Thursday

Twentieth Anniversary of the Sakyong’s Enthronement

The Enthronement of Sakyong Mipham, photo © Marvin Moore

The Mipham Proclamation

This proclamation, composed and sealed by His Holiness Penor Rinpoche, is the formal recognition of the Sakyong as the incarnation of Mipham Rinpoche. It was composed by His Holiness on the occasion of the Sakyong’s visit to Namdroling monastery, His Holiness’ seat in India, in the fall of 1994. This was prior to the Sakyong receiving the abhisheka of The Blazing Jewel of Sovereignty from His Holiness in May of 1995 during the Joining Heaven and Earth celebration.

His Holiness Penor Rinpoche explained that when a tulku is enthroned it is customary to perform three different ceremonies, those of confirming, naming, and enthroning. When asked how this recognition related to the Sakyong Enthronement, His Holiness added, “I’ve recognized the Sawang as the mind emanation of Mipham Rinpoche.” Mipham is recognized as the bodhisattva Manjushri (the embodiment of wisdom) in a human form.

At first, His Holiness was perplexed with his own revelation, because the original Mipham (1846-1912) said that he would not return to this earth, but would instead go to join the Rigdens in Shambhala. Upon reflecting on Trungpa Rinpoche’s manifestation of Shambhala, His Holiness saw the harmony between the first Mipham’s prediction for himself and his own revelation.

The first Mipham Rinpoche, Jamyang Namgyal Gyatso, is of supreme importance to the Nyingma lineage. He was one of the most important teachers of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, having composed thirty-two volumes of writings. His works range broadly from buddhist liturgy and philosophy, to medicine, astrology, politics, and much more. The quality of his compositions is unsurpassed. Although he wrote voluminously, he did so only during certain periods, devoting most of his time to intense meditative retreat.

Proclamation to All Students of the Shambhala Tradition
Who Live in This Great World

In accordance with the special transmission and prophecy of the Rigden kings, which arose through the radiance of space, the wisdom of the father Trungpa Chokyi Gyatso, I recognize his eldest son, Osel Rangdrol Mukpo, as the incarnation of Mipham Jampal Gyepe Dorje, who was Manjushri in person.

I confer upon him the name Jampal Trinley Dradul − Manjushri Buddha Activity Enemy Subjugator − and the sovereignty of the Sakyong king.

I exhort him never to waver from his determination to uphold the precious teachings of the Victorious One and especially the tradition of Shambhala, so that every connection he makes with beings will be meaningful.

I, Palyul Drubwang Pema Norbu, Supreme Head of the Nyingma lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, the Early Translation School, make this proclamation on the excellent fifteenth day of the third month of the Wood Sow year, the fourteenth of May, 1995.

Translated by Matthieu Ricard and the Nalanda Translation Committee.