Thursday

Remarks by the Sakyong Wangmo

Khandro Tseyang making a mandala offering at the Rinchen Terdzo. Photo by Christoph Schoenherr.

Remarks by the Sakyong Wangmo, Khandro Tseyang on the occasion of a Werma feast on April 13, 2009 at the Halifax Shambhala Meditation Centre.

These days there is so much difficulty in this world, so much uncertainty in life. The only thing that we can rely on is the dharma, so I advise you all to please practice.

I am very happy to see you all once again and to be back in Halifax, in my home. The more I come back here, the more comfortable I feel. By now I know most of you here in the shrine room, which makes a big difference for me, especially also to be practicing with you. Now that we have practiced together and received teachings together—not only here but everywhere in the world—we have made deep connections, so I have a great feeling of love and care for you all. And I am very happy this evening that we are doing this feast together.

Khandro Teyang and Namkha Drimed Rinpoche at the Rinchen Terdzo in Orissa, India

Bestowal of the Richen Terdzo

As you all know, we have just gotten back from India. We were there for almost four months with the bestowal of the Rinchen Terdzo empowerment. This empowerment has been very special to me, especially because I received it with the Sakyong, and the person who bestowed it is my father, who received this transmission from none other than Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche. What a precious opportunity, to have received this vast empowerment through such a lineage.

Although I had received the Rinchen Terdzo in Tibet eight or nine years ago, this time was extraordinary because I was receiving it not only with the Rinpoches, but also with my family and the community, the sangha. It was a particularly exceptional gathering because of the mixture of the two sanghas—the Ripa and the Shambhala, as well as the Tibetan and the Western.

This is the first time ever that such a major transmission has been bestowed in Orissa, the place where I come from. The people were very happy to be receiving this together with the two communities; they made great connections. Their love and devotion for the Sakyong was quite amazing. It was magnificent for me to see that. They had met him before, during our wedding, but this was the first time that they had actually received empowerments from him, so the community felt very fortunate.

Many people thanked the Sakyong and me for having this major transmission bestowed in Orissa; they had never received a transmission like this one. The two communities receiving it together was a unique occasion that went really well, as you all know. Although many of you weren’t there in person, I heard good reviews of Walker Blaine’s blog. It is pretty famous by now. While I was in Europe, people told me how much they enjoyed reading it and how they felt that they were actually there receiving the empowerment in person.

I hope that in the future many of you can come to Orissa. It would be nice for you all to see where I grew up and to see the other part of the culture.

His Holiness Penor Rinpoche with the Sakyong and Khandro Tseyang. Courtesy of Shambhala.org.

Passing of His Holiness Penor Rinpoche

After we left India, we heard the sad news of the passing of His Holiness Penor Rinpoche. As soon as we heard the news, the Sakyong and I sat together and did some practice. I would like to talk a little bit about how grateful we are to His Holiness. Because of the kindness he showed us—not only during my empowerment, but also during the Sakyong’s enthronement and in recognizing him as the tulku of Ju Mipham Rinpoche—I feel like it is a big loss to us and to the Shambhala community, where he played a very major role. The Tibetan community also feels a huge sense of loss. Right now people at Namdroling monastery are feeling very sad. I heard that many people were crying; I wanted to share this with you. I pray for Penor Rinpoche’s swift rebirth.

Uncertainty in Life

These days there is so much difficulty in this world, so much uncertainty in life. The only thing that we can rely on is the dharma, so I advise you all to please practice. This coming summer we are having a lot of programs at the Shambhala Centres in Canada, America, and Europe. I hope to see you there so we can all practice together. It is a special year because we have the preparation for the Scorpion Seal retreat, and also the sangha retreat, where we can all gather together. It is very important to practice together, so I hope to see you all there.