Thursday

Announcing H.E. Namkha Drimed Rinpoche’s 2009 Tour

After a successful completion of the Rinchen Terdzo in Orissa, India, at the beginning of March, His Eminence Namkha Drimed Rinpoche is now back in Nepal. The teachings were accomplished after a little more than three months of almost daily practice, during which His Eminence gave 10 to 15 empowerments a day. At the conclusion of the Rinchen Terdzo, Rinpoche’s youngest son, Lhuntrul Rinpoche, and his son-in-law, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, were both enthroned as lineage holders of the Rinchen Terdzo. (His Eminence’s son Jigme Rinpoche had already been enthroned the last time Rinpoche gave the Rinchen Terdzo.)

His Eminence Namkha Drimed Rinpoche commented that the enthronement went extremely well and demonstrated all the inward and outward signs of accomplishment. More details regarding what took place during and at the end of the Rinchen Terdzo can be found here. Additionally, a spectacular photo slide show is available here. Special thanks go to Walker Blaine and Patricia Kirigin, who did an amazing job documenting the entire event.

As is the tradition at the beginning of a new year, His Eminence performed several drupchens in Orissa on the conclusion of the Rinchen Terdzo, each of which took an additional seven to 10 days of full practice to complete. Of special note was the Hayagriva drupchen, which helps remove obstacles and liberate beings who are in the bardo into the pure realms. His Eminence then traveled back to Nepal, where he will remain until the end of May, at which point he will begin a teaching tour in the West.

His Eminence with Khandro Tseyang. Photo by Ursula Von Vacano.

2009 Teaching Tour

The dates and locations for the tour have been finalized, though the exact teaching topics for most places are still being determined. Updated information on the tour and topics will be available at the Ripa Ladrang Foundation’s website.

Following is His Eminence’s tour schedule by location and date, with teaching topics given when available:

June 3, Moscow, Russia, Public Talk
June 4-7, Moscow, Russia, Retreat
June 13-14, Barcelona, Spain, All-Day Teachings
June 20-21, Cologne, Germany, All-Day Teachings
June 27-28, Zurich, Switzerland, All-Day Teachings
July 11-12, Berkeley, California, All-Day Teachings
July 16-20, Tehachapi, California, All-Day Yeshe Tsogyal Drubchen

His Eminence with Sangyum Chime Dolkar. Photo by Ursula Von Vacano.

July 24, Los Angeles, California, Evening Healing Ceremony
July-25-26, Los Angeles, California, All-Day Teachings
Aug. 1-3, Minneapolis, Minnesota, All-Day Teachings for Tibetan Community
Aug. 7-9, Boulder, Colorado, All-Day Teachings
Aug. 14-17, Halifax, Nova Scotia, All-Day Teachings
Aug. 22, New York, New York, All-Day Teachings
Aug. 23, Purchase, New York, All-Day Teachings
Aug. 29, Stamford, Connecticut, All-Day Teachings
Aug. 30, Queens, New York, All-Day Teachings for Tibetan Community
Sept. 2-7, Barnet, Vermont, All-Day Teachings

His Eminence has requested that those students who are able to do so come to as many locations as possible to receive these precious teachings, particularly if the students did not attend the Rinchen Terdzo. We are very fortunate that Rinpoche, who is getting older, has been able to travel to the West for so many years. While he is still in good health, the days of such large teaching tours are probably numbered. In light of this, no one should take for granted this year’s opportunity to receive teachings from His Eminence.