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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Late one evening, in the old stone building in Lerab Ling that had been transformed, almost magically, into a Tibetan shrine, Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche gave Rigpa students some advice about how to perform ceremonies. He felt compelled to do this after he witnessed, towards the end of a drupchen, one of the nuns spilling a cup of hot tea all over Sogyal Rinpoche, in full ceremonial regalia. Sadly, none of the translators that day could satisfy Rinpoche, so this is one of the very rare talks Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche has given in English “…because it’s not a teaching, it’s not about Dharma, it’s just about Tibetan traditions” – and the importance of making haste slowly.

Rinpoche was in Paris, his favourite city, with nothing to do for a few days, when suddenly he announced he wanted to take the train to Antwerp. Once we’d arrived in Antwerp he told us he wanted to visit Amsterdam the following day, to take up an invitation from his old friend Ane Jinba, to visit the famous flower market and maybe also drop in on the Rigpa Amsterdam centre.

For the last practice on a pilgrimage that had taken us to Bodhgaya, Sarnath, Kushinagar, and finally Shravasti, we gathered on a lawn behind the ruins of the house where Buddha Shakyamuni had spent many rainy seasons. We wanted to offer a Yumkha Dechen Gyalmo tsok, but first had to hire some locals to make sure the monkeys didn’t make a mess of the offerings we’d arranged so beautifully! When we came to the accumulation of the dakini tsok prayer called Turning Back the Summon of the Dakinis, Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche gave us some advice about how best to direct our minds as we recited the prayer. And once again, he stressed that ordinary people like us who have no realization, must rely on the power of deity, mantra, mudra and samadhi.

During drupchens, it’s Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche’s habit to give one teaching every day. He always follows the customary instructions for conducting drupchens, and usually addresses specific topics that will help participants practise as meaningful as possible. Sometimes, though, he steps back from the details to look at the bigger picture.

In a house opposite Shechen Monastery in Bauda, Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche and his wife were sleeping peacefully when an emissary from Rigpa arrived to ask questions about how to do a ‘one hundred thousand tsok offering’. Rinpoche sat up instantly, wrapped himself in his bedclothes to keep warm, and began to speak... This short teaching was originally translated by Matthieu Ricard, but unfortunately the recording has been misplaced.

Would you tell us a bit about Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse?

‘Dzongsar’ is the name of a Sakyapa monastery in Kham, and ‘Khyentse’ was a monk at this monastery who became a lama. For generations, members of his family had been monks and they all lived in the monks’ quarters at Dzongsar Monastery.

Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche gave this teaching on the morning of 24 September 2014, at the end of the annual Chime Phakma Nyingtik drupchen in Lerab Ling. It belongs to a series of teachings Rinpoche has been giving about how best to preserve and spread the Buddhadharma, and echos the 1 August 1999 teaching he gave, also in Lerab Ling. On this occasion, Rinpoche explains why it is so important to keep detailed records of everything that happens here at Lerab Ling, and in all Dharma centres.

Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche has an indefatigable interest in all things Dharma, especially anything to do with the Nyingmapas. And amongst the vast body of teachings called the Ngagyur Nyingma, the fabulous tales and wisdom associated with the myth of the great warrior Gesar strike a special chord for him.

During the latter part of 2014, Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche organized drupchens in both Lerab Ling and Bir before making his way to Bodhgaya in December. Quite by chance, under the Bodhi Tree he bumped into two students who had attended the drupchens. Eager not waste such a precious opportunity, they quickly asked Rinpoche to grant them the lung (reading transmission) for the Manjushri Nama Samghiti (The Tantra of the Names of Manjushri). A reasonable, even an auspicious request, you might think. But no. For those with the merit to find themselves under the great Bodhi Tree, said Rinpoche, to ask for a lung is rather missing the point…

Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche’s Trip to Israel, 19-25 July 2011

Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche has always been fascinated by history, especially the history of religion. So, from the moment he heard about Jerusalem and how sacred it is to three of the world’s most widespread religions, he wanted to go there. When he casually mentioned his longing to see the Holy City to some Israeli Rigpa students, they immediately organized a visit, and in July 2011 Rinpoche arrived in Jerusalem.