Ven. Gyaltrul Rinpoche

What is “Refuge?” from a commentary by Venerable Gyaltrul Rinpoche

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The following is an excerpt from Great Perfection Buddha in the Palm of the Hand a commentary by Gyaltrul Rinpoche:

The reason for taking refuge is based on the awareness of the precious human rebirth, on the awareness that, having attained the precious human rebirth, to waste it will be just like returning empty-handed from a land of precious jewels. Keeping that in mind, you must recognize that you need some kind of guide, some kind of help, someone or something that will teach you, show you, how to make use of your precious opportunity. This someone or something is the three jewels of refuge.

As I have mentioned, one should not take refuge in or rely upon the external form, the body of the lama or the actual presence of the Buddha. If that were important, then we would all be in trouble because the Buddha is long gone now and the lama will also pass. Even though the Buddha and all the great teachers of the past are no longer in this world, there are still buddhists. Buddhism lives on because refuge isn’t taken in the body, the form, of a teacher; it’s taken in the qualities that are actualized in that particular embodiment.

The enlightened body has specific attributes, indicated by specific physical characteristics. You must learn what those attributes are. There are many different teachings on the subject of the enlightened body.  For example, the fact that a buddha or a deity has one face symbolizes the dharmakaya, the great bindhu that is the one nature of reality, or truth. Two arms symbolize method and wisdom in non-dual union. When you take refuge in the sangha you take refuge in the qualities the sangha represents, not the bodies of the sangha members. When you take refuge in the dharma you aren’t taking refuge in the paper and ink, in the pages that the dharma is written on; you’re taking refuge in what the words express, in the quality and essence of the teaching. Whatever your dharma practice may  be, on whatever level, it is in the meaning of the dharma that you take refuge.

If you intend to study with a spiritual teacher, that teacher should be an embodiment of the qualities of the three jewels of refuge, and you should know what those qualities are. If you take refuge in an ordinary person who lacks a higher level of realization, who, in his ignorance, mixes traditions to create something new — maybe mixing hinduism and buddhism, throwing in a little christianity or taoism, making a little garbage container — then you will find yourself in trouble. It won’t be beneficial to you; it will harm you and everyone else involved. And you shouldn’t become such a teacher, because you won’t be a suitable object of refuge. If you are not a lama, a qualified spiritual teacher, then you are sangha. Since the sangha is one of the three jewels, it is important that you also be clean and pure.

Prayers for Venerable Gyaltrul Rinpoche

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We received the following communication from the sangha of Venerable Gyaltrul Rinpoche, one of Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo’s root teachers. At Jetsunma’s request we are sharing this information with you:

Dear Students and Friends of Ven. Gyatrul Rinpoche,

While Ven. Yangthang Rinpoche was at ODD, he was consulted about what practices would be best to enhance and extend Ven. Gyatrul Rinpoche’s life and general state of health. He indicated that if 10 million Vajrakilaya mantras were accumulated in the next year that that effort may have a significant effect on Rinpoche’s life span, removing obstacles to his health and well-being. Surely this is an outcome we all wish for and here is a proposed method that we can contribute to and help make it happen.

While 10 million seems like a big number, if at least 40 people can accomplish 1000 mantras per day that would yield more than 25,000 per month, per person…or 1,000,000 per month for the group….and then in 10 months, 10 million can be accomplished. If one uses the short Dudjom Tersar daily practice of Vajrakilaya accumulation of 1000 mantras may require just 20-30 minutes per day. So consider that! But you can also do more or less according to your time.

Additionally, our sanghas can gather as a group at the centers, and prayers will be requested from monks & nuns in monasteries in Tibet, Nepal & India. But if we, the students, can collectively accomplish this, then we can be certain that we have fulfilled Yangthang Rinpoche’s guidance and anything more will serve to bolster our accumulation.

Gyatrul Rinpoche gave this outreach effort his support as it will involve many of the sangha and will help him as well as remove obstacles to all of our lives and practice. He said “Excellent. Go for it. This clears everyones obstacles–it’s a collective karma anyway, so go ahead and begin”.

Please reply to this email indicating what you can commit to accomplishing. If many of us can do 1000 per day that would result in a minimum of 25,000 per month. If you feel like you can do more, that is also fine, and of course, if you prefer to commit to a lower number, that is fine as well. Once a month we will send a reminder email out to which you can send in your monthly totals so we can keep track and keep you posted.

Please feel free to forward to other practitioners.

Orgyen Dorje Den

2244 Santa Clara Ave

Alameda, CA 94501

Email: [email protected]

For those who do not have the Vajrakilaya Empowerment but wish to offer prayers in support of the long life of Gyaltrul Rinpoche, Jetsunma has said the 7 Line Prayer may be accumulated. You may also see the Long Life Prayer for Gyaltrul Rinpoche.

Vidyadhara Kunzang Sherab

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The First Throne Holder
Vidhyadhara Kunzang Sherab
(1636 – 1699)

Kunzang Sherab was born in the province of Do-Kham in the region of Bubor on the eleventh rabjung year of the Fire Rat (1636 A.D.). He showed great capacity of compassion as a small child and would not cause harm to even the smallest creature under any circumstances. His connection to Dharma was so strong that he could memorize a great score of prayers at a tender age. With enthusiastic effort, he applied himself diligently in his practice and in the process actualized realization of the instruction he received and showed signs of accomplishment in his practice.

A new monastery was built by King Lhachen Jampa Phuntsog (King of Dege Kingdom) and Trichen Sangye Tanpa near the ruins of a previously existing monastery. They invited Kunzang Sherab to serve as the Head of the new Palyul Monastery and later it was named Palyul Namgyal Chanchub Chöling. Encouraged by his guru, Terton Migyur Dorje to fulfill prophecies by Guru Padmasambhava, Kunzang Sherab, at the age of thirty, assumed the position as Head of the Palyul Monastery on the eleventh rabjung year of the Wood Snake (1665 A.D.).

Through skilful means and compassion, he guided many sentient beings towards the path of Dharma and nurtured a great number of disciples who displayed signs of success in their practices. Several even attained the rainbow body.

On the fifth day of the first month of the year of Earth Rabbit (1699 A.D.), Kunzang Sherab dissolved his body into the pure realm of ultimate truth at the age of sixty-four. Although it was the coldest month of the year at the time of his passing, the weather suddenly became very warm and spring-like. Shoots sprouted and buds flowered out of season. When his disciples and monks from the monastery performed offering prayers in his honor, many experienced an extended period of clear light awareness. During the subsequent cremation ceremony, clouds of auspicious signs and rainbows filled the sky. The bone relics at the completion of the cremation included the skull embossed with the syllable AH. These relics together with the Longsal Terma of Avalokiteshvara were placed inside a Stupa erected in honor of the Great Vidhyadhara.

Reference:  Pathgate Institute of Buddhist Studies

Kunzang Sherab’s current incarnation is Ven. Gyaltrul Rinpoche.

Genyenma Ahkön Lhamo, sister of Kunzang Sherab, while not a throne-holder, was a great practitioner, who accomplished her practice to completion. She was instrumental in helping her brother stabilize the Palyul Lineage. She was also a heart student of Terton Migyur Dorje and it is said that there were so many nuns who followed her that the hills of that region still bear the name of “Drongmar Teng” (the red knoll village). At the time of her death her entire kapala (skull) flew out of the funeral pyre and landed on the seat of the throne of Kunzang Sherab. Emblazoned in the kapala were the Tibetan symbols of the sublime original nature – and there was an “AH” at the very crown. This kapala was kept in the monastery and used during special ceremonies, like Drubchen, by the successive throne holders. It was considered one of the most sacred relics. While still in Tibet, H.H. Penor Rinpoche used to meditate on the kapala, making prayers to meet this Dakini if she were in the world today. He later found her in America. A piece of this skull relic resides at KPC, a gift of H.H. Penor Rinpoche to Jetsunma Ahkön Lhamo, who His Holiness recognized, and enthroned as a Palyul Lineage holder, as the reincarnation of Genyenma Ahkön Lhamo.

Long Life Prayer for Ven. Gyatrul Rinpoche

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NGE PA DÖN GYI LUNG TOG TEN PA’I SOG

Ngedön Chökyi Nyima, you are the life of the teachings of scripture and realization,

SANG CHEN CHÖ KYI NYI MA’I ÖD ZER GYI

You are the sun’s radiance of the great secret Dharma.

DRO WA’I YID KYI MÜN PA RAB SEL WA

Clarifier of the darkness in the minds of sentient beings,

NA TSHOG RANG DRÖL ZHAB LA SÖL WA DEB

At the feet of Na-tsog Rang Drol I pray.

GANG GI NAM PAR THAR PA’I JE ZHUG TE

Fully Liberating whosoever follows you,

DRO PHEN TRIN LE DRUB LA NYER TSÖN PA

Particularly diligent in accomplishing miraculous activities that benefit all beings.

TSHÜNG ME SHED DRUB TEN PA’I GYAL TSEN GYI

Unequaled, you are the victory banner showing explanations for accomplishing the practice.

ZHAB PED TEN CHING DZED TRIN THAR JIN SHOG

Planting your lotus feet firmly, please complete your miraculous activity!

Composed by Thinley Norbu Rinpoche

Meal Blessing

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SHORT CHENREZIG MEAL BLESSING

THE BLESSING:

Visualize that the offerings are purified and increase.

OM AH HUNG

THE OFFERING PRAYER:

Remembering the Three Jewels, take refuge and offer the food visualized as a vast display.

TÖN PA LA MED SANGYE RINPOCHE

To the unsurpassed teacher, the precious Buddha,

KYOB PA LA MED DAM CHÖ RINPOCHE

To the unsurpassed refuge, the precious holy Dharma,

DREN PA LA MED GEN DÜN RINPOCHE

To the unsurpassed guide, the precious Sangha,

KYAB NE KÖN CHOG SUM LA CHÖD PA BÜL

This offering is made to the three supreme and rare Jewels of Refuge.

THE PRACTICE:

Visualize oneself as the Buddha of Compassion, Avalokiteshvara, white in color, with one face and four arms.  Two palms are pressed together at the heart and the outer two hands are holding a crystal mala in the right and a lotus in the left.  Adorned with jewels and silks, you are seated in the full lotus posture upon a lotus and moon seat.

JOWO KYÖN GYI MA GÖ KU DOG KAR

To the unstained Lord, whose body is white in color,

DZOG SANGYE KYI U LA GYEN

Whose head is adorned with a perfect Buddha,

THUG JE’I CHEN GYI DRO LA ZIG

Who views living beings with the eyes of compassion,

CHENREZIG LA SÖL WA DEB

To Avalokiteshvara I pray.

THE MANTRA RECITATION:

Recite the Mani Mantra as many times as possible.

OM MANI PEDME HUNG

While reciting the mantra, recall all sentient beings, who have passed away, especially those who lost their lives in the preparation of the meal, and generate compassion for them.  Expand your awareness to include even the insects that were harmed in the course of raising, transporting or cooking the vegetables and grains.  If one has received the empowerment of Avalokiteshvara, by this prayer and recitation one will maintain the samaya commitment.

THE DEDICATION:

Meditate that all beings attain the state of liberation through this prayer.

GEWA DI YI NYUR DU DAG

By the virtue of this practice, myself

CHENREZIG WANG DRUB GYUR NE

Accomplishing swiftly Lord Avalokiteshvara,

DRO WA CHIG KYANG MA LÜ PA

May all beings without exception

DE YI SA LA GÖD PAR SHOG

Be liberated to his level!

This concise food blessing was composed of various traditional Tibetan Buddhist prayers by the Venerable Gyaltrul Rinpoche for his students.  May it be of benefit.

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