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Yeshe Nyingpo
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On June 30, 1980, His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche, Jidgrel Yeshe Dorje, Supreme Head of Nyinmapa Buddhism, issed a statement concerning the establishment of Yeshe Nyingpo centers in California and Oregon. The following is an excerpt of that statement:
It is with great pleasure that I am writing to you concerning the establishment of Yeshe Nyingpo centers in California and Oregon. They will be a tremendous benefit to all those who are interested in the Buddha Dharma. According to the prophecies of Guru Rinpoche and those made to my predecessor, Dudjom Lingpa, the Dharma will take root and flourish in the West. Because of this connection and wishfulfilling prayers, I have come to transmit these precious teachings to all who are suitable vessels. It is with this ardent inspiration that I dedicate these centers for the peace and happiness of all beings. Presently, Yeshe Nyingpo has a retreat site in the mountains of southern Oregon (currently Tashi Chöling Retreat Center, Ashland, Oregon) and is negotiating the purchase of the building it is renting in Oakland. It is my hope that the retreat center will enshrine images of Guru Rinpoche and Buddha Shakyamuni. Nearby will be a library containing rare and precious volumes. At a distance away in an isolated spot, in order to establish the real essence of the Doctrine, we will inaugurate a retreat house where practitioners may engage in retreats for varying lengths of time under guidance of meditation masters. The Oakland center (currently Orgyen Dorje Den, in Alameda, California) provides the practitioner, the scholar, and the researcher a rare opportunity to hear the profound teachings preserved for centuries by Tibetan masters, and to practice the extensive methods that will develop the full human potential and thereby spontaneously fulfill the prophecies of the Great Lotus Born Guru |
The following is a transcript of a talk given by H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche during the annual Yeshe Nyingpo corporate meeting held in Santa Monica, California on April 2, 1983.
The Purpose of Yeshe Nyingpo
First, it’s very important to understand why Yeshe Nyingpo has been established: to follow the Dharma teachings given by Lord Buddha. Particularly, in Tibet we have two lineages. They are the lineage of the Sutras and the lineage of the Tantras. The fourth Buddha, Shakyamuni, expecially gave all the teachings on the Sutras. Guru Rnpoche very graciously gave all the teachings on the Tantras. So, in fact, Yeshe Nyingpo is a center for those teachings, so that both the Sutras and the Tantras can be practiced and realized simultaneously.
The Buddhadharma actually spread from India to Tibet. During the time of King Trisong Detsun, Guru Rinpoche and Lopon Shantarakshita were invited to Tibet. It was thus due to their blessings and compassion that the entire teachings of the Buddhadharma were transplanted in Tibet. Guru Rinpoche, having attained the highest level of realization, transmitted these precious teachings in Tibet for the benefit of future beings. These teachings are available even to this day in an unbroken lineage.
It had been prophesied that Guru Rinpoche will manifest for the benefit of all sentient beings. He has been the predicted teacher from whom all these transmission can be received in totality. This being the case, Guru Rinpoche appeared not only for the Tibetans as such, but for the whole world, in order to help sentient beings in their different spheres of existences. The prophecy also reveals that he manifested in the Nirmanakaya form (manifestation body) as Guru Rinpoche in order to relate and transmit these teachings, although in the absolute he remained one with the mind of all the Buddhas.
Recently the teachings have spread from Tibet to India, and now to this country. Both the traditions, the Sutras and the Tantras, and also the secret Vajrayana teachings have now been firmly established here for a few years. So the very reason for establishing centers all over the world has been with the pure motivation that these teachings will bring the benefit of joy and happiness, not only in this life, but also in the next. Also, these precious teachings being transmitted here will mature one’s own understanding of the Dharma, which is very important. Therefore, from the East it has now come to the West.
The Buddhadharma actually spread from India to Tibet. During the time of King Trisong Detsun, Guru Rinpoche and Lopon Shantarakshita were invited to Tibet. It was thus due to their blessings and compassion that the entire teachings of the Buddhadharma were transplanted in Tibet. Guru Rinpoche, having attained the highest level of realization, transmitted these precious teachings in Tibet for the benefit of future beings. These teachings are available even to this day in an unbroken lineage.
It had been prophesied that Guru Rinpoche will manifest for the benefit of all sentient beings. He has been the predicted teacher from whom all these transmission can be received in totality. This being the case, Guru Rinpoche appeared not only for the Tibetans as such, but for the whole world, in order to help sentient beings in their different spheres of existences. The prophecy also reveals that he manifested in the Nirmanakaya form (manifestation body) as Guru Rinpoche in order to relate and transmit these teachings, although in the absolute he remained one with the mind of all the Buddhas.
Recently the teachings have spread from Tibet to India, and now to this country. Both the traditions, the Sutras and the Tantras, and also the secret Vajrayana teachings have now been firmly established here for a few years. So the very reason for establishing centers all over the world has been with the pure motivation that these teachings will bring the benefit of joy and happiness, not only in this life, but also in the next. Also, these precious teachings being transmitted here will mature one’s own understanding of the Dharma, which is very important. Therefore, from the East it has now come to the West.
If you ask, what do these teachings point out?, well, they point out the right path, the right conduct, the right kind of Dharma. They point out the fact that if you commit one negative action, it will be the cause of suffering, and they show how to get rid of the cause of suffering itself. Therefore, it is a direction towards finding happiness, not only in this life but also in the next. It is finding a means, a way of practicing so that one can be free from the ocean of suffering.
So, in fact, the whole point of Dharma practice is based on generating enough positive actions so that all beings can benefit from it. This is the ultimate aim. Therefore, the center, being the seat for learning these precious teachings, will, I ardently hope, fulfill the wishes and aspirations of all. It is my prayer for those who seek the truth, the righteous path, that they may auspiciously come in contact with these teachings. It is with these pure motivations that all these centers have been established for the benefit of all.
If the Dharma can be maintained or spread for the cause of all, I believe it will bring tremendous merit and positive karma for all beings. Therefore, I offer my prayers that the Dharma will spread in all directions and that the teachings will be followed, bringing joy and happiness in this world. It is with this particular aspiration that I am working for the noble cause of the Dharma.
So, in fact, the whole point of Dharma practice is based on generating enough positive actions so that all beings can benefit from it. This is the ultimate aim. Therefore, the center, being the seat for learning these precious teachings, will, I ardently hope, fulfill the wishes and aspirations of all. It is my prayer for those who seek the truth, the righteous path, that they may auspiciously come in contact with these teachings. It is with these pure motivations that all these centers have been established for the benefit of all.
If the Dharma can be maintained or spread for the cause of all, I believe it will bring tremendous merit and positive karma for all beings. Therefore, I offer my prayers that the Dharma will spread in all directions and that the teachings will be followed, bringing joy and happiness in this world. It is with this particular aspiration that I am working for the noble cause of the Dharma.
So take, for example, this particular offering of the land (for the Yeshe Nyingpo Country Center [Tashi Chöling Retreat Center]). This is not just something that has happened casually. This has happened because of our positive merit and positive dedication, so that by this offering there may be a center from which many beings will benefit. For having offered this portion of land, the merit is immeasurable—because it is for the benefit of future beings. Well, I am not just mouthing words when I say this: I always dedicate the merit for those benefactors who positively make the good aspirations a reality. I am confident that it will blossom into fruition of positive situations and auspicious karma.
The same thing applies to Gyatrul Rinpoche. Ever since he has come to the West, Gyatrul Rinpoche has been instructed to try to make the teachings available to all. And in this respect, with his pure motivation, he has done as much as he could. Also, in that respect he has established many centers now. And this is always with the pure motivation that it will be of great benefit for the practitioners. It’s not based on any kind of personal gain.
I do rejoice at the very fact that all of you as officers and directors of the center have put your efforts towards a cause that is very noble. And in that respect, the merit of having done so is also immeasurable. At the same time, you have been working together such that the very work and concepts that you have put together have become a space for purifying your normal conceptions into more pure, awakened thoughts. And therefore, that also brings me tremendous joy, just to realize that I am working with you all so that you have this particular support for the Dharma.
I would like to request you all to bear in mind that up to now, you have worked for the cause of the Dharma, and in the future to also please keep in mind to work for the cause of the Dharma. Since these teachings are very precious, they are very important. You are working together to make this available to all, therefore it is indeed a very important work you are doing. Particularly in America, you are leaving a legacy for the children of the future. And so, when you work together, work in such a way that in the future the children will say, “Yes, they have worked here and they have established the Dharma.” So we can feel that we have at least done something for humanity. That is important. So at least we leave behind an example of having done something positive. And I will also pray that this will not be just words, but that it may be fulfilled. And by following so, in this manner, in this country, in America here, the future beings will look towards you as somebody who has done something good and positive for them to benefit from. And this is the way it should be. It’s not for ourselves, what we are working for now. It’s for the future, for the future of humanity.
The same thing applies to Gyatrul Rinpoche. Ever since he has come to the West, Gyatrul Rinpoche has been instructed to try to make the teachings available to all. And in this respect, with his pure motivation, he has done as much as he could. Also, in that respect he has established many centers now. And this is always with the pure motivation that it will be of great benefit for the practitioners. It’s not based on any kind of personal gain.
I do rejoice at the very fact that all of you as officers and directors of the center have put your efforts towards a cause that is very noble. And in that respect, the merit of having done so is also immeasurable. At the same time, you have been working together such that the very work and concepts that you have put together have become a space for purifying your normal conceptions into more pure, awakened thoughts. And therefore, that also brings me tremendous joy, just to realize that I am working with you all so that you have this particular support for the Dharma.
I would like to request you all to bear in mind that up to now, you have worked for the cause of the Dharma, and in the future to also please keep in mind to work for the cause of the Dharma. Since these teachings are very precious, they are very important. You are working together to make this available to all, therefore it is indeed a very important work you are doing. Particularly in America, you are leaving a legacy for the children of the future. And so, when you work together, work in such a way that in the future the children will say, “Yes, they have worked here and they have established the Dharma.” So we can feel that we have at least done something for humanity. That is important. So at least we leave behind an example of having done something positive. And I will also pray that this will not be just words, but that it may be fulfilled. And by following so, in this manner, in this country, in America here, the future beings will look towards you as somebody who has done something good and positive for them to benefit from. And this is the way it should be. It’s not for ourselves, what we are working for now. It’s for the future, for the future of humanity.
Also, I would like to assure you that from this end, I will offer prayers that your life will be long, that whatever work you undertake may be successful, and that it may bear positive results. May this happen in this life, and also in the next life, and may you find the truth and be liberated. In this manner I do pray.
Since beings do not live eternally, death is imminent, and I am now old. However, I am leaving behind my son, Shenphen Rinpoche, who will hold the lineage and who I am confident will continue in the line of this transmission. Not only that, I also hope that other teachers will come and give teachings in the center. I have with my good thoughts established the center for the benefit of all here in America, and in this respect I feel very positive for having established them. And with this good aspiration, I will conclude here. Tashi delek, good wishes to you all. My prayers are with you.
Since beings do not live eternally, death is imminent, and I am now old. However, I am leaving behind my son, Shenphen Rinpoche, who will hold the lineage and who I am confident will continue in the line of this transmission. Not only that, I also hope that other teachers will come and give teachings in the center. I have with my good thoughts established the center for the benefit of all here in America, and in this respect I feel very positive for having established them. And with this good aspiration, I will conclude here. Tashi delek, good wishes to you all. My prayers are with you.
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Photo: H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche, Shenphen Dawa Rinpoche, and Tulku Pema Wangyal
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