crystal Mirror V) gives the figu-
the devoted disciples are protected), and an iron re as 200, whilst Wylie (The Geography of Tibet)
kila worn around his neck which is indivisible and Ferrari & Petech (mKhyen-brtse's Guide) give
from the deity. C.R.Lama, on the other hand, in- 400. Gene Smith and Tarthang Tulku also mention
sists that the Gong khug ma is a condensed ritual that, at this time, the monastery had three incarna-
text. te lamas.

[21] gLo-bo is the kingdom of Mustang in present- [30] Third incarnation of sngags-'chang Sakya bzang-
day Nepal. Up until the 18th century, gLo-bo, po. See Appendix on Yol-mo.
Dol-po and Gung-thang were all regarded as part [31] See Samten Karmay, Secret Visions 66, 74, etc.,
of lower mNga’-ris (mNga’-ris-smad). During the also 34 where it is said that Padmasambhava him-
Mongol period (1240-1368), the three districts of self gives the Fifth Dalai Lama instructions in the
mNga’-ris (mNga’-ris-skor-gsum) may have inclu- Byang-gter.
ded La-dvags in the west, Zhang-zhung in the cen-
tral region, and Gu-ge sPu-hrang in the south. [32] Among whom were Zur-chen chos-dbyings rang-
grol, bKa'-gyur-ba bsod-nams mchog-ldan, Khra-
[22] Concerning Sakya bzang-po, see Appendix on tshang-ba blo-mchog rdo-rje, gTer-chen 'gyur-med
Yol-mo. rdo-rje, lHa-btsun nam-mkha' 'jigs-med and Se-
[23] Thugs rje chen po 'khor ba dbyings grol (1 vol.), ston thugs-mchog 'od-'bar.
Tshe sgrub bdud rtsi 'khyil pa (1 vol.), and Drag [33] Among his disciples, also, was the siddha bLo-
po dbu dgu (1 small vol.). These three volumes in- bzang lha-mchog (1672-1747) who came from
clude teachings on Avalokitesvara, Mañjusri and Lho-brag gro-bo. He is famed as the revealer of
Vajrapani, as well as the longevity practice which four hidden lands: Seng-ge-ri, mKhan-pa-ljongs,
enabled him to live for 113 years. Long-mo lha-steng, and ’Or-mo lha-sa (within
[24] For a potted biography of this lama, said to be which he discovered the palace of Yam-shud
the incarnation of King Khri Srong-lde'u-btsan dmar-po). Following the tragic murder of his tea-
and the ninth incarnation of rGyal-sras lha-rje, cher Rig-’dzin Padma ’phrin-las in 1718, he rejoi-
see: Eva Dargyay, The Rise of Esoteric Buddhism ced at the discovery of his reincarnation sKal-
in Tibet 156-160, NSTB I 805-808, and Masters bzang padma dbang-phyug and, following his re-
of the Nyingma Lineage 207-208. enthronement at rDo-rje-brag, he visited him there
in 1734 and 1735 in order to teach him the rDzogs
[25] According to bDud-'joms rinpoche; "The entire chen thugs rje chen po ’khor ba dbyings grol.
monastic community of their seminary became a
wandering encampment as a result of the deprada- [34] See L.Petech, China and Tibet in the Early Eigh-
tions of Zhing-Shag-pa (Tshe-brtan rdo-rje), the teenth Century; and Snellgrove & Richardson, A
governor of Tsang." NSTB I 783. The troubles Cultural History of Tibet, for details of this troub-
caused by that governor are said to have came to led historical period.
an end, however, when he was killed by the wrath- [35] The town of Dar-rtse-mdo lies deep within a gor-
ful magic rites of Byang-bdag bKra-shis stobs- ge at the confluence of the Cheto-chu and the Ya-
rgyal who earned his title "Byang-bdag" (Protec- kra-chu tributaries which form the Dardo River. It
tor of the Northern Treasures) as a result of this was formerly the capital of the lCags-la kingdom
deed. (one of the five independent kingdoms of Khams)
[26] bsGrigs kyi bka' yig rdo rje 'bar ba gzi byin. He under the hereditary authority of the lCags-la
also composed the renowned sDom gsum rnam rgyal-po. Gyurme Dorje, Tibet Handbook (2nd
nges in which he demonstrated the interrelation- edition), Bath, 1999, p.447
ship of the pratimoksa, bodhisattva and mantra [36] Photographs of the newly restored monastery of
vows. rDo-rje-brag can be seen by clicking on GALLE-
[27] Bla ma bka' brgyad yongs 'dus chos skor. RY at www.tbrc.org

32 Newsletter 2007
 Zer Nga

The preliminary practice of the ‘Zer Nga’,

the ‘Five Nails’ of the Jangter

S o, what are these Zer Nga or translated

Five Nails? In one sentence, they are
the necessary preparation for one of the cen-
Many of us who became his students also
travelled to India for the regular winter prac-
tice of offering butter lamps, through recit-
tral and most profound practices of the Jang- ing his own ‘mind terma’ the ‘Marme Mon-
ter, the ‘Northern Revealed Treasure’ linea- lam.
ge contained within the Nyingma school of Then, how can we make use of what he
Tibetan Buddhism. gave us and develop our practice?
For most of us, after our first encounter In general, Lamas are able to guide us in
with Buddhism, in whatever form that may three ways: by teaching the Dharma, by gi-
have been, we will have found out some- ving direct practice instructions and by per-
thing about it in general – what the Four forming rituals. Rinpoche sometimes gave
Truths are, what the Noble Eight-Fold Path teachings and instruction and these were pre-
is, why we take refuge in the Three Jewels cious and profound, but they were few.
and so on. This is natural and necessary, just Mainly he taught by performing rituals. Rin-
as, if we wish to go to Rinpoche’s gompa, poche knew very well what he was doing –
we must first find out that it is in India, then which does not need to be said – and my
where in India it is, how to get there from own, limited, understanding is that the pur-
Delhi and so on. pose of these rituals was to clear away our
Then, we will decide which particular obstacles, so that we could proceed further
form of the Buddha-Dharma we want to along the path of Dharma.
practice. All the readers of this newsletter, I How this manifests differs for different
assume, have chosen to follow the Jangter people: the right thing for some is to live
tradition as it was taught to us by Khordong quietly and keep their committment to recite
Tertrul Chime Rigdzin Rinpoche. whatever practice engaged them; others feel
Rinpoche visited Europe so many times the need to learn Tibetan in order to under-
to meet us and teach us. During these visits stand the texts more fully and stilll others
he gave initiations and we practiced feel motivated to make long retreats. Many
sadhanas, texts arranged for group recitation, of Rinpoche’s committed students also star-
together. Especially we read the ‘Tsa Sum ted preliminary practices, or ‘ngondro.’
Rigdzin Lha Drub’ or ‘Vidyadhara Guru To my knowledge, Rinpoche never pu-
Sadhana’ or ‘Big Rigdzin’ which he had blicly emphasised that we should complete
compiled mainly from the terma discovered the ngondro, or that we should make long re-
by the great terton Nudan Dorje, whose treats, or that we learn Tibetan. However, I
(fourth) reincarnation he was. He gave us so believe there is a very good reason for this.
many blessings by the power of his mind, by Simply, he wanted us to do these things be-
the power of his great compassion, and he cause we saw the necessity and benefit for
gave us the introduction to his texts so that ourselves, not just because we wanted to
we can recite them and enter into them. please him. He did not think in the least way

Khordong e.V. 33
Byangter

that these things were unimportant or unne- of the foremost European scholars in Ny-
cessary. ingma philosophy and knows European
There is much evidence to support this philosophy very well too, so that he can
view: he composed his own text for making translate difficult points in a way that can be
prostrations, which is the first of the ngondro clearly and properly understood.
practices, and for the practice of Dorje Sem- How did this help me? I had the good for-
pa, which is the second (usually). He said tune to help Stephane by translating his first
publicly, on several occasions, that anyone draft from French into English, whilst star-
who did not learn Tibetan would not be able ting to learn Tibetan.
to understand more than half of the meaning Then I was able, by reading Tulku Tshurlo’s
of the texts. He also encouraged and helped text, to get an idea of what would be ne-
several people to my knowledge who had de- cessary to be able to practice the system of
cided to make long periods of retreat which the Gongpa Zangthal.
included ngondro practice. It is also true After some years of work, just before
that, although he gave many many empower- Rinpoche died, he put another text in my
ments, he very seldom gave the samaya, or hand. This was also a manual of Tulku Ts-
committment that goes with them and is the hurlo and this one is a commentary on the
heart of tantric practice. preliminary practices for the Gongpa Zang-
thal. That is, it is a clear and detailed expla-
The Zer Nga and the Gongpa Zangthal nation of the Zer Nga. Stephane and I had al-
Both of these are part of Rigdzin Go- ready agreed that we would translate this text
dem’s Jangter treasures. All the traditions of and now, when H.H. Taklung Tsetrul Rinpo-
Buddhism as practiced in Tibet (and even che is giving the transmission of all the
the Bon tradition too), have a special prepar- Jangter teachings, culminating with the
ation practice which every student must Gongpa Zangthal, in Rinpoche’s gompa near
complete before entering into the exception- Siliguri in India, this is a good and auspi-
al path of Vajrayana. The Zer Nga is the pre- cious time to say that this work has been
liminary practice which is specific to the started. To be able to get the heart-advice of
Gongpa Zangthal cycle of teachings, so any- Tulku Tshurlo will surely be of great benefit
one who wants to practice that part of the to everyone who wants to complete the five
Jangter teachings will need to practice the nails which are the Zer Nga, in order to fol-
Zer Nga first. low the teachings of the Gongpa Zangthal.
When Rinpoche came to Otwock, near
Warsaw in Poland in 1996 he gave the ‘lung’ The Zer Nga and
or reading transmission for the Gongpa Tulku Tshurlo’s manual
Zangthal. At that time, I did not know any- Generally speaking, Vajrayana practice
thing at all about it, but this transmission had begins with the ‘common preliminaries’
such a strong effect on me that I had to find which are the ‘four thoughts which turn the
out more. Not even the slightest effort was mind away from samsara.’ Then, when they
needed, since soon afterwards, in France, have been properly understood, we move on
Rinpoche gave the initiation (dbang) for it. to the preparatory practices specific to the
At that time he also explained to us that his extraordinary and swift path of secret man-
teacher, the great scholar and adept Tulku tra, which are the ngondro as such.
Tshurlo, had composed an explanation text, So, before describing the ngondro, a few
(‘khrid yig’) to systemise and condense all words about the four thoughts:
the teachings of the five large volumes of the We all recite these every time we read
Gongpa Zangthal. through the ‘Big Rigdzin’ and I believe it is
One of his dedicated disciples, Stephane significant that Rinpoche included them and
Arguillere, had been asking him to give the placed them right at the beginning of the
transmission of the Gongpa Zangthal for practice. They are described in six lines
some years and Rinpoche now instructed which appear immediately after two short
him to translate Tulku Tshurlo’s comment- prayers to the Lama. If someone is really in-
ary to it. Stephane is fluent in Tibetan, one telligent, these six lines will be all that is ne-
34 Newsletter 2007
 The Heart Nectar Of The Saints

cessary, but I definitely need much much four thoughts from a personal viewpoint.
more detail and explanation in order to grasp What we need to understand is that it is only
some of their vast extent and profound im- genuine Dharma, an authentic understanding
pact. of our actual human situation which is not
So far, about forty pages of Tulku Tshur- based on just hoping or imagining, which
lo’s manual have been translated and they all can provide us with real, reliable protection
concern the urgent need to really grasp the from the inevitable suffering of our conditio-
meaning of the four thoughts. If we could re- ned existence. Whether it is cancer or bank-
ally see our situation accurately, without ruptcy or divorce, all we can do is hope it
being blinded by our habits and hopes, few won’t happen to us. Without Dharma, we
of us would carry on acting as we do. have no reliable method by which we can in-
I know that I do have the strong habit to fluence our future. Whatever we accumulate
take for granted that I have a relatively during our lives, in terms of material or
healthy human body and a relatively trouble- worldly accomplishments, at the end we will
free life, with free time to study and meditate go empty-handed, except for our good and
and so on. This is something rare and pre- bad karma which will accompany us, whe-
cious, which so many do not, yet I forget this ther we wish it to or not.....
and idle my time away or get distracted with
unimportant things – things which do not Now, the ngondro.
lead me to liberation. This is the first As was mentioned earlier, all schools of
thought. Tibetan Buddhism practice ngondro and
Death is definitely going to come and their systems have very much in common. In
when it happens, it cannot be delayed even all schools, the intention of these practices is
for an instant. Am I really ready to die right the same: to clear away obstacles and accu-
now? Have I done all I can to prepare my- mulate helpful conditions which will make
self? Will worldly possessions and so on our progress along the path easy and swift.
help me when it is time to die? This is the In each case there are practices of:
second thought.
1. taking refuge and generating Bodhicitta
Every action I perform will have con-
( the firm committment to reach the goal
sequences for me in the future, both immedi-
of complete Enlightenment)
ately and for many lives to come. It is so
clear that although I try, I cannot really un- 2. Recitation of the mantra of Dorje Sempa
derstand what I can so easily describe. If I 3. Offering a mandala of all the world
really understood, how could I ever again get
angry again, just to take one example? If I 4. Practicing Guru Yoga
could understand how much harm I create And in each tradition, each of these prac-
for myself by anger and negatve thoughts, I tices is to be repeated 100,000 times.
would immediately drop them. This is the The usual Nyingmapa tradition is slightly
third thought. different in that taking refuge and generating
Just now, I don’t have much pain or even Bodhicitta are practiced individually, so that
discomfort, and I like to think things will there are five practices.
continue like this: the world will remain an The Zer Nga practice is again slightly diffe-
enjoyable place for me. Science will provide rent and its constituent parts are as follows:
medecines and I will die in peace with a
clear mind. Yet I know about car accidents, 1. Taking refuge and generating Bodhicitta
for example –( I have even been in one) – (as one).
and I have seen old people dying slowly in 2. Offering of outer, inner and secret
confusion and fear. What can make me so mandala.
sure these things will not come to me, when 3. Visualisation of Dorje Sempa and recitati-
even realised Lamas have to endure the suf- on of his mantra.
fering of sickness and old age? This is the 4. Meditation on impermanence.
fourth thought. 5. Guru Yoga.
That was a brief attempt to describe the
Khordong e.V. 35
Byangter

So in this case, although there are five conceptuality and so on. But these will
sections, they are not quite the usual five of not remain stably, and then, when they
the Nyingmapa tradition, since the reflection fade away, as they will surely do, we will
on impermanence has been added. We can feel trememdously sad, and long for them
see that all five of these practices are contai- to return. The more efforts we make to
ned, in a condensed form, in the ‘Big Rigd- get them back, the more tense we will be-
zin’ so we have already been preparing our- come and the less likely we are to suc-
selves for this ngondro. ceed.
Someone might ask, “Why should it be
3. The practices of Vajrayana may broadly
necessary to go through these long preparati-
be divided into two: development phase
ons before even beginning on the path of Va-
(sKye rim) and completion phase (rdzogs
jrayana? After all, there are plenty of authen-
rim) and a large part of development
tic teachers who come to the West and give
practice is visualisation When we visual-
teachings directly on Dzogchen. If that is so,
ise Dorje Sempa as we recite his mantra,
why not get on with the actual practice right
we are developing our ability to visualise,
now?
so in that way, by making the preliminary
1. If we decide to go on a journey, we need practice, we are actually at the same time,
some idea of what sort of place we are practicing Kye rim. This is one example
going to. When we hear all the wonderful out of many which could be given of how
qualities of that place described, and the preliminary practices are not separate
especially when they are described by so- from the main practices.
meone who has been to that place, or
4. The great Vajrayana master (and friend of
even lives there, it can inspire us and mo-
Rinpoche) Tulku Urgyen takes this point
tivate us, so that we really strongly desire
further. He has stated, in a book called
to go there. Direct teachings on Dzogchen
“Rainbow Painting”, that the preliminary
and so on can serve that purpose, so they
practices are the same as the advanced
are very helpful.
practices – they are just named different-
Then we could just leave the house, jump
ly. He gives the example of his uncle, a
into our car, start the engine and eagerly
most terrifying man who could read the
set off. But if we are sensible, we will
minds of others and would confront anyo-
prepare ourselves and we will prepare our
ne in Tibet, no matter how high or power-
vehicle before we leave. We will fill the
ful, without the slightest trace of disquiet:
car with petrol, with oil and with water,
he practiced the preliminaries every day
pump up the tyres to the right pressure
of his life and said his powers came from
and so on and we will study the map of
them.
the place we are going to, to make sure
that we don’t lose our path halfway. This is what the ngondro can do for us.
The Zer Nga is itself a profound set of prac-
2. Tulku Tsurlo, in his commentary to the
tices as well as being a method for removing
main text of the Gongpa Zangthal descri-
obstacles to the development and stability of
bes a farmer who wishes to irrigate a field
our meditation and for establishing the ne-
so that he can grow a good crop on it. If
cessary qualities within us for that meditati-
he does not first build a wall around that
on to develop properly.
field, he can channel water onto it, sure
Completing the given number of recitati-
enough, and the field will get wet. But the
ons (as a first step) also establishes us firmly
water will not stay there, it will run off. If
and stably within the correct and authentic
we start advanced practices immediately,
way of practicing the tradition of Khordong,
without protecting our practice with the
of Jangter and of the Nyingma tradition.
wall of the preliminaries, we may get
some experiences of bliss, clarity, non-
David Cowey, [email protected]

36 Newsletter 2007
 The Heart Nectar Of The Saints

The Heart Nectar of the Saints

A Prayer of Aspiration
That Condenses the Essence of the Oral Teachings

By His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche

SOLE unfailing and unchanging Refuge, Lord of the Mandala,

Most precious and kind Root Guru, hold me with compassion
When I squander the freedoms and endowments,
Ignoring death, providing only for this life.
THIS fleeting human life, like a dream,
If it’s happy that’s all right, if it’s unhappy that’ s all right.
Without concern for happiness or sorrow,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
THIS mortal existence, like a candle in the wind,
If it’s long, that’s all right, if it’s short, that’s all right.
Without intensifying the tight grip of the ego,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
THESE intellectual judgements, like the lure of a mirage,
If they’re suitable, that’s all right, if they’re not that’s all right.
Discarding like hay, whatever carries the eight wordly concerns,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
THIS entourage, like a flock of birds in a tree,
If it’s assembled that’s all right, if it’s scattered that’s all right.
Without letting others lead me by the nose,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.

Khordong e.V. 37
Byangter

THIS illusory body, like a hundred year old house

If it survives that’s all right, if it collapses that’s all right.
Without becoming obsessed by food, clothes and medicine,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
THIS religious position, like a child’s game,
If it’s kept up that’s all right, if it’s dropped that’s all right.
Without deceiving myself with numerous diversions,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
THESE gods and demons, like reflections in a mirror,
If they’re helpful that’s all right, if they’re harmful that’s all right.
Without perceiving my own hallucinations as enemies,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
THIS delusive talk, like a trackless echo,
If it’s pleasing that’s all right, if it’s unpleasant that’s all right.
Taking the Three Jewels and my own mind as witness,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
THAT which is useless at the time of need, like the antlers of a deer,
If it’s known that’s all right, if it’s unknown that’s all right.
Without simply relying on the various sciences,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
THESE religious possessions, like virulent poisons,
If they come that’s all right, if they don’t that’s all right.
Without devoting my life to sinful unwholesome means of survival
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
THIS form of greatness like dogshit wrapped in brocade,
If it’s obtained that’s all right, if it’s not that’s all right,
Having smelled the rot of my own head
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
THESE relationships, like gatherings on a market day,
If they’re loving that’s all right, if they’re spiteful that’s all right.
Cutting the ties of passionate attachment from deep within the heart,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
THIS material wealth, like what’s found in a dream,
If it’s acquired that’s all right, if it’s not that’s all right.
Without deceiving others by flattery and assent,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
THIS rank, like a little bird perch on top of a tree
If it’s high that’s all right, if it’s low that’s all right.
Without aspiring to that which actually brings sorrow,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
THIS black magic like a sharpened weapon,
If it’s successful that’s all right, if it’s not that’s all right.
Without buying the blade that will cut off my life.
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.

38 Newsletter 2007
 The Heart Nectar Of The Saints

THESE recitations, like a parrot’s six syllabels,

If they’re repeated that’s all right, if they’re not that’s all right.
Withut counting the numbers of the various practices,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
MERE religious discourse, like a mountain cascade
If it’s eloquent that’s all right, if it’s not that’s all right.
Without thinking of this glibness as Dharma,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
THE mind quick to judge, like a pig’s snout,
If it’s sharp that’s all right, if it’s dull that’s all right.
Without uselessly digging up the rubble of anger and attachment,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
THE yogi’s experience, like a stream in summer,
If it expands that’s all right, if it recedes that’s all right
Without chasing rainbows like a child,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
THESE pure visions, like rain on a mountain top,
If they happen that’s all right, if they don’t that’s all right.
Without giving credence to illusory experiences,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
THE freedoms and endowments, like a wish-fullfilling gem,
If I do not obtain them, there is no way to accomplish Dharma.
When I have them in hand, without letting them spoil
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
THE glorious Guru, light on the path of liberation,
If I do not meet him, there is no way to realize the true nature.
When I know the way to go, without jumping into the precipice,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
THE holy Dharma, like a medicine that cures sickness,
If I have not heard it, there is no way to decide what to give up and what to take up.
Distinguishing the beneficial from the harmful, without swallowing the poison,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
THE alternation of happiness and suffering, like the changing of summer and winter,
If I do not recognize it, there is no way to develop renunciation.
Being certain that I will suffer in turn,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
THIS immersion in Samsara, like a stone in deep water,
If I do not get out of it now, I will not be free of it later.
Holding on to the lifeline of the compassionate Three Jewels,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
THE qualities of liberation, like an island of jewels,
If I am unaware of them, there is no way to develop diligence.
Seeing the unending benefits to be gained,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.

Khordong e.V. 39
 Projects
THE life stories of the great saints, like the essence of nectar,
If I am unacquainted with them, there is no way to awaken faith.
When I recognize the real gains and losses
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
THE aspiration towards enlightenment, like a fertile field,
If I do not cultivate it, there is no way to attain Buddhahood,
Without becoming indifferent to the accomplishment of this great goal,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
THESE thoughts of mine, like a monkey’s antics,
If I do not tame them, there is no way to eliminate my afflictive emotions,
Without falling into all kinds of crazy mimicry
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
THIS attachment to ego, like an inherent shadow,
If i do not give it up, there is no way to reach a peaceful place.
When I recognize the enemy, without befriending it
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
THE five poisons, like embers glowing in the ash,
If I do not extinguish them, I cannot abide in mind’s self-nature.
Without breeding venomous baby snakes in my bed,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
THIS temperament of mine, like the stiff hide of a butter-bag,
If I do not soften it, the Dharma and my mind will never blend,
Without indulging the child that is born from my self,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
THESE ingrained bad habits, like the course of a river,
If I do not eliminate them, I cannot part from the profane.
Without delivering weapons into the hands of the enemy,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
THESE distractions, like the ceaseless rippling of water,
If I do not reject them, there is no way to become steadfast.
When I have the freedom of choice, without devoting myself to Samsara,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
THE Guru’s blessing, like the warming of earth and water,
If I do not receive it, there is no way to recognize my own true nature.
When I step on the short path, without turning in circles,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
THE solitary place, like a summer valley of medicine plants,
If I do not dwell there, there is no way for the good qualities to grow.
When I stay in the mountains, without wandering off to dark cities,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
THIS desire for comfort like a greedy ghost lodged at the hearth,
If I do not part from it, painful efforts will never cease.
Without making, as to a god, offerings to a hungry demon,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.

40 Newsletter 2007
 Archives Project

THIS alert mindfulness, like the key to a fortress,

If it is not relied upon, the movements of delusion will never stop.
At the time the thief arrives, without leaving the latch unfastened,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
THE true nature, like unchanging space,
If I do not realize it, the ground of the view will not be established.
Without chaining myself in iron fetters,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
THIS awareness, like a stainless crystal,
If I do not see it, the clinging and effort of meditation cannot dissolve.
When I have this inseparable companion, without searching for another,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
THIS natural mind, like an old friend,
If I do not recognize it, all my activities will be deluded.
Without fumbling around with my eyes closed,
May I constantly practice the Supreme Teaching.
IN short, if I do not abandon the concerns of this life,
There is no way to apply the teachings for the benefit of the next life.
Having resolved to be kind to myself,
May whatever I do become the Supreme Teaching
TO doubt the Guru’s instructions that accord with the Dharma,
To feel bitterness toward the deity when bad karma emerges,
To discontinue the sadhana and so forth when adverse circumstances arise,
May such obstacles not occur as accomplishment approaches.
ALL this doing has no more meaning than walking around a desert,
All these efforts make my character rigid.
All this thinking just reinforces my delusions,
What worldly beings consider to be Dharma is the cause of binding myself.
ALL this exertion produces no result,
All these ideas bring not a single actualization,
All the numerous wants will never be fulfilled,
Abandoning activities, may I be able to meditate on the oral instructions.
IF you think you want to do it, take the Victorious One’s words as witness,
If you think you can really do it, blend your mind with Dharma,
If you think you will practice, follow the example of the past saints.
You spoiled ones is there any other way ?
TAKING a humble position, rich with the treasure of contentment,
Free from the binds of the eight worldy concerns, firm and strong-hearted in practice,
Receiving the Guru’s blessing, realization becomes equal to space.
May we inherit the Kingdom of Kuntuzangpo.

Thus having united the meaning of the diamond words of the past saints, I have written this
as my own prayer.
Jigdral Yeshe Dorje

Khordong e.V. 41
Projects

Khordong Archives Project

S ince our incomparable teacher Chhi-

med Rigdzin Rinpoche passed into pa-
ranirvana we realize more and more how
1995. Her next work will be to digitalize a
big number of recordings that Arnim Voigt
gave us to copy them for the Archives.
precious it is to listen to his recorded tea-
We are asking everybody who is still ha-
chings. By listening to them we get inspirati-
ving audio or video recordings of events
on and learn more about the different practi-
with Chhimed Rigdzin Rinpoche (original or
ces we do. The Archives Project is collecting
in copy) to inform us in order to find out if
the various teachings and practices and co-
we can use them for the Archives. If you
pying them on digital media. This way they
have the facilities for copying and digitali-
can be useful for the sangha now and in the
zing and would like to join the work for the
future. We are collecting all video and audio
Archives please let us know. We still need
recordings that were made thanks to some
more people.
students to get the complete Archives. The
Archives will be kept in two sets in two dif- Christoph Schneider digitalized some ma-
ferent places and will be available to all stu- terial he got from Jomo Gudrun und Micha-
dents of Rinpoche. Another important aspect el. This material includes teachings on Medi-
of the Archives is that they will preserve a cine Buddha, LoJong, Donsal Melong, 8
part of Rinpoche’s transmission given to us. Manifestations of Padmasambhava, Mandar-
ava, Machig Labdron and Chöd, Bardo and
Thanks to the great efforts that some
Phowa. Christoph will be very busy in the
sangha friends made we can already offer
time to come because he is going to work on
some recordings by now. They can be
the recordings that Andreas Ruft made over
ordered from Drophan Ling Monastery in
the years. Andreas himself already published
Poland. A list of available teachings has
some teachings and practices. They were of-
been published in the last newsletter and you
fered in the last newsletter.
will also find it on the new Khordong web-
site that will hopefully be online soon. Olaf Brockmann finished a new DVD
Please order these recordings from Jacek Sk- (Chhimed Rigdzin Rinpoche, Small Rigdzin
rucha, [email protected] Jacek is going to pre- Practice) and recorded all events which took
pare more recordings on digital media so place in Berlin with Jomo Gudrun, Tulku
that we will be able to offer them in the fu- Thondup, James Low and Keith Dowman
ture. This year’s publications are listed at the during the last number of years.
end of this article. This article is supposed to give you an
In Germany we are digitalizing tapes and overview of what we have accomplished up
videos as well. Last year Barbara Harder di- to now. We are looking forward to give you
gitalized Ngöndro teachings, Bardo tea- the complete picture on the new website
chings and a long teaching cycle that Chhi- where you will have the opportunity to order
med Rigdzin Rinpoche gave in Poland in all available recordings.

42 Newsletter 2007
 Book Project/Using Licence

Another task we are currently working at Susanne Salem

is a complete database with an overview of phone: + 49-431-200 11 17
all teachings and practices that Chhimed email: [email protected]
Rigdzin Rinpoche gave us. Once having the
At this point we want to thank everybody
database we can see what we have and what
who helped the Archives to grow and deve-
we are still in need of. If you would like to
lop in order to preserve and pass on the tea-
help with the database you are very welco-
chings and make them available for the
me.
sangha.
If you have any questions regarding the
May it be beneficial to all.
Archives Project, if you would like to help in
any way or if you have recordings, please Susanne Salem
contact: February 2007

Khordong Archives Darnkow

New publications 2007

Big Rigdzin Practice with Instruments Sarnath 1994 1 CD

Chhimed Rigdzin Lama / Chime Lodro

Lha Drup Puja Practice Holland 1981 2 CD

Chhimed Rigdzin Rinpoche

Dzogchen Teachings Seaside 1988 1 CD engl.

Chhimed Rigdzin Rinpoche

Teachings on Emptiness Geneva 1991 1 CD eng.

Chhimed Rigdzin Rinpoche

Big Rigdzin, Small Rigdzin Practice and Teachings, Krakow 1994 4 DVDs
Butterlamp Practice and Teachings engl./pol.
Chhimed Rigdzin Rinpoche

Small Rigdzin, History of Nyingmapa, Szczecin 1993 3 DVDs

Teachings on Emptiness and Ego engl./pol.
Chhimed Rigdzin Rinpoche

Khordong e.V. 43
 Events/Review 2006

Book Project

A t this point we would like to inform

you about our book project. As you
know we were starting to collect reports
hesitate to contact us. And one thing should
be mentioned – it is really thrilling!
If you write down your personal story or
from different people based on their personal
want to do some interviews (like Dylan for
experience in order to assemble, like a mosa-
example who talked with Urgyen Tensin) or
ic, a picture of the life and works of our tea-
if you have some pictures (photos or pain-
cher Chhimed Rigdzin Rinpoche.
tings) relating to the project – what kind of
Some of you, unfortunately not very material ever – please copy the attached
many, wrote down their personal experience form, fill it out and send it together with the
with Rinpoche and sent it to us. Many thanks material. We had some trouble with copy-
for that! It would be nice if even more of you rights on another Khordong book project la-
could find some time for this recollection. It tely and would like to avoid such problems
is really a very special experience to go back in the future.
into former life situations and to realize what
In any case we would like to get your
effects they have on our actual life.
feedback. The best feedback would be your
Understanding that we didn’t get enough own personal report as well as any other sup-
stories, Anne started to collect interviews port to realize the project.
during the last summer retreat in Poland.
The talks have been recorded on tape and are
waiting for transcription now. Anne is plan- Anne, [email protected]
ning to continue with further talks soon but Sebastian, [email protected]
she doesn’t find enough time to type them
down. Wolfgang, [email protected]
We therefore urgently ask for help. If you
have time to transcribe a tape, please don’t

44 Newsletter 2007
 James Low

Using Licence

Name:

Street:

Postcode/Place:

E-mail:

I hereby allow Khordong Verein Deutschland e.V., within the scope of a right of use
for everyone to copy and spread the following material, made available by myself,
free of charge:

Khordong Verein Deutschland e.V. is authorized to use this material without

restrictions in any kind of publication, in any kind of media, including books and
internet presentations free of charge.

.............................................................
Place, date

.............................................................
Owner of the material

Khordong e.V. 45
Events/Review 2006

James Low
March 10th – 12th 2oo6 in Berlin
„Padmasambhava and Dzogchen Practice“

T o welcome James Low in Berlin is a

precious gift each time. I like his
warm-hearted, loving and humorous way to
All these assumptions are put into question
by the buddhist view. Ignorance creates the
idea of being humans which is wrong, in
teach us. In the beginning he talked about reality we are Buddhas. As human beings we
ignorance, how it arises and how we feel at live in deception, blindness and delusion
home with it. He also pointed its function in because we do not recognize our own nature
tantra and dzogchen and which possibility it of mind. We learn the paradigm of believing
contains to lead to liberation. in the existence of separate objects from our
parents and at school.
Padmasambhava, a great saint and an
enlightened being, brought tantric buddhism
to Tibet. He gave many explanations about
how the world is constructed as we
experience it and how it actually is. The real
nature of our existence is infinitely open,
cannot be defined, summed up or
conceptualized. Its quality is pure from the
very beginning. The true nature is not
touched through anything, we are no things,
our body, our thoughts and feelings are no
things. They are moments of experience that
are fundamentally ungraspable. We live in a
world of processes, of impermanence and
effortless arising.
Then James gave the example of the crying
of a small child and here the question is
again: Where does the cry come from? He
gives us the meditation instruction to look at
one's own mind, to ask oneself again and
again: Who is it that is having this
experience right now? According to the
Prajnaparamita sutra form is emptiness and
emptiness is form. Everything we experience
The most basic fundamental act is to take is unseparable of emptiness and yet it
refuge. We cannot trust ourselves but we can manifests. It is about the essential truth of
trust the Buddha. And we can trust our nonduality which means there in not one
profound potential, our Buddha nature. The single nor many different things.
problem is that we are out of touch with it;
we are in contact with our own karmic Back to the example of the child`s cry,
tendencies and through that with our whose ground is emptiness. A dzogchen way
habitual confusion and our habitual view of of dealing with it is to hear the cry and the
the world. We act on the basis of response appears out of emptiness. Comfort
assumptions. We assume that there are real and ease is given out of the mode of
separate objects and that our thoughts and emptiness. If we are beginners it is hard to
feelings tell us something really important. do so, because our feeling 'in the guts' are
strong and the idea of emptiness is not so

46 Newsletter 2007
 Tulku Thondup/Keith Dowman

strong. Even if the understanding of the the lineage and through empowerment we
concept may be correct, it is not easy to keep may have a new vision of our own lived
it in a 'hot' situation. That is why Buddha experience. Tantric pracises let us participate
Shakyamuni developped tantra. Traditionally in an other view.
there are 84.000 methods and 9 yanas of
proceeding the path. Every path has its view, To avoid that this article becomes too long I
its method, activity and result. The first step want to finish with some sentences about
to take refuge usually starts with the dealing with the awareness of oneself:
understanding that the way I have been You always have to observe yourself. We
living my life cannot go on like this. I have can get trapped into what is happening but
to do something else. It wasn't wrong what I we also can step back and watch what is
did but the way I looked at it, my view was going on through this 'gap'. By doing that we
wrong! The world is not like we assume to can get nearer to what is happening without
be. That is the meaning of the state of being intirely wrapped nor totally outside.
ignorance. One of the qualities of ignorance
is that we think we exactly know what we Often we feel guilty like a caught child. Just
do. When we are trying something new, it accept this feeling, let it arise.
doesn't feel very authentic. Being stupid is We have to stop judging ourselves! It is
comforting. Being aware is more difficult. good to develop a neutral mood or attitude:
There is nothing to do in the outer world, just observe and look what happens.
dzogchen is an inner process. This requires
the highest form of refuge: nondual refuge,
My best wishes to all of you,
to take refuge to one's own nature of mind,
through instantaneous relaxation into the
nature of mind. Liz Messerschmied
Through the practise of tantra, the access to

Khordong e.V. 47
Events/Review 2006

Tulku Thondup
April 8th – 10th 2006 in Berlin
„Journey to the Pure Land of Amitabha, Buddha of Limitless Light”

E arly in april 2006 we were glad to wel-

come Tulku Thondup to Berlin. Sub-
ject of the event in TTC-buddhistcenter was
Tulku Thondup invited the students of
Chhimed Rigdzin Rinpoche to talk about
their experience since the teachers passage
the healing- and purificationpractice of Bud- into the pure land on the night of the last
dha Amitabha. This practice is a useful me- day. He spoke lively and warm-heartedly
thod for the perfect and complete liberation about his meeting with Rinpoche and about
of all sentient beings out of all realms of the tradition of our transmission-lineage. He
existence. explained, that Rinpoches legacy is lying in
the treasure of his transmission and stressed
Tulku Thondups teachings were too rich and
the special value of joint practice, by which
too profound, to give a nearly appropriate
we keep our lineage alive. Especially the
impression here.
sangha’s situation after the teachers death
Our friends at TTC were also very impressed with all it’s possible highs and lows was
of the intensity of meditations, Tulku topic, that night. He pointed out that it is an
Thondup guided. He leaded us on both days activity full of merit, to uphold the dharma
in one session each to the pure land of even in dark times (like after the lamas
Amitabha and into the healing-practice of death).
the meditation on Padmasambhava. To offer
The fact that badly covert conflicts came to
the positive energy evoked, in a joint
the surface immediately after the meeting,
dedication of merit towards the benefit of all
was maybe part of a joint clearing-process of
sentient beings left a deep impression on us.
problems, Tulku Thondup just spoke about.

48 Newsletter 2007
 Jomo Gudrun

Maybe he even had called forth this kind of manifest: A peaceful open mind, a loving
painfull experience for the best of the sangha and positive attitude and a warm happy
in the pure goodness of his absolute clear energy in a condition of mental balance and
and waken presence. harmony“. This is not only an instruction for
meditation, but a guideline for our daily
In any case there are no doubts, that Tulku
activities, we continually should strive for,
Thondup is feeling kindly towards us with
no matter how far away it appears for us
loving attention, without ignoring
now.
differences which occure quite naturally.
Naming and focussing on differences is in We are looking back upon Tulku Thondup
general key to a solution. Rinpoche and his wife Lydia in full
gratitude.
All who met Tulku Thondup were touched
deeply by his warm-hearted wisdom. In his May they be blessed with everlasting luck!
instruction for the practice on Amitabha he And may their love be good for us!
writes: „We are able to heal body and mind,
simply by relying on what we really are, and
to allow our own natural healing qualities to Ralf Bartholomäus

Keith Dowman
April 28 th – May 03 rd 2006 in Berlin
„Dzogchen and Tibetan Buddhism“
„Inner Ruzhen and the Purification of the Six Realms"

I n the year 2006 for

the fourth time we
had the opportunity to
Rinpoche and Namkhai
Norbu Rinpoche. The par-
ticular characteristic of
to experience Keith Keith Dowmans presenta-
Dowman as guest lec- tion is the direct presence,
turer in Berlin. Since the uncompromising and
he first accepted our in- even radical manner, by
vitation to hold an in- which he skillfully gives
troductory class on the insight into this teaching /
„Three statements of view, which is otherwise
Garab Dorje“ in 2003, completely beyond ratio-
it has been becoming a nal grasp.
wonderful and very im-
In giving these tea-
portant tradition for
chings Keith Dowman al-
many among us, to be
lows us to participate in
able to host him every
his own non-artificial self
year. During all the tea-
experience and perspecti-
chings „The Three
ve of the limitless view
Fundamental State-
and non-praxis – as he is very much fond to
ments of Garab Dorje“ has been serving as
put it.
the root text for the elucidation of the es-
sential points of view, praxis and result of Non-praxis in this context means; there is
Dzogchen. In their condensed form these nothing to do, no sequence of exercises to
root teachings embrace the fundamental perform, at the end of which a seizable result
Dzogchen Series and have been interpreted can be found. It is crucial to experience this –
already by many masters such as Patrul that which has always been there, on which

Khordong e.V. 49
Events/Review 2006

even our common perception is based, that ning home each evening. I was surprised, that
is the intrinsic nature of our mind. such an intensive experience as in Menz is
equally possible in a practise oriented city se-
The meaning of the above becomes clea-
minar.
rer during the practice seminar which follo-
wed the weekend. The practices are a Last year the emphasis during the practice
means to awaken and keep awake the abo- seminar had been on the various Ruzhen exer-
ve experience without being an end in cises. They are represent preliminary practi-
itself; that is practising without the need to ces; an approach to the view of the buddhas,
practice, or to achieve anything / result. and a penetration of the object relatedness and
Again and again I have been personally im- thus are a preparation to Dzogchen
pressed, how the texts become present and (non-)practise of the Semsdzins. The Semd-
accesible through Keith’s intrepretation, zins are tracing back to Longchen Rabjampa,
compared to studying alone at home. the great tibetan master from the 14th century,
well known for his extensive Dzogchen treati-
In the end we find ourselves again and
ses, whose biography is in itself a source of
again focusing and practicing on what can
inspiration and veneration (Tulku Dondrup:
not be practised. But this is another story.
Practise of Dzogchen). Keith Dowman's last
This year as last year after the weekend publication is a translation of Longchenpa's
workshop in Berlin, we stayed on for the work about the Four Dzogchen Samayas into
practice seminar. In Menz, years before we English. And these constitute further funda-
engaged in intensive and secluded practice mentals of practice together with the Semsd-
for 24 hours with the master, so I was unsu- zins.
re how it would be in the city environment
of Berlin where evening and morning sessi- Andreas Ruft
ons were missed as a consequence of retur-

50 Newsletter 2007
 Martin Boord

Jomo Gudrun
September 22nd – 24th 2006 in Berlin
„Padmasambhava: Empowerment, Instruction and Practice“

G udruns visit to Berlin this year was

marked by special signs. She had
agreed in giving a Padmasambhava-Initiati-
on for the first time in Germany. Accordin-
gly “older” and “younger” practitioners came
to the TTC on a Saturday, to practice to-
gether and to receive the empowerment,
which was an intensive and blissful experi-
ence for all.
On Sunday the Big Rigdzin was celebra-
ted again, followed by a joint lunch-break. A
rich meal was prepared by Thomas. The
break was of importance because it opened
the opportunity for talks with Gudrun. Such
talks are usually quite short on such visits.
However practitioners who were new gladly
took the chance to ask questions and to get
to know Gudrun a little more.
Following the weekend there was a mee-
ting between Andreas Ruft, Anne Gäbler and
myself to discuss the activities for the co-
ming year (2007). We have organised Khor- re is strong motivation to gain deeper under-
dong events here for many years and decided standing of the practice and texts which have
to pass responsibility for organising coming been given.
events with Gudrun to our new sangha mem-
Anne Wanitschek also mentioned, that
bers. There was positive feedback for this
the group has since developed closer and
proposal from the practice group here in Ber-
more beneficial relations. This is easily seen
lin. Also together we have decided to make a
by the steady attendance of younger sangha
request to Gudrun to grant us a Medicine
members at regular practice events. After
Buddha empowerment.
Angelika and Rebecca, Moni, Uta and Mark
So we have reached a new phase of wor- found us, Liz, Markus, Stefan and Florian
king together with new sangha members joined us also. They are regarded as a sym-
who did not meet Rinpoche directly. But pathetic enrichment of our group.
most significantly not only are we able to
We can be glad about good working and
practice with newer sangha members but
growing practice community, in which sym-
also they are able to have the opportunity to
pathy and respect for each other develops.
receive further empowerments and teachings
For those, who have decided to move on
by Gudrun as their teacher.
from our group we wish them all good wis-
We received the response from our new hes, contentment and enlightenment on their
sangha members, that since they have recei- path.
ved Padmasambhava empowerment, practice
Ralf Bartholomäus
has become more accessible to them and the-

Khordong e.V. 51
 Comming Events 2007
Martin Boord
November 24th – 26th 2006 in Berlin
„Padmasambhava and his Mandala“

A t the very beginning of his teaching

Martin Boord talked about the ne-
cessary preparations a disciple needs to be
ple is responsible for becoming a refuge
himself or herself after taking refuge of the
three jewels.
introduced into the mandala, which is facili-
The complexity of the guru, in our case
tated by every guru who is teaching us. He
Padmasambhava, becomes evident in his
explained the ideal of the bodhisattva and
manifestations, which represent different ty-
what it means to realise this intention in the
pes of personality. After that, he also tou-
context of the different Buddhist vehicles
ched on the meaning of the terma tradition of
which developed over thousands of years.
the Nyingmapa lineage and the different bio-
He described the different Ngöndro exerci-
graphies of Guru Rinpoche, which have pro-
ses and explained their psychological effects.
ven to be a challenge for the accurate histori-
Martin gave a special explanation of the
an. Thus, Martin gave us some insights into
mandala offering on its outer, inner and se-
the connectedness and the mutual inspiration
cret aspects. These preliminary exercises
of the existing spiritual groups of that time.
were exhausting but good for the disciple's
health, giving him/her the necessary clarity He stressed that without developing bod-
and stability for continuing his/her path. hichitta, the ideal of the bodhisattva, no valid
compassion exists. Buddha hood starts, the-
He also explained why an introduction to
reby, with the consideration of the four
the mandala without preparation can be a big
thoughts which turn the mind away from
shock or not show any effect at all. Next,
samsara. The circle of being and turning
Martin talked about refuge and developing
away from samsara will motivate the disci-
bodhichitta and he emphasized that the disci-
52 Newsletter 2007
 Keith Dowman

ple to gain the necessary effort. Techniques duction. If this purity does not affect our spi-
like changing the self for others and a deepe- ritual attainments through pride again, the
ned understanding of emptiness of all pheno- disciple is ready to enter the mandala of the
mena help the student to focus. Martin con- guru.
fronted the ideals of wisdom, compassion,
After Martin’s teaching many questions
and turning away from samsara with the
were asked. One of them was about the
worldly features of ignorance, aversion and
much discussed possibility to transform an-
desire. He explained why gathering these
ger. This was Martin's answer on how to do
first qualities are a sufficient preparation for
it: Go on allowing the anger to rise, but don't
the introduction into the mandala. He sho-
turn it against someone or something but
wed the deep meaning of the three jewels
against one's own confused tendency to get
and the effects of this understanding, which
angry about illusionary entities.
also become externally visible. To create an
active commitment to life without the com- On Sunday there was a very detailed ex-
plication of worldly thinking is a challenge planation about guru yoga. After doing the
one can only manage to deal when he or she exercises that he had explained, the next ine-
has developed an inartificial and extensive vitable step is meeting a guru. In tantric
form of compassion. practise the guru is in the middle of a border-
less mandala in which the core and the four
Martin explained the enormous paradox
directions represent beside the other five
of the single one gains happiness through the
transcendent wisdoms. Finally, the guru gi-
endeavour of making other beings happy on
ves the key to be reborn within the mandala.
the background of dedicating the merit.
Based on these profound teachings we prac-
In regard to the preliminary practices, he tised the big Rigdzin Padmasambhava-Puja
spoke about chöd practise, which enables the on Sunday afternoon with a lot of insight
practitioner not only to loosen his/her fixati- into their meaning, which was an invaluable
on on the body but that it can also have a he- enrichment, at least in my opinion.
aling effect on others.
At the end of the teachings the people or-
Vajrasattva meditation has the power to ganizing the weekend closed with good
dissolve even the hardest tendencies of im- news. The costs of the whole weekend had
purity that have endured within our mind been covered from the donations of the parti-
stream through millions of years of repro- cipants.
Kind greetings to all sangha members,

Anna Aly Labana

Khordong e.V. 53
CommingEvents 2007

James Low

Purification Practice and Fundamental Purity

The Practice of Vajrasattva and its Base of Dzogchen View

T his year James Low wants to take a text by Chhimed Rigd-

zin Rinpoche called “The meditation and recitation of Va-
jrasattva, which purifies mistakes and
obscuration/obfuscation” (in “Simply being” by James Low
1994) as s supplementary materiall to his teachings.
The intention of the Vajrasattva Practice is the purification of
misapprehensions, bad habits and so on. By recognizing that
obscureations have no essential base and through the appropriate
method, we are able to disengage from these falsities and habits
and recognise our own clear awareness.
James Low began his studies and practice of Tibetan Bud-
dhism in the 1960’s in India. He received teachings from Kalu
Rinpoche, Chatral Rinpoche, Kanjur Rinpoche and H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche. Having met his
root teacher, Chhimed Rigdzin Lama, he stayed with him for many years in Bengal, transla-
ting this text among many others. He received the corresponding teachings many times and
practiced them in retreat. In 1976 Rinpoche asked James to teach and gave him the necessary
transmissions together with full lineage authority. James Low’s books, commentaries and con-
tinuous seminars make a great contribution to understanding of Tibetan Buddhism in the west
in general and to the Dzogchen Teachings in particular.

23.03.07: 7.30 pm.:Public Talk

24.- 25.03.07: 10 am – 6 pm.:Weekend Seminar

For more information:

www.khordong.de
Anne G. +49 30 534 25 08, Email: [email protected] ·
Andreas +49 30 283 32 76, Email: [email protected]

Venue: TTC / Bodhicharya e.V., Kinzigstraße 25-29, D-10247 Berlin

How to get there by public transport: U5 Samariterstraße · Tram 23 Wismaer Platz

54 Newsletter 2007
 Events Overview

Keith Dowman

Dzogchen and Tantra

Skilful Means for Opening to Spontaneity (Synchronicity)

T he three precepts of Garab Dorje form the foundation-sto-

ne for Dzogchen, the way to accomplished spontaneity,
the view and activity of the Buddhas, the Great Perfection (Skt.:
Maha Ati, tib.: Dzogpa Chenpo). Maha Ati is the highest view
in the tradition of the Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism
and it is the foundation for all tantric practices. Tantra and Dzo-
gchen are interwoven to a unity, containing a true treasure of
skilful and highly effective means to open us up to the real na-
ture of mind, within this nature of mind appearance and accom-
plishment reveal themselves to be spontaneous, and synchroni-
city is its outer equivalent.
Keith Dowman is one of the few Western experts on Inner-
Dzogchen, a non-dual way founded by Garab Dorje. Keith
Dowman has been living in Nepal for almost 30 years and he
had the rare opportunity to receive transmissions from famous Nyingma Masters of Dzogchen
like Kanyur Rinpoche, H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche and Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche as well as
Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche and Dodrupchen Rinpoche. Out of a huge source of knowledge he
is able to give us an insight of our true nature of mind in a brilliant way. In the Rushen-Practi-
ce-Seminar he will familiarise us with basic Dzogchen exercises and we will be able to dee-
pen our view, practice and experience.

25.05. 2007, 7 pm
Introduction to Dzogchen on the basis of the three precepts of Garab Dorje
26.-28.05. 2007, 10 am – 6 pm: Pentecost seminar
Dzogchen and Tantra. Skilful means for opening to spontaneity (synchronicity)
29.-31.05. 2007, 10 am – 6 pm (subject to change)
Rushen pratice seminar
Registration recommended. For experienced disciples only. Minimum requirement: partici-
pants must have attended a weekend seminar with Keith Dowman

For more information

www.khordong.de
Andreas +49 30 283 32 76 · email: [email protected]
Anne G. +49 30 534 25 08 · email: [email protected]

Venue: TTC / Bodhicharya e.V., Kinzigstraße 25-29, D-10247 Berlin

How to get there by public transport: U5 Samariterstraße · Tram 23 Wismaer Platz

Khordong e.V. 55
 Practice Groups

International Khordong Events Overview 2007

who when what where contact

Purification praxis and Bodhicharya TTC
fundamental purity; Kinzigstraße 25 Info: Anne G.
James 23. - 25.
The Praxis of Vajra- D-10247 Berlin Fon: +49-(0)30-5342508
Low March 2007
sattva and its base U5, Samariterstraße email: [email protected]
of Dzogchen view Tram 21, Wismarplatz

31. March Rangshar Ling Ngakpa Bran O. Hodapp

Haus, Schillerstraße 3 Fon: +49-7821-9205557
Jomo 2007 Teachings about Small
D-77933 Lahr/Schwarz- oder 909726
Gudrun Rigdzin Practice
wald, 45km north of fax +49 (0) 78 21 99 25 97
15-18h Freiburg, Germany email: [email protected]
Register with Kamalashila
Kamalashila Institut Institut:
Dzogchen Spring
Fon: +49-2655-939055 [email protected]
James 17.-20. May Retreat:
Kirchstrasse 22a Info: Eva-Maria Küchler
Low 2007 Self release of
D-56729 Langenfeld fon +49-(0)-2245-4689
karmic structures
(Eifel), Germany fax +49-(0)-2245-4528
[email protected]
Pentecost Retreat,
praxis and teaching
Drophan Ling Darnków
and teachers Drophan Ling,
[email protected]
May 2007 not fixed yet! Darnków, Poland
fon +48 - 74 868 88 22
Jomo Gudrun and www.khordong.com.pl
mobile +48 - 601 35 77 76
Tulku Thondup
Rinpoche are invited.
Introduction to Bodhicharya TTC
25. May Dzogchen through the Kinzigstraße 25 Info Andreas
Keith
2007 Three Incisive D-10247 Berlin fon 030-2833276
Dowman
19h Precepts of Garab U5, Samariterstraße email: [email protected]
Dorje Tram 21, Wismarplatz

Pentecost Retreat,
26. - 28. Mai Dzogchen and Tantra:
Keith
2007 Skilful Means in as above as above
Dowman
10-18h Opening up to
Spontaneity

29.-31. May
Keith Ruzhen Praxis
2007 as above as above
Dowman Seminar
10-18h

56 Newsletter 2007
 who when what where contact

June 14th 2007 Chhimed Rigdzin's Rinpoches

(following Western in different local groups
Callendar) 5th aniversary: Paranirvana

Raum der
21. June Public speech :
James Bewohnerinitiative For information Thomas
2007 Similarity and
Low Langenmarckstr. 97 Fon: +49-761-4517008
20:30h Difference
79100 Freiburg i.Br.
Seminar: Direct
Ruth Kürmann
Identification of Haus am Mühlenbach
Im Tannwald 4
James 22.-24. June Buddhahood beyond D-79682 Todtmoos-Au
79736 Rickenbach
Low 2007 classification (Südschwarzwald)
fon +49-7765- 918175
(following Nuden fon +49-7674 –8165
email: [email protected]
Dorje)
Register with Kamalashila
Kamalashila Institut Institut:
27. - 30. Fon: +49-2655-939055 [email protected]
James
September Dzogchen Fall Retreat Kirchstrasse 22a Info: Eva-Maria Küchler
Low
2007 D-56729 Langenfeld fon +49-(0)-2245-4689
(Eifel), Germany fax +49-(0)-2245-4528
[email protected]
Tulku Ugen Chencho Lama
Byangter Khordong
Tulku December fon. gompa:
Gompa,
Ugen 2007/ +91-353-2585860 fon, fax
18. Butterlamp Retreat India, West Bengal
Chencho Januar residents: +91-353-2581358
Lama Distr. Darjeeling
2008 mobile +91-9832049416
Dhansara Village
[email protected]

For more information please visite www.khordong.de

Berlin
Place München
TTC | Bodhicharya e.V. Place
Kinzigstr. 25 Barerstr. 52
D-10247 Berlin D-München
U 5 Samariterstraße Practice
Practice Practicegroup with Uli Loseries
Start 5 pm Wednesday 7.30 pm (Byangter-Texts)
Vidyadhara-Guru-Sadhana, 'Big Rigdzin', Monday Shamatha-Meditation
every Sunday, Fullmoon, Padmasambhava-Day Contact
Contact Michael Hakel
Ralf Bartholomäus [email protected]
phone ++ 49 (0) 177-337 58 04
[email protected]
Oldenburg
Frankfurt Place
Place Tubten Ga Tsal Padma Ling
Heike Gregory Gasland 76
Frankenallee 121 D-26203 Littel
D-60326 Frankfurt Practice
Practice every Sunday 8 pm
Vidyadhara-Guru-Sadhana, 'Big Rigdzin', Chenresig-Puja or Small Padmasambhava-Puja
small Mandarava-Puja and Contact
small Padmasambhava-Puja Doris and Hans Driebold
Contact phone ++ 49 (0) 4407-58 57
Heike Gregory
[email protected] Ravensburg
Place
Hamburg Baindter Str.27
Place D-88339 Bad Waldsee
Place of Practice is changing, Practice
please check in advance. every Tuesday 7.15 pm
Practice Vidyadhara-Guru-Sadhana,
Vidyadhara-Guru-Sadhana 'Big Rigdzin' 'Big Rigdzin' and Chöd
and big Dorje Drollo Contact
Contact Eva and Helmut Köckenberger
Frauke Blohm phone ++ 49 (0) 7524-34 31
phone ++ 49 (0) 40-530 55 937 [email protected]
[email protected]
Tübingen
Hanau Place
Place Siglinde Schauer
Sugandha Sibakoti Ruth-Marx-Straße 4
Otto-Wels-Str. 3 D-Tübingen
D-63452 Hanau Practice
Practice small Padmasambhava-Puja
every Tuesday 7 pm Contact
small Rigdzin-Puja Anke Thomas
study of Vidyadhara-Guru-Sadhana phone ++ 49 (0) 7071-45459
Contact [email protected]
Sugandha Sibakoti or Stephan Jäger
Otto-Wels-Str. 3 phone ++ 49 (0) 7071-26113
D-63452 Hanau [email protected]
phone ++ 49 (0) 6181-180 40 65

We would appreciate, if you send details concerning your own practice-groups to complete the list.
 Please copy and mail or fax to the Managing Committee

I want to actively support the Khordong-Association of Germany (Khordong-Verein) and hereby apply
for membership. As a member of the association I will get sent all programmes to events and the latest
information about the activities of the Sangha of Chhimed Rigdzin Rinpoche.
I can terminate my membership in the association at any time by written notice.

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1. Chairman: Andreas Ruft, Oppelner Straße 28, 10997 Berlin, phone: ++49-30-28 33 276, email:
[email protected] /// 2.Chairman: Anne Wanitschek, Hagenauer Straße 13, 10435 Berlin, phone
++49-30-44 03 27 72, email: [email protected] /// treasurer: Wolfgang Zimmerman,
Taborstraße 5, 10997 Berlin, phone.: ++49-618 63 93, email: [email protected]
 Khordong e.v.
The Khordong e.V. is registered
and has its seat in Tübingen.
The charity was recognized for
–support of religious purpose-
with notification from 09.02.1999.

The commitee
chairman Andreas Ruft
Oppelner Str. 28
10997 Berlin
phone ++49 (0)30 283 32 76
email [email protected]

2nd chairman Anne Wanitschek

Hagenauer Str. 13
10435 Berlin
phone ++49 (0)30 44032772
email [email protected]

treasurer Wolfgang Zimmermann

Taborstr. 5
10997 Berlin
phone ++49 (0)30 618 63 93
email [email protected]

Cash auditor Norbert Ohl

Account
Deutsche Bank
BLZ 10070024
324 755 800 spiritual field
324 755 801 donations for Poland
324 755 802 edition

Tax number: 86166 / 61107

Last notice of non-liability for tax
from 29.06.2004Our Teacher Khordong Terchen Tulku
Chhimed Rigdzin Rinpoche