User talk:Cheewang Negi

Mewa Khenchen Thubten Özer (20th Century) Mewa Khenchen Thubten, one of Bopa Tulku’s own students, was born in the region of Me in the lowlands of eastern Tibet; his family line include such masters as Khartrul Tenpai Nyima and Khencen Tsewang Rigdzin (who attained rainbow body). Khenchen Thubten entered the path of the Dharma at an early age. He heard teachings and studied at the feet of many mentors, beginning with reading and writing and continuing with the mainstream spiritual sources and other fields of knowledge. In particular, he met Bopa Tulku Do-ngak Tenpai Nyima at Dzachukha in the northern reaches of eastern Tibet. With him, Khenchen Thubten trained extensively, studying the mainstream traditions of sutra and tantra and other subjects. When the times grew difficult in Tibet, Khenchen Thubten fled to India, where he received from Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche empowerments and oral transmissions of the kama and terma teachings of the Early Translation school. He studied the Dzogchen teachings as well, including numerous cycles he learned from Khunu Lama Tendzin Gyaltsen and the great oral transmission from Polu Khenchen Dorje. Khenchen Thubten also studied many of teachings with masters such as Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. He founded a retreat center, Pang-gang Ritro Samten Chöling, in the region of Kullu, Manali in the western part of India, which is one of the twenty four gathering places. He taught the dharma (principally the Dzogchen approach of the supreme secret) in the foothills of the Himalayas, in such regions as Garzha, Spiti, Khunu, and Ladakh, where he cared for the countless students to be guided who gathered around him with faith, among them lamas, tulkus, monks, nuns, lay people, and tantric practitioners. Khenchen Thubten also traveled to Sikkim, Dzogchen Monastery in South India, Bodhgaya, and Nepal (where Rinpoche had a small retreat center in Swayambhu built and cared for by his heart student Khenpo Konchog Monlam), along with other areas, teaching the preliminary practices, Vinaya, Abhidharma, Madhyamaka, Prajnaparamita, The Heart Essence of Secrets, The Four Higher Collections of the Heart Drop, and other subjects. In such ways, he carried out his enlightened activities to support the study and practice of the precious teachings of the Victorious Ones, the mandala of his form, adorned with the major and minor marks of perfection, seated on the vajra throne. Khen Rinpoche dissolved his physical form on November 8th 2000, the12th day of the 9th Tibetan month and at 10 o’clock in the morning on the 19th day of the 9th Tibetan month, Rinpoche completed his meditative absorption which was signified by his red and white bodhicittas flowing from his two nostrils. Rinpoche’s body was offered in a cremation ceremony on December 6th 2000, the 10th day of 10th Tibetan month, amidst the auspicious signs of a perfectly clear rainbow filled sky.

Nyoshul Khenpo, A Marvelous Garland of Rare Gems Translated by Richard Barron (Chokyi Nyima) Copyright 2005 Padma Publishing