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Chogyal Ratna Lingpa known as
Jewel Island Yogin |
Advised to Be a Good Practitioner
Lama Tashi’s mother was a descendant of the family
of the Ratna Lingpa, who was well known in Tibet. Her family practiced less intensively,
but Lama’s mother was an exception. All of Lama’s family members are serious
dharma practitioners today.
His father was a Nyingma Lama. At a young age Lama Tashi was thought to
be the reincarnation of Tulku Dhi-Sa of the nearby Lodrag Nyide Monastery. Although most
of the circumstances matched the details described in the letter of Karmapa, his father
did not want him to be recognized as a Tulku and refused to allow the recognition.
Officially, he stated that he could not give his only son to the monastery as not all
circumstances had matched. To his son he explained that Tulku was just a name and that was
not important to him. He wanted his son to focus dharma practice without a great name even
though he was indeed a Tulku. According to his opinion, the real qualities of a person
were much more important than a great name. He wanted his son to focus on the essence of a
Rinpoche through good practice instead of inheriting the title to it. So he advised his
son to become a good practitioner, and success would come through this practice. Lama
states that he has yet to fulfill the wish of his father.
Became a Lama
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| Rumtek Monastery in
Sikkim |
In 1959, Lama Tashi's father moved his family to Bhutan. During the
following eight years, he studied with his father. In 1965 Lama received the novice vows
from His Holiness 16th Karmapa during his Holiness's visit to Bhutan. He received Rinchen
Terzod empowerments from Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, and many other Nyinma teachings from
Dudjom Rinpoche, Dzogchen Rinpoche, Thomb Tulku and Samdrup Tulku. In 1970 he spent three
months in Kalu Rinpoche's monastery in Darjeeling, India, to receive as many teachings as
possible to prepare him for a three-year retreat. During a visit to the Rumtek monastery
in Sikkim, His Holiness the 16th Karmapa advised Lama to stay and study in Rumtek before
beginning his retreat. Lama stayed at Rumtek for the next 18 years. During this time, HH
Drikung Kjbgon asked the Karmapa for teachings of the Six Yoga of Naropa and of Milarepa
Lama. When Lama learned that, he asked the Karmapa for permission to participate and his
wish was granted.
From that time, he received many other
teachings from the Karmapa. He also received teachings on major texts from Thrangu
Rinpoche, Salje Rinpoche, Jamgon Rinpoche and Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche, from whom
he had already received a six-month Ngondro teaching. He studied ritual procedures and
music and the making of tormas, and from Tenga Rinpoche, the making of mandalas.
After teaching in the Shedra of Rumtek for
three years, Lama Tashi asked permission to enter a three-year retreat. When the principal
of the Shedra asked him why he wanted to retreat, Lama Tashi answered that, since life is
impermanent, he wanted to complete a retreat before his life ended. In 1982, Lama Tashi
began his three-year retreat under the "Kagyu retreat master" Bokar Rinpoche.
After completing the three-year retreat, he was so inspired that he wanted to remain in
retreat the rest of his life. Instead, he entered a one-year Kalachakra retreat under
Bokar Rinpoche in Mirik in Darjeeling, India. Under Bokar Rinpoche's guidance he also
studied the building of stupas and received the necessary transmissions.
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| Lama Tashi in 1994 in
Southern Tibet in front of the building which Milarepa build by order of Marpa |
Lama Tashi with Bokar
Rinpoche |
Off
to the West
In 1988, the "Kamalashila Institute for Buddhist Studies" in Germany sent a
request to the Rumtek monastery for a dharma teacher. Lama Tashi was appointed to take up
the post. He was not keen to go, as he spoke neither German nor English. However, the
institute would provide translators and Lama became resident lama of the Kamalashila
Institute for the following ten years. During his tenure, Lama travelled to various
Buddhist centres in Europe and North America to give teachings. Khenpo Kharthar Rincpoche
of the Karma Triyana Dharmachakra asked Lama to teach in a three-year retreat at the Karma
Ling Retreat Centre in Delaware County, New York. As well, Khenpo Kharthar Rincpoche asked
Lama to manage the Karma Thegsum Tashi Gomang Stupa project. The Venerable Khenchen
Thrangu Rincpoche asked Lama to teach in the Gampo Abbey in Halifax, Canada.
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|
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With Dalai Lama at the
exhibition of a Sand Mandela
built by Lama Tashi in
Hamburg Museum |
|
Karma Thegsum Tashi Gomang Stupa in
Colorada -
A Stupa project managed by Lama Tashi Dondup |
Left
Germany for Canada
In 1990 Lama Tashi accompanied His Eminence the 3rd Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche to Toronto to
perform the Kalachakra empowerment and the building of the Kalachakra sand mandala. After
that visit, Lama was invited to Toronto many times to teach Buddhism. Lama learned to
speak English and sometimes gave his teachings in English without the help of a
translator. In 1998, Lama chose his main residence to be Toronto. However, he also became
a frequent traveller, going to Europe, Canada and the United States to give teachings.
Lama Tashi's Wishes
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| Lama Tashi giving teaching on the
Seven Points of Mind Training in Toronto in 2002 |
Lama Tashi had many wishes. In 1995, Lama
completed eight consecutive Nyungne with his students in Toronto. In 1996, leading a
delegation from Toronto and Hong Kong, Lama started a Monlam in Bodghaya, India. During
this weeklong gathering of thousands of monks from India, Nepal and other parts of the
world, they completed the chanting of 100,000 Samanthabadra prayers, which they offered
for the benefit of all sentient beings. Since then, the Monlam has become a yearly event
in Bodghaya. In 2000, Lama led his students to Nepal where they completed 100 million
Dorgesempa Mantras at the Thrangu Monastery. About 1000 people attended the services each
day. In 2001, Lama fulfilled his wish to complete 108 consecutive Nyungnes with three of
his students in Toronto. As Lama Tashi plans to live in Toronto, he asked His
Holiness 17th Karmapa's advice as to whether he should establish a centre. The Karmapa
supported the idea of a centre and granted the name 'Karma Tekchen Zabsal Ling' to the
future centre.
In 2002, Lama Tashi and his students
founded the Karma Tekchen Zabsal Ling in Toronto. The mission of the Centre as the name
implies, is to offer the profound and clear teachings of the Mahayana (great vehicle)
according to the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. In July of 2002, Lama gave his
first public teaching in Toronto on the "Seven Points of Mind Training*".
As students of Lama Tashi, we are blessed and privileged to have the opportunity to
participate in his mission to help as many sentient beings as possible.
* Audio tapes of Seven Points of
Mind Training by Lama Tashi Dondup is available, click here
to purchase the 7 tapes.
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