Live Story from my Spiritual Friend: The Power of Devotion in Tibetan Buddhism

posted by sonam yeshi

This is one of inspirational live story orally shared by my Spiritual Friend to me. It is about a well known Tibetan Master at Chumar, Qinghai, Bigar Rinpoche (the name is based on spoken sound). i had heard of a few live stories of this revered Tulku, a wondering Tibetan Master difficult to be located of his whereabout.
Past few months ago (in year 2012), he had a Buddhist Puja conducted in Chumar, Qinghai. Before he started the ceremony, he requested all attended devottees who were cigaratte smokers to give up smoking - on the spot this Bodhisattva said if they did not do so, he would passed away! Thus many smokers agreed, but there were a few reluctant or unable to make such a determined resolution on the spot. Thus this Tibetan Master immediately requested them to leave this Teaching & Buddhist prayer He was presiding. Finally, these few also agreed to follow this instruction of giving up smoking.

Personally, i was very touched by this Tibetan Master, Bigar Rinpoche - someone who could challenge his life in order to save people who has connections with Him.

Curiously, i asked Kunde Rinpoche that why this Rinpoche was exchanging his own life for those connected to give up this difficult habit? Kunde Rinpoche reminded that 'smoking' is regarded a great obstacle towards liberation, because the toxins from the cigarettes would 'choke'/'obstruct' the main energy channels of human beings.
Even one do not believe in the scriptural explaination, it is common knowledge that medically smoking is bad for human lungs and personal health. This live story reflects the power of devotion in Tibetan Buddhism - even this modern age still existing!

Wishing All A Happy New Year 新年安康，吉祥如意
May All Beings be Well & Happy
Tashi Delek

与善知识对话(3):生与死之迷 [Dialogue with my Spiritual Friend (3):Myth of Life & Death]

posted by sonam yeshi

与善知识对话 (3)： 生与死之迷

(贡德仁波切上师言教)

因缘：2013年2月1日. 将近华人农历新年， 有一位佛友的一位兄长往生。此佛友曾为亲友对佛法僧行佈施，接下佛缘。有人说：‘华人新年就到来，许多人避忌白事而缺席…‘.

弟子问上师：不知上师对此习俗有何教导？

贡德仁波切：在藏传佛教里，一个人往生是‘吉祥事情', 因为此时（中阴界）是解脱六道轮回之时（因缘具足），亲友都会前来参与超度仪轨。反之，参加喜宴是尽量避忌，因为此后是轮回的再轮转！

弟子：谢谢上师三日来为佛友之兄诵经文及观持頗瓦作超度仪轨， 并于火化葬礼里及翌日以佛教仪轨为往者及亲人结佛缘，给予佛友及至亲们心灵开导，以及佛法之甘露解开一些生与死之迷， 阿弥陀佛！

注: ()之文字纯属笔者个人注入以求了义更清晰。

 【translation】

Dialogue with my Spiritual Friend (3):Myth of Life & Death

(Oral Teachings from Kunde Rinpoche)

Preamble: on 1^st Feb. 2013, the day closing to the Lunar New Year, a Buddhist friend’s brother passed away. This friend had been making connections for her closed relatives with the Guru and the Three Jewels by generously supported the dharma works. Someone said that ‘the Chinese New Year is around the corner, thus many people avoid this nature of taboo event…’

Thus this student requested to her Buddhist Master:

Student: Kunde Rinpoche la, this is the cultural belief on death during festive season, may you enlighten us?

Kunde Rinpoche: In Tibetan Buddhism, a person passed away was regarded as ‘blessed’, because the Bardo Teaching considered this state (Intermediate) is possible to liberate from the Six Realms of Samsara Existence (with auspicious connected conditions),relatives & friends would attend the special liberation prayer ceremony. Contrary, attending wedding gathering is more hesitated for them, it is because the event reflects the beginning of Samsara existence!

Student: Thank You to Master having performed the Buddhist prayers & Phowa for the deceased during these three days, thus making connection for the departed & his relatives, giving this friend & relatives peace of mind teachings & the Dharma dews that answered the myths of Life & Death, Amitabha!

p.s.: wordings in () are meant to clarify the meaning of the spoken words.

Thus have i heard...

(any errors or mistakes herein are not intentional by the translator and its transliteration, please notify the writer)

Live Story from the Oral tradition (6) - H.E. the 7th Dzogchen Rinpoche (Jigme Losel Wangpo)

Live Story from the Oral Tradition (6) – H.E. the 7^th Dzogchen Rinpoche (Jigme Losel Wangpo)

The below verse was extracted from verse 2, Prologue, A Garland of Flowers: Questions and Answers on the Highly Secret Clear Light Great Perfection, page 10

" Jigme Losel Wangpo! You are the great practitioner of the Great Perfection,

The victorious state of the teaching of the Land of Snow,
Having actualized the state of fearlessness
Remaining without separation from us—the host of students—
And by turning our fresh intelligence into the fold of the Dharma." - (Extracted from: Prologue,vers.2, p.10)

Chat with H.E. Kunde Rinpoche (herein address as Tulku) in August 2011.
Q= sonam yeshi, A=Kunde Rinpoche, HH = the 7^th Dzogchen Rinpoche, Bracket ( ) - notes added for clarity, [ ] - expression

Q: Tulku, you have visited Dzogchen Monastery in India regularly and mentioned the 7^th Dzogchen Rinpoche often (Jigme Losel Wangpo), and he had verbally consented to  publishing your manuscript translated from Tibetan to English as there was concerned that this manuscript if published and circulated may subject to misuse of the teachings by wrongful intention in individual’s mind.
A: Yes, He is one of the living holders of Dzogchen practice in the Dzogchen lineage (Great Perfection) besides Kyabje Pema Kalsang Rinpoche (Dzogchen Shriseng Monastery). (Please refer Prologue, vers.1-3, p.10).

Q: Tulku, could you narrate a little how special on the biography of HH in this life?
A: He was born to a special family, his brother is Kyabje Soygal Rinpoche (the author of The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying), and his aunty is Khandro Tsering Chodon, the spiritual wife of Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Lodro (1896-1959)**.

Note:** the most outstanding Tibetan master of the last century who was the heart of ‘non-partisan’ movement in Tibetan Buddhism.

Q: Briefly his biography in the lineage reincarnation most outstanding historically?
A: The 1^stDzogchen Rinpoche & the 5th Dzogchen Rinpoche were most well known historically.  The 5^th Dzogchen Rinpoche had written many Tibetan Buddhism teachings, He also predicted the present Dzogchen Shriseng Monastery in geographical location symbolized the Wisdom Sword of Buddha Manjushri (the manifestation of Wisdom of the Buddha). And during his time, Patrul Rinpoche was writing one of the Tibetan Buddhism Classics ‘The Words of My Perfect Teacher ‘(kunzang lama’I shelung), He knew Patrul Rinpoche did not had ‘writing tools’ within his mind, he sent a lama to provide that – such visionary knowledge and wisdom is beyond intellectual book learning!

Q: how true is HH prediction of this said Monastery?
A: Historically, past and present, many eminent Masters and Teachers in Tibetan Buddhism, especially in Dzogchen practice are Rinpoche, Lamas (students) undergone training and learning at Dzogchen Shriseng Monastery (Tibet).  Among them, His Holiness, Khenpo Jikme Phuntsok Rinpoche (法王吉美彭措), and of course HH Pema Kalsang Rinpoche, the great Tibetan Masters of Nyingma Tradition.

Q: could you narrate an example of HH this life that reflected his humanity?
A: HH is known for his charity works in this life, especially in education!  (for his spiritual endeavours, please visit: http://www.dzogchenmonastery.org.in)

Q: spiritually?
A: HH has recognized a number of lamas reincarnation. His spiritual attainment and transformation through lives cultivation is beyond our limited minds understanding!

Q: and in person as a human being?
A: HH is very humble, simple, and visionary. His spirituality only could be experienced by people who have met him, and practicing under him.

Q: Thank you very much, Tulku. For sharing this oral history of the 7^th Dzogchen Rinpoche and his relations with Dzogchen Shriseng Monastery in the past!
A: Tashi Delek
Thus have i heard... posted by sonam yeshi in 2011

(Note: Transcribed by Sonam Yeshi. Any mistakes herein were the ignorant of the translator and transcriber, kindly feedback and notify at sonamyeshi09@gmail.com - posted by Sonam Yeshi)