Rigdzin Düpa

Thangka of Rigdzin Düpa, courtesy of Dodrupchen Rinpoche

Rigdzin Düpa (Tib. རིག་འཛིན་འདུས་པ་, Wyl. rig 'dzin 'dus pa), 'The Gathering of Vidyadharas,' is the inner lama practice from the Longchen Nyingtik, the terma revelation of Jikmé Lingpa.

The Mandala of Rigdzin Düpa

At the centre of the mandala is Guru Rinpoche in union with Mandarava. Above his head is Garab Dorje and Samantabhadra. He is surrounded by the eight vidyadharas who are in essence the eight deities of Kagyé:

• East - Humkara - Yangdak Heruka
• South - Manjushrimitra - Yamantaka
• West - Nagarjuna - Hayagriva
• North - Prabhahasti - Vajrakilaya
• South-east - Dhanasamskrita - Mamo Bötong
• South-west - Vimalamitra - Düdtsi Yönten
• North-west- Rombhuguhya - Jikten Chötö
• North-east - Shantigarbha - Möpa Drakngak

They are all surrounded by all the vidyadharas of India and Tibet and the twenty-five disciples and yidam deities, dakas, dakinis and dharma protectors.

Texts of the Rigdzin Dupa Cycle

• The Gathering of Vidyādharas, the Inner Sādhana from the Heart Essence of the Vast Expanse, (ཀློང་ཆེན་སྙིང་གི་ཐིག་ལེ་ལས་ནང་སྒྲུབ་རིག་འཛིན་འདུས་པ།,klong chen snying gi thig le las nang sgrub rig ‘dzin ‘dus pa), revealed by Jikme Lingpa.
  • English translation: The Assemblage of Vidyadharas of Long-Chen Nying-Thig, translated by Tulku Thondup (Gangtok, 1980, revised 1991).
  • English translation: The Gathering of Vidyādharas, the Inner Sādhana from the Heart Essence of the Vast Expanse (incomplete) Rigpa Translations
  • English translation: The Inner Practice of the Vidyādhara Assembly (Rigdzin Düpa), from the Heart Essence of the Vast Expanse, translated by Han Kop and Adam Pearcey for the Longchen Nyingtik Project.
  • Colophon: Ema! This mind treasure, which contains the quintessence of the treasures, resounded as vajra music in symbolic script in the palace of the luminous expanse of all-pervading space. I thought to seal it in my heart and conceal it, yet, prompted by the signs of vidyādhara ḍākinīs, I set it down for the benefit of followers with karmic fortune. Conceal it in your heart! Samaya.

• Dazzling Key Points: The Vidhādharas' Manual of Concealed Instructions, from the Heart Essence of the Vast Expanse (gab byang - klong chen snying gi thig le las/ gab byang gnad kyi mig tshag), revealed by Jikme Lingpa.
  • English translation: A Glimpse of the Crucial Points—The Vidyādhara's Manual of Concealed Instructions (Gabjang), from the Longchen Nyingtik, translated by Adam Pearcey based on the oral explanation of Alak Zenkar Rinpoche and with the assistance of Gyurme Avertin, 2007. Edited for Lotsawa House as part of the Longchen Nyingtik Project, 2020.
  • Colophon: At the time of the degeneration of the mantra teachings, this was written by Rangjung Dorje Jigme Lingpa. May it bring benefit to all who come into contact with it!

• The Lute of the Gandharvas: A Garland of Offerings of the Sixteen Vajra Goddesses (mchod phreng - rdo rje'i lha mo bcu drug gi mchod phreng dri za'i rgyud mang), revealed by Jikme Lingpa.
  • English translation: The Lute of the Gandharvas: A Garland of Offerings of the Sixteen Vajra Goddesses, translated by Rigpa Translations, 2022.
  • Colophon: And so the sixteen vajra consorts’ garland of offerings, this song of the gandharvas’ daughters with its strains of a thousand lutes, was given to me by the lady of speech, the goddess Sarasvatī.
• The Vase of Immortal Life: The Long Life Practice (Tsedrup) of the Vidyādharas, from the Heart Essence of the Vast Expanse (tshe sgrub - klong chen snying gi thig le las rig 'dzin tshe sgrub bdud rtsi bum bcud, revealed by Jikme Lingpa. (In here one also finds the Tsé Guk, the summoning of longevity)
  • English translation: The Vase of Immortal Life: The Long-Life Practice of the Vidyādharas, from the Heart Essence of the Vast Expanse, Rigpa Translations. Long life empowerment translated by Han Kop. Edited for Lotsawa House as part of the Longchen Nyingtik Project, 2020.
  • Colophon: At the Iron Bridge of Chuwori, the temple whose traditions lead to awakening, the Māratika of this Snowy Land of Tibet, I released the seal of this text, keeping in mind the auspicious interdependent circumstances for the longevity of the three main Dharma custodians, such as the supreme and compassionate incarnation who is the lord and universal sovereign of accomplished adepts and who has mastered the enlightened activities. May virtue abound!

• A Constant Stream of Blessings: A Prayer to the Eight Supreme Vidyādharas of India (mchog brgyad gsol 'debs - 'phags yul rig 'dzin mchog brgyad kyi gsol 'debs byin rlabs chu rgyun), by the First Dodrupchen Jikme Trinle Özer
  • English translation: Prayer to the Eight Supreme Vidyādharas of India, “A Constant Stream of Blessings” , Rigpa Translations.

• Rain of Siddhis: A Prayer to the Lineage of the Awareness Holder Assembly (rig 'dzin 'dus pa'i brgyud 'debs dngos grub char 'bebs), by the third Dodrupchen Jikme Tenpe Nyima.
  • English translation: Rain of Siddhis: A Prayer to the Lineage of Rigdzin Düpa, translated by Adam Pearcey, Rigpa Translations.

• The Offering Clouds Of the Indestructible Ladies of Sound: Concise Garland of Offerings of the Sixteen Vajra Goddesses (mchod phreng mdor bsdus - rdo rje lha mo bcu drug gi mchod phreng mdor bsdud rdo rje sgra ma'i mchod sprin), by Jamyang Khyentsé Wangpo.
  • English translation: The Offering Clouds Of the Indestructible Ladies of Sound: Concise Garland of Offerings of the Sixteen Vajra Goddesses, Rigpa Translations. Edited for Lotsawa House as part of the Longchen Nyingtik Project, 2020.
  • Colophon: This surged from the sea of vidyādhara Khyentse Wangpo’s mind. Sarvadā maṅgalam

• The Vajra Lute—A Brief Fulfilment for the Guru Practice of Vidyādhara-Assembly (bskang sdus - klong chen snying gi thig le las bla ma rig 'dzin 'dus pa'i skong bsdus rdo rje'i rgyud mangs), by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo.
  • English translation: The Vajra Lute—A Brief Fulfilment for the Guru Practice of Vidyādhara-Assembly, from the Heart Essence of the Vast Expanse, translated by Han Kop and reviewed by Stefan Mang. Edited by Corinne and Dan Ewen, for the Longchen Nyingtik Project, 2020.
  • Colophon: As a result of the persistent requests of some enthusiastic students, Pema Ösal Dongak Lingpé Dé, the servant who delights the omniscient guru, wrote down whatever came to mind. May virtue and excellence abound! Sarva-maṅgalaṃ.

• Shower of Indestructible Splendour: A Self-Initiation for the Guru Practice of the Vidyādhara Assembly, from the Heart-Essence of the Vast Expanse, by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche (བདག་འཇུག་ - ཀློང་ཆེན་སྙིང་གི་ཐིག་ལེ་ལས། བླ་མ་རིག་འཛིན་འདུས་པའི་བདག་འཇུག་རྡོ་རྗེའི་བྱིན་འབེབས་, bdag 'jug - klong chen snying gi thig le las/ bla ma rig 'dzin 'dus pa'i bdag 'jug rdo rje'i byin 'bebs)
  • English translation: Shower of Indestructible Splendour: A Self-Initiation for the Guru Practice of the Vidyādhara Assembly, from the Heart-Essence of the Vast Expanse, translated by Han Kop and edited by Aaron Coote, 2021, for the Longchen Nyingtik Project.
  • Colophon: While we were performing the guru practice of the Vidyādhara Assembly in a group (through which we blessed appearance and existence as the maṇḍala of amṛta) at the monastery of Kunzang Tekchok Ösal Ling, situated in the vast medicinal forests of the hidden land of Khentali in south Bhutan,10 a text such as this was needed, and so I, the fortunate Jigme Khyentse Özer, born in a time when the teachings of the heart-essence of luminosity are in their final period, wrote this down inspired by the illuminating writings of the Omniscient Guru. May it become the cause for all beings to actually attain awakening in the space of the unsurpassed wisdom of Samantabhadra. Sarvadā maṅgalam!

• A Treasury of Accomplishments: A Framework for a Practice Intensive of the Maṇḍala of the Awareness Holders' Heart Practice, from the Heart Essence of the Vast Expanse, by Dodrupchen Rinpoche, (klong snying rig 'dzin thugs sgrub dang 'brel ba'i dkyil 'khor sgrub mchod kyi khog dbub dngos grub gter mdzod)

• A Lake of Enjoyment [Fulfilling] All Wishes Related to the Two Accomplishments: A Framework for an Elaborate Accomplishment Practice of the Three Roots, of the Heart Essence of the Vast Expanse (sgrub khog - klong chen snying gi thig le'i rtsa ba gsum gyi spros bcas sgrub mchod rgyas pa'i khog phub grub gnyis 'dod dgu'i rol mtsho), by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.

• A Small Addendum to Accomplish Amṛta for the Awareness Holders Assembly (starting with dividing the maṇḍala house) (rig 'dus bdud rtsi chig sgrub) (Longchen Nyingtik Root Volumes, Vol 4, p.77/78)

- Additional Texts according to Dodrupchen's tradition

• Blessing the Offering Substances (mchod rdzas byin rlabs)

• Blessing the Activity Vase with Bhurkuṃkūṭa (las bum dme brtsegs bsgrub pa )

• Longchen Nyingtik Preliminary Torma Drum Tradition (rnga chog skabs sngon gtor)

• Offering the White Torma According to the Bell Tradition (dril chog skabs dkar gtor)

• Longchen Nyingtik Obstructors Torma (bgegs gtor)

• Rigdzin Düpa Amṛta Offering (rig 'dus sman mchod)
  • English translation: Rigdzin Düpa Amṛta Offering. Translated by Han Kop, 2018. Edited by Adam Pearcey.

• Supplementary Text for the Mantra Recitation ('dzab nyer mkho)

• The Wish-fulfilling King of Power Who Spontaneously Accomplishes the Two Aims: A Method for Bestowing the Long-life Empowerment for 'The Long Life Practice of the Awareness Holders: The Vase of Immortal Life' (rig 'dzin tshe dbang - rig 'dzin tshe sgrub bdud rtsi bum bcud kyi tshe dbang bskur thabs don gnyis lhun grub yid bzhin dbang gi rgyal po), by Dodrupchen Jikme Trinle Özer.

• Supplementary Texts for the Concluding Rituals (rjes chog nyer mkho bzhugs)

- Empowerment Texts

• The King’s Coronation Kamandalu Vase Root Empowerment, the Inner Enabling Empowerment, from the Heart Essence of the Vast Expanse (rtsa dbang - klong chen snying gi thig le las/ rtsa dbang rgyal thabs spyi blugs/ nang nus pa 'jug pa'i dbang ngo'), revealed by Jikme Lingpa.

• A Necklace of Lotus Flowers: An [Empowerment manual] which is Easy to Perform, Connected with the King’s Coronation Kamandalu Vase Root Empowerment, from the Heart Essence of the Vast Expanse (rtsa dbang - klong chen snying gi thig le las/ rig 'dzin 'dus pa'i rtsa dbang rgyal thabs spyi blugs kyi mtshams sbyor khyer bdes brgyan pa pad+ma'i do shal), by Chimé Tennyi Yungdrung Lingpa Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Tayé.

• A Garland of Ruby: The Empowerment for the Deities of the Assembly of Awareness Holders of the Heart Essence of the Vast Expanse (lha dbang - klong snying rig 'dzin 'dus pa'i lha dbang pad+ma rA ga'i phreng ba), by Dodrupchen Jikme Trinle Özer.

• Deathless Amṛta's Innermost Heart: Instructions For Times Such as When Accumulating The Long-life Empowerment of the Assembly of Awareness Holders (snying thig tshe dbang grangs gsog - rig 'dzin tshe dbang grangs gsog sogs kyi tshe nye bar bsdud pa 'chi med bdud rtsi'i yang snying), by Abhaya.

• A Manual for Bestowing the Root Empowerment for the Assembly of Awareness Holders Composed by the Mahāsiddha Künzang Shyenphen (Dodrupchen Jikme Trinle Özer) (grub chen kun bzang gzhan phan gyis mdzad pa'i rig 'dzin rtsa ba'i dbang skur la mtshams sbyor nyung ngu rje bla mas mdzad pa)

Commentaries on Rigdzin Düpa

• The Casket of Siddhis: A Recitation Manual for 'Vidyādhara Assembly' (bsnyen yig - rig 'dzin bsnyen yig dngos grub kyi za ma tog)
  • English translation: The Casket of Siddhis, A Recitation Manual for Rigdzin Düpa, the Gathering of Vidyadharas Translated by Adam Pearcey for Rigpa Translations, 2006. Amended and first published on Lotsawa House, 2015.

• Crucial Points on the Visualisation of 'The Long Life Practice (Tsedrup) of the Vidyādharas' (tshe sgrub dmigs gnad - rig 'dzin tshe sgrub dmigs gnad gal mdo), by Jikme Lingpa.
  • English translation: The Crucial Points of Visualization for the Rigdzin Düpa Long-Life Practice, in Jigme Lingpa, Patrul Rinpoche, Khenpo Chemchok, and Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Taye, The Gathering of Vidyadharas: Text and Commentaries on the Rigdzin Düpa, Translated by Gyurme Avertin (Boulder: Snow Lion, 2017).

• Vase's Elixer of Immortal Life: An Explanation of the Empowerment of 'The Long Life Practice of the Vidyādharas' (tshe sgrub dbang bshad - tshe sgrub bdud rtsi bum bcud kyi dbang bshad), by Jikme Lingpa.

• A Mirror Reflecting Clearly the Chöpön Activities for Rigdzin Düpa (nang bsgrubs rig ‘dzin ‘dus pa’i phyag len mthong gsal me long), by Patrul Rinpoche.
  • English Translation: A Mirror Reflecting Clearly the Chöpön Activities for Rigdzin Düpa, Rigpa Translations, 2007. (now published by Gyurme Avertin, see below)
  • English translation: A Clearly Reflecting Mirror, Chöpön Activities for the Rigdzin Düpa, the Inner Sadhana of the Longchen Nyingtik Cycle, in Jigme Lingpa, Patrul Rinpoche, Khenpo Chemchok, and Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Taye, The Gathering of Vidyadharas: Text and Commentaries on the Rigdzin Düpa, Translated by Gyurme Avertin (Boulder: Snow Lion, 2017), page 169.

• The Words of the Vidyadhara which Bestow the Majesty of Great Bliss: A Guide to the Assembly of Awareness Holders (rig ‘dzin ‘dus pa’i zin bris rig ‘dzin zhal lung bde chen dpal ster), by Khenpo Chechok Döndrup Tsal (aka Khenpo Chöchok).
  • English Translation: The Oral Agama on the Vidyādharas which Gloriously bestows Great Bliss, translated by John Newnham, 1990.
  • English Translation: The Words of the Vidyādhara which Bestow the Majesty of Great Bliss, Rigpa Translations, 2007.
  • English Translation: The Words of the Vidyadhara that Bestow the Majesty of Great Bliss, Notations on the Rigdzin Düpa, the Inner Sadhana for the Longchen Nyingtik Cycle, in The Gathering of Vidyadharas—Text and Commentaries on the Rigdzin Düpa, translated by Gyurmé Avertin (Boston & London: Shambhala, Sept. 2017)

• The Light of the Sun and the Moon— Generation and Perfection Stages, Notes Explaining the Words of the Rigdzin Düpa, the Inner Sadhana of the Longchen Nyingtik Cycle (klong chen snying gi thig le las nang bsgrub rig 'dzin 'dus pa'i 'bru 'grel gyi zin bris bskyed rdzogs nyi zla'i 'od snang), by Khangsar Tenpé Wangchuk (aka Tulku Tenpo).
  • English translation: The Light of the Sun and the Moon— Generation and Perfection Stages, Notes Explaining the Words of the Rigdzin Düpa, the Inner Sadhana of the Longchen Nyingtik Cycle, in Jigme Lingpa, Patrul Rinpoche, Khenpo Chemchok, and Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Taye, The Gathering of Vidyadharas: Text and Commentaries on the Rigdzin Düpa, Translated by Gyurme Avertin (Boulder: Snow Lion, 2017), page 95.

• Rigdzin Düpa Manual, based on oral teachings by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, Rigpa, 1999.

• An Ocean of Siddhis: an All-encompassing Retreat Manual for the Assembly of Awareness Holders (rig 'dus bsnyen yig kun btus dngos grub rgya mtsho), by Lopön Thekchok Yeshe Dorje

Empowerments Given to the Rigpa Sangha

Mandala of Rigdzin Düpa, courtesy of Chatral Rinpoche

• Kyabjé Dodrupchen Rinpoche, London, November 1975
• Kyabjé Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Paris, 24th April 1980
• Dzogchen Rinpoche, Santa Cruz CA, December 1985
• Kyabjé Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Rigpa London, 20th May 1987
• Kyabjé Dodrupchen Rinpoche, Brunissard, France, 22nd August 1989
• Kyabjé Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Prapoutel, 18th August 1990
• Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, Berlin, November 1991
• Kyabjé Dodrupchen Rinpoche, Dzogchen Beara, 1991, including Tsédrup and Tséguk practices
• Tulku Kalsang Rinpoche, Munich, 30th January 1994
• Khenpo Petse Rinpoche, Munich, 5 October 1997
• Dzogchen Rinpoche, Dzogchen Beara, Ireland, December 1998
• Dzogchen Rinpoche, Kirchheim, December 1998
• Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, Lerab Ling, 10th August 1998
• Kyabjé Trulshik Rinpoche, San Francisco, September 1999
• Kyabjé Trulshik Rinpoche, Lerab Ling, Saturday 13th November 1999
• Dzogchen Rinpoche, Lerab Ling, 2001
• Kyabjé Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche, Rigpa London, 30th October 2002
• Kyabjé Trulshik Rinpoche, Lerab Ling, Monday 23rd June 2003
• Kyabjé Trulshik Rinpoche, Kirchheim, Monday 29th December 2003
• Kyabjé Trulshik Rinpoche, Lerab Ling, Saturday 10th December 2005
• Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche, Boudhanath, Nepal, 24 March 2012, using Jamgön Kongtrul's arrangement of the empowerment for the Longchen Nyingtik inner lama practice of Rigdzin Düpa
• Yangthang Rinpoche, Lerab Ling, 28th July 2012
• Khenchen Pema Sherab, Lerab Ling, 17 June 2019, short empowerment based on the empowerment manual by Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Tayé.
• Tulku Rigdzin Pema Rinpoche, Amsterdam Rigpa Centre, Netherlands, 11 September 2022
• Tulku Rigdzin Pema Rinpoche, Dharma Mati, Germany 30 December 2022
• Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche, Lerab Ling, 1 May 2023

Teachings Given to the Rigpa Sangha

• Sogyal Rinpoche, Tenby retreat, UK, 18-22 April 1987.
• Khenpo Könchok Mönlam Rinpoche, San Francisco, 6-7 July 1998.
• Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, Lerab Ling, France, 8-16 August 1998.
• Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, Rigpa London, UK, 5-9 September 2001.
• Sogyal Rinpoche, Lerab Ling, France, 18-23 July 2005, during the Rigdzin Düpa Drupchö—based on Jikmé Lingpa's commentary, The Casket of Siddhis.
• Lama Chökyi Nyima, Clear Lake, USA, 3-5 December 2006.
• Sogyal Rinpoche, Lerab Ling, France, September 2007.
• Sogyal Rinpoche, Lerab Ling, France, 21 October 2009.

Further Reading

• Tulku Thondup, Hidden Teachings of Tibet (Boston: Wisdom, reprint edition 1997), 'Appendix 2: Description of Empowerment of Rig dzin Dü pa'.
• Gyurme Avertin, The Gathering of Vidyadharas. Text and Commentaries on the Rigdzin Düpa, Snow Lion 2017.