Unmistaken magical display of the wisdom-mind of Padmakara,
Manifesting in the Snowy Land as the glorious harbinger of benefit and happiness.
Supreme among all those who unlock the profound hidden Termas; Glorious is Rigdzin Gödem!
The Luminosity Great Perfection, pinnacle of all the Yanas,
The nectar of the heart-minds of the three unrivaled Masters of the past.
How incredible and supreme is this Gongpa Zangthal—the unimpeded display of Buddha-mind!
–His Holiness Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche
Künzang Gongpa Zangthal (kun bzang dgongs pa zang thal), “Showing Directly the Realization of Samantabhadra”, encompasses the most important set of teachings and practices of the Highest Great Perfection (Atiyoga Dzogpa Chenpo). These instructions lay out the view, meditation, and conduct of the Dzogpa Chenpo Atiyoga. His Holiness Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche will be transmitting the entire wang (abhishekas, or Empowerments) of Künzang Gongpa Zangthal, and retreatants must attend all sessions in their entirety. This is the first time that these transmissions have been offered on the West Coast of America, and we are extremely grateful to His Holiness for giving practitioners this precious opportunity.
These teachings were revealed by the great Treasure Revealer Rigdzin Gö-kyi Demtrul-chen (Rigdzin Gödem) (1337-1408), the mind emanation of Guru Rinpoche, and one of the five “King-like” Tertons of Tibet. There is no higher transmission than this. It clearly outlines the essential nature of the Great Perfection, revealing the abiding state just as it is. There are five major volumes in this cycle. It is said that to receive the empowerments of Gongpa Zangthal will close the door to rebirth in the three lower realms, and will be a cause for the attainment of liberation and omniscient Buddhahood.
Traditionally, to qualify for such empowerments, the practitioner must have completed their preliminary practices (Ngondro), primarily of the Northern Treasures (JangTer) lineage, and should have completed a traditional three-year retreat. To attend this event, the requirements are as follows: Full time attendance is required and attendance is restricted to those who will commit to completing their Ngondro (set of preliminary practices) after attending the wangs. The elderly and those with literacy impairments must make the commitment to accumulate 1,200,000 Vajra Guru Mantras. It is also strongly suggested that attendees complete at least one aspect of the Jang Ter (Northern Treasures) Ngondro. To not honor these requirements would be considered a serious transgression of samaya, so please consider with great care and full intention before making these commitments.
Künzang Gongpa Zangthal Empowerments and Transmissions: Fulfilling the Intention of Venerable Lama Chödak Gyatso Nubpa, founder of Ari Bhöd
On July 15, 2009, Lama Chödak Gyatso Nubpa reiterated his intentions for the flourishing of Guru Rinpoche’s teachings at the retreat land of Pema Drawa, the future site of Guru Rinpoche’s mandala, Zangdok Palri. A crucial aspect of Lama Gyato’s vision for the flourishing of Dharma was the importance of the bestowal of the Künzang Gongpa Zangthal empowerments. Lama Gyatso reiterated the urgency of receiving these transmissions from the supreme source, His Holiness Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche, the living embodiment of this lineage and holder of the life-force of these teachings. After many years of planning, it is our deepest honor to welcome His Holiness Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche to Pema Drawa to fulfill this aspiration of our late Lama Gyatso Rinpoche.
BIOGRAPHY OF HIS HOLINESS TAKLUNG TSETRUL RINPOCHE
His Holiness Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche is one of the senior-most masters of the Nyingma tradition alive today, and the senior-most monastic. His Holiness is the Head of the Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism, is the holder of the Jang Ter (Northern Treasures) Lineage and is the supreme abbot of Dorje Drak (Vajra Rock) Monastery, one of the six great mother monasteries of the Nyingma Lineage in Tibet.
Born in 1926, His Holiness was recognized as the reincarnation of the great master of Taklung Tse Monastery, and began his training at five years of age. After escaping from Tibet in 1959, His Holiness founded a new Dorje Drak monastic seat in India to preserve and foster the teachings of the Jang Ter Lineage. His Holiness has been the source of the Jang Ter Lineage to many great masters, including His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche and His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. He is a holder of all the great Kama and Terma traditions of the Nyingma, and is also one of the few primary holders of the Nyingma Monastic tradition. His Holiness Dodrupchen Rinpoche relies on His Holiness Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche to bestow the Bikshu ordination for all of his monks at Dodrupchen Chorten Gonpa in Sikkim.
For more information contact Ari Bhöd via e-mail: contact@aribhod.org or phone: (626) 564-0702.