February 14-19, 2014
Jigme Rinpoche at CGF Ridgzin Ling
During a one-week Dudjom Vajrakilaya drubchod in Rigdzin Ling, Junction City, CA, Jigme Tromge Rinpoche will offer transmission of a rare extensive commentary written by Khenpo Ahchö, who attained rainbow body in 1998.
BACKGROUND: In 1956 His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche was bestowing the Rinchen Terzod at Samye Monastery in Tibet to a mass gathering of Sangha. His Eminence Chagdud Rinpoche, who was on a personal pilgrimage, happened to arrive at Samye just as His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche was beginning the transmission. During one of the breaks between the empowerment sessions, Chagdud Rinpoche approached H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche’s throne and offered him a long blue kathak. Upon being asked who he was, Chagdud Rinpoche explained he was Chagdud Tulku of Chagdud Gonpa, and also the son of Delog Dawa Drolma. H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche knew Dawa Drolma and he invited Chagdud Rinpoche to a meeting later that night, when he told Chagdud Rinpoche that there was a great yogi from Nyarong (eastern Tibet) in the vicinity. His Holiness requested that Rinpoche bring the yogi to Samye, which Rinpoche then did.
This yogi was Khenpo Ahchö, a very learned Khenpo who began his education first at Lumolab Monastery in Nyarong. From Lumolab Monastery, Khenpo Ahchö traveled to many other monasteries and completely mastered everything he studied. Eventually, he studied at Mindroling Monastery (Lumolab’s mother monastery) where he further deepened his understanding of the teachings. It was at Mindroling that Khenpo Ahchö met his teacher H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche.
When Khenpo Ahchö arrived at Samye, H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche was transmitting his own Vajrakilaya treasure to the Sangha gathered there. There were many high lamas from around Tibet present, but to their surprise, H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche made Khenpo Ahchö sit on the highest seat in the assembly. His Holiness then empowered Khenpo Ahchö as a principal lineage holder for the Dudjom Vajrakilaya, telling him to keep Vajrakilaya as his heart practice and to uphold this commitment for his life.
Khenpo Ahchö returned to Lumolab Monastery in Nyarong and entered into retreat for most of the rest of his life. While in retreat he wrote an extensive commentary on the Dudjom Vajrakilaya practice. At some point in 1998, Khenpo Ahchö asked his attendants to not disturb him for three days. The days passed, many rainbows were seen around the valley, and when his attendants eventually checked in his room, they found only his meditation coat sitting up on his cushion, and his fingernails — the Khenpo had attained rainbow body.
Some time before he passed, Khenpo Ahchö transmitted this commentary to his long-term student Khenpo Sherab. Jigme Tromge Rinpoche had long aspired to receive this transmission, and finally last summer in Tibet, his wish was fulfilled when he was able to connect with Khenpo Sherab, who kindly bestowed the transmission upon Jigme Rinpoche and a few others.
Jigme Tromge Rinpoche will now offer the transmission of this rare commentary for the first time in the West. Anyone with a genuine interest in the Dudjom Vajrakilaya cycle who would like to deepen their connection is welcome to join Rinpoche for this special retreat.
Please note that to receive the complete transmission of the commentary, full participation on ALL days of the retreat is required. However, drop-ins are allowed for anyone who still wishes to join the retreat part-time, with the understanding that they will not have received the transmission.
THIS EVENT WILL BE HELD AT CHAGDUD GONPA RIGDZIN LING, Junction City, California.
More information and registration:
http://chagdudgonpa.
To enquire about other details for the event, you can email sangha@chagdudgonpa.org or call 530.623.2714 ext. 126