Ribur Rinpoche’s profound meeting with Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche
Dear respected friends around the world,
I have read several inspirational accounts of Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche from various high lamas and somehow this one always seems to stick out the most. Needless to say, this is one of my favourite accounts of this great lama. It is warm, intimate, inviting and it draws you back in time, into old Tibet. In fact we are made to feel like we are in the hallowed chambers of his hermitage. And then, we are ushered by Ribur Rinpoche into the grand presence of this archetypal Gelug high lama Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche.
In the account, we can feel the excitement and the devotion just seeping out of his words as he meets the father-like Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche. Although the account is a little brief, it gives many details and anecdotes of the lama that is well known amongst contemporary monks, geshes and other high lamas of this time. If you have not read it, you should do yourself a favour and read these precious words and receive the very special blessing of meeting Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche yourself through the words of Ribur Rinpoche.
Come! Have audience with Buddha Heruka himself, who is in the form of the great master, Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche!
Tsem Rinpoche
A Memoir by Ribur Rinpoche
My guru, kind in three ways, who met face to face with Heruka, whose name I find difficult to utter, Lord Pabongka Vajradhara Dechen Nyingpo Pael Zangpo, was born north of Lhasa in 1878. His father was a minor official, but the family was not wealthy. Although the night was dark, a light shone in the room, and people outside the house had a vision of a protector on the roof.
Pabongka Rinpoche was an emanation of the great scholar Changkya Rolpai Dorje (1717–86), although initially it was thought that he was the reincarnation of a learned Khampa geshe from Sera Mae Monastery. Rinpoche entered the monastery at the age of seven, did the usual studies of a monk, earned his geshe degree, and spent two years at Gyuetoe Tantric College.
His root guru was Dagpo Lama Rinpoche Jampael Lhuendrub Gyatso, from Lhoka. He was definitely a bodhisattva, and Pabongka Rinpoche was his foremost disciple. He lived in a cave in Pasang, and his main practice was bodhichitta. His main deity was Avalokiteshvara, and he would recite 50,000 manis [the mantra, om mani padme hum] every night. When Kyabje Pabongka first met Dagpo Rinpoche at a tsog offering ceremony in Lhasa, he cried from beginning to end out of reverence.
When Pabongka Rinpoche had finished his studies, he visited Dagpo Lama Rinpoche in his cave and was sent into a lamrim retreat nearby. Dagpo Lama Rinpoche would teach him a lamrim topic and then Pabongka Rinpoche would go away and meditate on it. Later he would return to explain what he’d understood: if he had gained some realization, Dagpo Lama Rinpoche would teach him some more, and Pabongka Rinpoche would go back and meditate on that. It went on like this for ten years (and if that’s not amazing, what is!).
Pabongka Rinpoche’s four main disciples were Kyabje Ling Rinpoche, Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, Khangsar Rinpoche, and Tathag Rinpoche, who was a regent of Tibet. Tathag Rinpoche was the main teacher of His Holiness the Dalai Lama when he was a child and gave him his novice ordination.
I was born in Kham, in Eastern Tibet, and two of my early teachers were disciples of Pabongka Rinpoche, so I was brought up in an atmosphere of complete faith in Pabongka Rinpoche as the Buddha himself. One of these teachers had a picture of Pabongka Rinpoche that exuded small drops of nectar from between the eyebrows. I saw this with my own eyes, so you can imagine how much faith I had in Rinpoche when I finally came into his presence.
But I also had a personal reason for having great faith in him. I was the only son of an important family, and although the Thirteenth Dalai Lama had recognized me as an incarnate lama and Pabongka Rinpoche himself had said I should join Sera Monastery in Lhasa, my parents were not happy about this. However, my father died soon after this, and I was finally able to set out for Central Tibet. Can you imagine my excitement as I embarked on horseback on the two-month voyage? I was only fourteen, and becoming a monk really was the thing to do for a fellow my age. I felt that the opportunity to go to Lhasa to get ordained and live as a rinpoche as the Dalai Lama had said I should was all the wondrous work of Pabongka Rinpoche.
At the time of my arrival in Lhasa, Pabongka Rinpoche was living at Tashi Choeling, a cave above Sera Monastery. We made an appointment, and a few days later my mother, my changdzoe (the man in charge of my personal affairs), and I rode up on horseback. Although Rinpoche was expecting us that day, we had not arranged a time. Nevertheless, he had just had his own changdzoe prepare tea and sweet rice, which freshly awaited our arrival. This convinced me that Rinpoche was clairvoyant, a manifestation of the all-seeing Vajradhara himself.
After we had eaten, it was time to visit Rinpoche. I remember this as if it were today. A narrow staircase led up to Pabongka Rinpoche’s tiny room, where he was sitting on his bed. He looked just like his pictures—short and fat! He said, “I knew you were coming—now we have met,” and stroked the sides of my face. While I was sitting there, a new geshe from Sera came in to offer Rinpoche a special tsampa dish that is made only at the time of receiving the geshe degree. Rinpoche remarked how auspicious it was that this new geshe had come while I was there and had him fill my bowl just like his own. You can imagine what that did to my mind!
The room had almost nothing in it. The most amazing thing was a pure gold, two-inch statue of Dagpo Lama Rinpoche, Pabongka Rinpoche’s root guru, surrounded by a circle of tiny offerings. Behind Rinpoche were five tangkas of Khaedrub Je’s visions of Tsongkapa after he had passed away. The only other thing in the room was a place for a cup of tea. I could also see a small meditation room off to the side and kept peeking into it (I was only fourteen and extremely curious). Rinpoche told me to go inside and check it out. All it contained was a meditation box and a small altar. Rinpoche called out the names of the statues on the altar: from left to right there were Lama Tsongkapa, Heruka, Yamāntaka, Naeljorma, and Paelgon Dramze, an emanation of Mahākāla. Beneath the statues were offerings, set out right across the altar.
I was not yet a monk, so Rinpoche’s long-time servant Jamyang, who had been given to Pabongka Rinpoche by Dagpo Lama Rinpoche and always stayed in Rinpoche’s room, was sent to get a calendar to fix a date for my ordination, even though I had not asked for it. Rinpoche was giving me everything I had ever wanted, and I felt he was just too kind. When I left, I floated out on a cloud in a complete state of bliss!
Rinpoche’s changdzoe was a very fierce-looking man, said to be the emanation of a protector. Once, when Rinpoche was away on a long tour, out of devotion the changdzoe demolished the old small building in which Rinpoche lived and constructed a large ornate residence rivaling the private quarters of the Dalai Lama. When Rinpoche returned he was not at all pleased and said, “I am only a minor hermit lama, and you should not have built something like this for me. I am not famous, and the essence of what I teach is renunciation of the worldly life. Therefore I am embarrassed by rooms like these.”
I took lamrim teachings from Pabongka Rinpoche many times. The Chinese confiscated all my notes, but as a result of his teachings, I still carry something very special inside. Whenever he taught I would feel inspired to become a real yogi by retreating to a cave, covering myself with ashes, and meditating. As I got older I would feel this less and less, and now I don’t think of it at all. But I really wanted to be a true yogi, just like him.
He gave many initiations such as Yamāntaka, Heruka, and Guhyasamāja. I myself took these from him. We would go to his residence for important secret initiations, and he would come down to the monastery to give more general teachings. Sometimes he would go on tour to various monasteries. Visiting Pabongka Rinpoche was what it must have been like to visit Lama Tsongkapa when he was alive.
When he taught he would sit for up to eight hours without moving. About two thousand people would come to his general discourses and initiations and fewer to special teachings, but when he gave bodhisattva vows, up to ten thousand people would show up. When he gave the Heruka initiation he would take on a special appearance. His eyes became very wide and piercing, and I could almost see him as Heruka, with one leg outstretched, the other bent. It would get so intense that I would start crying, as if the deity Heruka himself were right there. It was very powerful, very special.
To my mind he was the most important Tibetan lama of all. Everybody knows how great his four main disciples were—well, he was their teacher. He spent a great deal of time thinking about the practical meaning of the teachings and coming to an inner realization of them, and he had practiced and accomplished everything he had learned, right up to the completion stage. He didn’t just spout words, he tried things out for himself. Also, he never got angry; any anger had been completely pacified by his bodhichitta. Many times there would be long lines of people waiting for blessings, but Rinpoche would ask each one individually how they were and tap them on the head. Sometimes he dispensed medicine. He was always gentle. All this made him very special.I would say he had two main qualities: from the tantric point of view, his realization and ability to present Heruka, and from the sūtra point of view, his ability to teach lamrim.
Just before he passed away, he was invited to explain a short lamrim at his root guru’s monastery of Dagpo Shidag Ling, in Lhoka. He had chosen the text called the Quick Path, by the Second Paṇchen Lama. This was the first lamrim that Dagpo Lama Rinpoche had taught him, and Pabongka Rinpoche had said that it would be the last he himself would teach. Whenever he visited his lama’s monastery, Rinpoche would dismount as soon as it appeared in view and prostrate all the way to the door—which was not easy because of his build; when he left he would walk backward until it was out of sight. This time when he left the monastery, he made one prostration when it was almost out of sight and went to stay at a house nearby. Having manifested just a little discomfort in his stomach, Rinpoche retired for the night. He asked his attendants to leave while he did his prayers, which he chanted louder than usual. Then it sounded like he was giving a lamrim discourse. When he had finished and his attendants went into his room, they found he had passed away. Although Tathag Rinpoche was extremely upset, he told us what to do. We were all distraught. Pabongka Rinpoche’s body was clothed in brocade and cremated in the traditional way. An incredible reliquary was constructed, but the Chinese demolished it. Nevertheless, I was able to retrieve some of Rinpoche’s relics from it, and I gave them to Sera Mae Monastery. You can see them there now.
I have had some success as a scholar, and as a lama I am somebody, but these things are not important. The only thing that matters to me is that I was a disciple of Pabongka Rinpoche.
The Venerable Rilbur Rinpoche was born in Eastern Tibet in 1923. At the age of five he was recognized by the Thirteenth Dalai Lama as the sixth incarnation of Sera Mae Rilbur Rinpoche. He entered Sera Monastic University in Lhasa at fourteen and became a geshe at twenty-four. He meditated and taught Dharma until 1959, after which he suffered under intense Chinese oppression for twenty-one years. In 1980 he was allowed to perform some religious activities, and he helped build a new stūpa for Pabongka Rinpoche at Sera, the Chinese having destroyed the original. He then came to India and lived for several years at Namgyal Monastery, Dharamsala. Toward the end of his life, Rinpoche traveled several times to Western countries and lived for a period in the United States. He passed away at Sera Mae Monastery in Bylakuppe, South India, on January 15, 2006.
Click here to download a pdf version of A Memoir of Rilbur Rinpoche, so you can read offline.
Source: Liberation in The Palm of Your Hand: A Concise Discourse On The Path To Enlightenment by Pabongka Rinpoche; edited by Trijang Rinpoche; translated by Michael Richards; Wisdom Publications Inc.; 2006; p: XIII – XVII
The Contents of the Eleven-Volume Lhasa Edition of Phabongkha’s Collected Works, Together with the Contents of the Twelfth Volume as Found in the Potala Collection
His Holiness Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche has eleven volumes of writings that are highly sought after and very much used till the present day. Very few works by teachers in Tibet become classics within their lifetime, but Pabongka Rinpoche’s writings did become classics.
For the sake of brevity, the titles listed below follow those given in the contents pages at the beginning of each volume in the set (phabong kha. khyab bdag rdo rje ‘chang pha bong kha pa dpal bzang po’I gsung ‘bum (11 vols.). Lhasa: s.n., 199-.) and those listed by the TBRC [W3834]. As Vol. 11 is a single work, the full title of the text is given.
Preference has been given for the TBRC’s listing as it is easily accessible and often more extensive, especially as Vol. 10, for example, has no printed listing of contents. Any important discrepancies between the order and contents of the TBRC’s listings and those of the contents pages of the Lhasa edition volumes, as well as the catalogue to the Potala edition are noted in square brackets.
In several cases the bibliographical titles have been expanded, usually by incorporating sections of the full headings as presented on the title pages of the individual works, with the additions in question also enclosed in square brackets. The contents of the twelfth volume are also listed following the presentation given in the catalogue to the Potala’s edition.
Vol. 1 (ka)
Contents of Phabongkhapa’s Collected Works, Vol. Ka
pha bong ka pa’i gsung ‘bum pod kha pa’i dkar chag/
- A Compilation of Only Initiations Drawn from Phabongkha’s Records of Received Teachings
pha bong kha pa’i gsan yig las dbang rkyang gi skor phyogs gcig tu bkod pa/ - A Compilation of Combined Initiations and Instructions Drawn from Phabongkha’s Records of Received Teachings
pha bong kha pa’i gsan yig las dbang khrid sbrag ma’i skor phyogs gcig tu bkod pa/ - A Compilation of Various Oral Transmissions and Instructions Drawn from Phabongkha’s Records of Received Teachings
pha bong kha pa’i gsan yig las lung khrid sna tshogs skor phyogs gcig tu bkod pa/ - A Compilation of Only Oral Transmissions Drawn from Phabongkha’s Records of Received Teachings
pha bong kha pa’i gsan yig las lung rkyang gi skor phyogs gcig tu bkod pa/
Vol. 2 (kha)
Contents of Phabongkhapa’s Collected Works, Vol. Kha
pha bong kha pa’i gsung ‘bum pod kha pa’i dkar chag/
- A Compilation of Permission Initiations Drawn from Phabongkha’s Records of Received Teachings
pha bong kha pa’i gsan yig las rjes gnang skor phyogs gcig tu bkod pa/ - A Compilation of Text-collections Drawn from Phabongkha’s Records of Received Teachings
pha bong kha pa’i gsan yig las be’u bum skor phyogs gcig tu bkod pa/ - The Method for Practicing the Yoga of the Guru Pūjā with Cakrasaṃvara: A Ritual Arranged for Convenient Recitation
bla ma mchod pa ‘khor lo sdom pa dang ‘brel ba’i rnal ‘byor nyams su len tshul gyi cho ga nag ‘gros su bkod pa/ - The Method for Practicing the Guru Pūjā with Bhairava: A Recitation Ritual Arranged for Convenient Recitation
bla ma mchod pa ‘jigs byed dang ‘brel bar nyams su len tshul gyi ‘don chog nag ‘gros su bkod pa/ - A Festival of Emanations: A Skillful Ritual Arrangement for the Extensive Way of Taking the Four Initiations According to the Hearing Lineage
snyan brgyud dbang bzhi rgyas pa len tshul gyi chog sgrigs thabs mkhas ‘phrul gyi dga’ ston/ - The Image of the Everlasting Vajra: The Way of Offering a Longlife Accomplishment Ritual Through the Guru Pūjā: Indivisible Bliss and Emptiness, Combined with the Long-life Practice of the Drubgyal Tradition
bla ma mchod pa bde stong dbyer med ma dang grub rgyal lugs kyi tshe sgrub sbrags ma’i sgo nas brtan bzhugs ‘bul tshul rtag brtan rdo rje’i re khA/ - A Compilation of Guru Yoga Texts [such as the Treasury of All Desired Blessings-Guru Yoga, and Others]
bla ma’i rnal ‘byor [byin rlabs ‘dod dgu’i gter mdzod sogs bla ma’i rnal ‘byor gyi rim pa] phyogs gcig tu bsgrigs pa/ - A Compilation of Lineage Guru Supplication Texts and so forth.
bla brgyud gsol ‘debs sogs kyi skor phyogs gcig tu bsgrigs pa/ - The Storehouse of Precious Treasure: The Way of Practicing the Yoga of Ganden Lhagyama According to the Precious Oral Pith Instructions of the Hearing Lineage
dga’ ldan lha brgya ma’i rnal ‘byor nyams su len tshul snyan brgyud zhal shes man ngag rin chen gter gyi bang mdzod/ - The Ganden Lhagyama Guru Yoga, [Drawn from the Pith Instructions of the Ganden Hearing Lineage].
[dge ldan snyan brgyud kyi man ngag las byung ba’i] bla ma’i rnal ‘byor dga’ ldan lha brgya ma/ - The Staircase for the Fortunate to Travel to Tuṣita: An Instruction Manual for the Recitation-ritual of Consciousness-transference Based on the Ganden Lhagyama
dga’ ldan lha brgya ma’i ‘pho khrid ‘don chog skal bzang dga’ ldan bgrod pa’i them skas/ - Fruits of the Wish-fulfilling Divine Tree Which Give Rise to the Two Accomplishments: Notes on Experiential Instructions on The Way to Rely on a Spiritual Guide
bshes gnyen bsten tshul myong khrid zin bris grub gnyis ‘dod ‘jo’i dpag bsam yongs ‘du’i snye ma/ - Notes on the Graduated Stages of the Tantric Path [Taken During a Transmission from the Venerable Lama Chone Pandita]
[rje btsun bla ma co ne paN+Di ta rin po che’i zhal snga nas/] sngags rim chen mo’i [bshad lung nos skabs kyi gsung] zin bris/ - An Amazing Feast of Nectar: Notes of Guidance for Drubde Gegye Thegchog Ling
sgrub sde dge rgyas theg mchog gling gi bca’ yig ngo mtshar bdud rtsi’I dga’ ston/
Vol. 3 (ga)
Contents of Phabongkhapa’s Collected Works, Vol. Ga
pha bong kha pa’i gsung ‘bum pod ga pa’i dkar chag/
- A Collection of Notes on Both the Guhyasamāja Generation Stage Ocean of Accomplishment and the Completion Stage Lamp that Illuminates the Five Stages, Arranged Together
gsang ‘dus bskyed rim dngos grub rgya mtsho dang rdzogs rim rim lnga gsal sgron gnyis kyi zin tho ‘ga’ zhig phyogs gcig tu bkod pa/ - The Supreme Festival: A Condensed Sādhana of the Ārya Tradition of Guhyasamāja
‘dus pa ‘phags lugs kyi sgrub thabs mdor bsdus mchog gi dga’ ston/ - Victory Over Māra: The Sādhana of Solitary Hero Bhairava, Conveniently Arranged for Recitation
‘jigs byed dpa’ bo gcig pa’i sgrub thabs bdud las rnam rgyal gyi ngag ‘don nag ‘gros su bkod pa/ - The Way to Practice the Succinctly Condensed Self-generation of the Terrifying Solitary Hero
‘jigs mdzad dpa’ bo gcig pa’i bdag bskyed cung bsdus te nyams su len tshul/ - The Extremely Condensed Sādhana of Solitary Hero Bhairava Together with an Extremely Condensed Self-entry
‘jigs byed dpa’ bo gcig pa’i sgrub thabs shin tu bsdus dang bdag ‘jug shin tu bsdus pa/
[This work is not listed in the Potala edition’s catalogue] - The Method for Engaging in the Approximation Retreat of Serviceability of Solitary Hero Bhairava, [Uncommon] Notes on the Great Retreat of the Solitary Hero [by Amdo Deyang Rinpoche], and Notes on The Wrathful Distribution of the Sixty-Four Torma Offerings
‘jigs byed dpa’ bo gcig pa’i las rung gi bsnyen pa bya tshul dang / dpa’ gcig gi bsnyen chen zin tho [thun mong ma yin pa a mdo bde yangs rin po ches mdzad pa]/ drug cu ma drag bsngos kyi zin tho bcas/ - Compiled Notes from the Transmission of the Cakrasaṃvara Tantra’s Total Illumination of the Hidden Meaning and the Generation Stage of Kālacakra
‘khor lo sdom pa’i rgyud ‘grel sbas don kun gsal gyi bshad lung dang / dus ‘khor gyi bskyed rim phyag zin thor bu bcas/ - The Swift Path to Great Bliss: The Lineage Prayer of the Ghaṇṭapāda Tradition of Cakrasaṃvara and Thoroughly Increasing Great Bliss: The Sādhanā of the Ghaṇṭapāda Tradition of the [Bhagavān] Cakrasaṃvara [Body Mandala]
dril bu lugs kyi ‘khor lo sdom pa’i bla brgyud gsol ‘debs bde chen nye lam dang/ [dril bu zhabs lugs kyi bcom ldan ‘das] ‘khor lo sdom pa’i lus dkyil gyi mngon rtogs bde chen rab ‘phel/ - The Continuous Rain of Camphor that Compassionately Cleanses the Stains of Downfalls: The Vase Generation of the [Bhagavān] Cakrasaṃvara Body Mandala [in the Tradition of Mahāsiddha Ghaṇṭapāda] and the Brief Self-entry
[grub chen dril bu zhabs lugs bcom ldan ‘das] ‘khor lo sdom pa’i lus dkyil gyi bum bskyed dang bdag ‘jug mdor bsdus nyes ltung dri ma ‘khrud pa’I thugs rje’i ga pur char rgyun/ - A Compiled Ritual for the Great Approximation Retreat Based on the Cakrasaṃvara Body Mandala, Arranged for Oral Recitation.
‘khor lo sdom pa lus dkyil gyi gzhi bsnyen chen mo’i bsnyen sgrub sbrags ma’i cho ga bklag chog tu bkod pa/ - The Festival of Highest Virtue: The Method for Engaging in the Oral Recitation Ritual of External Offerings in Dependence on the [Bhagavān] Cakrasaṃvara Body Mandala [in the Tradition of Mahāsiddha Ghaṇṭapāda]
[grub chen dril bu zhabs lugs bcom ldan ‘das] ‘khor lo sdom pa lus dkyil la brten pa’i phyi rol mchod pa bya tshul gyi ‘don chog bsod nams mchog gi dga’ ston/ - Offering Clouds of the Vajra Body: A Tea Offering of Cakrasaṃvara
‘khor lo sdom pa’i ja mchod rdo rje’i lus kyi mchod sprin/ - [Drop of Essential Nectar of the Hearing Lineage: The Pith Instructions for the Way to Practice the White Long-life Deity Cakrasaṃvara,] a Long-life Accomplishment Ritual Sealed in Secrecy.
[sbyor bde mchog tshe lha dkar po dang sbrags ten nyams su len tshul gyi man ngag snyan brgyud bdud rtsi’i thig le/] tshe sgrub bka’ rgya/ - The Good Vase of Immortal Nectar: The Way of Performing a Long-life Offering Ritual to a Great Being Based on the White Longlife Deity Cakrasaṃvara, Combined Together with the Repellence of the Dakinis
bde mchog tshe lha dkar po’i sgo nas [yul khyad par can la] zhabs brtan ‘bul tshul mkha’ ‘gro bsun bzlog [dang bcas pa ‘chi med bdud rtsi’i bum bzang/] - The Hook Which Summons Attainments: The Gaṇacakra Offering of the White Long-life Deity Cakrasaṃvara
bde mchog tshe lha dkar po’i tshogs mchod dngos grub ‘gugs pa’i lcags kyu/ - Garland of Cittamani: The Pith Instructions for the Yogas of the Two Stages of Khadiravani Tārā
seng ldeng nags kyi sgrol ma’i lam rim pa gnyis kyi rnal ‘byor nyams len gyi man ngag tsit+ta ma Ni’i do shal/ - Offering of the ‘Explanatory’ Torma on the Occasion of Teachings on the Two Stages of Guhyasamāja, Vajrabhairava and Cakrasaṃvara, Together with the Unmistaken Offering of the Illusory Body
gsang bde ‘jigs gsum gyi rim gnyis bka’ khrid skabs ‘grel gtor ‘bul tsul skor dang / sgyu lus mchod pa sogs kyi phyag bzhes ‘khrul med/
Vol. 4 (nga)
Contents of Phabongkhapa’s Collected Works, Vol. Nga
pha bong kha pa’i gsung ‘bum pod nga pa’i dkar chag
- Swift Path to Great Bliss: The Uncommon Sādhanā of [Vajrayoginī] Naro Kechari
[rdo rje rnal ‘byor ma] nA ro mkha’ spyod kyi sgrub thabs thun min bde chen nye lam/ - The Way for Meditating on an Abbreviated Version of the Swift Path to Great Bliss sādhanā of [Vajrayoginī] Naro Kechari
[rdo rje rnal ‘byor ma] nA ro mkha’ spyod kyi sgrub thabs bde chen nye lam las bsdus te bsgom tshul/ - Festival of Great Bliss: The Mandala Ritual of Queen [Vajrayoginī] Naro Kechari
[rdo rje rnal ‘byor ma] nA ro mkha’ spyod dbang mo’i dkyi ‘khor gyi cho ga bde chen dga’ ston/ - A Staircase for the Fortunate to Travel to Kechara: The Practice of the Approximation, Accomplishment and Activities of Queen [Vajrayoginī] Naro Kechari
[rdo rje rnal ‘byor ma] nA ro mkha’ spyod dbang mo’i bsnyen sgrub las gsum gyi lag len skal bzang mkha’ spyod bgrod pa’i them skas/ - The Messenger Invoking the Hundred Blessings of the Vajra: The Ritual Text to be Recited as a Preliminary to the [Vajrayoginī] Naro Kechari Approximation Retreat Together with Notes on the Ritual Practiced During the Approximation and the Way to Practice the Long, Middling and Brief “Tenth-day” Offerings
[rdo rje rnal ‘byor ma] nA ro mkha’ spyod ma’i bsnyen pa’i sngon ‘gro’I ‘don cha bklag chog zur du bkol ba rdo rje’i byin brgya ‘beb pa’i pho nya dang/ bsnyen pa ‘dug skabs kyi phyag len dang cho ga’i zin tho/ tshes bcu rgyas ‘bring bsdus pa bya tshul/ - Fulfilling the Wish for Attainments: The Peaceful Burning Offering of Queen [Vajrayoginī] Naro Kechari
[rdo rje rnal ‘byor ma] nA ro mkha’ spyod dbang mo’i sgo nas zhi ba’i sbyin sreg bya tshul dngos grub ‘dod ‘jo/ - Swift Invocation of Attainments: The Way of Relying on and Practicing the Invocation of the Worldly God Agni to the Hearth in Dependence on Vajrayoginī Naro Kechari
rdo rje rnal ‘byor ma nA ro mkha’ spyod ma la brten nas ‘jig rten pa’i me lha thab tu ‘gugs pa’i bsnyen pa bya tshul dngos grub myur ‘gugs/ - Offerings and Gifts Pleasing the Rishis: The Way of Practicing the Tenth-part Burning Offering in Relation to the Approximation Retreat for the Invocation of the Worldly God Agni to the Hearth, in Dependence on Vajrayoginī Naro Kechari
rdo rje rnal ‘byor ma nA ro mkha’ spyod dbang mo’i sgo nas ‘jig rten pa’I me lha thab tu ‘gugs pa’i bsnyen pa’i bcu cha’i sbyin sreg bya tshul drang srong dgyes pa’i mchod sbyin/ - [The Point of Entry to Kechara Pure Land:] A Recitation Text for the Sindhura Ritual, or Approximation and Accomplishment of Queen [Vajrayoginī] Naro Kechari
[rdo rje rnal ‘byor ma] nA ro mkha’ spyod dbang mo la brten pa’i sin+d+hU ra’i sgrub pa’am bsnyen sgrub sbrags ma’i ‘don sgrigs [mkha’ spyod zhing gi ‘jug ngos/] - The Meaningful Magical Lasso: The Tenth-part Burning Offering of the [Vajrayoginī] Naro Kechari Approximation Retreat
[rdo rje rnal ‘byor ma] nA ro mkha’ spyod dbang mo’i bsnyen pa’i bcu cha chen mo’i sbyin sreg don yon ‘phrul gyi zhags pa/ - The Uncommon Golden Dharma: The Pith Instructions for Journeying to Kechara
mkha’ spyod bgrod pa’i man ngag gser chos thun min zhal shes chig brgyudma/ - Festival of Uncontaminated Joy: The Short Gaṇacakra Offering of Queen [Vajrayoginī] Naro Kechari
[rdo rje rnal ‘byor ma] nA ro mkha’ spyod dbang mo’i tshogs mchod mdor bsdus zag med dgyes rgu’i dga’ ston/ - The Magical Ritual of Skillful Means: The Way of Performing the Sesame Seed Burning Offering of Vajrayoginī which Purifies All Negativities Without Remainder and The Cloud of Offerings of Virtuous Skillful Means-Food Offering
rdo rje rnal ‘byor ma’i sgo nas til gyi sbyin sreg bya tshul sdig ltung lhag med spyod pa’i thabs mkhas ‘phrul gyi cho ga dang/ zas mchod thabs mkhas bsod nams mchod sprin/ - The Iron Hook of Compassion: The Transference of the Solitary Mother, Together with the Way of Performing the Hand Offering
yum rkyang gi ‘pho ba myur ‘dren thugs rje’i lcags kyu dang/ lag mchod bya tshul/ - The Painted Mandala Initiation Ritual of the Eleven-Faced Avalokiteśvara of the Palmo Tradition [Arranged in a Straightforward Manner, which is Similar to the Mandala-rite of the Supreme Victor, The Great Seventh [Dalai Lama]]
thugs rje chen po bcu gcig zhal dpal mo lugs kyi ras bris kyi dkyil ‘khor du dbang bskur ba’i cho ga [rgyal mchog bdun pa chen po’i dkyil chog ltar nag ‘gros su bkod pa/] - Some Notes on Madhyamaka and on Transmissions of the Mahāyānasūtrālamkāra and Madhyamakāvatāra
mdo rgyan sbyar ba’i bshad lung dang dbu ma la ‘jug pa/ dbu ma’i brjed byang nyung ngu/ - Notes on The Essence of True Eloquence
drang nges legs bshad snying po’i zin bris/ - Fragmentary notes on Bodhisattvacaryāvatāra
byang chub sems dpa’i spyod pa la ‘jug pa zhes bya ba bka’ mchan thor bu/ - Bodhisattvacaryāvatāra Outline
spyod ‘jug sa bcad/ - Bodhisattvacaryāvatāra Notes
spyod ‘jug zin bris/
Vol. 5 (ca)
Contents of Phabongkhapa’s Collected Works, Vol. Cha
pha bong kha pa’i gsung ‘bum pod ca pa’i dkar chag/
- Recollective Notes on the Four Interwoven Annotations of the Lamrim Chenmo
lam rim chen mo mchan bu bzhi sbrags kyi skor dran gso’i bsnyel byang/ - [Chariot of the Mahāyāna:] The Way of Practicing the Jorchoepreliminaries of the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment
byang chub lam gyi rim pa’i sngon ‘gro sbyor chos nyams su len tshul [theg mchog ‘phrul gyi shing rta/] - The Excellent Path of the Victors: A Compiled Jorchoe Recitation for the Central Tibetan Lineage’s Extensive Commentarial Tradition of the Essential Lamrim Instructions of the The Sacred Words of Mañjuśrī
lam rim dmar khrid ‘jam dpal zhal lung gi khrid rgyun rgyas pa dbus brgyud lugs kyi sbyor chos kyi ngag ‘don khrigs chags su bkod pa rgyal ba’I lam bzang/ - On Outlines from an Experiential Commentary on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment’s Essential Instructions- the Easy Path and Swith Path
[byang chub lam gyi rim pa’i dmar khrid bde myur gyi thog nas nyams khrid stsal skabs kyi] sa bcad skor/ - Pith Instructions Pointing Out the Way to Train According to an Important Experiential Stages of the Path Commentary, Taught in Everyday Language.
lam rim myong khrid gnad du bkar te skyong tshul gyi man ngag phal tshig dmar rjen lag len mdzub btsugs kyi tshul du bkod pa/ - Advice Spoken to Kongpo Tre Rabchog Tulku Rinpoche
kong po bkras rab mchog sprul rin po che la stsal ba/
[This work is included together with previous title [5.5] and is not listed separately in the contents of the actual printed volume, or in the catalogue to the Potala edition.] - Heart Spoon: Practice Instructions to Bear in Mind [Drawn From] Experiences of the Long Path
shul ring lam gyi myong ba lag len dmar bcang snying gi thur ma/ - Regarding Advice Presented in the Form of Songs of Realization, such as All Countless Objects of Refuge and so forth
rab ‘byams skyabs kun ma sogs nyams mgur bslab bya’i skor/ - The Root Text of the Seven Points of Mind Training
blo sbyong don bdun pa’i rtsa ba/ - [The Common Jewel of the Ganden Practice Lineage:] Enhancing the Experience of Method and Wisdom by the Practice of Dedicating the Collection of the Illusory Body
sgyu lus tshogs su bsngo ba thabs shes nyams kyi bogs ‘don [dga’ ldan sgrub brgyud spyi nor/] - The Emanated Chariot: The Way to Practice the Generosity of Offering the One Hundred Tormas [Which Carries to the Jewel of the Three Bodies]
gtor ma brgya rtsa gtong tshul [sku gsum nor bu ‘dren pa’i] mchod sbyin’phrul gyi shing rta/ - 12. A Textual Collection of Notes by Various Disciples on the Nectar of Dagpo Lama Rinpoche’s Speech, which had been Forgotten and Scattered
dwags po bla ma rin po che’i gsung gi bdud rtsi bsnyel thor gnang ba sogs phyag zin thor bu sna tshogs phyogs gcig tu bsgrigs pa/ - Brief Notes on Pramāṇa
tshad ma’i bsnyel byang mdor bsdus/
Vol. 6 (cha)
Contents of Phabongkhapa’s Collected Works, Vol. Cha
pha bong kha pa’i gsung ‘bum pod cha pa’i dkar chag/
- A Guide for those Travelling to the Supreme Field: The Profound Instruction for those Travelling to Shambhala in Dependence on White Mañjuśrī
‘jam dbyangs dkar po la brten nas sham+ba+ha lar bgrod pa’i gdams pa zab mo zhing mchog bgrod pa’i sa mkhan/ - A Collection Regarding the Sādhanas of the Highest Deities
lhag lha’i sgrub thabs skor phyogs bsgrigs/ - The Way of Practicing the Long-life Accomplishment Ritual of SitaTārā Cintācakra for the Sake of Oneself and Others
sgrol dkar yid bzhin ‘khor lo’i sgo nas rang gzhan gyi tshe sgrub bya tshul/ - Festival of the Nectar of Immortality: Praises and Requests to SitaTārā Cintācakra
sgrol dkar yid bzhin ‘khor lo’i bstod gsol ‘chi med bdud rtsi’i dga’ ston/ - Chone Pandita’s Sita-Tārā Long-Life-Commentary, the Collected Activity- sādhanā of White Mañjuśrī and Sarasvatī, Together with Lecture Notes
co ne paN+Di ta’i sgrol dkar tshe khrid dang / ‘jam dkar/ dbyangs can ma rnams kyi sgrub thabs las tshogs bcas pa’i gsung bshad zin bris/ - On Sealed Teachings
gsung bka’ rgya ma’i skor/ - Some Scattered Teachings Compiled Together
gsung thor bu ba ‘ga’ zhig phyogs gcig tu bkod pa/ - A Compilation of Various Questions and Answers on Sutra and Tantra
mdo sngags skor gyi dris lan sna tshogs phyogs gcig tu bsgrigs pa/ - The Permission Initiations of the Dharma-cycle of Mañjuśrī, and so forth, Arranged Together
‘jam dbyangs chos skor sogs kyi rjes gnang bca’ sgrigs skor/ - [Festival of the Victory Over the Three Worlds:] The Nine-floored Iron House Torma Ritual Victory Over the Three Worlds, Arranged for Convenient Recitation
lcags mkhar zur dgu pa’i gtor chog srid gsum rnam rgyal gyi ‘don cha nag ‘gros su bkod pa [srid gsum rnam rgyal dga’ ston/] - [The Machine of Sky-Iron:] A Supplement to Festival of the Victory Over the Three Worlds, which is the Nine-floored Iron House Torma Ritual, Victory Over the Three Worlds, Arranged for Convenient Recitation
lcags mkhar zur dgu pa’i gtor chog srid gsum rnam rgyal gyi chog sgrigs srid gsum rnam rgyal dga’ ston gyi zur rgyan [gnam lcags ‘phrul ‘khor/] - The Inescapable Dark Belly of Yama: A Subjugation Ritual for Ghosts and Demons, in Dependence on Solitary Hero Bhairava
‘jigs byed dpa’ bo gcig pa’i sgo nas sgab ‘dre’am sgrub sri mnan pa’i cho ga thar med gshin rje’i lto khung/ - A Brief Subjugation of Demons Which Can Be Modified for Use in Relation to Any Meditational Deity or Dharma Protector Based on the Practice of the Subjugation Ritual for Ghosts- The Inescapable Dark Belly of Yama, in Dependence on Solitary Hero Bhairava,
‘jigs byed dpa’ bo gcig pa’i sgo nas sgab ‘dre mnan chog thar med gshin rje’i lto khung gi bca’ gshom gyi lag len dang /yi dam chos skyong gang la’ang sbyar du rung ba’i sri mnan mdor bsdus/
Vol. 7 (ja)
Contents of Phabongkhapa’s Collected Works, Vol. Ja
pha bong kha pa’i gsung ‘bum pod ja pa’i dkar chag/
- The Sun that Enlarges the Lotus of the Three Types of Faith: An Explanation on the Way of Offering the Mandala
maN+Dal bshad pa ‘bul tshul dad gsum pad+mo rgyas pa’i nyin byed/ - A Collection of Long-life Prayers and Swift-return Supplications to Incarnation Lineages
zhabs brtan dang myur byon ‘khrungs rabs gsol ‘debs kyi rim pa rnams phyogs gcig tu bsdebs pa/ - [The Melodious Sound of Conviction,] The Roar of Good Faith: An Incarnation Lineage Supplication
‘khrungs rabs gsol ‘debs skal bzang dad pa’i nga ro [yid ches bden dbyangs/] - The Melodious Drum Victorious Over the Terrifyingly Laughter of the Lord of Death: A Long-life Prayer Supplication to Tagtra
stag brag gi brtan bzhugs gsol ‘debs ‘jigs mdzad bzhad pa’i gad rgyangs ‘chi bdag g.yul las rgyal ba’i rnga dbyangs/ - A Heart Jewel of Offering Clouds of Good Fortune Pleasing the Local Protectors: The Permission Initiation Ritual of the Glorious Four-Faced Protector of Seventeen Expressions
dpal mgon gdong bzhi pa rnam ‘gyur bcu bdun gyi rjes gnang gi cho ga zhing skyong dgyes pa’i mchod sprin skal bzang snying nor/ - The Increasing and Auspicious [Akṣara Garland]: A Ritual of the Glorious Four-Faced Protector of Seventeen Expressions, Together with the Entrustment
dpal mgon gdong bzhi pa rnam ‘gyur bcu bdun mngag gtad dang bcas pa’i cho ga spel legs [ak+Sha ra’i phreng ba]/
[This work is included together with previous title [7.5] and is not listed separately in the contents of the actual printed volume, or in the catalogue to the Potala edition.] - The Rain of Treasure Fulfilling All Needs and Wants: The Yellow Increasing Ritual of the Glorious Four-Faced Protector in Dependence on the Nine Deities, the Quintessential Instruction to Fulfill all Desires
dpal mgon gdong bzhi pa’i ser po rgyas byed lha dgu la brten pa’i ‘dod dgu dbang du bya ba’i man ngag dgos ‘dod dbyig gi char ‘bab/ - Summer Thunder: A Supplement to The Rain of Treasure Fulfilling All Needs and Wants: The Increasing Ritual of the Glorious Four-Faced Protector with a Yellow [Expression] in Dependence on the Nine Deities, the Quintessential Instruction to Fulfill all Desires
dpal mgon gdong bzhi pa’i [rnam ‘gyur] ser po rgyas byed lha dgu la brten pa’i ‘dod dgu dbang du bya ba’i man ngag dgos ‘dod dbyig gi char ‘bab kyi lhan thabs dbyar gyi rnga gsang - A New Fulfillment Ritual of Glorious Four-Faced Protector Based on that Written by Sakyapa Ngawang Khyenrab, with Exceptional Changes
dpal mgon zhal bzhi pa’i bskang gsar sa skya pa ngag dbang mkhyen rab kyis mdzad par dmigs bsal bsgyur ba gnang pa/ - Exhortations to Entreat Various Protectors of the Teachings: Serkyem, Gaṇacakra Offerings and so forth, as well as the Cycle of the Wealth Deity
bstan srung khag gi ‘phrin bskul gser skyems tshogs mchod sogs dang nor lha’i skor/ - [The Chariot of the Jewel of Faith Drawing Together a Precious Mass of Blessings:] The Life Entrustment of Shugden Possessing the Seal of Secrecy and Notes on How to Draw the Life-energy Cakra
shugs ldan srog gtad bka’ rgya can dang srog ‘khor bri tshul gyi zin bris/ [byin rlabs rin chen phung po ‘dren ba yi/ /yid ches nor bu’i shing rta/] - A Supplement on How to Practice the Preliminaries for the Lifeentrustment of Shugden
shugs ldan srog gtad kyi sngon ‘gro’i mtshams sbyor kha skong/ - The Victory Banner Thoroughly Victorious in All Directions: A Presentation of the Approach, Accomplishment and Activities of Shugden, Fulfilling all Needs and Wants
shugs ldan gyi bsnyen sgrub las gsum gyi rnam gzhag dgos ‘dod yid bzhin re skong phyogs las rnam par rgyal ba’i rgyal mtshan/ - The Melodious Drum Victorious in All Directions: The Extensive Uncommon Fulfillment Ritual of the Five Manifest Families of Gyalchen Dorje Shugden
rgyal chen rdo rje shugs ldan rigs lnga rtsal gyi sger bskang rgyas pa phyogs las rnam par rgyal ba’i rnga dbyangs/ - Swift Summoning of the Deeds of the Four Activities: The Middling Fulfillment Ritual of Gyalchen Dorje Shugden
rgyal chen rdo rje shugs ldan rtsal gyi bskang chog ‘bring po las bzhi’I ‘phrin las myur ‘gugs/ - On [the Way to Perform the Swift Summoning of AuspiciousnessIncense Offering to Cakrasaṃvara’s Assembly of Mandala Deities and Other] Incense Offerings
[dpal ‘khor lo sdom pa’i dkyil ‘khor gyi lha tshogs rnams la bsangs mchod ‘bul tshul bde chen phywa g.yang myur ‘gugs sogs] bsangs mchod kyi skor/
Vol. 8 (nya)
Contents of Phabongkhapa’s Collected Works, Vol. Nya
pha bong kha pa’i gsung ‘bum pod nya pa’i dkar chag/
- A Necklace of Increasing, Beautiful Fresh Flowers: A Compilation of Official Correspondences
chab shog gi rim pa rnams phyogs gcig tu bkod pa spel legs me tog gsar pa’I do shal/ - A Compilation of Requests, Dedications, Supplications, Aspirational Prayers of Printing Colophons and Introductions, Such as Those of [the Contents of the Dharma-cycle of Cakrasaṃvara, The Heart-Jewel of the Dakinis of the Three Places and So Forth]
[‘khor lo sdom pa’i chos skor gyi dkar chag gnas gsum mkha’ ‘gro’i snying nor sogs] spar byang smon tshig dang/ dbu brjod / ‘dod gsol bsngo smon gyi skor rnams phyogs gcig tu bkod pa/ - Notes on the Experiential Instructions on [the Consciousness transference of] a Single Day [from a Fully-Ripening Profound Commentary on the Profound Path of the Guru Pūjā, the Uncommon Guru Yoga of the Ganden Hearing Lineage]
[dga’ ldan snyan brgyud kyi bla ma’i rnal ‘byor thun mong min pa zab lam bla ma mchod pa’i zab khrid smin rgyas su nos skabs ‘pho ba] zhag gcig ma’I nyams khrid brjed byang/ - “The Swift Path for Travelling to Tuṣita Pure Land:” Teaching Notes Taken During a Profound Commentary on the Ganden Lhagyama Guru Yoga [of the Segyu Tradition]
[sras rgyud lugs kyi] bla ma’i rnal ‘byor dga’ ldan lha brgya’i zab khrid gnang skabs kyi gsung bshad zin bris dga’ ldan zhing du bgrod pa’i myur lam/ - Entryway to the Ocean of Great Bliss: Notes on the First Stage of the Ghaṇṭapāda Cakrasaṃvara Body Mandala
‘khor lo sdom pa dril bu lus dkyil gyi rim pa dang po’i zin bris bde chen rgya mtsho’i ‘jug ngogs/
[Note that the catalogue of the Potala edition as well as the numbering of the popular Lhasa-edition gives this text as work six of the volume] - Opening the Door to the Good Path: Teaching Notes Taken During a Profound Commentary on the Principal Paths
lam gtso’i zab khrid bstsal skabs kyi gsung bshad zin bris lam bzang sgo ‘byed/
[Note that the catalogue of the Potala edition as well as the numbering of the popular Lhasa-edition gives this text as work five of the volume] - The Key of Secrets: Notes on the Principle Paths
lam gtso’i zin bris gsang ba’i lde mig/
[This work is included together with the previous title and is not listed separately in the contents of the actual printed volume or in the catalogue to the Potala edition.] - The Outline of the Essential Instructions of the Generation and Completion Stages of the Ghaṇṭapāda Cakrasaṃvara Body Mandala
‘khor lo sdom pa dril bu lus dkyil gyi bskyed rdzogs gnyis kyi dmar khrid sa bcad/ - Explanatory Notes on the Root Mantras of Cakrasaṃvara Father and Mother
‘khor lo sdom pa yab yum gyi rtsa sngags kyi mchan ‘grel/ - [The Nectar of the Great Bliss-Guru, Droplets of Jamphel Nyingpo’s Blessings:] Notes on the Prayer to Meet with the Teachings of Tsongkhapa the Great
tsong kha pa chen po’i bstan pa dang mjal ba’i smon lam gyi zin bris [bde chen bla ma’i gsung gi bdud rtsi ‘jam dpal snying po’i byin rlabs kyi zegs ma/]
Vol. 9 (ta)
Contents of Phabongkhapa’s Collected Works, Vol. Ta
pha bong kha pa’i gsung ‘bum pod ta pa’i dkar chag/
- Verses for Intervals in the Contents of the Kangyur- Volume One.
bka’ ‘gyur dkar chag gi bar skabs tshigs bcad stod cha - Verses for Intervals in the Contents of the Kangyur- Volume Two.
bka’ ‘gyur dkar chag gi bar skabs tshigs bcad smad cha - Brief Notes from a Commentary Given on the Six Session Guru Yoga, the Twenty Stanzas on the Vows, the Fifty Verses on the Guru and the Root Downfalls Constituting a Gross Contravention
thun drug bla ma’i rnal ‘byor dang /sdom pa nyi shu pa/ bla ma lnga bcu pa/ sngags kyi rtsa ltung sbom po bcas kyi bshad khrid gnang ba’i zin tho mdor bsdus/ - [The Essence of the Vast and Profound: A Concise Compilation of] Notes Taken During a Combined Commentary on Tsongkhapa’s Shorter Stages of the Path to Enlightenment and the Essential Instructions of the Swift Path
rje’i lam rim chung ngu dang / myur lam dmar khrid sbrags ma’i gsung bshad stsal skabs kyi zin bris [mdo tsam du bkod pa zab rgyas snying po] - Easy to Understand Instructions on the Sequential Performance of the Rite of Generating the Mind of Bodhicitta, as Given on One Occasion at Tashilhunpo
bkras lhun du sems bskyed mchod pa gnang skabs gzhan kyi gzigs bde’I phyag bzhes ‘gros bkod du bstsal ba/ - Notes Marking Out Whatever Discrepancies Were Found in Various Wordings of the Manuscript Made from the New Printing Boards of the Great Stages of the Path
lam rim chen mo par gzhi gsar bskrun gyi ma dpe’i tshig sna mi mthun pa byung ba gang rnyed rnams brjed thor btab pa/
Vol. 10 (tha)
- The Moon-Vine Increasing the Milk-Lake of Faith: The Biography of Dagpo Bamchoe Lama Lobsang Jamphel Lhundrub Gyatso
dwags po bam chos bla ma blo bzang ‘jam dpal lhun grub rgya mtsho’i rnam thar dad pa’i ‘o mtsho ‘phel byed zla ba’i ‘khri shing/ - Compilation of Notes on Experiential Instructions on The Sacred Words of Mañjuśrī Stages of the Path, According to The Abridged Commentarial Tradition of the Southern Lineage, Received from the Unequalled Dagpo Lama, Lord of the Dharma
dwags po bla ma mnyam med chos kyi rje las lam rim ‘jam dpal zhal lung gi khrid rgyun bsdus pa lho brgyud du grags pa’i nyams ‘khrid gsan skabs sogs kyi bsnyel byang phyogs bsdebs - A Collection of [Kyabdag Dorjechang Phabongkha’s] Minor Compositions and Instructions
[khyab bdag rdo rje ‘chang pha bong kha pa’i] bka’ rtsom dang phyag bzhes phran tshegs skor phyogs su bkod pa/
[The catalogue to the Potala edition lists the third work of the volume as: “The Mirror of the View: Notes Taken During an Explanation of the Profound Commentary on The Hero Entering Into Battle – Transference of Consciousness ‘pho ba dpa’ bo g.yul ‘jug gi zab khrid gnang ba’i gsung bshad zin bris lta ba’i me long/”] - [An Ornament Embellishing Arising Wisdom:] An Explanation of the Layout of the Vairocana-Abhisaṃbodhi
rnam snang mngon byang gi thig ‘grel [sher ‘byung dgongs rgyan/]
[The catalogue to the Potala edition lists the fourth work of the volume as: “Abbreviated Rites to Protect Harvests from Rain, Frost, Hail, Disease, Drought and So Forth lo tog gi rim ‘gro dang/ char ‘bebs/ sad ser btsa’ than sogs srung thabs mdor bsdus/“] - [The Heart Essence of the Dakinis of the Three Places: Extremely Secret] Notes on the Profound Commentary of the Two Stages of Queen [Vajrayoginī] Naro Kechari.
[rdo rje rnal ‘byor ma] nA ro mkha’ spyod dbang mo’i lam rim pa gnyis kyi zab khrid zin bris [shin tu gsang ba gnas gsum mkha’ ‘gro’i snying bcud/] - The Clear Essence of the Profound Path of Great Bliss: An Accessory to The Heart Essence of the Dakinis of the Three Places: Notes on [Vajrayoginī] Naro Kechari’s Two Stages
[rdo rje rnal ‘byor ma] nA ro mkha’ spyod ma’i rim gnyis zin bris gnas gsum mkha’ ‘gro’i snying bcud kyi zur rgyan bde chen zab lam snying po gsal ba/ - The Way to Perform the Increasing Burning Offering at the End of the Great Tenth-part Burning Offering of Vajrayoginī
rdo rje rnal ‘byor ma’i bcu cha chen mo’i sbyin sreg gi mjug tu rgyas pa’I sbyin sreg bya tshul/ - The Way to Perform the Long-life Accomplishment Ritual [Related] to Sita-Tārā [Cintācakra]
sgrol dkar [yid bzhin ‘khor lo’i sgo nas] tshe sgrub bya tshul/
[The catalogue to the Potala edition lists the eighth work of the volume as: “The Way To Perform the Gaṇacakra [of Vajrayoginī] de’i tshogs ‘bul tshul la“]
Vol. 11 (da)
- [Profound and Completely Unmistaken Pith Instructions for Delivering Liberation in Your Hand:] Notes on Experiential Instructions on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment, [the Heart-Elixir of the Unequalled Dharma King,] the Essence of Nectar, Instructions that Assemble the Elixir of all the Teachings
[rnam grol lag bcangs su gtod pa’i man ngag zab mo tshang la ma nor ba mtshungs med chos kyi rgyal po’i thugs bcud] byang chub lam gyi rim pa’i nyams khrid kyi zin bris gsung rab kun gyi bcud bsdus gdams ngag bdud rtsi’i snying po/
Vol. 12 (na), Present Only in the Potala Collection
- The Beautiful Ornament of the Oceans: The Biography of the Yogi Wangchuk Yabje Dorjechang Lobsang Sangye Palzangpo, Holder of the Great Unsurpassable Secret Teachings
gsang chen bla na med pa’i bstan pa’i gdung ‘tshob rnal ‘byor dbang phyug yab rje rdo rje ‘chang blo bzang sangs rgyas dpal bzang po’i rnam thar rgya mtsho’i mdzas rgyan/ - A Collection of The Lord of Refuge, Kyabdag Dorjechang Phabongkha’s Minor Compositions and Instructions
khyab bdag rdo rje ‘chang pha bong kha pa’i bka’ rtsom dang phyag bzhes phran tshegs skor phyogs su bkod pa/ - An Ornament Embellishing Arising Wisdom: An Explanation of the Make-up of the Vairocana-Abhisaṃbodhi
rnam snang mngon byang gi thig ‘brel sher ‘byung dgongs rgyan/ - Notes Taken During a Profound Commentary on the Foundation of All Good Qualities, the Abbreviated Essence of the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment
byang chub lam gyi rim pa’i snying po bsdus pa yon tan gzhi gyur ma’i zab khrid gnang skabs kyi brjed byang/ - The Way to Perform the Amending Burning Offering for the Approximation Retreat of Serviceability of the Glorious Solitary Hero Vajrabhairava
dpal rdo rje ‘jigs byed dpa’ bo cig pa’i las rung gi bsnyen pa’i kha skong sbyin sreg bya tshul/ - The Preliminary Practice Text for the Solitary Hero Vajrabhairava Approximation Retreat, Arranged for Convenient Recitation
de’i bsnyen pa’i sngon ‘gro’i ‘don cha nag ‘gros su bkod pa/ - Notes for Ocean of Attainments: The Burning Offering for Solitary Hero Vajrabhairava
de’i sbyin sreg dngos grub rgya mtsho’i zin bris/ - The Hook Which Summons Attainments: The Self-Entry of the Solitary Hero
dpa’ bo gcig pa’i bdag ‘jug dngos grub ‘gugs pa’i lcags kyu/]
From: Joona Repo, “Phabongkha Dechen Nyingpo: His Collected Works and the Guru-Deity-Protector Triad”, Revue d’Etudes Tibétaines, no. 33, October 2015, pp-43-62.
Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche’s Sungbum
Please click the links below to download the 11 volumes of Pabongka Rinpoche’s Sungbum (or collected works). The text is shared here with all of you so you can print this precious text and put it on your altar as the representation of the Buddha’s speech. You can also print this out to offer it to your teachers and friends:
For more interesting information:
- What Others Say About H.H. Pabongka Rinpoche
- H.H. KYABJE PABONGKA RINPOCHE (1878–1941)
- Heruka’s eye (胜乐金刚之眼)
- Holy and Profound Pabongka Rinpoche
- Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche’s Clairvoyance
- Incomparable Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche
- Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche in Tantric Dress
- Did you know this about Pabongka Rinpoche?
- They were not wrong
- Lineage
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Ribur Rinpoche great yogi, scholar and teacher, an accomplished practitioner, as well as a writer and who had giving teachings in numerous countries around the world. We are fortunate able to read all the amazing memoir of Ribur Rinpoche’s profound meeting with Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche. A rare and precious memoir. Woa amazing , during the Chinese invasion Ribur Rinpoche managed to retrieve some of Rinpoche’s relics and is at Sera Mae Monastery .
Loved what Ribur Rinpoche said …….as a scholar, and as a lama I am somebody, but these things are not important. The only thing that matters to me is that I was a disciple of Pabongka Rinpoche.
Thank you Rinpoche for this wonderful sharing.
Through the words of Ribur Rinpoche we are fortunate to get a better understanding of a great master, Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche. To see the image of these Enlightened Beings, to hear their names, is so rare and precious for us. Tsem Rinpoche our Guru who received the dharma from the unbroken lineage of these great masters and we are very fortunate to receive teachings and oral transmissions from Tsem Rinpoche. Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche been devoted to his guru has inspired, and benefited many through his teachings up to this day. Many great master and high lamas were his students.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing the memoir of Ribur Rinpoche’s profound meeting with Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche.
It is very kind of Rilbur Rinpoche to share about his teacher Pabongka Rinpoche.
Being a scholar and a dharma teacher, he also shows excellent example to other students of the Buddha dharma, and that is one should always remember the kindness of our teachers. Pabongka Dorjechang, was indeed a spiritual giant of his time, and we are so fortunate to read especially the Lamrim that was given by Je Pabongka. Form Je Pabongka’s sungbum there one can see this Lama was so versatile and adept on presenting a variety of topics and dharma subjects.
HH Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche is such a highly attained being and we are most fortunate to hear his name, read about him and are able to see and read his works. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to download the holy Sungbum of HH Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche to put on our shrine.
Such an enlightened being has given us so much precious Dharma, all these holy and most precious texts and Dorje Shugden within the volume 7:
– [The Chariot of the Jewel of Faith Drawing Together a Precious Mass of Blessings:] The Life Entrustment of Shugden Possessing the Seal of Secrecy and Notes on How to Draw the Life-energy Cakra
shugs ldan srog gtad bka’ rgya can dang srog ‘khor bri tshul gyi zin bris/ [byin rlabs rin chen phung po ‘dren ba yi/ /yid ches nor bu’i shing rta/]
– A Supplement on How to Practice the Preliminaries for the Lifeentrustment of Shugden
shugs ldan srog gtad kyi sngon ‘gro’i mtshams sbyor kha skong/
– The Victory Banner Thoroughly Victorious in All Directions: A Presentation of the Approach, Accomplishment and Activities of Shugden, Fulfilling all Needs and Wants
shugs ldan gyi bsnyen sgrub las gsum gyi rnam gzhag dgos ‘dod yid bzhin re skong phyogs las rnam par rgyal ba’i rgyal mtshan/
– The Melodious Drum Victorious in All Directions: The Extensive Uncommon Fulfillment Ritual of the Five Manifest Families of Gyalchen Dorje Shugden
rgyal chen rdo rje shugs ldan rigs lnga rtsal gyi sger bskang rgyas pa phyogs las rnam par rgyal ba’i rnga dbyangs/
– Swift Summoning of the Deeds of the Four Activities: The Middling Fulfillment Ritual of Gyalchen Dorje Shugden
rgyal chen rdo rje shugs ldan rtsal gyi bskang chog ‘bring po las bzhi’I ‘phrin las myur ‘gugs/
There is no doubt that all HH Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche’s texts are only to benefit all sentient beings. We are not allowed to read many of them as they are tantric in nature but to see all these holy texts by an enlightened being such as Pabongka Rinpoche is most precious.
Thank you very much H.E. the 25th Tsem Tulku Rinpoche for sharing with us the holy pure Dharma with the complete lineage. May all obstacles be cleared for Dorje Shugden to arise as the world peace protector and to benefit all sentient beings.
The stories of enlightened beings are just amazing and inspiring, we can clearly see and feel their powerful qualities, such as compassion, determination, loyalty, patient, wisdom and more!
May they come back to us life after life to speead dharma and liberate us from samsara.
Ribur Rinpoche has strong connection and devotion toward his lama Pabongka rinpoche. No doubt Pabongka acheivement is remarkable. His knowleadge pass down to his diciple show tremandous bless by divine will never go wrong. Such lama produce quality diciple what Pabongka rinpoche has acheived.
Pabongka rinpoche lineage cannot be simply wipe out just becauce his pass down Dorje Shugden practice. Lama like that Pabongka has truth compassion to preserve Lama Tsongkhapa teaching until now.Because of that, i am lucky to meet H.E. Tsem Rinpoche to study dharma pass down by Pabongka Rinpoche.
In this article it has stated very clearly about how highly attained Pabongka Rinpoche is, the clairvoyance he has knowing Ribur Rinpoche coming, the writings he has done for composing so many texts, his teachings, and the students he has which is also very highly attained and contributed tremendously in the growth of Dharma.
The written texts and prayers stated above are really remarkable and especially the Lamrim that taught by Pabongka, today I call it the Buddhist bible, as it is teaching everything from entering into our spiritual practice until we gained enlightenment.
Like what Ribur Rinpoche explained about how he respected Pabongka Rinpoche and the preciousness of meeting Pabongka, I understand that just like how fortunate I am for meeting H.E. the 25th Tsem Rinpoche, it takes how many lifetimes of connections built, merits collected and imprints planted for us to be able to meet our perfect guru, without them, we won’t have our spiritual practice.
I wish nothing else but to be able to meet my guru lifetime after lifetime, to continue to practice Dharma until my monkey mind is totally subdued and all my past and present negative habits are totally eliminated.
Ribur Rinpoche’s guru’s devotion was very strong, he had many accomplishments but he still said that “The only thing that matters to me is that I was a disciple of Pabongka Rinpoche”. By reading this article, I can feel that there is so much respect, love and devotion from Ribur Rinpoche to his teacher , Pabongka Rinpoche. I believe that all his success was also because of his great guru devotion.
We are lucky that our guru Tsem Rinpoche has asked us to study on Lamrin. Pabongka Rinpoche’s book Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand is one of the primary lamrim texts in the Gelugpa tradition. Most important is Pabongka Rinpoche had a close association with the Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden since young. So how can Dorje Shugden practiced by wrong at this present day?
He said, “I knew you were coming—now we have met,” and stroked the sides of my face.
The above statement from Ribur Rinpoche’s account of his first meeting with his Guru Pabongka Rinpoche touches me how loving and touching the relationship would develop. And indeed it did.
Ribur Rinpoche’s account of his relationship with his Guru is very sweet and how he viewed his Guru as the best and that whatever and whoever Ribur Rinpoche was or had been the greatest thing for him was as follows:
“The only thing that matters to me is that I was a disciple of Pabongka Rinpoche.” Beautifully phrased.
The story with all details and achievements of Pabongka Rinpoche are very precise and empowering.
A very inspiring account of a student/guru relationship which I aspire for.
Interesting article, tells the story of a very devoted and faithful disciple (Pabongka Rinpoche) towards his guru and his teachings that bring inspiration down to his student and benefit many others until today. I could see that how delighted and blissful Ribur Rinpoche was to be part of Pabongka Rinpoche’s student and his recognition by HHDL encourages him devote into his work. Much more interesting and amazing work of Pabongka Rinpoche that I like to read was https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/great-lamas-masters/the-collected-works-of-h-h-pabongka-rinpoche.html
Thank you, Rinpoche for sharing this article of Pabongka Rinpoche deeply. _/\_
Pabongka Rinpoche is said to have such powerful voice that his teachings can be heard in the crowd of over 3000 to 4000 people.
He also have mystical experiences and have visions of the diety Chakrasamvara.
Pabongka Rinpoche also wrote incredible teachings on the Sutra and Tantra which includes Heruka, Tara Cittamani and also the Vajrayogini sadhana.
Most important her had a close association with the Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden since young which he inherited this practice from his mother. This practice has been passed down from his maternal family’s lineage which proves again Dorje Shugden has been practiced by many. So how can Dorje Shugden practiced by wrong at this present day?
It’s a great sharing by Ribur Rinpoche. Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche really a remarkable lama with his great devotion and attainment that many great master and high lamas were his students.
His lamrim retreat with his Guru Dagppo Rinpoche took 10 years and from this realization Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche later gave a 24 days historic exposition on the Lamrim. It was attended by 700 people. These teaching were compiled by his disciple Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche and later translated into English and published as Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand which has been use as the foundation of most Gelug teachers’s Lamrim presentations until today.
Truly thankful to Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche for what he has done during his time for benefiting us now and future.
So much awe, admiration, reverence, respect, love, faith, devotion is shown in Rilbur Rinpoche’s account of Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche – the incomparable spiritual master of great Tibetan Buddhist masters. Yet there are people with deluded mind who still talk ill of Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche. I guess this is the nature of samsara that we abide in, having to deal with our ignorance, desires and anger. That we see gems as rocks, and listening to dharma with boredom
A beautiful memoir from a devoted student to His teacher! I can feel so much respect and love from Ribur Rinpoche towards Pabongka Rinpoche. Therefore, I believe that He had a lot of faith in whatever teachings and practices that His guru gave him. And the amount of Pabongka’s works, teachings and attainments really astonishes me! Through his practices, He became one with Heruka. One of the post that I enjoyed reading was https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/great-lamas-masters/herukas-eye.html.
And more interestingly, the other great students of Pabongka Rinpoche, are also well respected and great teachers in their own rights. The lineage from before Pabongka Rinpoche down to His students, show that whatever practices they were doing brought much wisdom, compassion and attainments. One of them was the main guru who tutored HHDL!
And my other point is about Dorje Shugden’s practice. We can see that the above great masters practice Dorje Shugden. Look at their achievements! If HHDL is saying that His gurus and the great Gurus before Him, were wrong in practicing Dorje Shugden, then wouldn’t the whole lineage down to whatever HHDL learned and practice, are wrong as well? I find that very hard to perceive. Then what happened to the lineage we are all following? So confusing!
Amazing and beautifully of the meeting of Ribur Rinpoche with Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche.Ribur Rinpoche can described so well as its very special meeting which he can remembered.Ribur Rinpoche has great faith and devoted to his Guru ,so much so he has the merit to witness the miraculous power of Pabongka Rinpoche.Interesting accounts of the profound meeting.
What H.H Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche has done was incredible with so many volumes of writings that are highly sought after and very much used till the present day.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing the memoir of Ribur Rinpoche’s profound meeting with Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche, which has given me a lot of learning about Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche. There are many great examples shown by Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche which can be served as teachings, guidance and wisdom for us to learn, contemplate and practice consistently. One of the teachings that I truly treasured is the time when Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche spent a huge amount of time to contemplate the practical meaning of the teachings and approaching to an inner realization of them. Pabongka Rinpoche practiced and accomplished everything He had learned until to the completion stage with sincere practice including the meditation on the Lamrim Chenmo for 10 years rather than understanding by words. From what I have learned, the time and energy we spent on learning, contemplating on one teaching and follow with the consistent practice of the particular teaching, is far more important than grabbing many teachings on the surface level.
Based on the memoir from Ribur Rinpoche, I have also learned from Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche where He demonstrated renunciation by rejecting His changdzoe’s offering of a large ornate residence similar to the private quarters of the Dalai Lama during that time. Comparatively to our current age, it is seldom for people to reject for having more rather than getting less but the motivation of having more or less determines the outcome. If one aims to gain more for the sake of other’s benefit with selfless motivation, it will help the person to gain merits and lead them to renunciation with attainment. However, if one craves for having more money, possessions and wealth for oneself, it will only bring more suffering and unhappiness to the person due to increasing attachments.
Moreover, Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche’s eruditeness is unquestionable as the high masters such as Kyabje Ling Rinpoche, Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, Khangsar Rinpoche and Tathag Rinpoche were Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche’s four main disciples. Tathag Rinpoche was a regent of Tibet during that time and eventually Tathag Rinpoche became the main teacher of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
May the current reincarnation of Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche lives long with stable health to continue to spread the Dharma to the ten directions for the benefit of all sentient beings.
Thank you with folded hands,
kin hoe
To me, this memoir is an incredible first account whirlwind tour of Je Tsongkhapa’s lineage. Thank you Rinpoche for sharing it with us.
It was a great blogchat. Reading the article a second time around, I still get the sense of awe that Pabongka Rinpoche sows such great devotion to his Guru and the dharma. His teachings are so great that his disciples emulates and carry on his great teachings. His understanding of the dharma is so profound that he can teach and everyone will understand.
To read it from the personal account of one his many disciples, who in turn became a great teacher, it very powerful message that the teachings of Pabongka Rinpoche is without equal.
We have read so much about Pabongka Rinpoche, who’s the Heruka himself. by reading Ribur Rinpoche’s memoir, it’s like going back to that time. Ribur Rinpoche had very strong faith in Pabongka Rinpoche because he saw Pabongka Rinpoche’s Buddha like qualities. He was inspired so much to be like a real yogi just like Pabongka Rinpoche.
I am amazed of the 11 volumes of Sungbum that Rinpoche had done and 5 (showed below no 11-15) out of 16 in Vol. 7 were Dorje Shugden teachings. This proved that Dorje Shugden Practice is very important and powerful to us hence it was included in Rinpoche Sungbum during that time.
11. The Chariot of the Jewel of Faith Drawing Together a Precious Mass of Blessings:] The Life Entrustment of Shugden Possessing the Seal of Secrecy and Notes on How to Draw the Life-energy Cakra
shugs ldan srog gtad bka’ rgya can dang srog ‘khor bri tshul gyi zin bris/ [byin rlabs rin chen phung po ‘dren ba yi/ /yid ches nor bu’i shing rta/]
12. A Supplement on How to Practice the Preliminaries for the Lifeentrustment of Shugden
shugs ldan srog gtad kyi sngon ‘gro’i mtshams sbyor kha skong/
The Victory Banner Thoroughly Victorious in All Directions: A Presentation of the Approach,
13. The Victory Banner Thoroughly Victorious in All Directions: A Presentation of the Approach, Accomplishment and Activities of Shugden, Fulfilling all Needs and Wants
shugs ldan gyi bsnyen sgrub las gsum gyi rnam gzhag dgos ‘dod yid bzhin re skong phyogs las rnam par rgyal ba’i rgyal mtshan/
14. The Melodious Drum Victorious in All Directions: The Extensive Uncommon Fulfillment Ritual of the Five Manifest Families of Gyalchen Dorje Shugden
rgyal chen rdo rje shugs ldan rigs lnga rtsal gyi sger bskang rgyas pa phyogs las rnam par rgyal ba’i rnga dbyangs/
15. Swift Summoning of the Deeds of the Four Activities: The Middling Fulfillment Ritual of Gyalchen Dorje Shugden
rgyal chen rdo rje shugs ldan rtsal gyi bskang chog ‘bring po las bzhi’I ‘phrin las myur ‘gugs/
This is again proved that It is not possible for Pabongka Rinpoche to reach the highest stage of realization and became the Heruka himself because Rinpoche was a Dorje Shugden practitioner. If Pabongka Rinpoche was practicing the devil, what happened to the thousands and thousands of people who took initiations and 10 thousands over of people who took Bodhisattva vows from Pabongka Rinpoche during that time?
“Pabongka Rinpoche’s four main disciples were Kyabje Ling Rinpoche, Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, Khangsar Rinpoche, and Tathag Rinpoche, who was a regent of Tibet. Tathag Rinpoche was the main teacher of His Holiness the Dalai Lama when he was a child and gave him his novice ordination.” 3 out of 4 Pabongka Rinpoche’s main students were His Holiness’ teachers. How can all 3 teachers were wrong? So what have they taught His Holiness were actually right?
CTA can lied to the world about Dorje Shugden is a devil but CTA must remember, the history was recorded, it cannot be faked and changed as when they wished. Why CTA continue to lie and bad mouth about all the high lamas and created the bad karma to bring their community down? As we can see CTA is loosing everything included their sponsors from the west. If banning Dorje Shugden is the right step for Tibet, what are the good has the ban been brought to CTA? Success? Glory? Growth?
When you created sufferings for others, this sufferings will return back to you, that’s called KARMA.
“All this made him very special.I would say he had two main qualities: from the tantric point of view, his realization and ability to present Heruka, and from the sūtra point of view, his ability to teach lamrim.” This sentence itself tells the reader how great a teacher Pabongka Rinpoche was. From all accounts by Rilbur Rinpoche, his devotion to his teacher is exemplary. Though he himself is by no means an ordinary monk, he sees himself only as a disciple of Pabongka Rinpoche, that he is not a whole but an extension of his Guru.
Thank you, Rinpoche for sharing this and letting us see how one can view one’s Guru as Buddha and have utmost faith and devotion.
As opined by Rinpoche, this very inspirational accounts of Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche by Ribur Rinpoche, seemed to be a great ‘perfect-fit” with that of this great Lama, Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche! Though his memior of Pabongka Rinpoche may look brief but contained much essential and important datas and anecdotes of the famous Pabongka Rinpoche, who was well-known and popular amongst contemporary monks, geshes and high Lamas too. Rinpoche further remarked that due to Ribur Rinpoche’s excitement and devotion, words of royalty and goodness keep seeping out of his mind as he met the father-like great Pabongka Rinpoche in this profound meeting! It was said that, Pabongka Rinpoche had an uncanny ability to relate to his audience. His voice was incredibly powerful, he would address gatherings of many thousands of people, yet everyone could hear him clearly. For this reason, he became a well-sought after teacher for the common man as well for the monks. Pabongka Rinpoche’s great accomplishment was that he found a way to attract and lead listeners of every level. It seems his most famous weapon was his sense of humour. Inevitably, if part of his audience would start to nod or fall into some reverie, Pabongka Rinpoche would suddenly rever into an amusing story or joke with a useful moral, and send his listeners into waves of laughter. Such effects on his audience were striking and effective! Ribur Rinpoche had humbly admitted that, he has had some success as a scholar, and at the age of five, being recognized as the sixth incarnation of Sera Mae Ribur Rinpoche, but these things did not matter to him. What matters most, was that he was a disciple of Pabongka Rinpoche!
Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche is like the Great Grand Master to all Buddhist Master in Tibet. From the account of Venerable Ribur Rinpoche, we are like walk into Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche’s “real life” once again. Venerable Ribur Rinpoche has an unshakable faith towards his Guru, due to this strong faith, i believes Venerable Ribur Rinpoche would have attained Heruka himself too.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this memoir of Pabongka Rinpoche by his most devoted disciple Ribur Rinpoche. Ribur Rinpoche had the amazing merit to witness the miraculous power of Pabongka Rinpoche far away in Kham, at a young age. One of his teachers(a disciple of Pabongka Rinpoche) had a picture of Pabongka Rinpoche that exuded small drops of nectar from between the eyebrows! He witnessed this with his own eyes. Hence his faith in Pabongka Rinpoche had developed from a young age ; so much so that at the time when he came into the presence of Pabongka Rinpoche for the first time, he was truly awe-struck!
Then there are the famous lines from this memoir which can only come from someone as devoted to his Guru as Ribur Rinpoche was to Pabongka Rinpoche.
“I have had some success as a scholar, and as a lama I am somebody, but these things are not important. The only thing that matters to me is that I was a disciple of Pabongka Rinpoche”.
Ribur Rinpoche was confined in Lhasa from 1959 until 1976 by the Chinese Communists, during which time he experienced relentless interrogation and torture during thirty-five of the infamous struggle sessions. “If I told you what happened on a regular basis, you would find it hard to believe”. What struck me in his account of this period was that he was able to stay alive and keep strongly to his faith all because of the powerful mind and meditation training that he had received from his beloved Guru Pabongka Rinpoche.
To my mind, as I read Ribur Rinpoche’s account of Pabongka Rinpoche as the most important Lama of all , what made him such an incomparably great teacher was that he “spent a great deal of time thinking about the practical meaning of the teachings and coming to an inner realization of them, and he had practiced and accomplished everything he had learned, right up to the completion stage. He didn’t just spout words, he tried things out for himself”.
There is no question that Kyabje Pabongkha Rinpoche Dorje Chang is a grandmaster of the Tsongkhapa tradition evinced by his extensive corpus of both the Sutra (Lamrim) and Tantra (Guhyasamaja, Chakrasambhara and Yamantaka). And some Kalachakra too but as Kalachakra is a “clear” tantra, it does not need much commentary. As such, his students excelled too as we can see.
In addition Pabongkha Rinpoche also wrote extensively on Naro Kacho Vajrayogini and Dorje Shugden and there must be a reason for this. In my honest opinion, this grandmaster who is Buddha was doing us beings of the materialistic age (post industrial revolution) a great favor by creating the causes for us to receive Naro Kacho and Dorje Shugden teachings at a time when we need it and most suitable to us.
There is no contradiction, only a Buddha would be able to foresee the planes, trains and automobiles age that we live in today.
_/:\__/:\__/:\_
Dear Rinpoche, thank you for sharing this wonderful article on the great Pabongka Rinpoche, indivisible from Heruka and Vajrayogini. He is a very advanced adept. His attainments seem to be way beyond the ordinary men and women. I therefore do have a question here to seek your advice: how can an average practitioner, who is not yet qualified to practise the higher tantra, ameliorate his/her lust or sexual craving? There so seem to be a slight contradiction here. Vajrayogini (and Heruka) as said to be able to transmute desire into the path, but her practise is only accessible and safe for those who are ‘ready’. For many of us who are ‘unready’, troubled by lust and passion, we cannot even complete our preliminaries without obstacles, let alone fathom the periphery of her practice. In other words, those who are most in need of her help cannot even get to her. Those who have gotten to her are probably the least needy. Thanks and have a nice day!