Drupchen

Drupchen (Tib. གྲུབ་ཆེན་, Wyl. sgrub chen) — literally “vast accomplishment,” is a form of intensive group practice that epitomizes the depth, power, and precision of the Vajrayana, drawing together the entire range of its skilful methods—mystical, ritual, and artistic—and including: the creation of the mandala house; the complete sadhana practice with visualization, mudra, chant, and music; continuous day and night practice of mantra; the creation of tormas and offerings, with sacred substances and precious relics; the tsok feast; the sacred dance of cham; as well as the construction of the sand mandala. All blend to create the transcendent environment of the pure realm of the deity and awaken, for all those taking part, the pure perception of this world as a sacred realm.

So it is said that several days participating in a drupchen can yield the same results as years of solitary retreat, and great contemporary masters such as Kyabjé Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche have made a point of encouraging and reviving the practice of drupchen, because of its power of transformation in this degenerate age.

Teachings Given to the Rigpa Sangha

• Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche, Lerab Ling, 11 August 2010.

Drupchens Performed at Lerab Ling

• September 2000, Lerab Gar—the complete drupchen and mendrup of Vajrakilaya, according to the practice of Yang Nying Pudri, was led by the monks of Namgyal Monastery and Garje Khamtrul Rinpoche. Kyabjé Trulshik Rinpoche was also present. His Holiness the Dalai Lama took part in the final session of the drupchen, ‘the receiving of the siddhis’, during which he blessed the amrita.
• Summer 2002—a Kurukulla drupchen was led by Neten Chokling Rinpoche and Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche.
• Summer 2003—a Lama Norlha drupchen was led by Neten Chokling Rinpoche and Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche.
• 20-28 July 2004—a Tukdrup Barché Kunsel drupchen was led by Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche and the monks of Chokling Monastery.
• 11-19 August 2010—an elaborate Tukdrup Barché Kunsel drupchen was led by Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche and the monks of Chokling Monastery, and included rabne, tenshyuk and mendrup. Present were, Sogyal Rinpoche, Khandro Tsering Chödrön and Mayum Tsering Wangmo.

Further Reading

• Padmasambhava & Jamgön Kongtrul, The Light of Wisdom, Vol. III, translated by Erik Pema Kunsang.