Tuesday

Khenpo Tenkyong Visits Shambhala Archives

By Jeanne Riordan

The Shambhala Archives was pleased to host a visit by Khenpo Tenkyong, from Karma Triyana Dharmachakra this week. Khenpo is very knowledgeable about the Karma Kagyu tradition and offered new insight into a 17th century thangka painting of the third  Karmapa, Rangjung Dorje, that is held and preserved by Shambhala Archives in Halifax. Ann Shaftel engaged him in conversation about her work with Trungpa Rinpoche during its restoration. This painting was described by an art appraiser as “extremely fine” and an “aesthetic masterpiece.” It is an historically important artwork because of its subject matter and provenance. Practitioners will recall that the image adorns the cover of Rain of Wisdom.

Khenpo Tenkyong also showed interest in an original calligraphed flag by Trungpa Rinpocne. It is one of the original flags that proclaim the Great Eastern Sun. 

Khenpo was interested to see the Japanese Armour that was a birthday gift to the Vidyadhara and was kept in the Tenno room at his residence. It is now in the Werma shrine room at the HSC, on loan from Archives. 

We were also able to show him the many photos from Archives that were published in the 17th Karmapa’s amazing pictorial history of his predecessor. Ani Jangchub, who accompanied Khenpo from Karma Triyana, had contributed a photo of the 16th Karmapa to the book as well and a lively conversation about the makings of the remarkable publication ensued.

All in all it was a delightful day in Archives and it reminded us how lovely it is to receive visitors who are interested in our Shambhala Buddhist history. Please plan to stop by for a tour when you are visiting Halifax!