Rigdzin Düpa

Thangka of Rigdzin Düpa, courtesy of Dodrupchen Rinpoche

Rigdzin Düpa (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.

Revelations and Composed Texts Belonging to 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 Gathering of Vidyādharas, the Inner Sādhana from the Heart Essence of the Vast Expanse, Rigpa Translations
  • English translation: The Assemblage of Vidyadharas of Long-Chen Nying-Thig, translated by Tulku Thondup (Gangtok, 1980, revised 1991).

• 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: Gabjang—the Inner Mantra Practice: Dazzling Key Points—The Vidhyādhara's Manual of Concealed Instructions, Rigpa Translations.

• The Garland of Offerings of the Sixteen Vajra Goddesses: The Lute of the Gandharvas (mchod phreng - rdo rje'i lha mo bcu drug gi mchod phreng dri za'i rgyud mang), revealed by Jikme Lingpa.
  • English translation: The Garland of Offerings of the Sixteen Vajra Goddesses— The Lute of the Gandharvas, Rigpa Translations.

• 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 (partly): “The Vase of Immortal Life”——Tsédrup: the Long Life Practice of the Vidyādharas, Rigpa Translations.

• 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 Vajra Sound Goddes' Offering Clouds: The Abbreviated 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 Abbreviated Garland of Offerings, Rigpa Translations.

• The Vajra Lute—A Brief Fulfilment for the Guru Practice Assembly of Awareness Holders (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 Lama Rigdzin Düpa, Rigpa translations.

• Vajra Blessings: A Self-initiation for the Guru Practice Assembly of the Awareness Holders, from the Heart Essence of the Vast Expanse (bdag 'jug - klong chen snying gi thig le las/ bla ma rig 'dzin 'dus pa'i bdag 'jug rdo rje'i byin 'bebs), by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.

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.

• 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.

• The Words of the Vidyādhara which Bestow the Majesty of Great Bliss (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.

• A Word by Word Commentary on the Inner Sādhana of the Assembly of Awareness Holders (nang sgrub rig ‘dzin ‘dus pa’i ’bru ’grel), by Khangsar Tenpé Wangchuk (aka Tulku Tenpo).
• Rigdzin Düpa Manual, based on oral teachings by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, Rigpa, 1999.

The Empowerments of Rigdzin Düpa Given to the Rigpa Sangha

Mandala of Rigdzin Düpa, courtesy of Chatral Rinpoche

The empowerment has been given to the Rigpa sangha on many occasions, including:

• 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, June 1997 (?)
• 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

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'.