Fifth Incarnation of Dzogchen Rinpoche
Fifth Incarnation of Dzogchen Rinpoche
Thupten Chokyi Dorje
The Fifth Dzogchen Rinpoche was born in the same region as the first incarnation, Kham Riwoche, and was enthroned as the Thupten Chokyi Dorje Tendzin Jigme Wangpo. He received many ripening and liberating nectars [of teaching) from Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo, Garwang Jamgon Lodro Thaye, Patrul Orgyan Jigme Chokyi Wangpo and many other accomplished siddhas of the Old and New Tantra Schools. Without relying on any training in the traditional sciences such as Grammar and Logic, he mastered the sky-like treasury of the complete teachings of Dharma and spontaneously aquired expansive realization. He traversed the paths and bhumis [in one sitting] and arrived at the wish-fulfilling state of attainment without restricting himself to the straits of intellectual analysis, effort or ambition. As a result, he flew through the sky like a bird, his sadhana offerings and shrine tormas melted into light and became nectar, he tied the sun in its place, made the empowerment vase float in space, made the saffron water of the vase inexhaustible, left footprints in rocks, and produced water in hell-like fearful deserts. Once, after he wiped his bleeding nose with a cloth, the cloth was seen as transformed into a thangka full of blessing relics. Other signs of accomplishments were seen by all mundane people.
In his actual experience of pure vision in clarity, he traveled to Zangdok Palri Pema ÖLing, and was twice present there at the feast of the Gathering of the Vidyadharas. He was able to unobstructedly see all hidden phenomena and he recognized many great masters, who held the lineages as a result of hearing his vajra speech. He spontaneously realized and understood other peoples' mind stream. No matter how wrathful the being, such appearances were overpowered by the mere sight of this holy master, and he had other similar powers. These are the inconceivable yogic activities which are the outer appearances of the inner signs. Other than that, so far as the expanding and propagating the teaching, practice, and activities of dharma are concerned, he raised the number of retreats from thirteen to thirty, and established a new retreat centre for [practicing] Amitayus, the Buddha of Long Life, at Kyalgyi Takkar, where thirteen retreatants practiced continuously. Shri Singha monastic college's number of participating students increased to fifty.
Through Dzogchen Rinpoche's aspiration and at his request, Khenpo Shenga Rinpoche composed the word commentaries to the Thirteen Great Treatises, for which wood-blocks were constructed,] and they were printed. At Dzogchen Monastery and Shri Singha, he constructed more than 10,000 pages [of wood-blocks] of texts from both the Old and New Translation Schools. Through the power of his support for the teachings of study, meditationd action, innumerable (beings) accomplished the highest state of scholarship and meditation practice. The fortunate disciples who received his profound speech of confidence were like the stars in the sky, and they all performed inconceivable beneficial activities for the doctrine. During the time of this Lord, Dzogchen Monastery expanded to include more than two hundred branch monasteries.
Over a thousand monks gathered and resided continuously at the Dzogchen Monastery. Moreover, [during the time of the Fifth Dzogchen Rinpoche, a thousand-fold offering [of butter lamps and other gifts], the Gönkhang Wangdrak Rolpa, the five-storied Lhasar and many other new shrines and temples [sanctuaries and sacred objects) were constructed. He newly established the annual drupchen practices of eighty offering mandalas of kama and terma; the drupchen of Amitayus, the Buddha of Long Life called Victorious Over the Four Maras : Unifying Prosperity and Life, including all the minor branches; Phurchen Vajrakilaya, Liberating all the Enemies and Obstructers, including the lower activity and sacred tantric dance; the Dzamling Gesar King, a remedy for conquering any foreign invasion, with the entire retinue of the commanding Phunu, the Dralas - the Gods of Lungta, and their sacred dance. He also started the annual offerings of the thirty ever-burning butter lamps, over 100,000 butter lamp offerings, and other offerings. His great and vast work in establishing all these virtuous activities was like the white umbrella, which pervades the varied religious countries in the world, even with their different races and languages.
