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 Rigzin Demthruchen [Rigdzin Gödem]!
The Luminosity Great Perfection, pinnacle of all the Yanas,
The nectar of the heart-minds of the three unrivaled Masters,
Supreme path tread by numerous Intrinsic Awareness-holding Masters of the past, How incredible and supreme is this Gongpa Zangthal—the unimpeded display of Buddha-mind!
–by His Holiness Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche
THE GONGPA ZANGTHAL
EMPOWERMENTS AND TRANSMISSIONS
The Northern Treasures (Jang Ter) are considered a source of extraordinary blessings. There are many remarkable features of these treasures, but the most well-known and highly praised is its section on the Highest Great Perfection (the Atiyoga Dzogpa Chenpo, or Dzogchen), the collection of practices known as “Showing Directly the Realization of Samantabhadra” or Künzang Gongpa Zangthal (kun bzang dgongs pa zang thal). In the past these transmissions were rarely given, even in the place of their origin, so we offer our heartfelt thanks in joy and gratitude to His Holiness for offering this inconceivably precious opportunity to us here in the west. The Gongpa Zangthal is considered to be the treasure trove of Guru Rinpoche’s heart, teachings that by seeing, hearing, or touching alone, students can attain Buddhahood. Before he left Tibet, Guru Rinpoche concealed these teachings in the form of hidden treasure (terma) in Lhadrak Cave in Tibet, so that future generations could receive these teachings in their pure, original state.
These teachings were later revealed by the great Treasure Revealer Rigzin Gö-kyi Demtrul-chen (Rigdzin Gödem) (1337-1408), the mind emanation of Guru Rinpoche, and one of the five “King-like” Tertons of Tibet. The Gonpa Zangtal encompasses the most important set of teachings and practices of the Highest Great Perfection, laying out the view, meditation and conduct* and clearly outlining the essential nature of the Great Perfection, revealing the abiding state just as it is. Kyabje Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche will be transmitting the entire wang (empowerments) and lung (reading transmissions).
It is said that just merely receiving 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 (Jang-ter) lineage, and should have completed a traditional three-year retreat. However, at this time, it is considered difficult to find practitioners who meet these standards. During the course of the retreat, His Holiness will provide instructions about the samaya commitment to attendees.
*According to tradition, “view” signifies how to view the world and its phenomena from the perspective of enlightenment, “meditation” signifies how to tame and transform the mind, and “conduct” signifies how to embody the “view” and “meditation” in daily life.
HISTORY OF THESE TRANSMISSIONS:
FULFILLING THE INTENTION OF
VENERABLE LAMA CHÖDAK GYATSO NUBPA,
FOUNDER OF ARI BHÖD
This series of Northern Treasures Empowerments and Transmissions are being offered under the auspices of the late Lama Chödak Gyatso, founder of Pema Drawa and Ari Bhöd, whose life’s work was to preserve all aspects of the Nyingma Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. Lama Chödak Gyatso expressed the importance of receiving the Northern Treasures empowerments and transmissions as part of the fulfillment of his aspirations, and reiterated the urgency of requesting these transmissions from His Holiness Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche, living embodiment and the holder of the life-force of this lineage. In 2002, Lama Gyatso first made the request in person to His Holiness Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche that these Northen Treasures empowerments be bestowed here in California.
Several of Lama Gyatso’s close students later journeyed to Nepal to Maratika Cave to seek audience with His Holiness Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche, the custodian of the entire cycle of Northern Treasures. These students then carried forth the request of our precious teacher, formally requesting Kyabje Rinpoche to come to Pema Drawa and bestow the entire cycle of Gongpa Zangthal empowerments and transmissions.
We are deeply grateful that His Holiness Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche has agreed to bring these teachings to Pema Drawa and that the perfect time has presented itself to receive these empowerments and transmissions. In the year of the iron rabbit 2138, we have the rare opportunity to receive the direct lineage transmission from this most revered holder of these teachings himself.