A Blessed Gathering: Commemorating Khenpo Rinpoche’s First Parinirvāṇa Anniversary
On June 22, 2024, the supreme Khenchen Vajradhara Tsültrim Gyamtso Rinpoche passed away. According to the Tibetan calendar, his first parinirvāṇa anniversary fell this year on July 10. To commemorate this great siddha of our time and the root guru of our main teacher and founder, Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, we gathered at Tek Chok Ling Nunnery in Kathmandu. During our practice, auspicious signs appeared in the sky—circles around the sun right above the temple.
Blessings of the Lineage
Together with the nuns of Khenpo Rinpoche’s nunneries—Tek Chok Ling (Kathmandu) and Karma Drubdey (Bhutan)—monks from Dilyak and other monasteries, and lay students from around the world, we practiced the Five Tara Deity and Mandala Offering unique to the Karma Kagyü lineage.
Tracing back to the First Karmapa, Düsum Khyenpa, His Holiness the 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, compiled this text and kindly offered further guidance on what to practice in honor of Khenpo Rinpoche’s parinirvāṇa anniversary.
One Mandala, Practicing for the Benefit of the World
On the final day of a week-long practice, we were honored by the presence of Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche in the Tara Shrine Room at Tek Chok Ling. In addition to the monastic and lay community at the nunnery, hundreds of students from Marpa Network, Zabsang Shedrup, Nalandabodhi, and others joined us online. Alongside the Five Tara Sādhana and Mandala Offering, our afternoon session included Guru Yoga, Songs of Realization, and prayers for the benefit of the world. Nalandabodhi centers worldwide also held a 24-hour practice of Khadiravaṇītārā and Guru Yoga.
As one heartfelt mandala, we offered our practice in honor of Khenpo Rinpoche’s first Parinirvana Anniversary, praying to receive the blessings of his enlightened heart and mind, and supplicating for his activity to continue to manifest in this world to help bring ease, wisdom, and happiness to all sentient beings.
We concluded this year’s commemoration with a beautiful lamp offering.
May all be virtuous and auspicious.
Sarva Mangalam!
