Chimé Pakmé Nyingtik Drupchö & Teachings on Guru Yoga, 5-8 October

Written by Paula on 05 October 2023.

CHIMÉ PAKMÉ NYINGTIK DRUPCHÖ & TEACHINGS ON GURU YOGA

With Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche

Dates: from 5 to 8 October

Open to Buddhist students who fulfil 
certain Vajrayana requirements (see below)

Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche is considered as one of the main authorities on elaborate Vajrayana rituals within the Nyingma tradition. He has regularly been giving teachings, transmissions, leading drupchös and drupchens (intensive Vajrayana group practices) and presiding over many sacred constructions in Rigpa centres since 1996.

It’s been more than four years since we were last able to welcome Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche and his monks to Europe. We are incredibly fortunate that he has accepted the invitation to come back since it is increasingly rare for Rinpoche to travel to Europe.

This year in Lerab Ling, Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche will preside over a 3-day Drupchö of Chimé Pakmé Nyingtik (a longevity practice based on White Tara) and give teachings on Guru Yoga. Anyone who has attended teachings and participated in practices with Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche and his monks will know what an incredibly powerful experience it is.

1. CHIME PAKME NYINGTIK DRUPCHÖ (5-7 October)

Chimé Pakmé Nyingtik (‘The Heart Essence of the Sublime Lady of Immortality’) is a long-life practice revealed as mind terma by Jamyang Khyentsé Wangpo. It accomplishes the three deities of longevity: White Tara, Amitayus and Ushnishavijaya.

Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche considers the Chimé Pakmé Nyingtik practice to be the most appropriate for us to focus on in Lerab Ling since we have a long tradition of practising the sadhana and most of our Vajrayana sangha have already received the empowerment several times (including recently from Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche).

A drupchö is a form of elaborate and intensive group practice performed over three to seven days that epitomises the depth, power, and precision of the Vajrayana, drawing together the entire range of its skilful methods. Unlike a drupchen, which is also practised over several days, this is not a 24h practice but is only done during the day.

Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche will preside over the drupchö, assisted by a few monks, and we will all practise together to accomplish this practice for the benefit of all sentient beings. You don’t have to be a perfect practitioner to benefit from a drupchö!

WHAT ARE THE SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS TO JOIN THE DRUPCHÖ?

This drupchö is a Vajrayana event and as such has some specific requirements:

• You are a member of the Rigpa Ngöndro Mandala or Dzogchen Mandala.*
• If you are the member of another sangha, it would be expected that:
  
  
  • You have already formally entered the Mahayana Buddhist path by having taken Refuge and the Bodhisattva vows;
  • You have a solid foundation and experience of the principles and practices of the Mahayana;
  • You have received teachings on all the ngöndro practices, including guru yoga;
  • You have established the practice of ngöndro and have started your ngöndro accumulations.

Additionally:

• To engage in the practice, you should have already received a Chimé Pakmé Nyingtik empowerment. As the Vajrayana teachings clearly point out, without the proper empowerment, there can be no accomplishment.
• It would be best if you would have already received some general instructions on how to practise sadhana, including at least a basic understanding of the view, meditation and conduct of the Vajrayana and its main key principles before joining the event.

However, if you do not meet the last two requirements (empowerment and general instructions on sadhana) but you have received other Vajrayana empowerments, it’s still possible to join the drupchö and do your own practice. In this case we recommend you simply come to the weekend option (7-8 October). See details below.

2. GURU YOGA TEACHINGS (8 October)

Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche will be teaching on the Nyingtik Saldrön, The Bright Lamp of the Heart Essence, a guru yoga practice composed by Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö which became especially popular among his disciples. Rinpoche will also teach on the commentary of the Nyingtik Saldrön, the Yeshe Saldrön, The Bright Light of Wisdom, which emphasises how the root lama is the manifestation of our mind’s true nature.

WHAT ARE THE SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS TO JOIN THE GURU YOGA TEACHINGS?

These are Vajrayana teachings, so the requirements are similar to the ones mentioned above:

• You are a member of the Rigpa Ngöndro Mandala or Dzogchen Mandala.*
• If you are the member of another sangha, it would be expected that:
  
  
  • You have already formally entered the Mahayana Buddhist path by having taken Refuge and the Bodhisattva vows;
  • You have a solid foundation and experience of the principles and practices of the Mahayana;
  • You have received teachings on all the ngöndro practices, including guru yoga;
  • You have established the practice of ngöndro and have started your ngöndro accumulations.

Additionally:

• You have already received a Vajrayana empowerment from the inner tantras (such as Rigdzin Düpa, Tendrel Nyesel, Chimé Pakmé Nyingtik, etc.).
  
  

HOW TO JOIN

Lerab Ling offers two participation options:

• The full programme consisting of the full 3-day Drupchö on 5-7 October & the teachings on Guru Yoga on 8 October (especially recommended for those who have the Chimé Pakmé Nyingtik empowerment)
• The weekend option consisting of the last day of the Drupchö and receiving the siddhis (blessings) of this amazing Drupchö on 7 October and the teachings on Guru Yoga on 8 October (recommended for those who don’t have the Chimé Pakmé Nyingtik but meet the above criteria)

PARTICIPATION IN ACTIVITY

One important element of a drupchö is accomplishing the different activities together, as a drupchen text says, 'from the vajra king to the vajra sweeper'. It creates a very joyful atmosphere if everybody contributes in small ways, e.g. by preparing the offerings or tormas, serving tea and food, cleaning the practice space, or the dishes, opening shrines, or lighting the sang fire, etc. Everybody who is contributing to make this drupchö happen, in whichever way that may be, is part of the mandala and will share in the same merit and blessings.

Equally, all participants are invited to contribute as generously as possible to the material offerings for these practices such as lights, incense, flowers, tsok, tormas and other substances that are made on a daily basis. Please donate here.

If you are not able to attend in person, you can also make an auspicious connection by making a donation towards the offerings.

MORE INFORMATION

More information can be found on the Rigpa Shedra Wiki

• Orgyen Tobgyal Rinopche’s more extensive biography and other links
• Chimé Pakmé Nyingtik
• Drupchö
• Drupchen
• Empowerment 

* If you feel you should be part of the Ngöndro Mandala but are not yet, please contact your local instructor to have an interview.