In December Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche went to Nepal and India to make pilgrimage and to visit his son Jigme Norbu whom he has not seen since coming to the United States in 1979.
On Dakini Day, which fell on Christmas Day, Rinpoche and the Western students travelling with him, did the ceremony (puja) of Troma Chod at the Great Stupa in Boudhanath, Nepal.
Elizabeth Mattis, who is in Nepal teaching English and studying Tibetan and the buddha dharma, recently wrote a letter to her mother Naomi, from which this description of the chod is excerpted.
The 'iron knot' Elizabeth refers to is the literal translation of 'Chagdud.' Some sixteen lifetimes ago, there was a yogi who displayed some of his extraordinary powers by twisting an iron rod into a knot. He was the first Chagdud.
Perhaps names carry different significance in each age. The present Chagdud seems determined to tie the knot between the Vajrayana Transmission and Western practitioners, and to create, as strong as iron, inextricable bonds of realization.
Jane Tromge
_________________
FROM ELIZABETH:
" ... Speaking of the gang, you want to know all the big and little happenings. Rinpoche on the stupa on Dakini Day-that was quite an event. I could say it was probably the most beautiful puja I have ever seen.
It was on the first level of the stupa. In the front row sat Rinpoche, Lama Tharchin, Lama Sonam, Jigme, and some disciples. In the back row sat the other disciples. Rinpoche just sat there like an 'iron knot' that he surely is and did his thing.
It had tremendous effect on everyone. I watched the faces of the Tibetans, Nepalis and Westerners there. Some Tibetans seemed annoyed and arrogant that these crazy 'ingies' were taking over their tradition. And somemonks and Western tourists were embarrassed by things or they thought it was really funny.
Most everyone else, however,seemed very moved by the ceremony. It was not your average puja, and it was so completely Chagdud Rinpoche, who is not your average lama. Then all the food was passed around, which was great, because there are many Tibetan beggars these days ... "
In December Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche went to Nepal and India to make pilgrimage and to visit his son Jigme Norbu whom he has not seen since coming to the United States in 1979.
On Dakini Day, which fell on Christmas Day, Rinpoche and the Western students travelling with him, did the ceremony (puja) of Troma Chod at the Great Stupa in Boudhanath, Nepal.
Elizabeth Mattis, who is in Nepal teaching English and studying Tibetan and the buddha dharma, recently wrote a letter to her mother Naomi, from which this description of the chod is excerpted.
The 'iron knot' Elizabeth refers to is the literal translation of 'Chagdud.' Some sixteen lifetimes ago, there was a yogi who displayed some of his extraordinary powers by twisting an iron rod into a knot. He was the first Chagdud.
Perhaps names carry different significance in each age. The present Chagdud seems determined to tie the knot between the Vajrayana Transmission and Western practitioners, and to create, as strong as iron, inextricable bonds of realization.
Jane Tromge
_________________
FROM ELIZABETH:
" ... Speaking of the gang, you want to know all the big and little happenings. Rinpoche on the stupa on Dakini Day-that was quite an event. I could say it was probably the most beautiful puja I have ever seen.
It was on the first level of the stupa. In the front row sat Rinpoche, Lama Tharchin, Lama Sonam, Jigme, and some disciples. In the back row sat the other disciples. Rinpoche just sat there like an 'iron knot' that he surely is and did his thing.
It had tremendous effect on everyone. I watched the faces of the Tibetans, Nepalis and Westerners there. Some Tibetans seemed annoyed and arrogant that these crazy 'ingies' were taking over their tradition. And somemonks and Western tourists were embarrassed by things or they thought it was really funny.
Most everyone else, however,seemed very moved by the ceremony. It was not your average puja, and it was so completely Chagdud Rinpoche, who is not your average lama. Then all the food was passed around, which was great, because there are many Tibetan beggars these days ... "
In December Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche went to Nepal and India to make pilgrimage and to visit his son Jigme Norbu whom he has not seen since coming to the United States in 1979.
On Dakini Day, which fell on Christmas Day, Rinpoche and the Western students travelling with him, did the ceremony (puja) of Troma Chod at the Great Stupa in Boudhanath, Nepal.
Elizabeth Mattis, who is in Nepal teaching English and studying Tibetan and the buddha dharma, recently wrote a letter to her mother Naomi, from which this description of the chod is excerpted.
The 'iron knot' Elizabeth refers to is the literal translation of 'Chagdud.' Some sixteen lifetimes ago, there was a yogi who displayed some of his extraordinary powers by twisting an iron rod into a knot. He was the first Chagdud.
Perhaps names carry different significance in each age. The present Chagdud seems determined to tie the knot between the Vajrayana Transmission and Western practitioners, and to create, as strong as iron, inextricable bonds of realization.
Jane Tromge
_________________
FROM ELIZABETH:
" ... Speaking of the gang, you want to know all the big and little happenings. Rinpoche on the stupa on Dakini Day-that was quite an event. I could say it was probably the most beautiful puja I have ever seen.
It was on the first level of the stupa. In the front row sat Rinpoche, Lama Tharchin, Lama Sonam, Jigme, and some disciples. In the back row sat the other disciples. Rinpoche just sat there like an 'iron knot' that he surely is and did his thing.
It had tremendous effect on everyone. I watched the faces of the Tibetans, Nepalis and Westerners there. Some Tibetans seemed annoyed and arrogant that these crazy 'ingies' were taking over their tradition. And somemonks and Western tourists were embarrassed by things or they thought it was really funny.
Most everyone else, however,seemed very moved by the ceremony. It was not your average puja, and it was so completely Chagdud Rinpoche, who is not your average lama. Then all the food was passed around, which was great, because there are many Tibetan beggars these days ... "
In December Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche went to Nepal and India to make pilgrimage and to visit his son Jigme Norbu whom he has not seen since coming to the United States in 1979.
On Dakini Day, which fell on Christmas Day, Rinpoche and the Western students travelling with him, did the ceremony (puja) of Troma Chod at the Great Stupa in Boudhanath, Nepal.
Elizabeth Mattis, who is in Nepal teaching English and studying Tibetan and the buddha dharma, recently wrote a letter to her mother Naomi, from which this description of the chod is excerpted.
The 'iron knot' Elizabeth refers to is the literal translation of 'Chagdud.' Some sixteen lifetimes ago, there was a yogi who displayed some of his extraordinary powers by twisting an iron rod into a knot. He was the first Chagdud.
Perhaps names carry different significance in each age. The present Chagdud seems determined to tie the knot between the Vajrayana Transmission and Western practitioners, and to create, as strong as iron, inextricable bonds of realization.
Jane Tromge
_________________
FROM ELIZABETH:
" ... Speaking of the gang, you want to know all the big and little happenings. Rinpoche on the stupa on Dakini Day-that was quite an event. I could say it was probably the most beautiful puja I have ever seen.
It was on the first level of the stupa. In the front row sat Rinpoche, Lama Tharchin, Lama Sonam, Jigme, and some disciples. In the back row sat the other disciples. Rinpoche just sat there like an 'iron knot' that he surely is and did his thing.
It had tremendous effect on everyone. I watched the faces of the Tibetans, Nepalis and Westerners there. Some Tibetans seemed annoyed and arrogant that these crazy 'ingies' were taking over their tradition. And somemonks and Western tourists were embarrassed by things or they thought it was really funny.
Most everyone else, however,seemed very moved by the ceremony. It was not your average puja, and it was so completely Chagdud Rinpoche, who is not your average lama. Then all the food was passed around, which was great, because there are many Tibetan beggars these days ... "
In December Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche went to Nepal and India to make pilgrimage and to visit his son Jigme Norbu whom he has not seen since coming to the United States in 1979.
On Dakini Day, which fell on Christmas Day, Rinpoche and the Western students travelling with him, did the ceremony (puja) of Troma Chod at the Great Stupa in Boudhanath, Nepal.
Elizabeth Mattis, who is in Nepal teaching English and studying Tibetan and the buddha dharma, recently wrote a letter to her mother Naomi, from which this description of the chod is excerpted.
The 'iron knot' Elizabeth refers to is the literal translation of 'Chagdud.' Some sixteen lifetimes ago, there was a yogi who displayed some of his extraordinary powers by twisting an iron rod into a knot. He was the first Chagdud.
Perhaps names carry different significance in each age. The present Chagdud seems determined to tie the knot between the Vajrayana Transmission and Western practitioners, and to create, as strong as iron, inextricable bonds of realization.
Jane Tromge
_________________
FROM ELIZABETH:
" ... Speaking of the gang, you want to know all the big and little happenings. Rinpoche on the stupa on Dakini Day-that was quite an event. I could say it was probably the most beautiful puja I have ever seen.
It was on the first level of the stupa. In the front row sat Rinpoche, Lama Tharchin, Lama Sonam, Jigme, and some disciples. In the back row sat the other disciples. Rinpoche just sat there like an 'iron knot' that he surely is and did his thing.
It had tremendous effect on everyone. I watched the faces of the Tibetans, Nepalis and Westerners there. Some Tibetans seemed annoyed and arrogant that these crazy 'ingies' were taking over their tradition. And somemonks and Western tourists were embarrassed by things or they thought it was really funny.
Most everyone else, however,seemed very moved by the ceremony. It was not your average puja, and it was so completely Chagdud Rinpoche, who is not your average lama. Then all the food was passed around, which was great, because there are many Tibetan beggars these days ... "
