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In Memory of Dudjom Rinpoche

~ DudjomTersarNgondro
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Today, January 16, 2025,  we commemorate the anniversary of the parinirvana of Kyabje Dudjom Jigdral Yeshe Dorje Rinpoche*, one of the most prominent Nyingma lineage masters. Rinpoche first came to America in 1972. His arrival marked a pivotal moment in the transmission of Tibetan Buddhism to the West. Dudjom Rinpoche was received with great reverence and curiosity by Westerners who were beginning to explore Tibetan Buddhism. Many of his first students were spiritual seekers drawn to his profound wisdom, humility, and the clarity of his teachings.

Listen to Dudjom Rinpoche interview with Lex Hixon during Rinpoche’s first visit to America. 

 

During Rinpoche’s time in the United States, Dudjom Rinpoche established several Dharma centers to provide authentic teachings and create spaces for Buddhist practice. These include significant center, the Seat of Dudjom Rinpcohe, Yeshe Nyingpo in New York.

The Pema Osel Ling Retreat Center was established in 1989 by Lama Tharchin Rinpoche at the request of His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche. It is the primary retreat center for the Vajrayana Foundation, dedicated to preserving and transmitting the teachings of the Dudjom Tersar lineage in the West.

Explore books by Dudjom Rinpoche at Shambhala Publications: A Guide to Dudjom Rinpoche 

*Rinpoche’s  biography made possible through support of Jnanasukha Foundation.

 

Longchenpa’s The Four Themed Precious Garland (Part2)

~ DudjomTersarNgondro
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Tulku Thadral Rinpoche will continue the teaching on Longchenpa’s The Four Themed Precious Garland (Part2) on January 15, 2025 @ 5pm. This teaching is part of the Monthly Ngondro Teaching hosted by Vajrayana Foundation and the Dudjom Ngondro Program and is FREE and OPEN TO ALL.
 
Join Rinpoche ​January 15th at the Pema Osel Ling Retreat Center or by YouTube Livestream using this link: https://youtube.com/live/-0rDuqIXkHM
 

You can review ​November’s teaching part 1 here: https://www.youtube.com/live/tCBA9oe4Qi4

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If you are following with the book, we left off on Page 7 end of paragraph 2:
“Having too many involvements and activities contradicts your Dharma practice and is always despised by the Noble Ones, the Aryas. If your desires are few, your virtuous actions will increase automatically. Therefore you who wish to engage yourselves on the path to peaceful liberation, lessen your desires and be content.”

Establishing a Strong Foundation

~ DudjomTersarNgondro


We begin this post today with an Excerpt from A Commentary on the Dudjom Tersar Ngondro  by  Lama Tharchin Rinpoche as an introduction to our first Dudjom Ngondro Study-Discussion Group for the Dudjom Ngondro Program Participants of the Vajrayana Foundation, which will be led by Stefan Graves. The first Study-Discussion Group will be on Wednesday, January 22nd @ 6pm on the Zoom platform..

 “Establishing a strong foundation is the only way to create something which will ultimately produce a lasting result. When building a house, the foundation is not only the beginning, but also the most important part of the finished building. When you are initially introduced to dharma, you may feel enthusiastic and inspired. However this feeling may only be temporary since by nature our emotions and feelings are constantly shifting and unstable. Without a strong foundation, when fluctuations occur, dharma may temporarily appear irrelevant or unimportant. You may want to give up, while in actuality dharma is the only thing that can ultimately help. Not establishing a strong foundation is like building a house on a frozen lake that is sure to melt in the spring. That is why Ngondro is so extraordinarily important.

To understand Ngondro within a larger context, it is helpful to understand why it is a preliminary practice and for what it lays a foundation.”