Nyingmapa lamas,
marked by complete simplicity and freedom.... If I were going to settle
down with a Tibetan guru, I think Chatral would be the one I'd choose...."7
Mr. Harold Talbott, who was present at their meeting, recalls Merton
remarking to him after their meeting : "That is the greatest man I ever
met. He is my teacher."
Photo 1.31 Kyabje
Chadral Rinpoche with Yeshe Thaye and Pema Lhadren at Pharping in
1997. |
Two days later (February 13, 1989), Guru Lau also paid a visit to Kyabje
Chadral Rinpoche in Pharping. I was helping to translate from Chinese
into English, while Ven. Bhakha Tulku Rinpoche was helping to translate
from English into Tibetan, and vice-versa. Guru Lau, this time, brought
along some Chinese New Year presents to Kyabje Chadral Rinpoche, and
they again chatted a lot during our stay for an hour or so. Before leaving
Pharping, Guru Lau remarked that we would be leaving for Hong Kong very
soon, and he sincerely wished Kyabje Chadral Rinpoche all the best,
and hoped that they would be able to see each other again in the future.
But unfortunately, this was to be the last time that they would see
each other.
After a lapse of eight years, inspired by Guru Lau, my wife and I went
to Pharping to visit Kyabje Chadral Rinpoche and Kyabje Dudjom Yangsi
Rinpoche in the autumn of 1997. Though Guru Lau twice instructed me
to uphold his lineages, because of "collective karma" and unfavourable
circumstances, I was unable to maintain his foundation. While relating
these messages to Kyabje Chadral Rinpoche, he carefully considered the
situation and other circumstances. Then he kindly promised to lend me
his support in order to carry out the last wish of Guru Lau. He even
praised me, while following the footsteps of Guru Lau, for shying away
from Dharma politics and just silently helping with the Dharma without
expecting anything in return, as well as for not breaking my samaya
because of not commiting the Third Root Downfall. "Indeed", he said,
"this is the correct way to do!"
Photo 1.32 Kyabje
Dudjom Rinpoche III with Yeshe Thaye and Pema Lhadren at Pharping
in 1997. |
Because of my sincere request, Kyabje Chadral Rinpoche has promised
to write a Prayer for the swift rebirth of Guru Lau. Moreover, Kyabje
Chadral Rinpoche is most compassionate and kind in accepting me and
my wife as his humble servants and disciples. He bestowed upon us oral
transmissions (lung) and teachings (tri) so that we can uphold the Victory
Banner of Guru Lau for the spread of the Dharma. Rinpoche supported
the project and mentioned that, in the future, when our new Dharma centre
has its own premises, he will bestow upon us all the necessary Tibetan
scriptures, Buddhist statues, Dharma objects, and so on. Immediately,
Rinpoche personally designed the logo for the new Dharma centre, and
then later asked a thanka painter to paint it for us.
We were most fortunate to have received important teachings of the Dudjom
Tersar lineage, and Dzogchen teachings of the Longchen Nyingthig tradition,
from Kyabje Chadral Rinpoche. Rinpoche further mentioned to us that
Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche II had appointed him as the Vajra Regent for
the Dudjom Tersar lineage, and that, as far as he knows, Kyabje Dudjom
Rinpoche II had only written two letters of authorization in his past
life, one to his Chinese spiritual representative Sonam Chokyi Gyaltsan
for the Kama Lineage (Long Tradition of the "|hi-khro" according to
Na Rak Dong Truk), and the other to Rinpoche himself for the Terma Lineage
(Short Tradition of Dudjom Lingpa's Treasures and other teachings).
Before our leaving for Hong Kong, Kyabje Chadral Rinpoche bestowed upon
us two Tibetan scriptures of the Longchen Nyingthig tradition, a thanka
of the Buddha of Long Life, and some blessed sacred objects. Furthermore,
he bestowed upon us a beautifully-made gold-plated ..CONTINUE
..
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