We are delighted to announce that Tromge Jigme Rinpoche will continue the series of annual summer retreats covering all aspects of Vajrayana practice, including meditations, deity yoga sadhana, ritual arts and texts relevant to all nine yanas. These retreats are being offered under the auspices of Chagdud Gonpa Foundation, with the aspiration to enrich the sangha’s knowledge and application of the practices His Eminence Chagdud Rinpoche introduced to his students.
This year Tromge Jigme Rinpoche will offer teachings on the Chetzun Nyingthik by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo. Please note: These teachings will not be live streamed and are only available to receive in person.
The Chetzun Nyingthik belongs to the Great Perfection class of teachings. Of the Seven Authoritative Transmissions of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo (1820-1892) it belongs to the recollection category. At the age of 24, while on pilgrimage in Central Tibet, Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo revealed this cycle of teachings st the sacred place of Uyuk in the Tsang Province. In a visionary experience of luminous clarity in which all ordinary appearances and delusion dissolved, Khyentse Wangpo recalled Chetzun Senge Wangchuk (11th to 12th centuries) attaining rainbow body in that very place. Before Chetzun Senge Wangchuk’s form dissolved into the great luminosity, he had experienced a vision of Vimalamitra (8th century) which lasted for one month, in which Vimalamitra bestowed his heart teachings, the Vima Nyingtik, to Chetzun Senge Wangchuk. After recalling this event, and himself being an emanation of both Vimalamitra and Chetzun Senge Wangchuk, Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo composed the root text of The Heart Essence of Chetzun (Chetzun Nyingthik), and began to practice these teachings, keeping this cycle secret for many years.
Then at the age of 38, after being encouraged by the Dzogchen lineage protector, Ekadzati, to propagate the Chetzun Nyingthik, Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo began to transmit these teachings, first as a one to one transmission with his main lineage holder Jamyang Kongtrul Lodro Thaye (1813-1899), then later to a small group of students that included, the 14th Karmapa, the 10th Tai Situ, and Jamyang Kongtrul.
Later Khyentse Wangpo imparted these teachings to more of his main disciples including: Adzom Drukpa, Tertön Sogyal Lerab Lingpa, Jedrung Trinlé Jampa Jungné and Khenchen Tashi Özer. Following this propagation, Jamyang Kongtrul wrote texts and prayers for practicing this cycle. Terton Sogyal composed a famous commentary on Khyentse Wangpo’s teachings on Chetzun Nyingthik, in which Khyentse Rinpoche remarked that they perfectly captured everything he said, adding nothing extra, and leaving nothing out.
According to Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, of the Dzogchen teachings that were revealed by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo, the Chetzun Nyingthik represents the profound aspect and the Bime Ladrup from the Chikme Pagme Nyingthik represents the vast aspect.
Empowerment and Start Time:
Empowerment is required to participate and will be conferred on the the first day of the retreat, July 5th, at 2:00pm. Then there will be a break for dinner, and the retreat will begin around 6:00pm.
Registration:
Registration is now open. Prices vary from $550 to $1000 for attendance. CGF members will be given a discount in their registrations. Click the button below if you meet the prerequisites to participate in this retreat.
IMPORTANT — before check-out, when you see “Help keep Zeffy free for Chagdud Gonpa Ati Ling” and are asked to contribute, you can avoid default high percentages! Select ‘Other’ from the pull-down options. We invite you to consider a 3% donation for the service — on $850 that is $25.50, on $550 that’s about $16.50. Thank you!
Prerequisites for this Retreat-
In order to attend the teachings on the Chetzun Nyinthik you must have:
- Completed a full Ngondro, with 500,000 Vajra Guru Mantras accumulated.
- Previously attended Dzogchen Retreats with either Chagdud Rinpoche, or Jigme Rinpoche
If you are interested in attending this retreat but are unsure if you meet the prerequisites above, please email us at office@atiling.org for any questions.
Texts
The Chetzun Nyingthik text will be available for purchase from the Lotus Light gifts store. You will also need Galaxy of Heartdrops, Riwo Sangchod, Red Tara, Lamps of Clarity, Essence of Ongoing Yoga, CGF Protectors, and Feasts of Chod in order to participate in Ati Ling/PPI’s daily puja. We also have two monthly tsogs planned during the retreat, so please bring Throma and H.E. Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche’s Green Tara in order to participate.
Offerings:
Whether or not you are able to participate in this event, it is possible to make an offering for the tsog or butterlamps, with prayers that auspicious conditions prevail for the flourishing of this practice and for the benefit of all beings. Butterlamps are $1.50 each; tsog offerings can be in any amount. There are two ways to make offerings:
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE and WORK-STUDY
PPI / Ati Ling has long been committed to making its events as accessible as possible to all. Our in-person events are priced very low, and charges are essentially to cover room and board. We try to work with what people can afford, trusting that people understand the importance of making whatever offering they can afford when they benefit from learning and practising the precious dharma. Scholarships may be available for people in receipt of SSI or with other valid needs for requesting financial assistance.