amazon review: Echoes, The Boudhanath Teachings by Thinley Norbu

Echoes, The Boudhanath Teachings by Thinley Norbu

amazon.com review:

http://www.amazon.com/review/R2E067JETMPO61/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=1611803020

Buddha’s Echoes in this world

How does one review a book like this? Well, obviously one has to read it first, but then again there are so many reviews out there that are based on misreading or surrounding issues, I myself am guilty of having written a few like that. Now, why would I go into this discussion here? Because this book if read by a wider circle of readers has potential to be quite controversial. From the opening pages where Kyabje Thinley Norbu Rinpoche describes the types of people to be met in the West, both ones that have met the Dharma and ones that have not. To the very direct, non descriptive points made through out the book. As in something along the lines of “According to the Buddha Shakyamuni, the fundamental quality of the Dharma is directness”. And / or a description of how Mahasiddha Saraha became a pure monk through realization that arose through his relationship with the arrowsmith’s daughter. And then a recounting of that point by telling us that realization is the point and in the same time that we do not have to try to all be like Saraha…

And back to the opening pages where there is a description of meeting many people getting confused through the introduction to the Dharma and also many people that try to guide their life through regular common sense who are direct, simple and have good minds…

What I see here through my subjective understanding is direct answers to (sometimes heated, back and forth discussion) personal and general questions. These answers come without any agenda from the mind of one of the greatest exponents of the Dharma of recent times.

While this book can confuse any one with a degree of fixed opinion, either a beginner or person that knows a bit, it is for sure to be very clear and easy to understand if approached with an open mind and motivation of obtainment of the result of direct wisdom teaching.

As is remembered:

Shakyamuni Buddha final words: ‟Impermanence is inherent in all things. Work out your own freedom with diligence”

Most amazing, may it be of benefit.

amazon review: Gypsy Gossip and Other Advice, by Kyabje Thinley Norbu

Gypsy Gossip and Other Advice,
by Kyabje Thinley Norbu

amazon.com review:

http://www.amazon.com/review/RVFHFQ4S6Y5XD/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=1611802083

Landmark, reissued

Famous book, a part of which was published several decades ago and I have heard was circulated in a form of photo copies. In many ways the original 67 pages are still too honest and there will be always some people connecting to the text and wandering why it does not attempt to flatter no one. A work requiring high degree of open mindedness because questions are asked (it is in a form of an interview) and Rinpoche gives long careful answers that are like poems, but are answers to real questions not presentations of wishful thinking.

Anyone looking for something that their narrow mind requires to feel good, could feel disappointed because this book comes from simple, sky-like mind and such a vastness looking back at us from the mirror like teacher could unsettle your comfort zones.

A legendary publication reissues by Shambhala with addition of three more parts that make for a hefty volume. A must read for all that consider Kyabje Thinley Norbu Rinpoche work important.

Gypsy Gossip and Other Advice by Kyabje Thinley Norbu Rinpoche

Gypsy Gossip and Other Advice by Kyabje Thinley Norbu Rinpoche recently published, here is the link on amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Gypsy-Gossip-Other-Advice-Thinley/dp/1611802083

Here is a quote from chapter on Solitude, page 40:

“….

Buddha Shakyamuni Said that whoever takes even seven steps toward a solitary place with the intention to attain enlightenment brings about immeasurable benefit.

In ancient times, many sublime individuals like Padmasambhava gave blessings in sacred places for the benefit of future practitioners. In the present time of the kaliyuga, we can receive these blessings from these sacred places. Because of this, we can automatically realize many qualities if we can do our solitary practice with pure intention…”

amazon review: Sunlight Speech by Thinley Norbu Rinpoche

Sunlight Speech That Dispels the Darkness of Doubt:

Sublime Prayers, Praises, and Practices of the Nyingma Masters
by Thinley Norbu Rinpoche

amazon.com review:
https://www.amazon.com/review/R1TCFMVK21QTQD/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm

Short and sweet, not a book to be read, but manual to be meditated on

Rinpoche gave us a volume of traditional Tibetan texts that are instructions for the visualization, meditation, contemplation, awakening, published in an American hardcover binding, in English language, available for mail order through global mainstream company like amazon… Simple, short, sweet… It is here, it has arrived.

To practice these one would do well to go any local Tibetan Buddhist Nyingma Center and it is highly likely that something from this selection is already used there.

For a few of other Rinpoche books I wrote that they are not books but rather experiences on display, in front of us. This book is a road map to these experiences.

amazon review: A Brief Fantasy History of a Himalayan by Thinley Norbu Rinpoche

A Brief Fantasy History of a Himalayan,
Autobiographical Reflections
by Thinley Norbu Rinpoche

Amazon review:
https://www.amazon.com/review/R232YYYEAVJS1P/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm

Experience of the experience,

Experience of the experience. All the books from the Thinley Norbu Rinpoche. regardless how much scholarship is on display lay an experience in front of their readers. They are not a push to make “next step” but rather a head first full body dive into an ocean. And this book is very special in a way that Rinpoche talks about his own experiences, while letting us in…

The Sole Panacea by Thinley Norbu Rinpoche

The Sole Panacea: A Brief Commentary on the Seven-Line Prayer to Guru Rinpoche That Cures the Suffering of the Sickness of Karma and Defilement
by Thinley Norbu Rinpoche

amazon review:
http://www.amazon.com/review/RSSU73F6MTR6J/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm

The Experience

-This is not a book – book offering explanations, deeper meaning so on, so forth.
As it is quoted from the Diamond Sutra on the Page 31:

“…Those that see me as form,
Those that know me as sound,
Are on the wrong path.
They cannot see me.
Buddhas see the pure nature of the phenomena.
All Buddhas are Dharmakaya.
Dharmata is not knowledge.
It is impossible to understand it..”

This book does lay out in front of the reader the experience.

Several posts on passing of Kyabje Thinley Norbu

I have met Rinpoche only one time and very briefly, although I wanted to meet him for a while, it took me long time.

One time I have received a word that Rinpoche has a puja coming up in the next half hour in the NYC Shambhalla Center and this is where I run very fast.

During the 45 seconds that I had to communicate with Rinpoche every word carried meaning and was personal, it was just the same as meeting an old friend. After, I seem to have formed an idea that I am sure to work on for a while yet. Because even as in my case I did not have any doubt that there was great, pure being in front of me, the very presence of the Rinpoche in front was not different as standing in front of a mirror and all my confused ideation was revealed.

 

Kyabje Thinley Norbu Parinirvana 4

From news.palyul.org

Information Regarding the Parinirvana of HH Dungsé Thinley Norbu Rinpoche

HH Penor Rinpoche (left) joyfully greets HH Dungse Thinley Norbu Rinpoche (right). These two masters visited each other frequently when residing in their US Centers. Dorje Lopon Lama Sochuk is behind HH Penor Rinpcohe, and Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso Rinpoche is center.

All of the Palyul tulkus, khenpos, lamas, monks, nuns and students are deeply saddened by the news of the parinirvana of the great master of the Nyingma School, Kyabjé Dungsé Thinley Norbu Rinpoche. Kyabjé Dungsé Rinpoche entered into his final meditation (Thugdam) on the 26th of December, 2011 where he abided for seven days.  Dungsé Garab Rinpoche informed His Eminence Mugsang Kuchen Rinpoche that Kyabjé Dungsé Rinpoche wanted all his devotees to accumulate the Seven Line Prayer to Guru Rinpoche and/or Vajra Guru mantra as much as possible during this time.

The Sangha Community of Namdroling Monastery will perform a grand Mindroling tradition Vajrasattva Guru Yoga in front of the Maha Bodhi Stupa at Bodhgaya at the time of Nyingma Monlam Chenmo to receive Kyabjé Dungsé Rinpoche’s blessings.  Many monks and nuns have already departed for Bodh Gaya and are carrying through practice there.

We are attaching a Swift Return Prayer written by Kyabjé Dungsé Rinpoche’s son, Dungsé Garab Rinpoche (PDF):

Prayer for Swift Rebirth of Kyabjé Dungse Thinley Norbu Rinpoche by His Eminence Tulku Garab Rinpoche

Kyabjé Dungsé Thinley Norbu Rinpoche was the holder of the Dudjom Tersar lineage.  He was a prominent modern teacher in the Nyingma lineage, the eldest son of the great teacher Jigdral Yeshe Dorje, the Second His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche. He was the father of Dungsé Garab Rinpoche, Dungsé Jampal Rinpoche, and Dungsé Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche.  Khyentse Rinpoche has posted regarding his father’s passing to Thugdam here on Facebook.

Kyabjé Dungsé Rinpoche was the incarnation of Tulku Trimé Özer, who was one of seven sons of the First Dudjom Lingpa. He was considered to be an emanation of Longchenpa. In his youth in Tibet he studied for nine years at Mindroling Monastery. His main centers are in the northern Catskills of upstate New York and in California.  He wrote many books published by Shambhala, which are possible to find here. Kyabjé Dungsé Rinpoche and our late Kyabjé Penor Rinpoche had great respect and devotion for each other.  These two masters visited each other’s centers in New York State on many occasions over the years.

Those who wish to pay their respects to the Kudung of Kyabjé Dungsé Rinpoche as provided to Namdroling Monastery (UPDATED 7th January 2012):

From 15 Jan:  Grant audience to the public for blessing in Delhi upstate New York

Feb. 1st: Kudung Rinpoche arriving in Paro, Bhutan

Feb. 1st-Feb. 4th: in Paro

Feb. 5th: Paro to Rangjung

Feb. 5th-Feb. 9th:  in Rangjung at Ranjung Yosercholing Monastery

Feb. 10: Rangjung to Bartsham

Feb. 10-Feb. 12: Bartsham

Feb. 13: Bartsham to Yonphula

Feb. 13-14: Yonphula

Feb. 15: Yunpula to Paro

Feb 15 to March 2nd: in Paro

March 3rd: Cremation Ceremony in Lango, Paro

It is with heartfelt devotion and prayers that we await the swift return of our dear departed masters.  May all beings benefit from the blessings of their wisdom minds!

Kyabje Thinley Norbu Parinirvana 3

 

The following is from www.vajrayana.org
Below is a message from Lama Tharchin Rinpoche to our sangha:

Our lord protector His Holiness Kyabje Dungse Thinley Norbu Rinpoche passed into parinirvana last night. Rinpoche wrote down a message for all of us, asking that everyone do Vajrasattva practice for three weeks. These were Rinpoche’s last vajra words for us.

If you are able to join with sangha and do practice in your area with a lama, please do that. If possible, please join with our sangha at Pema Osel Ling to do the Dorsem Lama Chopa, at Kunzang Gatshal, or with your local sangha. If you are not able to do that or if there is no local sangha, it is fine to do any form of Vajrasattva practice according to any sadhana including Ngondro and the Hundred Syllable Mantra. Meditate that our lord protector Dungse Rinpoche is inseparable with Vajrasattva’s form. Meditating this way, take empowerment and receive blessings. Then as Vajrasattva dissolves into you, you become inseparable with Vajrasattva. Rest in formless meditation in this way, with your mind and Kyabje Dungse Rinpoche’s wisdom mind inseparable.

This is the best way for us to get a taste of Kyabje Dungse Rinpoche’s wisdom mind, even though Rinpoche is not physically present. This stays with us inseparably until we reach enlightenment. Receiving Rinpoche’s blessings in this way is most essential. Now in particular, after Rinpoche’s wisdom mind has been uncovered from the physical elements and has merged with the vast dharmakaya, receiving Rinpoche’s blessings is more powerful even than when Rinpoche is alive. Rinpoche’s wisdom mind merges and pervades everywhere.

Please do Vajrasattva practice every day. This is a very special opportunity to receive Kyabje Dungse Rinpoche’s blessings.

Do not think that Rinpoche needs our help with puja. Don’t have that concept. This is our practice so that we can receive Rinpoche’s blessings and have a taste of Rinpoche’s wisdom mind and how to seal Rinpoche’s wisdom mind with our mind. That is the purpose for us to do puja with faith and devotion.

Kyabje Thinley Norbu Parinirvana 2

This is from facebook, it is a “status update”  by Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse

Thank you for your sympathy and best wishes at this time.

We live in a world of our own making, a world built by our own unique perceptions which we believe in fully, every year, every day, every hour and every moment of our lives.

Even though in reality this life is fleeting and lasts no longer than the time it takes for a spark of fire to shoot out, it is experienced by some as dragging on interminably for aeons and aeons. Yet for others, although in reality the span of this world’s existence is infinite, their experience of it lasts no longer than the blink of an eye.

For some, this world is no bigger than a worm hole, yet they feel insignificant and isolated, lost in a vast and infinite void. Others perceive the world to be small—as small as an entire universe—and to them it feels uncomfortably confined and claustrophobic.

Most of us, myself included, have been conditioned to live and die in a world created by our own perceptions, and continue to create conditions that will ensure we repeat this same game over and over again.

Amongst myriad possible perceptions, Thinley Norbu Rinpoche is seen variously as an ordinary person, a father, a teacher and a perfect being—a diversity of perception that is the result of each perceiver’s individual merit, or lack of it.

For people like me, whose limitations lead me to see him merely as my father, your condolences will be accepted as emotional support.

For those of you with ‘superior qualities’—or who aspire to develop such qualities—and are able to see Thinley Norbu as a perfect being, this is yet another opportunity to shrug off impure perception and generate pure perception, so that eventually you will go beyond perception altogether.

‘Awareness’ is the quintessential teaching of the Buddha—from the awareness of cool air as you breath in and then out, to the profound awareness of natural perfection. And with boundless compassion and courage, the sole purpose and activity of all the buddhas it is to ring the alarm bell that brings us to this awareness.

With enough merit, the passing of this great being can be interpreted as the ringing of that alarm bell, and a timely reminder of all the teachings, from the simple truth of impermanence, all the way up to the realization of unobstructed compassion. In this way, as much as this deluded mind of ours appreciated and valued his appearance in this world, it should also appreciate and value his disappearance.

Touching as it is to hear from those who are offering various prayers, recitations, butter lamps and many other wholesome activities at this time, allow me to remind myself and all those who are interested, that none of the practices we are currently engaging in are for him, but for ourselves.

However brilliantly the moon appears in the sky, if the pond is muddy, the moon will not be reflected in its waters. In the same way, it is through the purification of defilements and accumulation of merit within our own minds that will enable us, in time, to perceive a reflection of the Buddha, fully intact and never to depart.

So, rather than congratulating ourselves with the thought that we have accomplished all these practices during this special time, bear in mind that we should already have been doing them—and for that matter, we should continue doing them throughout this and all our future lives. But to imagine that our practise is something like providing this great being with the ‘last rites’ is definitely not the best way to go.

I have also been asked which specific practices should be done. Again, I will repeat that mindfulness, in other words ‘awareness’, is our practice. We are ignorant beings, and as such require constant reminders about the importance of making the effort to land in this awareness. Therefore all our guru’s activities—from when he yawns or coughs, to when he appears or disappears—are his way of reminding us to come back, again and again, to mindfulness.
And as long as we are mindful and aware, no one practice is better than another.

Written and dedicated to the enlightenment of all sentient beings in the presence of the rupakaya of Thinley Norbu.
New York City