About the Rigdzin Düpa Sadhana, the Display of Great Exaltation

This Guru Sadhana is contained within the Profound Secret Heart Essence of Dakinis section of the treasure revelation of the great nineteenth-century treasure revealer and Dzogchen master Traktrung Dudjom Lingpa. In the treasure revelations of Dujom Lingpa, which are known as "upper treasures" in the Dudjom lineage, this liturgy is the main Guru Sadhana, and is titled Inner-Most Secret Guru Sadhana, the Excellent Treasure Vase of Siddhis.

Dudjom Lingpa’s immediate reincarnation, born in Pemaköd, was His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche Jigdrel Yeshe Dorje, the greatest treasure revealer of the twentieth century. At the age of nineteen, while Dudjom Rinpoche was in Kongpo Drasum in southern Tibet, this treasure guru sadhana of his predecessor was revealed to him as a mind treasure. At this time, many additional aspects of the sadhana, such as the visualization of the eight manifestations of Guru Padmasambhava in the mandala, were also revealed to Dudjom Rinpoche. Dudjom Rinpoche combined these into the comprehensive Guru Sadhana- Rigdzin Düpa, and at that time, retitled it Dechen Namrol, The Display of Great Exaltation. This Guru Sadhana - Rigdzin Düpa in essence combines both treasure teachings, and therefore the blessings of both treasure revelations are ensured through practicing this. The guru mandala of this practice includes the Eight Manifestations of Padmasambhava, something quite unique among the many guru sadhana treasures of the Nyingma lineage.

The Blessings of the Display of Great Exaltation Sadhana in Deden Tashi Choeling Temple

Khorlo Dratsang, the Dharma Wheel Sangha in Tibet, was the main center of yogin practitioners of the Dudjom lineage in Pemaköd. His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche asked these yogins to observe Guru Rinpoche Day, the 10th day of every month in the Tibetan calendar, with practice of this particular Guru Sadhana - Rigdzin Dupa, The Display of Great Exaltation. Ever since, these yogins and their successors have used this sadhana both to observe the 10th day and for their accumulation of Vajra Guru mantra recitation as part of their Three Roots’ practice in solitary retreat. Viewing this sadhana as having been invested with a share of the blessings of the Dudjom lineage masters for the Dharma Wheel Sangha, all these yogins took its practice to their hearts.

After relocating the yogin practitioners to the region in Northeast India known as lower Pemaköd, Tokden Kunzang Longdrol, my predecessor, with much hardship built Deden Tashi Choeling temple as the successor seat of Khorlo Dratsang, the Dharma Wheel Sangha. Additionally, the main object of veneration inside the temple -- a statue of Guru Padmasambhava known as Nangsi Zilnon – was carefully crafted in accordance with the specifications of this sacred sadhana. Thus, Tokden rekindled the lamp of blessings to shine in this time of degeneration in Padmasambhava’s sacred land.

From Tokden's time uninterruptedly through today, this sacred sadhana has been practiced in the Temple on every Guru Rinpoche day, just as His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche once requested his yogin disciples do long ago. All three-year retreatants on the retreat land in Yoldong have been doing their guru mantra accumulation with this sadhana, as was done previously in upper Pemaköd.

I have no knowledge of this sacred sadhana being performed anywhere else, at least as of yet. Therefore, taking this as my share of responsibility for and, in a small way, as my humble service to the Dudjom lineage, I have now made this sadhana available to our Vajra brothers and sisters in the West. May this effort be a cause to awaken beings to the state of Vidyadhara Guru in one Mandala.

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