4. His Holiness finished Thugdam on April 3
3. Update on His Holiness (April 1, 2009)
2. An important message to international Dzogchen sanghas
from Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche
1. Formal announcement of Rinpoche's passing March 28, 2009 by Lama Lobsang Chophel
4. His Holiness finished Thugdam on April 3
His Holiness Penor Rinpoche remained in Thugdam for almost eight days. This morning [Friday, April 3, India time] he released his meditation. Now we are preparing to preserve his body for some time so that the public can pay their respects and receive his blessings.
We, the board and faculty of the monastery, have announced that the blessing ceremony will begin on the 9th of April with rituals and a ceremonial procession to carry Kyabje Penor Rinpoche's body into the Zangdok Palri temple at Namdroling Monastery. It is expected that His Holiness' body will remain in the temple for a month.
We welcome all of our Palyul students, Dharma friends and benefactors who wish to come for this ceremony or afterward to receive Kyabje Penor Rinpoche's blessings.
The annual summer retreat for 2009 in the United States will be conducted as usual under the guidance of H.H.Karma Kuchen Rinpoche, H.E. Gyangkhang Tulku Rinpoche, H.E. Mugsang Kuchen Rinpoche and Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso Rinpoche. The details of the retreat will be announced soon in our Palyul website.
Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso Rinpoche
Originally emailed by Alan Schaaf on 4/4 (US).
Sincerely,
Palyul Ling International
3. Updates on His Holiness news
Date: Wednesday, 1 April, 2009, 1:01 PM
From PNAB enews (slightly edited)
Latest News from Monastery:
The date has been confirmed for students who wish to go to India to pay respect and receive the blessing from His Holiness's body. The monastery has announced that from 9th April 2009 (which is Tibetan 15th), students and all public may go and pay their respect. We'll inform you of any further updates.
After 3 days have passed, His Holiness Penor Rinpoche is still in meditation, Thugdam. The monastery is waiting for the 7th day to check again if His Holiness has released His body from the meditation. Once this is confirmed, a formal acknowledgement will be out to notify all students.
2. Parinirvana of His Holiness Penor Rinpoche
An important message to international Dzogchen sanghas
from Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche
Dear Precious Sangha,
We just heard the news that our lineage master, His Holiness Drubwang
Pema Norbu (Penor) Rinpoche, has reached his parinirvana on March 27th,
2009 at 3:30 pm
(Karnataka, South India Time) or 3:00 am Pacific Time USA.
H. H. Penor Rinpoche was born in 1932 and was recognized by Khenpo
Ngawang Palzang and the Fifth Dzogchen Rinpoche as the Third Drubwang
Pema Norbu Rinpoche, the Eleventh Throneholder of Palyul Monastery and
throughout his 77
years completed many vast and profound Dharma activities. From 1992 to
2003, H.H. Penor Rinpoche served as the Supreme Head of the Nyingma
School. He is one of the great Dzogchen Lineage Masters for us.
This may come as sad news to some because it seems that he has left this
world, but actually he is never separate from us. He always lives in the
heart of our faith. According to Dzogchen Tantras, when a great
enlightened teacher passes into parinirvana students have an
extraordinary moment to receive blessings from this teacher by making
supplications and offerings, as well as making profound personal
commitments and aspirations. This is an especially powerful time to
request teachings and blessings while praying that more emanations of
this master manifest in this world to benefit all beings.
Therefore, I request all International Dzogchen Sanghas to gather their
local communities together and do the following practices and
ceremonies:
1. Offer Flowers, Lights, and Water: In front of a photo of H.H. Penor
Rinpoche, offer beautiful flowers, luminous lights, and clear, clean
water.
2. Offer Tsok Pujas (Feast Offerings): Specifically you can do the
Rigdzin Dupa or Yumka Tsok, or simply recite the concise feast offering
from The Buddha Path.
3. Recite Guru Padmasambhava Mantra: Recite the following mantra 100,000
times or as much as possible:
Om Ah Hung Badzra Guru Padma Siddhi Hung
4. Read and discuss H.H. Penor Rinpoche's amazing Life Story.
5. Request teachings and blessings: Pray to H.H. Penor Rinpoche for your
personal answers, blessings, and empowerment.
6. Make Profound and Sincere Commitments: Make a commitment to do
positive things such as teach Dharma and practice, while committing not
to do negative things. You can say, "Please Your Holiness Penor
Rinpoche, bless me. For the
true happiness of all beings, I hearby commit that I will do good things
such as ...[your positive activities] and avoid doing bad things such
as...[your negative activities]. Please holy enlightened master Penor
Rinpoche, please bless me that I may accomplish my aspirations for the
true happiness of all beings."
Right after the parinirvana of great enlightened beings, whatever
virtuous aspirations and commitments you make will swiftly be fulfilled.
7. Make Aspirations Pray:
"May I keep His Holiness Penor Rinpoche's advice and teachings in the
depth of my heart.
May I sincerely follow the Dzogchen path of His
Holiness Penor Rinpoche.
May I fulfill the great aspirations of His
Holiness Penor Rinpoche.
May I faithfully recognize that Penor Rinpoche
is always in my heart."
By the power of Penor Rinpoche's aspirations, may the Dzogchen Lineage
increase and may the world have peace and happiness forever.
This message is from Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche's longing faith and
devotion.
His Holiness Drubwang Pema Norbu (Penor) Rinpoche
and Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche
Penor Rinpoche's Biography and Other Links:
Biography: Here is a biography about Pema Norbu Rinpoche.
Gather friends and watch Movies and Videos about Penor Rinopoche: There
are many videos available online that reveal his amazing activities. The
Compassionate World is an hour-long documentary that wonderfully
illustrates his amazing dharma activities.
It is found in full at: www.onlinedharmaclassics.org.
There is also an official YouTube channel devoted to Penor Rinpoche: www.youtube.com/palyul
1. Formal announcement of passing into Thugdam
This is to formally announce that the 11th Throneholder of the Palyul
Lineage of the Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism, His Holiness Pema
Norbu Rinpoche entered the stage of Thugdam, the final stage of
meditation, as of 8:20 PM on Friday, March 27, 2009, at the Namdroling
Monastery in Bylakuppe, South India.
Earlier, at noon, His Holiness received offerings from many of the
highest Nyingma Tulkus, Khenpos, and Lamas who had assembled to pay
homage to him. Rinpoche left Columbia Asia Hospital at 3:30 PM with the
help of the Bhutanese Government who provided an Indian police escort.
He reached Palyul Namdroling at 6:40 PM and remained on his bed at the
residence. Tulkus, Khenpos and Lamas did aspiration prayers together
with His Holiness until 8:20 PM. At that time Rinpoche looked around and
then closed his eyes and went into meditation. Prayers continued for
5 minutes and then everyone remained in silence for the next two hours.
His Holiness' meditation continues today, and is expected to continue
for the next several days. When His Holiness releases his body from
meditation, there will be an official acknowledgement of the final
passing, allowing everyone to pay their respects according to tradition.
Kyabjé Drubwang Pema Norbu Rinpoche was born in 1932 in the Powo
region of Kham, Eastern Tibet. His Holiness settled in South India where
he built, with his own hands and with the help of a few monks,
Namdroling Monastery. The monastery has
grown into one of the largest Tibetan Buddhist Dharma centers in the
world, housing over 6000 monks and nuns in the complex.
His Holiness also built temples and established dharma Centers around
the world - in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Sngapore, Malaysia, Philippines,
Australia, United Kingdom, Greece, Canada and the United States - among
others. His Holiness frequently traveled to teach and give empowerments
at all of them. Worldwide, His Holiness is universally revered for his
loving kindness and compassion, pure upholding of the Vinaya and
ceaseless dedication to the welfare of all beings. Wherever he went, has
brought and nourished the Buddha-Dharma everywhere he has been. He
will live forever in our hearts.
Lama Lobsang Chophel, Secretary 28 March, 2009
Sincerely,
Palyul Ling International
See also the Palyul website