On Losar morning after the opening of the boundaries of the Vajrakilaya drubchen, H.E. Chagdud Rinpoche conducted two brief ceremonies: the ordination of Wyn Fischel ( Lama Padma Drimed Norbu) and Tsering Everest (Lama Padma Tsering Dechhen Chokyid)and the naming of two young tulkus. Rinpoche made the following statements at that time.
For more than a decade now, Chagdud Gonpa Foundation has been in existence in this country to ensure that the seeds of the Buddhadharma will be planted here, that the teachings will flourish and spread. Over the years we've seen results: the very temple that we' re practicing in is a result of those efforts, as is the sangha–the men and women in this and other centers who are practicing the development and completion stages of Vajrayana meditation. As president and founder of Chagdud Gonpa, I have found it gratifying to see all this develop over the years. As I get older and approach the latter part of my life, I feel as though, having climbed this steep mountain, I've arrived at the summit and the time has come to hand on my responsibilities.
For some time I have been seeking among my students those whose experience and judgment I feel can be relied upon, and whose character and personalities are such that they can truly benefit others through their activities. This has not been a haphazard process, but something I've thought about very carefully. I have prayed to my own lamas and to the Three Jewels,the sources of refuge, for inspiration and blessing in making these choices, and one result is the official investiture today of two of my Western students.
In a sense, this merely confirms what has already been the case for some time. Both of these individuals have been functioning as lamas,teaching and guiding others in their practice. Today they are being formally acknowledged for the role they have played and are playing.
I continue to be very appreciative of the efforts of all of you–my own son and grandson, the members of my family, the members of the sangha–working together. I know that it has been an arduous task at times, but you've been willing to put the time, energy and effort into helping to implement my activities as I plant the seeds of the dharma in this country. On this occasion I wish, first and foremost, to acknowledge the role that is now being played by one individual, both in terms of taking over many of the responsibilities of running the Foundation and from the point of view of dharma activities, serving as a teacher.
Wyn Fischel, or Lama Padma Drimed Norbu, even before we had met, had some significant measure of insight and experience, as the habit patterns from his previous lifetimes had awakened to some extent. Since our first meeting some years ago, I have been impressed with the enthusiastic diligence and sincerity with which he has applied himself to receiving teachings from me and training and practicing on the basis of these teachings. Even though he is not a holder of the teachings in the scholarly sense of one who has vast erudition, his practice of the direct transmission instructions of the Great Perfection lineage has given me a certainty that he can carry on that transmission, teaching and guiding others in their practice on this level. This ceremony today is an affirmation of my confidence in Lama Drimed Norbu.
In this way, I recognize formally, in the presence of the lamas and students, Lama Drimed Norbu as the one who will take on these responsibilities, on the administrative, the secular and also the spiritual levels. This doesn't mean that I am completely fading out of the picture. I'm still directing things, but the details are for Lama Drimed Norbu to implement and for all of you to help him with. Please do help him. Please ensure that his activities continue to flourish, so that the teachings that he maintains will not wane, but will continue to become more stable and widespread.
The second individual I am ordaining today is Tsering Everest. Before I had left Tibet for India or the West, I met a seemingly ordinary nun, who said to me, "You will meet me again in the West." That prophecy didn't make sense until I realized later that this woman hadn't been an ordinary nun, but an emanation of Tara in human form, prophesying that when I came to the United States and needed an interpreter to help spread my teachings, I would meet someone who would prove to be extremely helpful. Tsering Everest, perhaps more than any other interpreter, in her own unique way has helped me to spread my teachings in this country. Again, even though she has not studied widely in the formal, scholastic sense, I have seen how much benefit Tsering has been able to bring to people. I have also seen the very evident signs of her training in previous lifetimes, and feel that she is an emanation of Tara who has appeared in the West and has been enormously helpful to me.
Furthermore, I instructed Tsering to undertake a long retreat, which she finished just a short while ago; during her retreat I was quite impressed by and convinced of the authenticity of her experiences. As we say in the tradition, the warmth of meditative experience was awakened inTsering's mindstream.
So, on this occasion, I wish to officially recognize Lama Padma Tsering Dechhen Chokyid as a lama of the Chagdud Gonpa Foundation. Her strengths lie in the cycles of teachings connected with the deities Tara, Amitabha and Vajrasattva and p'howa practice–she has my express permission to undertake the tasks of spreading these teachings and guiding people in their meditation and practice.
For many of you who have known her for some years, this ceremony is merely a formality that acknowledges what you are already aware of: Tsering's fine qualities. I am simply affirming them and again asking that the sangha work together in harmony with loving kindness and appreciation for thisteacher, helping her in her activities.
This has been a rather streamlined version of an investiture ceremony, a formal recognition of these two individuals, and I give them my very best wishes.
On Losar morning after the opening of the boundaries of the Vajrakilaya drubchen, H.E. Chagdud Rinpoche conducted two brief ceremonies: the ordination of Wyn Fischel ( Lama Padma Drimed Norbu) and Tsering Everest (Lama Padma Tsering Dechhen Chokyid)and the naming of two young tulkus. Rinpoche made the following statements at that time.
For more than a decade now, Chagdud Gonpa Foundation has been in existence in this country to ensure that the seeds of the Buddhadharma will be planted here, that the teachings will flourish and spread. Over the years we've seen results: the very temple that we' re practicing in is a result of those efforts, as is the sangha–the men and women in this and other centers who are practicing the development and completion stages of Vajrayana meditation. As president and founder of Chagdud Gonpa, I have found it gratifying to see all this develop over the years. As I get older and approach the latter part of my life, I feel as though, having climbed this steep mountain, I've arrived at the summit and the time has come to hand on my responsibilities.
For some time I have been seeking among my students those whose experience and judgment I feel can be relied upon, and whose character and personalities are such that they can truly benefit others through their activities. This has not been a haphazard process, but something I've thought about very carefully. I have prayed to my own lamas and to the Three Jewels,the sources of refuge, for inspiration and blessing in making these choices, and one result is the official investiture today of two of my Western students.
In a sense, this merely confirms what has already been the case for some time. Both of these individuals have been functioning as lamas,teaching and guiding others in their practice. Today they are being formally acknowledged for the role they have played and are playing.
I continue to be very appreciative of the efforts of all of you–my own son and grandson, the members of my family, the members of the sangha–working together. I know that it has been an arduous task at times, but you've been willing to put the time, energy and effort into helping to implement my activities as I plant the seeds of the dharma in this country. On this occasion I wish, first and foremost, to acknowledge the role that is now being played by one individual, both in terms of taking over many of the responsibilities of running the Foundation and from the point of view of dharma activities, serving as a teacher.
Wyn Fischel, or Lama Padma Drimed Norbu, even before we had met, had some significant measure of insight and experience, as the habit patterns from his previous lifetimes had awakened to some extent. Since our first meeting some years ago, I have been impressed with the enthusiastic diligence and sincerity with which he has applied himself to receiving teachings from me and training and practicing on the basis of these teachings. Even though he is not a holder of the teachings in the scholarly sense of one who has vast erudition, his practice of the direct transmission instructions of the Great Perfection lineage has given me a certainty that he can carry on that transmission, teaching and guiding others in their practice on this level. This ceremony today is an affirmation of my confidence in Lama Drimed Norbu.
In this way, I recognize formally, in the presence of the lamas and students, Lama Drimed Norbu as the one who will take on these responsibilities, on the administrative, the secular and also the spiritual levels. This doesn't mean that I am completely fading out of the picture. I'm still directing things, but the details are for Lama Drimed Norbu to implement and for all of you to help him with. Please do help him. Please ensure that his activities continue to flourish, so that the teachings that he maintains will not wane, but will continue to become more stable and widespread.
The second individual I am ordaining today is Tsering Everest. Before I had left Tibet for India or the West, I met a seemingly ordinary nun, who said to me, "You will meet me again in the West." That prophecy didn't make sense until I realized later that this woman hadn't been an ordinary nun, but an emanation of Tara in human form, prophesying that when I came to the United States and needed an interpreter to help spread my teachings, I would meet someone who would prove to be extremely helpful. Tsering Everest, perhaps more than any other interpreter, in her own unique way has helped me to spread my teachings in this country. Again, even though she has not studied widely in the formal, scholastic sense, I have seen how much benefit Tsering has been able to bring to people. I have also seen the very evident signs of her training in previous lifetimes, and feel that she is an emanation of Tara who has appeared in the West and has been enormously helpful to me.
Furthermore, I instructed Tsering to undertake a long retreat, which she finished just a short while ago; during her retreat I was quite impressed by and convinced of the authenticity of her experiences. As we say in the tradition, the warmth of meditative experience was awakened inTsering's mindstream.
So, on this occasion, I wish to officially recognize Lama Padma Tsering Dechhen Chokyid as a lama of the Chagdud Gonpa Foundation. Her strengths lie in the cycles of teachings connected with the deities Tara, Amitabha and Vajrasattva and p'howa practice–she has my express permission to undertake the tasks of spreading these teachings and guiding people in their meditation and practice.
For many of you who have known her for some years, this ceremony is merely a formality that acknowledges what you are already aware of: Tsering's fine qualities. I am simply affirming them and again asking that the sangha work together in harmony with loving kindness and appreciation for thisteacher, helping her in her activities.
This has been a rather streamlined version of an investiture ceremony, a formal recognition of these two individuals, and I give them my very best wishes.
On Losar morning after the opening of the boundaries of the Vajrakilaya drubchen, H.E. Chagdud Rinpoche conducted two brief ceremonies: the ordination of Wyn Fischel ( Lama Padma Drimed Norbu) and Tsering Everest (Lama Padma Tsering Dechhen Chokyid)and the naming of two young tulkus. Rinpoche made the following statements at that time.
For more than a decade now, Chagdud Gonpa Foundation has been in existence in this country to ensure that the seeds of the Buddhadharma will be planted here, that the teachings will flourish and spread. Over the years we've seen results: the very temple that we' re practicing in is a result of those efforts, as is the sangha–the men and women in this and other centers who are practicing the development and completion stages of Vajrayana meditation. As president and founder of Chagdud Gonpa, I have found it gratifying to see all this develop over the years. As I get older and approach the latter part of my life, I feel as though, having climbed this steep mountain, I've arrived at the summit and the time has come to hand on my responsibilities.
For some time I have been seeking among my students those whose experience and judgment I feel can be relied upon, and whose character and personalities are such that they can truly benefit others through their activities. This has not been a haphazard process, but something I've thought about very carefully. I have prayed to my own lamas and to the Three Jewels,the sources of refuge, for inspiration and blessing in making these choices, and one result is the official investiture today of two of my Western students.
In a sense, this merely confirms what has already been the case for some time. Both of these individuals have been functioning as lamas,teaching and guiding others in their practice. Today they are being formally acknowledged for the role they have played and are playing.
I continue to be very appreciative of the efforts of all of you–my own son and grandson, the members of my family, the members of the sangha–working together. I know that it has been an arduous task at times, but you've been willing to put the time, energy and effort into helping to implement my activities as I plant the seeds of the dharma in this country. On this occasion I wish, first and foremost, to acknowledge the role that is now being played by one individual, both in terms of taking over many of the responsibilities of running the Foundation and from the point of view of dharma activities, serving as a teacher.
Wyn Fischel, or Lama Padma Drimed Norbu, even before we had met, had some significant measure of insight and experience, as the habit patterns from his previous lifetimes had awakened to some extent. Since our first meeting some years ago, I have been impressed with the enthusiastic diligence and sincerity with which he has applied himself to receiving teachings from me and training and practicing on the basis of these teachings. Even though he is not a holder of the teachings in the scholarly sense of one who has vast erudition, his practice of the direct transmission instructions of the Great Perfection lineage has given me a certainty that he can carry on that transmission, teaching and guiding others in their practice on this level. This ceremony today is an affirmation of my confidence in Lama Drimed Norbu.
In this way, I recognize formally, in the presence of the lamas and students, Lama Drimed Norbu as the one who will take on these responsibilities, on the administrative, the secular and also the spiritual levels. This doesn't mean that I am completely fading out of the picture. I'm still directing things, but the details are for Lama Drimed Norbu to implement and for all of you to help him with. Please do help him. Please ensure that his activities continue to flourish, so that the teachings that he maintains will not wane, but will continue to become more stable and widespread.
The second individual I am ordaining today is Tsering Everest. Before I had left Tibet for India or the West, I met a seemingly ordinary nun, who said to me, "You will meet me again in the West." That prophecy didn't make sense until I realized later that this woman hadn't been an ordinary nun, but an emanation of Tara in human form, prophesying that when I came to the United States and needed an interpreter to help spread my teachings, I would meet someone who would prove to be extremely helpful. Tsering Everest, perhaps more than any other interpreter, in her own unique way has helped me to spread my teachings in this country. Again, even though she has not studied widely in the formal, scholastic sense, I have seen how much benefit Tsering has been able to bring to people. I have also seen the very evident signs of her training in previous lifetimes, and feel that she is an emanation of Tara who has appeared in the West and has been enormously helpful to me.
Furthermore, I instructed Tsering to undertake a long retreat, which she finished just a short while ago; during her retreat I was quite impressed by and convinced of the authenticity of her experiences. As we say in the tradition, the warmth of meditative experience was awakened inTsering's mindstream.
So, on this occasion, I wish to officially recognize Lama Padma Tsering Dechhen Chokyid as a lama of the Chagdud Gonpa Foundation. Her strengths lie in the cycles of teachings connected with the deities Tara, Amitabha and Vajrasattva and p'howa practice–she has my express permission to undertake the tasks of spreading these teachings and guiding people in their meditation and practice.
For many of you who have known her for some years, this ceremony is merely a formality that acknowledges what you are already aware of: Tsering's fine qualities. I am simply affirming them and again asking that the sangha work together in harmony with loving kindness and appreciation for thisteacher, helping her in her activities.
This has been a rather streamlined version of an investiture ceremony, a formal recognition of these two individuals, and I give them my very best wishes.
On Losar morning after the opening of the boundaries of the Vajrakilaya drubchen, H.E. Chagdud Rinpoche conducted two brief ceremonies: the ordination of Wyn Fischel ( Lama Padma Drimed Norbu) and Tsering Everest (Lama Padma Tsering Dechhen Chokyid)and the naming of two young tulkus. Rinpoche made the following statements at that time.
For more than a decade now, Chagdud Gonpa Foundation has been in existence in this country to ensure that the seeds of the Buddhadharma will be planted here, that the teachings will flourish and spread. Over the years we've seen results: the very temple that we' re practicing in is a result of those efforts, as is the sangha–the men and women in this and other centers who are practicing the development and completion stages of Vajrayana meditation. As president and founder of Chagdud Gonpa, I have found it gratifying to see all this develop over the years. As I get older and approach the latter part of my life, I feel as though, having climbed this steep mountain, I've arrived at the summit and the time has come to hand on my responsibilities.
For some time I have been seeking among my students those whose experience and judgment I feel can be relied upon, and whose character and personalities are such that they can truly benefit others through their activities. This has not been a haphazard process, but something I've thought about very carefully. I have prayed to my own lamas and to the Three Jewels,the sources of refuge, for inspiration and blessing in making these choices, and one result is the official investiture today of two of my Western students.
In a sense, this merely confirms what has already been the case for some time. Both of these individuals have been functioning as lamas,teaching and guiding others in their practice. Today they are being formally acknowledged for the role they have played and are playing.
I continue to be very appreciative of the efforts of all of you–my own son and grandson, the members of my family, the members of the sangha–working together. I know that it has been an arduous task at times, but you've been willing to put the time, energy and effort into helping to implement my activities as I plant the seeds of the dharma in this country. On this occasion I wish, first and foremost, to acknowledge the role that is now being played by one individual, both in terms of taking over many of the responsibilities of running the Foundation and from the point of view of dharma activities, serving as a teacher.
Wyn Fischel, or Lama Padma Drimed Norbu, even before we had met, had some significant measure of insight and experience, as the habit patterns from his previous lifetimes had awakened to some extent. Since our first meeting some years ago, I have been impressed with the enthusiastic diligence and sincerity with which he has applied himself to receiving teachings from me and training and practicing on the basis of these teachings. Even though he is not a holder of the teachings in the scholarly sense of one who has vast erudition, his practice of the direct transmission instructions of the Great Perfection lineage has given me a certainty that he can carry on that transmission, teaching and guiding others in their practice on this level. This ceremony today is an affirmation of my confidence in Lama Drimed Norbu.
In this way, I recognize formally, in the presence of the lamas and students, Lama Drimed Norbu as the one who will take on these responsibilities, on the administrative, the secular and also the spiritual levels. This doesn't mean that I am completely fading out of the picture. I'm still directing things, but the details are for Lama Drimed Norbu to implement and for all of you to help him with. Please do help him. Please ensure that his activities continue to flourish, so that the teachings that he maintains will not wane, but will continue to become more stable and widespread.
The second individual I am ordaining today is Tsering Everest. Before I had left Tibet for India or the West, I met a seemingly ordinary nun, who said to me, "You will meet me again in the West." That prophecy didn't make sense until I realized later that this woman hadn't been an ordinary nun, but an emanation of Tara in human form, prophesying that when I came to the United States and needed an interpreter to help spread my teachings, I would meet someone who would prove to be extremely helpful. Tsering Everest, perhaps more than any other interpreter, in her own unique way has helped me to spread my teachings in this country. Again, even though she has not studied widely in the formal, scholastic sense, I have seen how much benefit Tsering has been able to bring to people. I have also seen the very evident signs of her training in previous lifetimes, and feel that she is an emanation of Tara who has appeared in the West and has been enormously helpful to me.
Furthermore, I instructed Tsering to undertake a long retreat, which she finished just a short while ago; during her retreat I was quite impressed by and convinced of the authenticity of her experiences. As we say in the tradition, the warmth of meditative experience was awakened inTsering's mindstream.
So, on this occasion, I wish to officially recognize Lama Padma Tsering Dechhen Chokyid as a lama of the Chagdud Gonpa Foundation. Her strengths lie in the cycles of teachings connected with the deities Tara, Amitabha and Vajrasattva and p'howa practice–she has my express permission to undertake the tasks of spreading these teachings and guiding people in their meditation and practice.
For many of you who have known her for some years, this ceremony is merely a formality that acknowledges what you are already aware of: Tsering's fine qualities. I am simply affirming them and again asking that the sangha work together in harmony with loving kindness and appreciation for thisteacher, helping her in her activities.
This has been a rather streamlined version of an investiture ceremony, a formal recognition of these two individuals, and I give them my very best wishes.
On Losar morning after the opening of the boundaries of the Vajrakilaya drubchen, H.E. Chagdud Rinpoche conducted two brief ceremonies: the ordination of Wyn Fischel ( Lama Padma Drimed Norbu) and Tsering Everest (Lama Padma Tsering Dechhen Chokyid)and the naming of two young tulkus. Rinpoche made the following statements at that time.
For more than a decade now, Chagdud Gonpa Foundation has been in existence in this country to ensure that the seeds of the Buddhadharma will be planted here, that the teachings will flourish and spread. Over the years we've seen results: the very temple that we' re practicing in is a result of those efforts, as is the sangha–the men and women in this and other centers who are practicing the development and completion stages of Vajrayana meditation. As president and founder of Chagdud Gonpa, I have found it gratifying to see all this develop over the years. As I get older and approach the latter part of my life, I feel as though, having climbed this steep mountain, I've arrived at the summit and the time has come to hand on my responsibilities.
For some time I have been seeking among my students those whose experience and judgment I feel can be relied upon, and whose character and personalities are such that they can truly benefit others through their activities. This has not been a haphazard process, but something I've thought about very carefully. I have prayed to my own lamas and to the Three Jewels,the sources of refuge, for inspiration and blessing in making these choices, and one result is the official investiture today of two of my Western students.
In a sense, this merely confirms what has already been the case for some time. Both of these individuals have been functioning as lamas,teaching and guiding others in their practice. Today they are being formally acknowledged for the role they have played and are playing.
I continue to be very appreciative of the efforts of all of you–my own son and grandson, the members of my family, the members of the sangha–working together. I know that it has been an arduous task at times, but you've been willing to put the time, energy and effort into helping to implement my activities as I plant the seeds of the dharma in this country. On this occasion I wish, first and foremost, to acknowledge the role that is now being played by one individual, both in terms of taking over many of the responsibilities of running the Foundation and from the point of view of dharma activities, serving as a teacher.
Wyn Fischel, or Lama Padma Drimed Norbu, even before we had met, had some significant measure of insight and experience, as the habit patterns from his previous lifetimes had awakened to some extent. Since our first meeting some years ago, I have been impressed with the enthusiastic diligence and sincerity with which he has applied himself to receiving teachings from me and training and practicing on the basis of these teachings. Even though he is not a holder of the teachings in the scholarly sense of one who has vast erudition, his practice of the direct transmission instructions of the Great Perfection lineage has given me a certainty that he can carry on that transmission, teaching and guiding others in their practice on this level. This ceremony today is an affirmation of my confidence in Lama Drimed Norbu.
In this way, I recognize formally, in the presence of the lamas and students, Lama Drimed Norbu as the one who will take on these responsibilities, on the administrative, the secular and also the spiritual levels. This doesn't mean that I am completely fading out of the picture. I'm still directing things, but the details are for Lama Drimed Norbu to implement and for all of you to help him with. Please do help him. Please ensure that his activities continue to flourish, so that the teachings that he maintains will not wane, but will continue to become more stable and widespread.
The second individual I am ordaining today is Tsering Everest. Before I had left Tibet for India or the West, I met a seemingly ordinary nun, who said to me, "You will meet me again in the West." That prophecy didn't make sense until I realized later that this woman hadn't been an ordinary nun, but an emanation of Tara in human form, prophesying that when I came to the United States and needed an interpreter to help spread my teachings, I would meet someone who would prove to be extremely helpful. Tsering Everest, perhaps more than any other interpreter, in her own unique way has helped me to spread my teachings in this country. Again, even though she has not studied widely in the formal, scholastic sense, I have seen how much benefit Tsering has been able to bring to people. I have also seen the very evident signs of her training in previous lifetimes, and feel that she is an emanation of Tara who has appeared in the West and has been enormously helpful to me.
Furthermore, I instructed Tsering to undertake a long retreat, which she finished just a short while ago; during her retreat I was quite impressed by and convinced of the authenticity of her experiences. As we say in the tradition, the warmth of meditative experience was awakened inTsering's mindstream.
So, on this occasion, I wish to officially recognize Lama Padma Tsering Dechhen Chokyid as a lama of the Chagdud Gonpa Foundation. Her strengths lie in the cycles of teachings connected with the deities Tara, Amitabha and Vajrasattva and p'howa practice–she has my express permission to undertake the tasks of spreading these teachings and guiding people in their meditation and practice.
For many of you who have known her for some years, this ceremony is merely a formality that acknowledges what you are already aware of: Tsering's fine qualities. I am simply affirming them and again asking that the sangha work together in harmony with loving kindness and appreciation for thisteacher, helping her in her activities.
This has been a rather streamlined version of an investiture ceremony, a formal recognition of these two individuals, and I give them my very best wishes.
