During the drupchen of Kurukulla at the Dharma Mati centre in Berlin, in October 2024, Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche was in an unusually reflective and talkative mood, pausing the practice almost every day to share teachings and instructions, as well as general advice and observations. What follows below are his reflections on his own life’s mission, the importance of drupchens, and the topic of ageing. This latter reflection was especially notable as it was the first time many of us heard Rinpoche talk about this subject, which is rarely discussed in the teachings. And, of course, he approached it in his own inimitable way—both frank and forthright, and deeply wise and insightful.

On 30 December 2019, Rinpoche took his monks on the one hour journey from Bodhgaya to the Cool Grove Charnel Ground. First Rinpoche explained to them why charnel grounds are so important for tantric practitioners. Then he spoke about the Cool Grove Charnel Ground. He explained why we know there is no doubt that that place is the original charnel ground where the great vidyadharas of the past practised. He also spoke about its special connection with Mahasiddha Shavaripa.

In August 2013, Rinpoche explained the drupchen section of the Lamrim Yeshe Nyingpo. He spoke briefly about the background of drupchen practice. He also clarified the unique features that sets it apart from other practices, including drupchö practice, by presenting the steps the first day of a drupchen that sets the framework for its unique power.

Rinpoche taught on the famous prayer to Guru Rinpoche called Barché Lamsel, The Prayer Which Removes All Obstacles from the Path, at the request of Rigpa London. He taught in two sessions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon of October 1^st, 2023.

On 29 December 2020, Rinpoche took his monks from Bodhgaya to nearby Cock’s Foot Peak. There, he explained its background for – as he says at the end of the teaching, when advising on the proper attitude pilgrims should adopt – to make the most of a pilgrimage, it is important to be aware of the significance of the sacred place we practise at.

After his last teaching on Lamrim Yeshe Nyingpo, Rinpoche gave a concise presentation of the Nyingtik Yabshi. Yangthang Rinpoche was coming to Lerab Ling to give the Nyingtik initiations, so Sogyal Rinpoche was keen that his students understood better what they were about to receive.

During a short visit to the Netherlands, Rinpoche was invited to teach one evening on the Vajrayana tradition, specifically—what are the unique qualities of this path? how does it relate to the other Buddhist vehicles? and who is it intended for? This is an edited transcript of what he said that evening.

At the end of his stay at Dharma Mati, Berlin, OT Rinpoche shared the following parting advice, inspired by his earlier visit to the glittering KaDeWe department store in the centre of town. OT Rinpoche recalled something that Dzongsar Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö had written in his diary about the time he recited the tsok prayer while circumambulating the Golden Temple in Amritsar, one of the many stops on his pilgrimage of India.

While visiting the Sukhavati care centre in Germany, Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche presented extensive teachings on the practice of phowa according to the Longchen Nyingtik tradition, drawing upon the root terma text itself, as well as supporting texts by Jigme Lingpa and Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo. The result is a complete introduction and step by step guidance in the practice which will be an invaluable support to all aspiring practitioners.

The teaching that follows took place during a pilgrimage of the sacred Buddhist sites in India, at the point when the group had just reached Kushinagar, the place of Buddha’s parinirvana. Inspired by the immense significance of this place, Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche abandoned his usual reserve and spoke openly about the Dzogchen teachings, in particular the state of final fruition that is possible through this very special path.

During his week-long visit to Sukhavati care centre in the summer of 2018, Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche was requested to speak about the bardos (transitional states) which are a unique feature of the Tibetan Buddhist teachings. The explanation that he shared was interspersed with instructions on the practice of Sur (burnt offering), which is particularly directed towards bardo beings. The actual Sur practice that Rinpoche makes reference to is that of Jigme Lingpa’s ‘White Sur Offering that Pervades all the Buddhafields’, which appears in quotes. Within the talk, Rinpoche raised some particularly interesting points that we can all benefit from.

Seeing hundreds of westerners clapping their hands every day during the averting practice known as dokpa, while performing a Netik Phurba Drupchen in Lerab Ling, Rinpoche, always attentive that practices are accomplished properly, thought it could be useful to explain why dokpa practice involves hand clapping, and what we should meditate on at that time.

Despite the pandemic and all its restrictions, Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche and his monks were able to successfully hold a series of drupchens at the holy sites of India towards the end of 2021. Continuing this ‘winning streak’, Rinpoche then brought a large contingent of lamas and monks from Chokling Monastery to Sri Lanka, to hold a drupchen of Tukdrup Barche Kunsel at the sacred mountain of Sri Pada (Adams Peak). A number of foreign students were also able to travel to Sri Lanka to join the drupchen and for their benefit, Rinpoche shared these introductory words about the history of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, and about the special significance of Sri Pada for the different Buddhist traditions.

The Nyaluk Phurba is a treasure teaching revealed by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. Each year Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche practice the drupchen of this terma with his monks at his monastery, in Bir, India. During the drupchen, Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche paused to share with his monks an explanation of the Dzogchen instruction from Guru Rinpoche that appears in the Nyaluk Phurba terma—something he had never done before. Fortunately, this special happening was recorded and is shared with you here.

At the end of a Vajrakilaya drupchen at Tsering Jong, in Bir, in which the practitioners combined three Vajrakilaya practices as Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche explains in this teaching, Rinpoche gave the traditional talk before the Marmé Mönlam, the light offering aspiration that concludes a drupchen. In his speech Rinpoche reminds the attendance of the extraordinary power what they have just done, and inspire them to dedicate the merit by indicating aspirations to make at this point. Since the same principles apply at the end of every drupchen, before the Marmé Mönlam, Rinpoche wished that we share these few words.