Pith instructions on the Supreme Practice of Guru Yoga
To learn anything in life, be it secular or spiritual we require a teacher. A true teacher must possess the qualities that we wish to learn or realize. Without a teacher, we are groping in the dark. This is not something that we can figure out by ourselves. We all possess Buddha Nature or Basic Goodness. And our true nature is in essence no different from the true nature of realized teachers or the the Buddha himself. Yet we are obscured through our past actions and mistaken views. To awaken to our true nature there is no one more precious than our spiritual teacher. To encounter a true authentic teacher in these degenerate times is very rare. To encounter a teacher with the qualities of Lamchen Gyalpo Rinpoche is even rarer. Rinpoche does not "advertise" his qualities. He does not go on extensive teaching tours. We are very fortunate that he has granted our request to come to the DDCV since 2004. He has done so out of a wish to support the teachings of the Damcho Gompa Yangzab, a very rare a special Dzogchen cycle of teachings which were revealed by Gyalwang Rinchen Phuntsog and held by the Drigung Kagyu lineage. It is due to Rinpoche's wish to see these practices benefit sentient beings that we have had the opportunity to be in the presence of one of the last great living teachers to have been trained in Tibet before 1959.
When choosing a teacher one must be very careful. The teacher must possess the qualities of one who has traversed the path of Dharma. The student must possess the qualities necessary to receive and practice the Dharma transmitted by the teacher. Through the practice of Guru Yoga alone all practices can be accomplished. Without the practice of Guru Yoga, there will be no accomplishment on the path of Vajrayana Buddhism. In these teachings Rinpoche will share the pith instructions, orally passed from teacher to student, on how to accomplish the supreme practice of Guru Yoga. He will also transmit a rare and precious Guru Yoga Practice, never given before, composed by Rinchen Phuntsog, called the Method to Realize the Essential Nature of the Root Guru.
Time: 10-12 and 3-5 pm
Location: Burnham Hall, Lincoln VT
Sug. Don - $60
Saturday, July 18
Empowerment of Peaceful Padmasambhava:
The Essential Means to Realize Guru Rinpoche
This is a rare and special empowerment and practice composed by Rinchen Phuntsog for the benefit of future generations. It can be practiced in either a concise or more extensive way, depending on the needs of the practitioner. It is perhaps the only Guru Rinpoche empowerment that originates from the Drigung Kagyu lineage.
Padmasambhava is often referred to as the second Buddha. He brought Vajrayana Buddhism to Tibet and hid with his consort Yeshe Tsogyal many spiritual treasures meant for future generations, such as our own. In the Barchey Kunsel terma Padmasambhava says, "If you realize me, you realize all Buddha's. If you behold me, you behold all Buddha's." This empowerment and practice is a means to realize Padmasambha directly, as one's own true nature. The practice is special in that it encompasses all aspects of Vajrayana in a concise form. If one accomplishes this practice, there is a concise way to engage in the enlightened activities of Guru Rinpoche. It also contains a concise Tsog or feast offering so that one can renew ones samaya or connection with the practice, purifying any faults or misdeeds. As Rinchen Phuntsog's colophon reads, he composed this practice "as a broad and easy means for sentient beings to attain the goal", the goal being liberation from samsara and the means to benefit all beings without exception suffering in samsara. This empowerment has not been previously given, and to receive it from Lamchen Gyalpo Rinpoche is no different than receiving it directly from Rinchen Phuntsog himself.
Time: 9:30-12 pm
Location: Burnham Hall, Lincoln VT
Sug. Don - $30
Sat-Sun, July 18-19
Pith Instructions on the Practice of Dzogchen:
From the Vajra Songs of Rinchen Phuntsog
Rinchen Phuntsog composed many Vajra Songs on how to successfully practice Dharma. He was not one to waste words, he would disclose the central points of practice through concise pith instructions. The Vajra Songs are a great treasure, as they were written often at the request of highly realized students and teachers, to get to the essential point necessary to practice Dharma free from any doubt. Among the great teachers who made such requests of Rinchen Phuntsog include the previous emanation of H.E. Garchen Rinpoche. The flavor of the songs is one of non-sectarianism.
Rinchen Phuntsog lived in the 16
th
century, a time of great sectarian conflict and war. In his life and these Vajra Songs he rose above all sectarianism. He recognized and affirmed the validity of all the great schools of Tibetan Buddhism. In these teachings with Lamchen Gyalpo Rinpoche, the focus will be on Rinchen Phuntsog's pith instructions for those with a karmic connection to practice Dzogchen. These Vajra Songs repeatedly point out the true nature of mind in a way that the practitioner can have confidence in their practice. These include teachings on the practice of Trekcho or (cutting through). Lamchen Gyalpo Rinpoche is uniquely qualified to give these pith instructions, which have never been given before in the West.
Sat: 3-5 pm
Sun: 10-12 and 3-5 pm
Location: Burnham Hall, Lincoln VT
Sug. Don - $90
Mon-Tue, July 20-21
Yangzab Thogal Teachings:
The Tantra of the Three Stanzas Taking Buddhahood in Hand:
The Clarification of Awareness, the Ornament of Introduction
First one accomplishes Trekcho or "cutting-through". This is returning to the recognition of the natural state, cutting through obscurations and conceptual elaboration. When Trekcho has been mastered, Thogal or "leaping-over" is practiced. Every possible event of which one is conscious of is treated as a display from the base, as an expression of energy, irrespective whether is it "samsaric" or "nirvanic", impure or pure, good or bad. Everything happening is but one of the "colors" emanated by the white prism of "rigpa". To directly experience unbounded wholeness, all judgments are postponed ; existence is "lhundrup" or "spontaneous presence". This precious text from the Yangzab is an introduction to the practice of Thogal and has not been taught on previously in the West.
Mon: 10-12 and 3-5 pm
Tue: 10-12 pm
Location: Burnham Hall, Lincoln VT
Sug. Don - $90
Tue, July 21
Yangzab Three Roots Teachings/Practice and Feast Offering
The retreat will conclude with one of the central practices of the Yangzab Dzogchen cycle. In the Yangzab cycle the Lama is Dharmakaya Guru Rinopoche in union with Yeshe Tsogyal. The Yidam or Primary Deity is Hayagriva, who is the Wrathful Emanation of Chenrizig and Amitabha. The Dakini is Vajravarahi. . It is a profound practice where the Lama, Yidam and Dakini are all accomplished in the one practice. Drikung Rinchen Phuntsok not only revealed this as an Earth Treasure but also had a Pure Vision where he went to Guru Rinpoches Copper Covered Mountain Pure Land and received the Yangzab teachings and empowerments directly from Guru Rinpoche. Lamchen Gyalpo Rinpoche will teach us how this practice is done traditionally and we will conclude the retreat with the the Yangzab Three Roots Feast offering.
Tue: 2:30-5:30 pm
Location: Burnham Hall, Lincoln VT
Sug. Don - $30
Suggested Donation for complete retreat (July 17-21) is $275
