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The Eight Close Sons

Lerab Ling, 12 May 2009

During a private interview in Lerab Ling, Rinpoche was asked about the eight great bodhisattvas who are also known as the ‘eight close sons’ of the Buddha.

Rinpoche who was in Paris on his way to India, was requested to go the Rigpa centre there to teach on the Tendrel Nyesel. Even though Rinpoche is not particularly familiar with this particular terma, he gave an extremely accessible teaching, essential for anyone who wishes to do this practice, even if for those who at the beginning of their exploration of the Vajrayana teachings.

How to meditate for a Sollo Chenmo practice

Courbevoie, France, 27 May 2009

Rinpoche recorded this explanation himself during a visit to Paris after Sogyal Rinpoche requested the teaching for a group of practitioners who had gathered in Lerab Ling.

Sollo Chenmo—An Introduction

Rigpa Centre, Berlin, 23 May 2009

In May 2009, Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche returned to Berlin. During his visit, Rinpoche was touched by the sheer number of people who died there in 1945, and felt it is important to practise for all the spirits of the departed that must still be there. Apart from elaborate sur practices, Rinpoche offered to come back with lamas and monks to do the most elaborate kind of Vajrayana practice in Berlin, a drupchen, which was made possible by the generous support of Sogyal Rinpoche and the Rigpa sangha in the unique Berlin Rigpa Centre. One morning, before doing Gesar practices, Rinpoche said these few words.

The Mudra of Confession

Lerab Ling, 21 July 2015

An hour after his customary daily “pep talk” during a Chime Phakmé Nyingtik drupchen, Rinpoche seized the opportunity to point out to all the practitioners gathered in Lerab Ling’s majestic temple – Palri Pema Ösel Dargyé Ling – just how important it is for Vajrayana practitioners to perform the mudra that accompanies the Inexpressible Ultimate Confession (Yeshe Kuchok).

Wangdu: The Prayer which Magnetizes All that Appears and All that Exists

Lerab Ling, 7 November 2013

One evening during a Padma Khandro drupchen in Lerab Ling, Rinpoche gave this rare and exceptional explanation of the Wangdu prayer, which, he told us, he had received from Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche more than fifty years before, but had never shared. Although he wasn’t feeling well, he said, “… I offered this explanation the moment I thought of giving it, because who knows how I’ll feel tomorrow? By then, I might not fancy the idea of sharing these very special instructions with anyone”

Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö

Bir, 2010

In The Life and Times of Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö, Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche describes how Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche burst into his house in Bir “like a whirlwind” and demanded to be told all the stories that Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche knew about Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö that very minute. Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche immediately settled himself in his big leather chair by the window and began to talk. In the end, after several such visits, Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche had recorded more than twelve hours of stories – many of us will have heard at least some of these stories before, but by no means all of them.

The Vajrayogini Mantra

Lerab Ling, 6 November 2012

First thing in the morning on the day we were to celebrate Buddha’s descent from Tushita heaven where he had been teaching his mother – Lha bab duchen in the Tibetan tradition – Rinpoche decided it was time he played his part in promoting women’s rights. The fact that it was election day in the US might also have had something to do with it. The sadhana called the Three Roots needs to be practised every day in this drupchen, because Padma Khandro from the Seven Cycles is only a branch practice of this sadhana, in other words Padma Khandro is only one deity of this Three Root mandala, and this mantra is part of the Three Root sadhana. So, for whatever reason, during the 6am session of the Seven Profound Cycles of Padma Khandro, Rinpoche offered this very short teaching about the Vajrayogini mantra.

Magnetizing Activity – What Is It? How To Practise It?

Lerab Ling, 29 July 2015

In this teaching, given at the beginning of the third Padma Khandro intensive group practice in Lerab Ling, Rinpoche explains where magnetizing activity fit within the Buddhist path, and shows its basic principles, and how to practise it. He stresses the importance of the view of interdependence and the motivation of bodhichitta for the practice to be effective. Once he was asked, “Rinpoche, should I do Kurukulla to get a job?” Rinpoche replied with his usual down-to-earth directness, “No, you need to do Kurukulla to get enlightened! To get a job, you need to go out there and apply.”

Wind Horse

Lerab Ling, 17 August 1997

Still on the hill that dominates Lerab Ling offering sang, Rinpoche continues his teaching. After presenting the main principles of sang, he now gives a concise and clear explanation of “wind horse”, or lungta in Tibetan.

Mipham Rinpoche’s Instruction for Raising Lungta Through The Outburst of ‘ki ki so so lha gyal lo’

Lerab Ling Hilltop, 30 July 2003

On a sunny summer morning in South France, faithful to a Lerab Ling tradition to offer an elaborate sang when the weather is clear, on top of the hill that overlooks the Pyrenees 300km south, Sogyal Rinpoche and the Rigpa sangha were joined by Chokling Rinpoche, Orgyen Tobgyal and their monks. They offered sang following the Chokling ‘sang ngen’ practice and the Riwo Sangchö. When it came to the latter, Sogyal Rinpoche asked Orgyen Tobgyal to say a few words about what to do when shouting “ki ki so so lha gyalo”, as is traditionally done on such occasion.

Sang Practice – Basic Principles

Lerab Ling, 17 August 1997

As was a custom in Lerab Ling, everyone would gather on the highest hill and offer sang. It was a glorious summer morning, and Rinpoche used the opportunity to present the main principles of sang to help Western practitioners connect with this Tibetan practice, before explaining about “wind horse”, or lungta.

Commentary on the Guhyajnana Sadhana ‘Fulfillment of All Wishes’

California, July 2002

During a visit to California in July 2002, Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche gave a short teaching on the sadhana of the Dakini Guhyajnana from the Treasure Vase of Profound Instructions. This sadhana, which is a terma revealed by Chokgyur Lingpa, is called Fulfillment of All Wishes. The teaching was translated orally by Erik Pema Kunsang who also translated the sadhana inserted here, and transcribed and edited by Steve Gamble, with help and advices from Michael Tweed.

About Longchen Nyingtik Ritual Tradition

Lerab Ling, 29 July 2015

During a Chime Phakme Nyingtik drupchen, Lerab Ling’s chant master, head chopon and few other enthusiastic practitioners took advantage of a pee-break to try to extract information from Rinpoche about the Longchen Nyingtik ritual tradition. Unusually, they made their request quite boldly, which may have been why, much to everyone’s surprise, the moment the break was over, Rinpoche launched into a detailed exposition of the history behind the tradition of practising the Longchen Nyingtik. And this is what he said.

How to Walk in the Footsteps of the Buddha

Shravasti, 20 March 2015

In March 2015, Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche went yet again on pilgrimage around some of the most important sacred sites of India; only this time as a facilitator for Sogyal Rinpoche and a group of Rigpa students.

It was a glorious morning and the last day of the pilgrimage, which we spent at the Anathapindika Grove, the very place where the Enlightened One spent the most time. So, of course, talking about the Dharma is considered to be especially auspicious, and Rinpoche did not miss the precious opportunity. There he tells with his usual directness what it means to actually practise, and how we must make sure we approach Dharma practice. A roving tour of the Dharma, past, present and future.

Sidebar

The Eight Close Sons

Tendrel Nyesel

How to meditate for a Sollo Chenmo practice

Sollo Chenmo—An Introduction

The Mudra of Confession

Wangdu: The Prayer which Magnetizes All that Appears and All that Exists

Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö

The Vajrayogini Mantra

Magnetizing Activity – What Is It? How To Practise It?

Wind Horse

Mipham Rinpoche’s Instruction for Raising Lungta Through The Outburst of ‘ki ki so so lha gyal lo’

Sang Practice – Basic Principles

Commentary on the Guhyajnana Sadhana ‘Fulfillment of All Wishes’

About Longchen Nyingtik Ritual Tradition

How to Walk in the Footsteps of the Buddha

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