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The Nyingma Tradition
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
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 Karma Kuchen 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
Kyabje 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, Singapore, 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. "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." Rebirth Prayer for His Holiness Penor Rinpoche Vajracharya Ven. Peling Tulku, Rinpoche
After teaching the Dharma in Toronto for many years, he founded Orgyan Osal Cho Dzong Temple and Retreat in 1984, near Madoc, Ontario, on the birthday of Guru Padmasambhava. Rinpoche never advertised teachings or promoted himself and did not allow his students to do so. He spent most of his time either in retreat or teaching his students, each of whom has an unusual story to tell of how they first met him and connected with the Dharma. Rinpoche met His Holiness Penor Rinpoche in 1985 at Ven. Gyaltrul Rinpoche's centre, Tashi Choling, in Oregon. He felt immediate and very profound devotion towards His Holiness and from then on regarded him as his Root Lama. Rinpoche invited His Holiness to Canada in 1988 to bestow the Longchen Nying Thig and the Zab Mo Yang Thig as well as to bless the temple and its lands. During this visit, Rinpoche requested to make the centre Palyul, which His Holiness graciously agreed to and made the centre his official seat in Canada. In 1997 Rinpoche invited His Holiness to give the wangchen of Guhya Garbha, and in 2000 to give Ratnalingpa's Vajrakilaya and the Nying Thig Yab Zhi. His Holiness gave Rinpoche the title of Vajracharya in 1995 in recognition of his spiritual attainments and abilities. In 2001 he enthroned Rinpoche as the mind emanation of Padma Lingpa and the activity emanation of Karma Lingpa and gave him the name Peling Tulku Rinpoche. Rinpoche received extensive teachings from the major lineage holders of the Nyingma, Kagyu and Sakya schools, and in particular, he received the Nam Cho, Long Chen Nying Thig and Nying Thig Yab Zhi, the Nyingma Kama and the Rinchen Terdzod from His Holiness Penor Rinpoche. Rinpoche spent many years in retreat practicing Ati Yoga (Dzog Chen), Mahamudra and different traditions of the six yogas. Throughout his life he spent most of his time in retreat. He was well known as a very pure lama who showed great compassion for all beings. An accomplished Dzog Chen teacher, he was able to make the dharma arise as an actual experience within the minds of his students. Rinpoche's health had been deteriorating for several years due to diabetes and advanced congestive heart failure. Though his life was made very difficult from the effects of these illnesses, his thoughts were always of the welfare of those in his spiritual care, never for his own comfort. His courage in the face of adversity was matchless and a tremendous inspiration to his students. On the day he passed away he mentioned that he had been having mild chest pain for a while then peacefully laid back on his bed and was gone, having suffered a heart attack. Rinpoche entered his final meditation exactly 49 days after His Holiness Penor Rinpoche. At the time of his passing, there was a tremendous wind throughout Southern Ontario, even though the sky was cloudless. On the day his tug.dam ended, a bolt of lightening passed through the temple, entering through a south window and leaving through a north window, harming nothing. As Rinpoche was well known to have the ability to affect the weather since childhood, these were seen by all his students as very obvious signs of his powerful blessings. His loving, smiling face and warm, wise and compassionate heart will be sorely missed by all of his students and those whose lives he touched. Rebirth Prayer for Ven Peling Tulku, Rinpoche written by Ven. Lama Jigme Chokyi Lodro
Ven. Lama Jigme Chokyi Lodro
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Ven. Lama Jigme first met his Root Guru,