Dilgo Khyentse

Dilgo Khyentse
Title	Kyabje (His Holiness), Rinpoche
Personal
Born	1910 (1910) Denkok Valley, Derge, Kham, Tibet
Died	September 28, 1991(1991-09-28) (aged 80–81) Bhutan
Religion	Tibetan Buddhism
Spouse	Khandro Lhamo
School	Nyingma and Rimé
Senior posting
Reincarnation	Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo

Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Tashi Paljor (Tibetan: དིལ་མགོ་མཁྱེན་བརྩེ་, Wylie: dil mgo mkhyen brtse) (c. 1910 – 28 September 1991) was a Vajrayana master, Terton, scholar, poet, teacher, and recognized by Buddhists as one of the greatest realized masters. Head of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism from 1988 to 1991, he is also considered an eminent proponent of the Rime tradition.

As the primary custodian of the vast collection of teachings both authored by and recovered by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo, Dilgo Khyentse was the de facto custodian of a vast majority of Tibetan Buddhist teachings. He taught many eminent teachers, including the 14th Dalai Lama. After the Chinese invasion of Tibet, his personal effort was crucial in the preservation of Tibetan Buddhism.

Biography

Early life, ancestry

He was born in 1910 in the Denhok Valley at Derge in Kham, Eastern Tibet, to a family directly descended from the ninth-century King Trisong Detsen. His father was a minister to the King of Dege. When he was seven years old, he was formally recognized as one of the reincarnations of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo by Shechen Gyaltsap Rinpoche (1871–1926) at Shechen Monastery, one of the six principal Mother Monasteries of the Nyingma school.

During the next few years, Dilgo Khyentse received teachings in Buddhist philosophy from various tutors, including training in meditation, in the study of the Kangyur and Tengyur, and in the tantra teachings specifically.

His root guru was Shechen Gyaltsap Rinpoche, and Dzongsar Khyentse Chokyi Lodro (1893–1959) was his other main spiritual master. After he completed what is known as the Preliminary Practices (Ngöndro), Khyentse spent most of the next 13 years in silent retreat in remote hermitages and caves near his birthplace.

He married Khandro Lhamo, a woman from a modest family, after he became ill following an austere retreat. His teacher had prophesied that a cure for his illness would be marriage, despite the fact he was uninterested in it. Khandro Lhamo became a well-known expert in Tibetan medicine, a supporter of Shechen Monastery and his life-long companion.

Student and master

Dilgo Khyentse then spent 20 years in retreat. He completed another retreat at the age of 28, then afterwards Dilgo Khyentse spent many years as a student of Dzongsar Khyentse Chokyi Lodro. After receiving from Khyentse Chokyi Lodro the many empowerments of the Rinchen Terdzod, a collection of Revealed Terma Treasures, Dilgo Khyentse requested to spend the rest of his life in solitary meditation. In response, Khyentse Chokyi Lodro told him that "(t)he time has come for you to teach and transmit to others the countless precious teachings you have received."

Additionally, he received teachings at Palpung Monastery from the 11th Tai Situ Rinpoche, and full instruction on the ancient Guhyagarbha Tantra and its various commentaries from Khenpo Tubga at Kyangma Ritro. In all, he studied with over 50 teachers from the Nyingma school's oral (kama) and practice lineages within Tibetan Buddhism.

Later on, the 14th Dalai Lama regarded Dilgo Khyentse as both his principal teacher of the Nyingma school lineage, and his Dzogpa chenpo teacher. Dilgo Khyentse was also one of the main teachers of Chögyam Trungpa, whom is held in high regard. After his passing, many of Chogyam Trungpa's students became Dilgo Khyentse's students. Dilgo Khyentse was also a considered a master to many qualified teachers from all four schools of Tibetan Buddhism.

Escape from Tibet, teachings in exile

In the mid-1950s, when widespread rebellions broke out in Kham and the Chinese Communists began bombing monasteries and massacring people and livestock, Dilgo Khyentse and his family migrated with masses of other Tibetans to Central Tibet, leaving behind his library of dharma books and most of his own writings. Shechen Monastery in Kham was destroyed by the Chinese forces.

Then, during the 1959 Tibetan uprising, the 14th Dalai Lama escaped from Lhasa, and Khyentse together with his family and a few students also escaped from Tibet, including his brother, the 9th Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche and Tenga Rinpoche. They headed for Bhutan where the royal family of Bhutan invited him to stay and teach, and he became their advisor.

Later, as he made frequent visits to India to give teachings to the 14th Dalai Lama at Dharamasala, he began giving teachings all around the Himalayas, India, Southeast Asia and the West. He also engaged in scholarship and composed numerous poems, meditation texts and commentaries. He was a terton (a discoverer of spiritual treasures) and is credited with discovering numerous termas. He was one of the foremost masters of Dzogchen, the Great Perfection, for which he bestowed pith instructions, and one of the principal holders of the Longchen Nyingtik lineage.

In 1980, he rebuilt Shechen Monastery in Nepal, where he founded the Shechen Tennyi Dargyeling Monastery in Boudhanath, Kathmandu. There, he rebuilt the Shechen Monastery near the great Jarung Kashor stupa of Boudhanath, in Kathmandu valley which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. He gave many teachings over the years to hundreds of other monks, nuns, lamas, Khenpos and Khenmos, Rinpoches, disciples, and to numerous international students. His senior student is Trulshik Rinpoche, whom he named as a spiritual heir.

During this same period and until his paranirvana in 1991, Dilgo Khyentse was involved in publishing as many Tibetan Buddhist teachings as possible, counting more than 300 volumes altogether. Shechen Publications continues to be a highly regarded imprimatur.

Final years

He was one of the few Tibetan Lamas accorded the honorific title "His Holiness". Following the death of Dudjom Rinpoche in 1987, he became the head of the Nyingma School, and remained so until his death in Bhutan on 28 September 1991.

Student Matthieu Ricard remarked

"his disciples were as numerous as stars in the autumn sky...we felt that the sun had vanished from the world."

Final cremation ceremonies were held for him over a three-day period near Paro in Bhutan, in November 1992 and were attended by over 100 lamas, the Royal Family and ministers of Bhutan, 500 western disciples and 50,000 devotees.

Preservation of lineages

Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche in Seattle, 1976

Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche was a perfect example of a Ri-me master. He was instrumental in safeguarding all of the lineages of Tibetan Buddhism without partiality. He received and gave empowerments, wrote volumes of texts that revitalized and interpreted important transmission teachings.

Gyatrul (b. 1924), in a purport to Karma Chagmé (Wylie: karma-chags-med, fl. 17th century), conveys Khyentse's samaya, diligence and humility in receiving empowerments (Tibetan: དབང,  Wylie: dbang) and oral transmission (Tibetan: ལུང, Wylie: lung). B. Alan Wallace elaborates:

With respect to oral transmission, even if the lineage is impure, it is not a problem. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche often sought out and received any oral transmission he thought was on the verge of disappearing. It made no difference who was giving it. He would receive it and, in turn, pass it on to make sure that the lineage remained unbroken.

Dilgo Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche

Dilgo Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche at Nyima Dzong

The Dilgo Khyentse Yangsi, formally named Ugyen Tenzin Jigme Lhundrup (Tib. ཨོ་རྒྱན་བསྟན་འཛིན་འཇིགས་མེད་ལྷུང་གྲུབ་, Wylie o rgyan bstan 'dzin 'jigs med lhun grub), was born on the 11th day of the 5th month of the Female Water Bird Year (30 June 1993) in Kathmandu, Nepal, which was the day after Guru Rinpoche's birthday. His father is Tsikey Chokling Rinpoche, the son of Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, and his mother is Sangyum Dechen Paldon. His siblings are Phakchok Rinpoche, Mingyur Paldron, and Kelsang Bhuti.

Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche was born in Nepal on June 30, 1993. When Khyentse Rinpoche passed away, his close students requested Trulshik Rinpoche, his most senior and accomplished disciple, to find his incarnation.

Trulshik Rinpoche is said to have had numerous visions concerning the Yangsi, which he shared with Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche, Dilgo Khyentse's grandson. His recognition was also confirmed by the 14th Dalai Lama. On 29 December 1995 Trulshik Rinpoche performed the Yangsi's formal name offering ceremony, in Nepal. Dilgo Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche was enthroned in December 1996. Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche personally supervised the upbringing of Dilgo Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche, in Nepal and also in Bhutan where Khenpo Yeshe Gyaltsen focused on providing Dilgo Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche's Shedra education.

In 2010, Dilgo Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche marked the century anniversary of the birth of Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, and his own 17th year, with celebrations in Nepal and Bhutan and with a major tour of Europe, North America, and Asia. The tour began in France at La Sonnerie in the Dordogne, since La Sonnerie is the main European seat of Dilgo Khyentse, and is the French seat of Dudjom Rinpoche.

Afterwards, Khentse Yangsi Rinpoche visited and gave teachings at Lerab Ling, before continuing with Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche and Matthieu Ricard to the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The North American tour included events in New York state, in Boulder, Colorado, and in Vermont before heading to Canada and Mexico.

In 2014, Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and Matthieu Ricard gave talks and teachings in France and in the U.K.. At Nyima Dzong in Paris, an empowerment was given for the Dilgo Khyentse Terma of Vajra Vidharana (Dorje Namjon), and Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche celebrated his birthday. Afterwards, teachings were given at Lerab Ling and at Chanteloube. In the U.K., talks were given at Rigpa London, and a series of talks and empowerments were given at the newly opened Buddhist Community Centre UK in Aldershot, hosted by the Nepali Buddhist Community.

Later in July 2014, Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche returned to Mexico and to his center Shechen Mexico, and held two talks and gave a teaching on Rangjung Pema Nyingtik ngondro practice. In Toronto, Canada, at Riwoche gompa, Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche gave empowerments on Namgyalma and Vajrakilaya.

In July 2024, Dilgo Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche gave an eight-day Kurukulle, Guru Padmasambhava, and Yeshe Tsogyal drubchen and puja, in the historic E Maha Viraha in Patan, Kathmandu, Nepal.

Film

The film Spirit of Tibet: Journey to Enlightenment, The Life and World of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche was released in 1998. It was made by Matthieu Ricard (French photographer, Buddhist monk, and author) who had traveled with Khyentse for 14 years. It tells Khyentse's story from birth to death, to rebirth, and of his escape following China's invasion of Tibet to his determination to preserve and transmit Buddhist teachings far and wide. The film reveals Tibet's art, ritual philosophy, and sacred dance. Along with rarely photographed areas of Tibet, Bhutan and Nepal, the film features interviews with the Dalai Lama, who speaks about his own spiritual life.

The film Brilliant Moon: Glimpses of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, written and directed by Neten Chokling, and narrated by Richard Gere and Lou Reed, uses animation, previously unseen archival footage and photos along with new interviews of Tibet's teachers to tell Khyentse's life story.

Publications

• Khyentse, Dilgo (1993), Enlightened Courage: An Explanation of Atisha's Seven Point Mind Training, Snow Lion Publications, ISBN 1-55939-023-9.
• Khyentse, Dilgo; Rinpoche, Patrul (1993), The Heart Treasure of the Enlightened Ones, Shambhala Publications, ISBN 978-0877734932.
• Khyentse, Dilgo (1996), The Excellent Path to Enlightenment, Snow Lion Publications, ISBN 1-55939-064-6.
• Khyentse, Dilgo; Ricard, Mattieu (1996), Journey to Enlightenment: The Life and World of Khyentse Rinpoche, Spiritual Teacher from Tibet, Aperture, ISBN 0-89381-679-5.
• Khyentse, Dilgo; Ricard, Matthieu (1999), Guru Yoga : According to the Preliminary Practice of Longchen Nyingtik, Snow Lion Publications, ISBN 1-55939-121-9.
• Khyentse, Dilgo (1999), The Wish-Fulfilling Jewel, Shambhala Publications, ISBN 1-57062-452-6.
• Khyentse, Dilgo; Pema Kunsang, Erik; Rangdrol, Tsele Natsok; Tsogyal, Yeshe (2004), The Lotus-Born: The Life Story of Padmasambhava, North Atlantic Books, ISBN 962-7341-55-X.
• Khyentse, Dilgo; Sangye, Padama (2005), The Hundred Verses of Advice : Tibetan Buddhist Teachings on What Matters Most, Shambhala Publications, ISBN 1-59030-154-4.
• Khyentse, Dilgo; Jinba Palmo, Ani (2008), Brilliant Moon: The Autobiography of Dilgo Khyentse, Shambhala Publications, ISBN 978-1590302842.
• Khyentse, Dilgo (2011), The Collected Works of Dilgo Khyentse Vols. 1-3, Shambhala Publications, ISBN 978-1-59030-887-5.
• Khyentse, Dilgo; Mipham, Jamgon (2020), Lion of Speech: The Life of Mipham Rinpoche, Shambhala Publications, ISBN 978-1559394949.

• 
  Undated late photo
• 
  In regalia
• 
  Khyentse in 1976
• 
  The younger Khyentse

Sources

• Chagmé, Karma; Rinpoche, Gyatrul; Wallace, B. Alan (1998), A Spacious Path to Freedom: Practical Instructions on the Union of Mahamudra and Atiyoga, Snow Lion Publications, ISBN 978-1-55939-071-2
• Rinpoche, Tenga (2008), "Visions in Exile", Brilliant Moon: The Autobiography of Dilgo Khyentse, Shambhala Publications, ISBN 978-1590302842
• Khyentse, Dilgo; Rinpoche, Patrul (1993), The Heart Treasure of the Enlightened Ones, Shambhala Publications, ISBN 978-0877734932
• Khyentse, Dilgo; Jinba Palmo, Ani (2008), Brilliant Moon: The Autobiography of Dilgo Khyentse, Shambhala Publications, ISBN 978-1590302842
• Khenpo, Nyoshul; Barron, Richard (2006), Marvelous Garland of Rare Gems: Biographies of Masters of Awareness in the Dzogchen Lineage, Padma Publishing, ISBN 1-881847-41-1
• Midal, Fabrice (2004), Chögyam Trungpa: His Life and Vision, Shambhala Publications, ISBN 1-59030-098-X
• Ricard, Matthieu (1997), Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche's Last Teaching, Tricycle: The Buddhist Review
• Lion's Roar Staff (June 8, 2010), The reincarnation of twentieth-century master Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche to make first US visit, Lion's Roar

External links

• Dilgo Khyentse Fellowship – Shechen
• Biography of Dilgo Khyentse Tashi Peljor at The Treasury of Lives
• Longchen Foundation Founded by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche
• Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche – Rigpa Wiki