Last year Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche returned to Tibet after an absence of 28 years. He traveled to three regions of Eastern Tibet (Kham); to Dakog, the birthplace of the epic warrior Gesar and the home of his sister; to Tromthar, the homeland of his mother's family and Tulku Arak, one of Tibet's greatest living saints; and Nyarnng, where Chagdud Gonpa Rinpoche's monastery still stands, almost unscathed by the destructive years of Chinese oppression.
His sister turned out to be a wisdom holder of the highest order and a delightful eccentric. Before she would allow him to continue his journey, she exacted a promise that he would come back soon. At one point she gave him a paper to sign with a date for his return. "I will become crazy if you don't tell me when you will come back," she insisted.
Because of his promise to his sister and because he wants to assist the three monasteries that he has been associated with, Rinpoche will travel to Tibet again in the summer of 1989. He hopes that some of his Western students will be able to go with him at this time.
That Westerners will be permitted by the Chinese to travel with Rinpoche is very tenuous, because tourists have never been allowed in Eastern Tibet and because of recent political troubles. Moreover, such a trip will be rough and expensive, with poor accommodations or tents, terrible and dangerous roads, bad food and the possibility of altitude sickness.
However, it will also be the experience of a lifetime for those whose desire to know Tibet firsthand is so deep that they can forego ordinary comforts. Peter Moulton, who traveled in Central Tibet and China last year has agreed to explore arrangements for a group trip with Rinpoche. Those who are interested should write him at 2900 Capital Drive, Eugene, OR 97403, or call him at (503) 344-0796. Because of the constraints of travel in China, the group will probably be limited to about 16 persons.
Last year Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche returned to Tibet after an absence of 28 years. He traveled to three regions of Eastern Tibet (Kham); to Dakog, the birthplace of the epic warrior Gesar and the home of his sister; to Tromthar, the homeland of his mother's family and Tulku Arak, one of Tibet's greatest living saints; and Nyarnng, where Chagdud Gonpa Rinpoche's monastery still stands, almost unscathed by the destructive years of Chinese oppression.
His sister turned out to be a wisdom holder of the highest order and a delightful eccentric. Before she would allow him to continue his journey, she exacted a promise that he would come back soon. At one point she gave him a paper to sign with a date for his return. "I will become crazy if you don't tell me when you will come back," she insisted.
Because of his promise to his sister and because he wants to assist the three monasteries that he has been associated with, Rinpoche will travel to Tibet again in the summer of 1989. He hopes that some of his Western students will be able to go with him at this time.
That Westerners will be permitted by the Chinese to travel with Rinpoche is very tenuous, because tourists have never been allowed in Eastern Tibet and because of recent political troubles. Moreover, such a trip will be rough and expensive, with poor accommodations or tents, terrible and dangerous roads, bad food and the possibility of altitude sickness.
However, it will also be the experience of a lifetime for those whose desire to know Tibet firsthand is so deep that they can forego ordinary comforts. Peter Moulton, who traveled in Central Tibet and China last year has agreed to explore arrangements for a group trip with Rinpoche. Those who are interested should write him at 2900 Capital Drive, Eugene, OR 97403, or call him at (503) 344-0796. Because of the constraints of travel in China, the group will probably be limited to about 16 persons.
Last year Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche returned to Tibet after an absence of 28 years. He traveled to three regions of Eastern Tibet (Kham); to Dakog, the birthplace of the epic warrior Gesar and the home of his sister; to Tromthar, the homeland of his mother's family and Tulku Arak, one of Tibet's greatest living saints; and Nyarnng, where Chagdud Gonpa Rinpoche's monastery still stands, almost unscathed by the destructive years of Chinese oppression.
His sister turned out to be a wisdom holder of the highest order and a delightful eccentric. Before she would allow him to continue his journey, she exacted a promise that he would come back soon. At one point she gave him a paper to sign with a date for his return. "I will become crazy if you don't tell me when you will come back," she insisted.
Because of his promise to his sister and because he wants to assist the three monasteries that he has been associated with, Rinpoche will travel to Tibet again in the summer of 1989. He hopes that some of his Western students will be able to go with him at this time.
That Westerners will be permitted by the Chinese to travel with Rinpoche is very tenuous, because tourists have never been allowed in Eastern Tibet and because of recent political troubles. Moreover, such a trip will be rough and expensive, with poor accommodations or tents, terrible and dangerous roads, bad food and the possibility of altitude sickness.
However, it will also be the experience of a lifetime for those whose desire to know Tibet firsthand is so deep that they can forego ordinary comforts. Peter Moulton, who traveled in Central Tibet and China last year has agreed to explore arrangements for a group trip with Rinpoche. Those who are interested should write him at 2900 Capital Drive, Eugene, OR 97403, or call him at (503) 344-0796. Because of the constraints of travel in China, the group will probably be limited to about 16 persons.
Last year Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche returned to Tibet after an absence of 28 years. He traveled to three regions of Eastern Tibet (Kham); to Dakog, the birthplace of the epic warrior Gesar and the home of his sister; to Tromthar, the homeland of his mother's family and Tulku Arak, one of Tibet's greatest living saints; and Nyarnng, where Chagdud Gonpa Rinpoche's monastery still stands, almost unscathed by the destructive years of Chinese oppression.
His sister turned out to be a wisdom holder of the highest order and a delightful eccentric. Before she would allow him to continue his journey, she exacted a promise that he would come back soon. At one point she gave him a paper to sign with a date for his return. "I will become crazy if you don't tell me when you will come back," she insisted.
Because of his promise to his sister and because he wants to assist the three monasteries that he has been associated with, Rinpoche will travel to Tibet again in the summer of 1989. He hopes that some of his Western students will be able to go with him at this time.
That Westerners will be permitted by the Chinese to travel with Rinpoche is very tenuous, because tourists have never been allowed in Eastern Tibet and because of recent political troubles. Moreover, such a trip will be rough and expensive, with poor accommodations or tents, terrible and dangerous roads, bad food and the possibility of altitude sickness.
However, it will also be the experience of a lifetime for those whose desire to know Tibet firsthand is so deep that they can forego ordinary comforts. Peter Moulton, who traveled in Central Tibet and China last year has agreed to explore arrangements for a group trip with Rinpoche. Those who are interested should write him at 2900 Capital Drive, Eugene, OR 97403, or call him at (503) 344-0796. Because of the constraints of travel in China, the group will probably be limited to about 16 persons.
Last year Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche returned to Tibet after an absence of 28 years. He traveled to three regions of Eastern Tibet (Kham); to Dakog, the birthplace of the epic warrior Gesar and the home of his sister; to Tromthar, the homeland of his mother's family and Tulku Arak, one of Tibet's greatest living saints; and Nyarnng, where Chagdud Gonpa Rinpoche's monastery still stands, almost unscathed by the destructive years of Chinese oppression.
His sister turned out to be a wisdom holder of the highest order and a delightful eccentric. Before she would allow him to continue his journey, she exacted a promise that he would come back soon. At one point she gave him a paper to sign with a date for his return. "I will become crazy if you don't tell me when you will come back," she insisted.
Because of his promise to his sister and because he wants to assist the three monasteries that he has been associated with, Rinpoche will travel to Tibet again in the summer of 1989. He hopes that some of his Western students will be able to go with him at this time.
That Westerners will be permitted by the Chinese to travel with Rinpoche is very tenuous, because tourists have never been allowed in Eastern Tibet and because of recent political troubles. Moreover, such a trip will be rough and expensive, with poor accommodations or tents, terrible and dangerous roads, bad food and the possibility of altitude sickness.
However, it will also be the experience of a lifetime for those whose desire to know Tibet firsthand is so deep that they can forego ordinary comforts. Peter Moulton, who traveled in Central Tibet and China last year has agreed to explore arrangements for a group trip with Rinpoche. Those who are interested should write him at 2900 Capital Drive, Eugene, OR 97403, or call him at (503) 344-0796. Because of the constraints of travel in China, the group will probably be limited to about 16 persons.
