On the auspicious day of Medicine Buddha, June 19, 2010 at
8:07pm, our most beloved teacher and one of the great scholars and
masters in Nyingmapa Buddhism, Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche
passed into parinirvana peacefully and beautifully. All stages of
meditation were perfectly demonstrated according to the teachings
of the Buddha and Guru Padmasambhava, and as Khenchen Rinpoche
himself taught for so many years. He entered fearlessly without any
emotion or attachment, joyfully and with confidence at his home,
Arya Palo Ling, in the presence of his beloved brother, Venerable
Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche, and Jomo Lorraine, and during the
sangha’s practice of Vajrasattva in the glorious Copper-colored
Temple at Palden Padma Samye Ling monastery. Surrounded by every
lush spring quality of gentle breezes, birds singing, flowers
blooming, and deer playing in the meadows, he remains in thugdam
meditation.
Offering ceremonies began in India, Nepal, and Tibet immediately
following Khenchen Rinpoche’s parinirvana, and beginning today we
will hold 49 days of offering ceremonies at Palden Padma Samye
Ling.
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Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche was born on May 10, 1942 in the
Dhoshul region of Kham, eastern Tibet, near the sacred mountain
Jowo Zegyal. On the morning of his birth a small snow fell with the
flakes in the shape of lotus petals. Among his ancestors were many
great scholars, practitioners and treasure revealers.
His family was semi-nomadic, living in the village during the
winter and moving with the herds to high mountain pastures where
they lived in yak hair tents during the summers. The monastery for
the Dhoshul region is called Gochen and his father's family had the
hereditary responsibility for administration of the business
affairs of the monastery. His grandfather had been both
administrator and chant master in charge of the ritual
ceremonies.
He started his education at the age of four at Gochen monastery,
which was founded by Tsasum Lingpa. At the age of twelve he entered
Riwoche Monastery and completed his studies just before the chinese
invasion of Tibet reached the area. His root teacher was the
illustrious Khenpo Tenzin Dragpa, Katog Khenpo Akshu.
In order to remember the sublime qualities of our most kind and
humble teacher, here are a few excerpts from A Praise of the
Venerable Lama Called the Melodious Words of the Ocean of Devotion,
that Khenpo Pema Gyaltsen composed in the late 1990’s:
"Although dwelling primordially in the expanse of
Samantabhadra,
You possess the magical display of most glorious
VajrakumÄra.
Maturing and liberating whomever, incomprehensible protector,
All-victorious embodiment of wisdom, to the lama I bow down.
From the rich, fertile soil of your positive merit and
generosity,
The sweet smell of saffron arisen from your ethical discipline
pervades.
Sovereign of realization arisen from meditation, full bloom of
spring,
Endowed with the three grounds of positive merit, to the lama I bow
down.
Steadfast, constant root of the wish-granting tree of the four
immeasurables,
Luxuriant, full blossom of the activities of the six
perfections,
Tending after others, the fruit of the four bodhisattva
activities,
Beneficial action, glorious protector, to the lama I bow
down.
Having abandoned long ago the obstacles to all objects of
knowledge,
Teaching all the ways of Dharma to disciples of good fortune,
Just like a second Lord of Conquerors in the teachings of the
Conqueror,
Bliss-gone one with perfect skill in the ten powers, to the lama I
bow down.
The most beautiful moon, Manjushri, the wisdom of exalted
knowledge,
Coming from the awakened mind of Chenrezig, the great
compassion,
Just like Vajrapani, the power and might both unchallenged and
unrivaled,
Living countenance that gathers the three families, savior, to the
lama I bow down.
Listening, contemplation, and meditation, the three, vast as the
rich Earth,
Teaching, debate, and composition, the three, resounding music
everywhere,
Knowledge, virtue, and goodness, the three, dramatic play of
Samantabhadra,
Perfect monarch of these nine excellent manners, to the lama I bow
down.
Possessor of firm skill, virtue, and glory, great holder of the
Vinaya,
With marvelous bodhichitta guiding wanderers, hero
bodhisattva,
Completely, clearly realized in the four empowerments, great
vidyÄdhara,
Crown ornament of all teachers, to the venerable lama I bow
down."
Yours in the Dharma,
Venerable Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche
Message From Khenpo Guru
"Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche was one of the most senior and
learned scholars among the Nyingma khenpos. In 1967, His Holiness
Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche appointed Khen Rinpoche to head the
department of Nyingma studies at the Central Institute of Higher
Tibetan Studies in Varanasi, India. Khen Rinpoche was the first so
honored to hold this position.
Khen Rinpoche taught and served at the Institute for more than 18
years with great sincerity, success, and dedication. His Holiness
Dudjom Rinpoche was very pleased with Khen Rinpoche's service, as
well as the high degree of dedication with which he carried out all
of his duties. Khen Rinpoche always showed the greatest respect and
worked in the most harmonious way with the Institute's
administrators, Indian and Tibetan teachers, and all those who
worked and studied there. Everyone within the Buddhist community
has always had the most tremendous appreciation for Khen Rinpoche's
great knowledge, and specifically with regard to the Ngagyur
Nyingma tradition.
Khen Rinpoche was not only a great scholar but also a profoundly
accomplished Dzogchen meditation master and practitioner. In his
life, he benefited numerous beings throughout the world, as
evidenced by the many dharma centers he established and his devoted
disciples. In his memory and for the tireless kindness with which
he taught and benefited us all, we can dedicate ourselves to
carrying out the Vajrasattva practice and mantra accumulations as a
means for purifying any violations of samaya that may have
occurred. Also these recitations help to purify our own
relationship with all of our spiritual teachers who have shown us
such kindness as Khen Rinpoche who dedicated his life to teaching
and benefiting so many of us.
Please send out an email to all of our centers to carry through
these practices and also try to make lamp offerings as much as they
can.
Thank you,
Khen "
May all beings benefit!