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Featured Pages Padmasambhava (Skt.), or Padmakara (Skt. Padmākara; Tib. Pemajungné; Wyl. pad+ma 'byung gnas) means ‘Lotus-Born’, which refers to Guru Rinpoche's birth from a lotus in the land of Oddiyana. Guru Rinpoche, the ‘Precious Master’, is the founder of Tibetan Buddhism and the Buddha of our time. Whereas Buddha is known primarily for having taught the teachings of the sutra vehicle, Padmasambhava came into this world, and to Tibet in particular, in order to teach the tantras. While Buddha Shakyamuni exemplifies the buddha principle, the most important element in the sutrayana path, Padmasambhava personifies the guru principle, the heart of Vajrayana Buddhism, and he is therefore known as the ‘second Buddha’ (Tib. sangyé nyipa). (Read more...) Longchen Nyingtik (Wyl. klong chen snying thig) — a Nyingma cycle of teachings and practice, which was discovered by Jikmé Lingpa as mind terma. Regarding the revelation of the Longchen Nyingtik teachings, Tulku Thondup writes: While Guru Rinpoche was visiting Tibet…he conferred the Longchen Nyingtik teachings on King Trisong Detsen, Khandro Yeshe Tsogyal, and Vairochana… He gave prophetic empowerments by saying that the teachings would be discovered by Jikmé Lingpa, an incarnation (tulku) of King Trisong Detsen. (Read more...) Bodhicharyavatara (Skt. Bodhicaryāvatāra) or Bodhisattvacharyavatara (Skt. Bodhisattvacaryāvatāra; Wyl. byang chub sems dpa'i spyod pa la 'jug pa) or Introduction to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life - Shantideva's classic guide to the Mahayana path. Khenpo Namdrol said: Concerning the study of the Bodhicharyavatara, my teacher Khenpo Tsöndrü told me that though the meaning of the text is not difficult to understand, applying the teachings to one’s mind is far more difficult. The purpose of the dharma is to transform the mind, to free us from our attachment to worldly concerns. Among all treatises and texts, Shantideva’s Bodhicharyavatara and Paltrul Rinpoche’s Words of My Perfect Teacher are the most powerful texts that serve this purpose. (Read more...)

Upcoming Events* 27 Dec. 2009—6 Jan. 2010 Retreat with Sogyal Rinpoche in Kirchheim, Germany: Gaining Confidence in Our Innate Wisdom. The Profound Method for Bringing Forth the Realization of Dzogpachenpo, the Great Perfection. 9 Jan. Dakini day. 25 Jan. Guru Rinpoche day: Guru Rinpoche is invited to Oddiyana by King Indrabodhi. He is known as Guru Pema Gyalpo. 4 Jan.—25 Apr. Rigpa Shedra East: Teachings on the "Introduction to the Middle Way" (Skt. Madhyamakāvatāra). *Including information taken from the Rigpa Tibetan Calendar Audio Library Podcast Teachings on the Uttaratantra Shastra as podcast Podcast Khenpo Namdrol's teachings on Buddha nature as podcast. More teachings...

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