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.

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.

In October 2020, at the end of the Nyaluk Phurba drupchen that he holds every year at Tsering Jong, his home in Bir, Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche thanked his monks and explained to them why he does so many drupchens. Anyone connected with this tradition would probably like to hear, or read, his explanations.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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’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.