The Nyingma Tradition Padmasambhava The Nyingma (ancient) school of Tibetan or Vajrayana Buddhism was founded in the eighth century by the great enlightened Indian tantric master Padmasambhava, "the second Buddha," and is the oldest of the four schools of Tibetan Buddhism (Nyingma, Kagyu, Sakya, and Gelugpa). Its teachings, transmissions and lineage of enlightened masters have continued unbroken to this day. At the heart of the Nyingma tradition is the practice of Dzog Chen, the most ancient and direct stream of wisdom within the teachings of Buddhism. Mipham Rinpoche (1846-1912), one of Tibet's greatest scholars and masters, wrote: Crowning the banner of the complete teaching of the Buddha, is the beautiful ornament of the clear light teachings of Dzogpa Chenpo. Through practising and realizing these teachings, tens of thousands of beings have become enlightened. Although the Nyingmapa school is the oldest tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, its Dzog Chen teachings are the clearest, most effective and relevant to the needs of beings today. Untouched by the sometimes tragic events in Tibetan history, the Dzog Chen teachings have been passed down in an unbroken line from the Primordial Buddha Samantabhadra, teacher to student, to this day, in all their freshness, immediacy, and power. "Dzog Chen is a state, the primordial state, the state of total awakening that is the heart essence of all the Buddhas and all spiritual paths, the summit of an individual beings spiritual evolution." Dzog Chen can only be understood and fully realized with the direct guidance of a qualified and experienced Dzog Chen master. His Holiness Penor Rinpoche is such a being, an emanation of the great Dzog Chen master Vimalamitra. The Palyul Lineage Mingyur Dorje In Tibet, there were six mother monasteries which upheld the Nyingma tradition. In eastern Tibet, the foremost of these was the glorious Palyul. The land the monastery is situated on was blessed by many great saints and bodhisattvas and it was during the time of the great vidyadhara Kuzang Sherab that the Palyul tradition was established and the monastery known as Palyul Namgyal Changchub Choling became one of the major Nyingma monastic institutions. As with all Nyingma Dharma lineages, the Palyul holds the complete canon of the Mahayana sutras and tantras as well as the Kama (long), Terma (short) and Pure Vision transmissions. However, the Palyul lineage is distinct in that it continues to practice, realize and transmit all the various lineages and transmissions that were held and passed on by Kunzang Sherab into one vast Dharma Ocean. The Kama or long lineage is the combined oral tradition of Panchen Vimalamitra, the translator Vairocana and master Padmasambhava on the inner yogas of Generation Stage Maha Yoga, Transmission stage Anu Yoga and the Great Perfection stage Ati Yoga. The Palyul also holds the Non-dual Great Seal Mahamudra - Great Perfection Ati Yoga, uniting the highest Nyingma teachings of Dzog Chen with the ornament of the Kagyu school, the Mahamudra of Marpa the translator, forefather of the Kagyu. From Kunzang Sherab to the present throne holder, His Holiness Penor Rinpoche, as well as the greater Palyul sangha, this has been maintained as a principal practice which includes: clear light togyal, inner togyal, darkness practice, dream practice, training in the nature of sound and pure realms practice. The terma or short lineage refers to spiritual treasures (terma) that were concealed by Padmasambava and his close disciples to be revealed at a later, more appropriate time. These termas were hidden in both physical elements and within beings mind streams, to be remembered and revealed in later incarnations. As such, the lineage for these termas is considered "short" historically, as opposed to the long lineages originating with Sakyamuni Buddha. The principal terma lineages of the Palyul are those of Terton Nyang, Guru Chowang, Ratna Lingpa, Jigme Lingpa, Karma Lingpa and Mingyur Dorje. The Profound lineage of Pure Vision originates with Terton Mingyur Dorje's Nam Cho Great Perfection revelations, transmitted directly to Kunzang Sherab. For further reading please see: Zangpo, Ven. Tsering and Khandro, Sangye, A Garland of Immortal Wish Fulfilling Trees: The Palyul Tradition of Nyingmapa, Ithaca, N.Y., Snow Lion Publications, 1988. His Holiness Pema Norbu Rinpoche His Holiness Penor Rinpoche His Holiness the Third Drupwang Pema Norbu (Penor) Rinpoche is the Supreme Head of the Nyingmapa Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, and one of the foremost masters in the Buddhist Tradition of Tibet. He is the embodiment of the profound wisdom and limitless compassion which are the hallmarks of this tradition. Throughout the Buddhist community he is respected for his vast knowledge and accomplishment, and for the integrity and strength with which he upholds the Buddha's teachings. Born in eastern Tibet in 1932, Penor Rinpoche was recognized as a young child as the incarnation of Vimalamitra and was installed in the Palyul monastery as its eleventh throne holder. From a very early age he displayed many miraculous signs and abilities. His Holiness fled Tibet in 1956 and established Palyul Namdroling Monastery in southern India to preserve the Nyingma tradition. From its small beginning with a handful of monks, the monastery has grown to become the largest Nyingma monastery in the world, with over 1,500 monks and nuns and many incarnate Lamas. The monastery also contains a large scholastic college and three year retreat centre. His Holiness is a pure holder of many ancient and important teachings and works tirelessly to preserve and spread these unbroken lineages of Dharma treasures, giving empowerments, teachings and transmissions all over the world. His Holiness is also responsible for the recognition and training of reincarnate lamas (tulkus). "His Holiness Penor Rinpoche is one of the great Buddhist saints alive today. He is a great realized being, and seeing him is like being face to face with the Buddha and Padmasambhava." -Vajracharya Ven. Peling Tulku, Rinpoche Long Life Prayer for His Holiness Penor Rinpoche Vajracharya Ven. Peling Tulku, Rinpoche Vajracharya Ven. Peling Tulku, Rinpoche The Palyul Foundation of Canada and its centre, Orgyan Osal Cho Dzong, are under the direction of Venerable Peling Tulku, Rinpoche. Born in 1938 of German and Spanish parents, Rinpoche received Bhikshu ordination (fully ordained monk) and the name Lama Jampa Rabjampa from His Holiness the 16th Karmapa in 1977. His Holiness Penor Rinpoche later recognized and enthroned Lama Jampa as the heart or mind emanation of the great Padma Lingpa (1450-1521) and gave him the name Peling Tulku Rinpoche. Padma Lingpa was the fourth of the five sovereign tertons. (A terton is a person who has been personally blessed by Padmasambhava to reveal His teachings in the future, according to mankind's needs.) His Holiness has also given Rinpoche the title Vajracharya, or fully qualified tantric master, in recognition of his spiritual attainments and abilities. Rinpoche has received extensive teachings from the major lineage holders of the Nyingma, Kagyu and Sakya schools, and in particular, he has received the Nam Cho, Long Chen Nying Thig and Nying Thig Yab Zhi, the Nyimgma Kama and Rinchen Terzod from His Holiness Penor Rinpoche, for whom Peling Tulku Rinpoche has felt profound devotion and love from the first time he met Him. Rinpoche has spent many years in retreat practicing Ati Yoga (Dzog Chen), Mahamudra and different traditions of the six yogas, and to this day spends most of his time in retreat. He is well known as a very pure lama, who shows great compassion for all beings, and as an accomplished Dzog Chen teacher, cherished for his ability to make the dharma arise as an actual experience within his students' mind streams. Long Life Prayer for Ven. Peling Tulku, Rinpoche written by His Holiness Penor Rinpoche Long Life Prayer for Ven Peling Tulku, Rinpoche written on the occasion of his 60th Birthday on August 1, 1998 Ven. Lama Jigme Chokyi Lodro Ven. Lama Jigme first met his Root Guru, Ven. Peling Tulku Rinpoche, in 1976 and became a Buddhist that same year. Since that time he has studied and practiced the Buddhist path with Rinpoche, becoming his personal assistant and taking novice vows in 1980, taking monks vows in 1988 and full ordination (Bikkshu) from His Holiness Penor Rinpoche in India 1995. He has received extensive and complete teachings from Peling Rinpoche, as well as many important cycles of initiation from His Holiness. During the last 27 years, as well as assisting Rinpoche and managing the retreat centre, Lama Jigme has undertaken many long and short retreats of several deities, covering the four levels of tantra. Peling Rinpoche, confident in the depth of his practice and understanding of the Dharma, gave him the title Dharma Acharya and permission to teach. Lama Jigme is well known and appreciated for his strong guru devotion, discipline and humility.

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