H.E. Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche led twenty-one dzogchen retreats in the West. The first, in 1982, was held in Williams, Oregon, and the retreat activity included the creation of a twenty-two-foot- high Guru Padmasambhava statue. Teachings and morning sadhana practice, beginning at 4:00 a.m. were followed by a quick breakfast at 7:00 and then almost nonstop work until late at night. Great Perfection meditation was integrated into the statue work, which was completed in three weeks. Rinpoche liked to integrate dzogchen training with intense dharma activity. He believed that beyond ordinary physical and mental limitations, practitioners could discover a spaciousness that would allow them to receive the direct transmission of the dzogchen lineage blessings.

In July 1985, retreatants refined and repainted the statue. The skullcup of nectar, which had been filled with amrita (alcohol consecrated into nectar) during the first retreat, was removed from Guru Padmasambhava’s hand and placed in Rinpoche’s retreat cabin. Shortly afterward, Rinpoche’s wife, Chagdud Khadro, entered the room and saw a puddle surrounding the skull cup. Khadro recounts that at first, she was extremely upset because she suspected that one of Rinpoche’s dogs had desecrated the sacred object. But then she noticed a lovely sweet smell pervading the entire room. Tasting a drop of the liquid, she realized it was amrita that had overflowed from the skull cup. It was then that Rinpoche, who was moved to intense and tearful prayer by this obvious sign of blessing, wrote the following poem:

Manifest existence is the primordially pure realm of the Glorious Copper-Colored Mountain.

Immutable self-awareness is Padmasambhava of Odiyan. Awareness-energy is the gathering of heroes and dakinis. Wisdom’s illusory display is the play of enlightened action.
OM AH HUNG VAJRA GURU PADMA SIDDHI HUNG

Without looking, the view’s own bare face is seen.

Without meditating, indwelling wisdom is recognized in its own ground.

Without contriving, action is spacious and inherently liberated.

Without trying, the fruition of the three kayas is actualized.

H.E. Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche led twenty-one dzogchen retreats in the West. The first, in 1982, was held in Williams, Oregon, and the retreat activity included the creation of a twenty-two-foot- high Guru Padmasambhava statue. Teachings and morning sadhana practice, beginning at 4:00 a.m. were followed by a quick breakfast at 7:00 and then almost nonstop work until late at night. Great Perfection meditation was integrated into the statue work, which was completed in three weeks. Rinpoche liked to integrate dzogchen training with intense dharma activity. He believed that beyond ordinary physical and mental limitations, practitioners could discover a spaciousness that would allow them to receive the direct transmission of the dzogchen lineage blessings.

In July 1985, retreatants refined and repainted the statue. The skullcup of nectar, which had been filled with amrita (alcohol consecrated into nectar) during the first retreat, was removed from Guru Padmasambhava’s hand and placed in Rinpoche’s retreat cabin. Shortly afterward, Rinpoche’s wife, Chagdud Khadro, entered the room and saw a puddle surrounding the skull cup. Khadro recounts that at first, she was extremely upset because she suspected that one of Rinpoche’s dogs had desecrated the sacred object. But then she noticed a lovely sweet smell pervading the entire room. Tasting a drop of the liquid, she realized it was amrita that had overflowed from the skull cup. It was then that Rinpoche, who was moved to intense and tearful prayer by this obvious sign of blessing, wrote the following poem:

Manifest existence is the primordially pure realm of the Glorious Copper-Colored Mountain.

Immutable self-awareness is Padmasambhava of Odiyan. Awareness-energy is the gathering of heroes and dakinis. Wisdom’s illusory display is the play of enlightened action.
OM AH HUNG VAJRA GURU PADMA SIDDHI HUNG

Without looking, the view’s own bare face is seen.

Without meditating, indwelling wisdom is recognized in its own ground.

Without contriving, action is spacious and inherently liberated.

Without trying, the fruition of the three kayas is actualized.