KHENCHEN RINPOCHE, KONCHOG GYALTSHEN IN !MADISON

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6TH, 2008, FROM 10 AM TO NOON, WITH A TEA TO FOLLOW
AT JAMES REEB UNITARIAN CHURCH, 2146 E. JOHNSON ST, MADISON, WI  53704
TO SEE A MAP, PLEASE CLICK ON THIS LINK: http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl

PRACTICE SCHEDULE

~Mondays, 7 to 9 PM, UU Church,900 University Bay Drive, Room C,  (West End, Lower Level,) Madison, 53703.
    

~ Practice & Discussion, 
Topic:Kamalishila's 9 Stages of Meditation, Commentary
by HH the Dalai Lama,pub.Snow Lion, 2001.

Contact:  Charmaine Sprengelmeyer at 608-257-2111 or email her at: csprengelmeyer@hotmail.com

Addresses of Events:

~ Sky Heart, 2241 Ryan Drive, Dodgeville,  WI  53533.

~ UU Church, 900 University Bay Drive, Room C, Madison, 53703 

~ 4813 Winnequa, Monona, WI. 53716, 608-236-1396.

James Reeb Unitarian Center, 2146 E. Johnson, Madison, WI  53504.  

~ UU Church, 900 University Bay Drive, Room C, Madison,53703
    

Drikung Kagyu Dharma Circle of Madison

The Drikung Kagyu Dharma Circle of Madison began when two young couples invited Khenchen Khonchog Gyaltshen Rinpoche to Madison.  That was in September of 1991; Khenchen gave us our name and our center was born. From then on Khenchen has returned to us at least once a year; (during one year he came three or four times!)   For over seventeen years he has taught us the entire path from refuge and the four thoughts that turn the mind all the   way through to Mahamudra. 

In 1982, he’d been asked to come here to spread the dharma by His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon – co-head of the lineage, so Khenchen Rinpoche founded the Tibetan Meditation Center in Maryland,  http://www.drikungtmc.org, and was made head of all Drikung centers in North America.  In 2003 Khenchen Rinpoche retired due to illness and TMC leadership passed to Khenpo Tsultrim Tenzin and Drupon Thinley Nyingpo.  Now, having almost fully recovered, Khenchen Rinpoche teaches abroad and comes to us on a less frequent basis.  We place Khenchen Khonchog Rinpoche’s feet on the crowns of our heads.

DKDC has had a few members who’ve been part of it from the beginning and other members who’ve been very committed for as long as the've lived in the area.  During teaching events, attendance can swell to more than sixty.  Our group meets once a week at the Wil-Mar Center in Madison for practice and discussion.  We have been meeting weekly since we began as well as hosting longer events.  Despite such a small group, we’ve survived because of Khenchen’s nurturance, and because of our reliance on our teachers and the precious dharma.   We welcome newcomers with open arms.

In 1996, a member of our group purchased land located in rural Southwestern Wisconsin – Sky Heart.  A meditation hall and two retreat cabins were built, and retreats and practices are held there.  In 2003, under the guidance of Drupon Thinley Nyingpo Rinpoche, we began building a stupa there. Drupon Thinley Rinpoche also gives us teachings and leads us in retreat.  Here he is at the right, painting the stupa.

In May of 2007, we continued working on the stupa.  We  added the final base, fashioned and painted lotus flowers  that surround the curved part of the stupa, (called the bumpa,) and whitewashed it again.  Boulders were gathered to build a rock wall.  In the Fall of 2008, the final landscaping  will start.

It is incredibly beautiful and inspiring and we have had overwhelming support from local people as well as those from around the world.

In October of 2006, our new resident lama for Chicago Ratna Shri, ratnachi@hotmail.com, and for DKDC of Madison, Drupon Rinchen Dorje Rinpoche , arrived in Chicago.  His Holiness Chetsang Rinpoche www.drikunginstitute.org ,Venerable Khenchen Konchog Gyaltshen, Drupon Thinley Nyingpo, and Khenpo Sherab Odzer all recommended him to us because of his high degree of realization.  Thus, since 1991, a continual stream of magnificently qualified teachers has come to Wisconsin to share their knowledge with us. We are incredibly blessed and fortunate!   

THE DRIKUNG KAGYU LINEAGE

MILAREPA...

was the font from which the Kagyu lineage spread to the ten directions and the three times.  No description of the Kagyu lineage would be complete without a thorough telling of the trials Mila went through, the evil deeds he completely purified, the teacher that poured the entire lineage and blessings into the crown of head, the great saint that all of Tibet honors.

FOR A WONDERFUL BIOGRAPHY OF MILAREPA, GO TO http://www.samye.org/mila.htm

The Kagyu Lineage began with the great Tibetan saint and yogi, Milarepa (1052-1135), who attained enlightenment  in a single lifetime.  His ceaseless devotion to his teacher Marpa (1012-1096), was legendary.  Marpa Lotsowa, a layperson with a wife and family, was a great scholar and translator who made several arduous treks to India to obtain teachings and precious Buddhist texts.  His teacher was the Indian mahasiddha, Naropa (1016-1100), a great adept of the Chakrasamvara and Vajrayogini tantras as well as a peerless scholar.  Naropa was the student of another great Mahasiddha, Tilopa (988-1069), who put him through twelve great trials in order to ripen his mind.  Milarepa’s chief disciple was Gampopa (1079-1153), whose coming was prophesied clearly by the Buddha.  Gampopa, known affectionately as the doctor from Lhodrak, was renowned for his classic Lam Rim text, “The Jewel Ornament of Liberation". 

From Gampopa, four elder Kagyu lineages arose: Barom Kagyu, Tsalpa Kagyu, Karma (or Kamtsang) Kagyu, and Phagdru Kagyu. One of Gampopa’s principle disciples was Phagmodrupa, (1110-1170.)

From Phagmodrupa came the eight younger Kagyu schools: Drikung Kagyu, Taklung  Kagyu, Drukpa Kagyu, Trophu Kagyu, Yelpa Kagyu, Martsang Kagyu, Shuksep Kagyu and Yasang Kagyu.  The precious Dharma teachings starting from the primordial buddha, Vajradhara and Shakyamuni. 

The first lineage is called the Magnificent Blessing Realization lineage.  It came directly from Vajradhara, to Tilopa, Naropa, Marpa, Milarepa, and then to Gampopa.  

The second lineage is called the lineage of Profound View.  It came from Buddha Shakyamuni, and was passed to Nagajuna, Chandrakirti, Atisha, and Gampopa.  

The third lineage is called the Most Excellent Practice lineage.  It came from Buddha Shakyamuni to Manjushri, Maitreya, Asanga, Atisha, and Gampopa.  

Thus, Gampopa received the entire corpus of sacred transmissions and teachings of these three lineages, which he passed to Phagmodrupa.  Although Phagmodrupa had thousands of disciples, Kyobpa Jigten Sumgon was one of his closest.  Phagmodrupa prophesied that the teachings and blessings would be carried on by a Bodhisattva who had already attained the ten Bhumis- Lord Jigten Sumgon, (who was Arya Nagarjuna in a previous incarnation.)  Kypbpa Jigten Sumgon received the entire body of teachings and empowerments from Phagmodrupa like water pouring into a vase.    

From Kyobpa Jigten Sumgon on, all these blessings and teachings have remained unbroken to the present day.  The lineage is carried on by H.H. Drikung Kyabgon Chungtsang Rinpoche, the 36th lineage holder, who resides in Tibet.  He is co-head of the lineage with H.H. Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche, the 37th lineage holder.  Kyopba Jigten Sumgon prophesied that these two would be like the moon and the sun, emanating wisdom and compassion as emanations of Manjushri/ Padmasambhava, and Chenrezig.  

The Drikung lineage is renowned for its Great Drikung Phowa Practice and has produced many great meditators.  In the 1980's the greatest Drikung yogis in Tibet and India were Pachung Rinpoche and Kungha Rinpoche.  Kungha Rinpoche attained the realization of the Yidam, seeing Chakrasamvara face to face in his lifetime.  Today other great Drikung meditation masters include Garchen Rinpoche, Tenzin Nyima Rinpoche, and Drubwang Rinpoche.  Drubwang Rinpoche has realized Mahamudra and is known for going into town and singing spiritual songs like Milarepa did, sometimes offering them to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and other great masters.  Near the end of 200

His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche has established the Drikung Kagyu Institute, Jangchub Ling, in Dehra Dun, India.  There are many ordained persons attending the school and engaged in three-year retreat there.  His Holiness travels to the many Drikung monasteries in Ladakh, India and Nepal, and has come to the US several times, giving teachings, and spreading the Buddhadharma to the ten directions.  http://www.drikung.org/bhist.html

For information on our lineage and pictures of the masters, click here: http://www.drikung.org/lineage.html 

For some interesting information on two sub-sects of the Kagyu lineage:  Shangpa and Dakpo, visit these links:  http://www.tibet.com/Buddhism/kagyu.html,and the Tibetan 17th Gyalwa Karmapa’s website at:  http://www.kagyuoffice.org/kagyulineage.html.

OUR PRECIOUS TEACHERS

KHENCHEN KONCHOG GYALTSHEN RINPOCHE                                 Khenchen Konchog Gyaltshen Rinpoche

Khenchen Rinpoche Konchog Gyaltshen was born in the province sacred to the Drikung Kagyu lineage: Tsari, Tibet in 1946.  In 1959 he fled with his family to Darjeeling, India, where he began his education.  He was an excellent student, and was able to complete his middle school studies in less than the average time.  In October 1967, he traveled to Varanisi, India to study at the new Institute of Higher Learning there.  He began a nine-year course that included Madhyamika, Abhidharma, Vinaya, Abhisamayalankara, the Uttaratantra, history, logic, and grammar.

In early 1968, he took full monastic ordination from H.E. Kalu Rinpoche www.kdk.org/kalu1.html, and received teachings from the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa on The Eight Treasures of Mahamudra Songs of the Indian Mahasiddhas.  Rinpoche received teachings and instructions the Venerable Khunu Rinpoche – whom the H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama places on the crown of his head for his actualization of Bodhicitta www.lamayeshe.com/otherteachers/khunu/index.shtml .  With Ven. Khunu Lama, Khenchen Rinpoche studied Mahamudra, the songs of Milarepa, and Gampopa’s Jewel Ornament of Liberation and Precious Garland of the Excellent Path.

In 1978, under the guidance of the great master Khyunga Rinpoche, Khenchen Konchog began a three-year retreat, which included the Five-fold Path of Mahamudra and the Six Yogas of Naropa, Kyobpa Jigten Sumgon’s Gong Chik, plus many transmissions from Kyunga Rinpoche.

In 1985, Khenchen Konchog Rinpoche traveled to the main seat of the Drikung Kagyu lineage at Drikung Thil, Tibet, to receive blessings, instructions, and transmissions of Mahamudra and the Six Yogas of Naropa from the great yogi, Pachung Rinpoche.  In 1982, His Holiness, the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche asked Khenchen to bring the Dharma to the United States, and the Tibetan Meditation Center http://www.drikungtmc.org was founded.  He has traveled ceaselessly throughout North America to found Drikung Kagyu meditation centers until his retirement as head of the lineage in North America due to illness. 

Wanting the teachings of Dharma to reach as many people as possible, Khenchen Rinpoche quickly adapted himself to Western forms of communication.  He has been on the media and has given many lectures.  The Tibetan calligraphy in the early editions of sadhanas that he’s translated was written in his own hand.  He has translated and written many books as well.  Gampopa’s Jewel Ornament of Liberation is one of the works that Khenchen has found most inspiring.  Seeing the need for a precise translation of this great text, Khenchen Rinpoche began.  In order to accomplish this, he spent many years working with his editor, Khenmo Konchog Thinley Chödron.  They went through the entire text word by word four times, sometimes spending an hour or more on a single phrase or sentence!  It has now gone through several reprintings and is often quoted in scholarly works by other authors.

Due to decades of unremitting travel and teaching, Khenchen Rinpoche fell ill and now  makes his home in India.   Although not fully recovered, he is again traveling and teaching more and more in Europe, Asia and Tibet.  He has returned to us several times.  In May of 2007, he finished his several-year course of teachings on the Jewel Ornament of Liberation, to coincide with the Tibetan Meditation Center’s 25th Anniversary, http://www.drikungtmc.org/.  Now Khenchen is resting and studying in India.

DRUPON RINCHEN DORJE RINPOCHE           Drupon Rinchen Dorje Rinpoche photo by White Lotus Society, 2007

DKDC is incredibly fortunate to have Drupon Rinchen Dorje Rinpoche, resident teacher for both the Drikung Kagyu Dharma Circle of Madison and for Chicago Rana Shri. His Holiness Chetsang Rinpoche, Venerable Khenchen Konchog Gyaltshen Rinpoche, Khenpo Sherab Odzer Rinpoche and Drupon Thinley Nyingpo Rinpoche all recommended him because of his high degree of realization and his gentleness and kindness.  He arrived in Chicago in October of 2006, to begin teaching for Chicago and for us.  He rotates between the two on a six week schedule, and also goes to other Drikung centers to spread the precious teachings and practices.

Drupon Rinchen Dorje was born in 1967, near the Drikung monastery, Tana.  In1984, he joined the monastery and stayed there for nine years, working hard at its reconstruction.  While there, he took novice monk’s vows from Tulku Nyendrak Gyaltsen Rinpoche, receiving many profound teachings from him such as the Five-fold Path of Mahamudra and Dzogchen.  From Tulku Thogme Rinpoche he received wang, (empowerment,) transmission and pith instructions on Five-Deity Chakrasamvara in the tradition of Drilbupa. 

In 1990, at Drithil Ogmin Jang Chub Ling monastery, he received Kyobpa Jigten Sumgon’s Five-fold Mahamudra wang, transmission and teachings from Master Gelong Tenzin Nyima.  He went on pilgrimage to Dhaglha Gampo temple and did retreat there for several weeks.  In 1993, he made a pilgrimage to Mt. Kailash and then joined the Drikung Kagyu Institute at Jang Chub Ling monastery near Dehra Dun, where he studied Buddhist logic, philosophy, etc.  From great masters such as Khenpo Konchog Gyaltshen and Khenpo Thogdrol he received teachings on Kyobpa Jigten Sumgon's Gong Chik, the Uttaratantra and more. 

In 1995, during his stay at the Drikung Kagyu Institute, he accomplished the preliminary practices to Mahamudra and the recitation of Chakrasamvara in group retreat in the presence of His Holiness Chetsang Rinpoche, and was ordained as a full bikshu by him.  In 1996, in Almora, he received wang on the Six Yogas of Naropa, Five-Fold Path of Mahamudra, Chakrasamvara/Vajarvarahi and the symbolic whispered lineage from H.H. Chetsang Rinpoche, and accomplished a three year retreat in the Drikung Thil tradition under Gelong Yeshe Rinpoche.  In 2000, he received Snake Year teachings form H.H. Chetsang Rinpoche and H.E. Garchen Rinpoche. 

In 2001, he went to Lapchi, in Nepal, the site of many sacred caves where the great yogi Milarepa practiced.  In a cave there, he accomplished another three-year retreat on Rechungpa’s whispered lineage of Chakrasamvara and Vajravarahi, the Six Yogas of Naropa and the naked instructions of the bardo.  In 2004 he was enthroned as a Drupon – Accomplished Retreat Master. 

In 2005, he received wang and transmission on the five deities of Hevajra in Marpa’s tradition from H.H. Chetsang Rinpoche, and in 2006 he accomplished a retreat on it at Almora.  Thus, our precious teacher has completed over seven years of retreat!

DRUPON THINLEY NYINGPO RINPOCHE                                           Drupon Thinley & H.E. Garchen Rinpoches

Spontaneously
From the center of my heart
My body bends like a willow
To receive your blessings.

Namo Guru!

From an early age, Drupon Thinley Nyingpo Rinpoche has had a natural inclination towards religion. With his father's encouragement, he entered Brong-ngur Monastery in Tibet, and became a student of the eminent Buddhist scholar, Lama Kedrub Siddhi Rinpoche.  While studying at Brong-ngur, he met the great yogi/scholar, Drubwang Pachung Rinpoche, and received pith instructions on Mahamudra from him.  In 1988, while on a pilgrimage to the sacred places of Western Tibet, Drupon Thinley escaped to India by making a perilous two-month journey on foot across the Himalayas.  Once in India, he joined the Drikung Kagyu Monastery, Chang Chub Ling, in Dehra Dun and began his higher education.  After completing his studies, he was appointed Dean and disciplinarian of the institute, where he was well-loved and respected, serving with distinction for six years.  He engaged in many retreats, including the traditional three-year retreat on Five-fold  Mahamudra and the Six Yogas of Naropa.  He is adept in the practice and philosophy of both sutra and tantra.

In the year 2000, Drupon Thinley participated in the Drikung Kagyu Snake Year teachings  where he received the entire corpus of empowerments, transmissions, and instructions in the Drikung Kagyu lineage.  Based on his accomplishments, he was awarded the title of Drupon, “Master of Spiritual Attainment or Retreat Master”.  Khenchen Konchog Gyaltshen Rinpoche brought Drupon Thinley to America to be a retreat master at the Tibetan Meditation Center in Frederick Maryland.  Drupon la has taught at other Drikung centers throughout the country, including DKDC of Madison.  He came to Sky Heart in Spring of 2003 to begin teaching and leading us in retreats, and to guide us in building stupa. His expertise on this is invaluable, since he has built three stupas in India and the west, and many more in Tibet!

KHENPO SHERAB ODZER RINPOCHE                                                                 Khenpo Sherab Odzer Rinpoche  

Khenpo Sherab Ozer Rinpoche was born in Tibet in 1964 and received full monastic ordination in 1987 from Drubwang Pachung Rinpoche, one of the most renowned Drikung teachers and yogis in Tibet in our time.  He arrived in India in 1992, where he continued to receive training from many important teachers, including His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche, H.E. Garchen Rinpoche, and Khenchen Konchog Gyaltshen Rinpoche.  Khenpo Sherab Rinpoche then went to Nepal, where he studied with other great masters.  He was named an Acharya at Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling, in Bhttp://sftuwmadison.blogspot.com/oudhanath, Nepal.  After continued study, he was enthroned as a Khenpo of the Drikung Kagyu Scriptural College there. 

In May, 2004, he established the Drikung Namgyal Ling, Drikung Kagyu Buddhist Center of Tucson, Arizona. www.drikungkagyutucson.org.  In addition to being extremely learned, Rinpoche has a very warm and peaceful demeanor and a playful, affectionate nature and he is much loved.  He enjoys singing Mila songs to his students!  Khenpo Sherab visited DKDC in 2005 and 2006 to teach on Rigdzin Chödrak’s 35 Pieces of Advice, and in 2007 to teach on Geshe Chekawa’s Seven Point Mind Training – Lo Jong.  Two years ago, His Holiness Chetsang Rinpoche intended that Tibetan women become educated in the Dharma so that in later years, Drupon-ma’s, Khenmos and female tulkus could emerge.  Recently, H.E. Garchen Rinpoche, Khenpo Sherab’s root master, asked him to return to Tibet to teach the entire. eighteen-course study of higher learning to 800 nuns, where he will remain as their resident lama.  This is very inspiring.  Khenpo Sherab will return to the U.S. every three years to give us teachings.  We are very happy that the Dharma is going back home in this way, and are so grateful that he will continue to return to us!

KHENMO KONCHOG THINLEY CHODRON                                                       Khenmo Konchog Thinley Chodron

Khenmo Thinley Chodron met Khenchen Rinpoche in the mid ‘80’s, and felt a very strong connection to him.  She began studying and practicing with deep devotion.  She was one of the main forces in getting TMC off the ground, and has tirelessly donated her time to TMC ever since.  In 1992, the then Ani la began assisting Khenchen Rinpoche in translation projects for publication, most notably, The Jewel Ornament of Liberation, by Gampopa.  They worked together closely on the project for many years, so that eventually Khenchen Rinpoche authorized her to give teachings on the classic text.  She has worked with Khenchen on many other volumes, including the 100 Verses from the Heart, by Drikung Dharmaradza, with a commentary by Khenchen Rinpoche.  Khenmo Trinley joyfully received ordination in 1997 after importuning Khenchen for some years.  She said that when she was ordained it felt like coming home.  In 2005, she took full Bikshuni vows.  In 2007, Khenchen Khonchog Rinpoche asked His Holiness Chetsang Rinpoche if Ven. Bikshuni Thinley could be enthroned as a Khenmo.  Her enthronement took place in May  2007, during TMC’s 25th anniversary.  DKDC invited Kenmo Trinley to come to Sky Heart to lead the first retreat on the land when there were only the roof, floor, and beams of a rough cabin.  The next year she lead a Chod retreat in the Dodgeville area.  In  2000 and 2001, she came again to give teachings on Gampopa’s Jewel Ornament of Liberation.  We hope to host her this summer to continue her teachings on Gampopa’s seminal text.  Her faultless devotion and rigorous scholarship are inspiring and her sense of humor and gentle warmth endear her to us.  During the 2008 Spring Retreat at TMC,  Khenmo gave teachings on the 4 Noble Truths and the 12 Links of Interdependant Origination.  People loved her scholarship and warm-hearted approach.

THE STUPA  AT SKY HEART 

The sky here is big...
Just by looking out over the hills
and the vastness above
it opens one's heart.

“Dharma is one of the most important things in our lives and we wanted to provide a space that facilitates the study, practice and contemplation of the Buddhadharma.” 
Sky Heart resident.                                                               

Buddhism was influenced by the cultural milieu in which it was born.  Much iconography was absorbed from the already ancient Hindu tradition, which included incredibly elaborate and sophisticated temples, the geometry of which reflected exactly the characteristics of the deities and their celestial mansions.  From this sacred geometry came the architecture of the Buddhist reliquary or Stupa – Chorten in Tibetan.  A stupa is an actual embodiment of the body, speech and mind of the Buddha.  These three can be condensed into mind.  It is considered to be the actual Dharmakaya of the Buddha.  Circumambulation around it, doing work or maintenance or painting the stupa can result in, “Incredible positive merit for many, many lifetimes to come,” Lama Zopa Rinpoche.  http://www.fpmt.org/projects/stupa/

Before a stupa is built, the ground must be ritually consecrated.  Inside the square that will become the stupa’s base, an image of a protector goddess is drawn.  A geometrical grid is laid out, and a ceremony is performed in order to appease the local deities that were there first.  This will delight and please them and they will be devoted aids and protectors of the Dharma.  A specially chosen and blessed cedar pole will go straight up from the ground tothe very top of the golden rings of the stupa’s spire.  The first level of the stupa is poured, and the sides built up.  In this level, precious offerings of dream-like samsara are placed.  The level is sealed and another level is added where precious relics, and tsa tsas, (molded images of the Buddhas and Yidam deities) - www.tsatsastudio.org/practice.htm  are placed inside.  The dome or (bumpa - vase,)  holds more precious relics and statues of the deities.   The pole goes in, and the rings, sun and moon complete the spire.  Finally the Gau or niche for a statue of the Buddha is put in place, and the precious stupa is painted and consecrated a final time. A korwa or walkway for circumambulation of the stupa is made, and the final landscaping is done.  The stupa is an inspiration of awesome beauty for many beings.  (For current information about the stupa at Sky Heart, - May, 2007 -  scroll up to "DKDC Madison." )

Many, many persons helped to make the stupa at Sky Heart arise.  Folks from all over the world donated relics, money, tsa tsa’s and labor to make this miracle come to be.  We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.