Live Story from the Oral Tradition (9) – My Root Lama – Lodoe Gyatso (2) 罗珠仁波切

Live Story from the Oral Tradition (9) – My Root Lama – Lodoe Gyatso (2) 罗珠仁波切 

Chat with H.E. Kunde Rinpoche (herein address as Tulku) on October 4, 2011 at Dharamsala, India.

Q= sonam yeshi, A=Kunde Rinpoche, Bracket ( ) - notes added for clarity, [ ] - expression

Q: Tulku， my apology.  Sometime ago I had asked you of your Root Lama, Lodoe Gyatso, which I found such inspiring and inconceivable of this great Master of this century. Though so far I had not seen any Vajrayana Buddhism site (in English) posted this Dzogchen Master’s picture (except Tulku’s blog at http://www.tulkukonde.blogspot.com) , any comments?

A: I don’t know [laughter]

Q: But the last chat I had forgotten to jot down one important name and narration ?

A: yes, you may ask now.

Q: : I had asked of which Rinpoche had recognized your Master’s reincarnation. One of them was Kyabje Pema Kalsang Rinpoche, and another one by ??? Rinpoche (one of his former closed disciples ) – but I had missed that important point?

A: Bano Wangtrul Tulku (transliteration of this Rinpoche’s name as heard)

Q: Who is this Bano Wangtrul Tulku?

A: He is my Master’s first disciple in the jail.

Q: wow! jail?

A: [laughter] My Root Lama, Lodoe Gyatso was in the jail and this Rinpoche was confined to the same room.

Q: then, what had happened?

A: My Master thought him the Great Perfection teachings (Dzogchen) in the jail .

Q: It is such heart-endearing, even lost of physical freedom did not stop a great Master from disseminating his Wisdom and knowledge to  even a single human being around?

A: YES, that’s why we regarded him as the Dzogchen Master in the lineage who had passed on the oral tradition in Tibet historically.

(once Tulku’s students asked if we new students should regard him as our Root Lama，he humbly said ‘No’ and insisted we should visualized Lodoe Gyatso!)

Q: How did he taught a student in a jail?

A: Besides teaching meditation to him, Master even tried to write down in short instructions for him to remember .

Q: Wow, where were the writing tools [laughter]!

A: Yes, my Master is very special - it reflects the essence of Great Compassion of my root Lama’s, Lodoe Gyatso – He did manage to do it?

Q: I am curious, how did you know it [laughter]. Is Bano Wangtrul Tulku still alive?

A: Bano Wangtrul Tulku had compiled Master’s oral teachings (in Tibetan). YES, he is now (about) 85 years old, still healthy!

Q: Wow, back to this boy recognized by Bano Wangtrul Tulku. Did he fulfilled all the process and conditions stated in Tibetan tradition of recognization of Tulkus?

A: Yes, this boy was born in a common family, in the geographical area stated, his body had the birth mark mentioned by my Master -  Lodoe Gyatso written instructions

Q: I had missed this detail – what is the sacred birth mark [laughter], can share? (I called at Tulku in Delhi  asked of this once sometime later after my post related to this!)

A: It is the One ‘EYE’ of the Ekadzati (一支佛母- Dharkini)!

Q: Wow, just unimaginable by our uncultivated deluded mind? Really look like the shape?

A: Yes, that is why it is such special in ‘spiritual’ sense

Q: both recognized Tulku(s) by Kyabje Pema Kalsang Rinpoche and Bano Wangtrul Tulku ?

A: Yes!

Q: where is this reincarnated Lama now recognized by Bano Wangtrul Tulku?

A: in his monastery in Tibet, he is caring for him.

Q: Then where is this recognized Lama by Kyabje Pema Kalsang Rinpoche?

A: In his previous life Monastery, Horthang Tashi Monastery!

Q: Same name as your monastery, there are two Horthang?

A: Yes, both related, different location geographically. Some called our monastery Dzogchen Horthang Tashi Monastery!

Q: wow, wow, personally, I think it is the best, though it is inconceivable for we lay people of reincarnation into two individuals?

A: [laughter], no problem, there is no ‘hat’ for the lay people to debate…

Q: [laughter],…Tulku,  I like this humorous statement! Thank you very much.

A: [laughter]... Thank you

Thank you, Tulku, for sharing your precious time with me on this ‘curious’ topic which had been ringing in mind after I last posted our chat at your blog.

Tashi Delek

Thus have i heard... posted by sonam yeshi in 2011

(Note: Transcribed by Sonam Yeshi. Any mistakes herein were the ignorant of the translator and transcriber, kindly feedback and notify at sonamyeshi09@gmail.com - posted by Sonam Yeshi

Live Story of the Oral Tradition (1) - LODOE GYATSO (1930-2001)

Posted by Sonam Yeshi
1st revised on August 29, 2011

Chat with H.E. Kunde Rinpoche - Sonam Yeshi. Transcribed in Q&A format (herein address as Tulku) in July 2011

Note: The name of Master Lodoe Gyatso was initially translation to English as Golok A-kong Tokden Rinpoche in this blog by Karma Khenpo and Jangchub Dorje (Lama).  After seeking clarification from Kunde Rinpoche, "Golok" is the geographical place of Master's home/monastery.  A cross-reference check on other translated text in Chinese translation, 'Lodoe' (罗珠) is more consistent translation - sonam yeshi, 29 August 2011

Q= sonam yeshi, A=Kunde Rinpoche, Bracket ( ) - notes added for clarity, [ ] - expression

Q: When did you commissioned the art work of your root Lama (Dzogchen Master), Lodoe Gyatso which was inserted as an illustration in your newly published book, First page (A Garland of Flowers: Questions and Answers on the Highly Secret Clear Light Great Perfection/ H.E. Kunde Rinpoche; Translated by Geshe Lhakdor and Dr. Chok Tenzin Monlam.ISBN: 978-967-10552-0-5).

A: In year 2009, at Nepal by an artist.

Q: Can you elaborate on its original idea?

A: I described my ideas and outline of the illustrations to the artist: My root Lama in the middle, the Three Dharma Protectors, and Samantabhadra (空心佛) on utmost top, and scene of surrounding.

Q: How special is your root Lama in the Dzogchen lineage?

A: He had teach and educated (in Khenpo training) /transmit teachings of Dzogchen, and taught many lamas in Dzogchen Shriseng Monastery on Great Perfection practice, many became ‘attained’, very well known Dzogchen Teachers in this century. Among his prominently well-known students are: H.H.Khenpo Jikme Phuntsok 法王堪布吉美彭措仁波切 (the Master of Khenpo Sotaji (索达吉堪布) & Tsultim Lodu (慈诚罗珠仁波切), and the living H.H. Kyabje Pema Kalsang Rinpoche and Kyabje Patrul Rinpoche (Doptal) of Shriseng Monastery in Tibet.

Q: Any ‘esoteric’ or spiritual story about him? Most critical life experience, like how he passed away?

A: [laughter] uh, many many. Yes, 2 weeks before he passed away, he announced to his students, and requested them to ask questions. Thereafter, every morning he gave dharma talks on Great Perfection and asked us for questions. When his physical body (the 5 elements) started to diminishing (dissolved) to emptiness, without any verbal communication, Kyabje Pema Kalsang Rinpoche arrived just on time to complete his Bodhisattva Vow (to do the special Puja & before the physical elements ‘erupted’,do the necessary according to the teaching tradition (apology - that is out of the transcriber's ability to describe in words).

Q: hey, Tulku, it is just beyond our rational mind of such ‘Art of Dying’ [laughter], lay people & new student to Dzogchen tradition like us. We had witnessed so many sufferings of our loved ones, friends, neighbours etc. dying in many difficult, unexpected & confused stages…

A: [laughter] it sounded very spiritual, but there were many extra-ordinary ‘passing away’ real live evidences in Tibet Buddhism history. Spiritual life is the quintessence of the Tibetan culture (and hope it is preserving well).

Q: Has Master taken rebirth?

A: Yes, in Tibet.

Q: How was this incarnation been recognized?

A: Master had left his written description (predicted) of his rebirth, based on those descriptions, a search was carried out.

Q: Any special ‘signals’or description in the prediction given?

A: Yes, one of these was the geographic district name, another one was the physical birth mark - there would be birthmark of a dharma protector, and he chose to be born in a common family (普通家庭).

Q: Wow, I think any of us would choose a ‘rich or wealthy’ family if we have a choice [laughter]!
A: Yes, my Master is very special - it reflects the essence of Great Compassion of my root Lama’s, Lodoe Gyatso

Q: I am curious, which great Master has recognized him [laughter]?
A: Kyabje Pema Kalsang from Dzogchen Shriseng Monastery, and another one by ... Rinpoche (one of Master's former closed disciples - apology, sonam yeshi cannot remember that Rinpoche’s name mentioned by Tulku)

Q: wow, incarnate to two individuals?

A: [laughter] (Tulku didn’t answer, may be the answer is too deep for words description, or it is beyond my limited and always confused mind’s understanding - sonam yeshi)...

Thank you Tulku, i am such blessed to have opportunities to chat with you, and learning from your humane actions.

Tashi Delek

May the roars of the teachings of Great Perfection be heard by all those who have connections and affinity to the practice. May all beings attain Enlightenment