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Rinchen Terdzo Empowerments to be conferred upon the Sakyong

Sep 15, 2008

The Sakyong will travel to Orissa, India, to receive the Rinchen Terdzo empowerments and instructions from His Eminence Namkha Drimed Rinpoche. The empowerment, being offered at the request of the Sakyong, will take place in the new Ripa monastery "Rigon Thupten Mindrolling" starting 5 December 2008 and last some two and a half months. The Rinchen Terdzo is a unique part of our lineage and is regularly bestowed by masters of both the Nyingma and the Kagyu schools. This is only the second time his His Eminence has given this sacred transmission which he received from the Vidyadhara Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche. The Vidyadhara regarded the Rinchen Terdzo as being "of utmost importance."

This is the first in a series of bulletins about the Rinchen Terdzo, its history and tertons. Everyone is welcome to participate during this time, either partially or completely. More details about the Rinchen Terdzo and its sponsorship, dates and how to participate will be presented over the coming weeks.

The Rinchen Terdzo is an 111-volume collection of termas and pure visions first collected by Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye (1813 - 1899). The collection contains over a thousand abhishekas as well as instructions in mahayoga, anu and ati, the essence of the Nyingma tradition. The Vidyadhara's root guru, Jamgon Kongtrul of Sechen received it from the tenth Trungpa.

The Vidyadhara bestowed the Rinchen Terdzo twice in his life. He bestowed the empowerment on Namkha Drimed Rinpoche at Yag Gompa in Tibet. At that time Trungpa Rinpoche was nineteen years old, and he bestowed the empowerments with such speed and intensity that the attendants were forced to work in shifts in order not to collapse.

The first time the Vidyadhara bestowed the Rinchen Terdzo he was fourteen years old. Karma Senge Rinpoche remarked that, to Tibetans, the ability to bestow so many abhishekas and instructions at such a young age made Trungpa Rinpoche particularly remarkable.

With the start of the ceremonies in early December there will be a regular bulletins about the empowerments given, along with descriptions of the teachers and lineages featured whenever possible. It is the Sakyong's wish that we begin to learn in more detail about the teachings we have inherited. He is particularly happy that this empowerment can happen in this context, and regards it is as especially fortunate that he can receive the Rinchen Terdzo directly from Namkha Drimed Rinpoche whose transmission was conferred by the Vidyadhara.

(This announcement was from the Shambhala News Service)