Twenty First Parinirvana of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche

The twenty-first anniversary of the parinirvana of the Vidyadhara, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche was marked by worldwide practice events. At New Treasures Monastery (Rigon Tashi Choeling) near Pharping, Nepal a full day of practice was led by the Sakyong, Jamgön Mipham Rinpoche, and His Eminence Namkha Drimed Rinpoche.

Khandro Tseyang and other members of the Ripa family as well as scores of monks from the monastery took part in an extensive Vajrasattva practice and feast, while members of the Shambhala community practiced the “Rain of Blessings” (Padmasambhava practice) under the guidance of the Sakyong. The Vidyadhara is widely regarded as the second Padmasambhava, overcoming the obstacles to planting the dharma in the West.

At the conclusion of the practice, the skies filled with deafening thunderclaps and unleashed a rain of hail. His Eminence said the thunder was an auspicious sign of the increasing propagation of Shambhala vision.

Clearly moved, His Eminence said that he considered Chögyam Trungpa to be his teacher, from whom he received more empowerments than any other teacher. He told the assembly that Shambhala “must not be taken lightly”, and that he had been praying earnestly for the realization of Shambhala vision. His Eminence, widely revered for his divinations, said the storm was a sign that his prayers for the propagation of Shambhala vision were being answered in the Sakyong’s reign, as both sovereign and teacher.

Photos and Video from Pharpang

The parinirvana of the Vidyadhara Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche was observed worldwide by the Shambhala mandala, including at the Ripa lineage monastery Rigon Tashi Choeling near Pharping, Nepal. The full day of practice was led by His Eminence Tertön Namkha Drimed Rabjam Rinpoche and the Sakyong, Jamgön Mipham Rinpoche.

This photograph of the Vidyadhara from his early days is displayed in one of the inner shine rooms at Rigon Tashi Choeling. In the course of the day’s practice, His Eminence talked about his close personal connection with the Vidyadhara and said he was “his teacher.”

On this occasion of honouring the Vidyadhara, the practices included extensive Padmasambhava and Vajrasattva prayers for dispelling obstacles. While the monastery chanted and made offerings in Tibetan, the Sakyong’s attendants and staff did the Rain of Blessings feast practice in English under his guidance.

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