Chatral Rinpoche
Encyclopedia
Chatral Rinpoche, Sangye Dorje (born 1913) is a Dzogchen
master in his mid-90s. He is a reclusive yogi
known for his great realization and strict discipline. Rinpoche is one of the few living disciples of Khenpo Ngagchung
and is widely regarded as one of the most highly realized Dzogchen yogis. In addition to his relationship with Khenpo Ngagchung, Chatral Rinpoche also studied with some of the last century's most renowned masters, including Dudjom Rinpoche
, Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Lodro, and the famed dakini Sera Khandro. Rinpoche is one of the primary lineage holders of the Longchen Nyingthig
, and in particular the lineage that descends through Jigme Lingpa
's heart son Jigme Gyalwe Nyugu and then on to Patrul Rinpoche
.
Rinpoche currently divides his time between Salbhari, India, and Kathmandu, Nepal. He has two daughters, Tara Devi and Saraswati, with his wife Kamala.
and his yearly practice of ransoming the lives of thousands of animals in India
. In addition to his emphasis on the union of view and conduct, Rinpoche also stresses the practice of retreat. He has established numerous retreat centers throughout the Himalayas
, including in Pharping, Yolmo
, and Darjeeling.
.
Dzogchen
According to Tibetan Buddhism and Bön, Dzogchen is the natural, primordial state or natural condition of the mind, and a body of teachings and meditation practices aimed at realizing that condition. Dzogchen, or "Great Perfection", is a central teaching of the Nyingma school also practiced by...
master in his mid-90s. He is a reclusive yogi
Yogi
A Yogi is a practitioner of Yoga. The word is also used to refer to ascetic practitioners of meditation in a number of South Asian Religions including Jainism, Buddhism, and Hinduism.-Etymology:...
known for his great realization and strict discipline. Rinpoche is one of the few living disciples of Khenpo Ngagchung
Khenpo Ngagchung
Khenpo Ngagchung, also known as Osel Rinchen Nyingpo Pema Lendrel Tsel or Khenpo Ngawang Pelzang, is considered to be an emanation of Vimalamitra, the Indian master who was responsible, with Guru Padmasambhava, for introducing Vajrayana teachings to Tibet in the 8th century and who promised to send...
and is widely regarded as one of the most highly realized Dzogchen yogis. In addition to his relationship with Khenpo Ngagchung, Chatral Rinpoche also studied with some of the last century's most renowned masters, including Dudjom Rinpoche
Dudjom Rinpoche
Dudjom Rinpoche is the title of a prominent line of tulkus of the Nyingmapa order of Tibetan Buddhism. Dudjom Rinpoche was born in 1904 on the tenth day of the sixth month in the year of the wood dragon in Southern Tibet in a region called the "hidden land" of Pema Ko. He died on January 17, 1987...
, Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Lodro, and the famed dakini Sera Khandro. Rinpoche is one of the primary lineage holders of the Longchen Nyingthig
Longchen Nyingthig
Longchen Nyingthig is a systematic explanation of Dzogchen within the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism. Like the world famous Bardo Thodol, the Longchen Nyingthig is a seminal example of the terma tradition...
, and in particular the lineage that descends through Jigme Lingpa
Jigme Lingpa
Jigme Lingpa was one of the most important tertöns of Tibet. He was the promulgator of the Longchen Nyingthik, the Heart Essence teachings of Longchenpa, from whom, according to tradition, he received a vision in which the teachings were revealed...
's heart son Jigme Gyalwe Nyugu and then on to Patrul Rinpoche
Patrul Rinpoche
Patrul Rinpoche was a prominent teacher and author of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism.-Biography:...
.
Rinpoche currently divides his time between Salbhari, India, and Kathmandu, Nepal. He has two daughters, Tara Devi and Saraswati, with his wife Kamala.
Teachings
Rinpoche has shunned institutional and political involvement his whole life, choosing instead to live the life of a wandering yogi. To this day, despite his great age, he continues to move about, rarely remaining in one place for more than a few months. A lay yogi, he is also greatly concerned with maintaining strict discipline in the context of the Dzogchen view. He is especially well known for his advocacy of vegetarianismVegetarianism
Vegetarianism encompasses the practice of following plant-based diets , with or without the inclusion of dairy products or eggs, and with the exclusion of meat...
and his yearly practice of ransoming the lives of thousands of animals in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. In addition to his emphasis on the union of view and conduct, Rinpoche also stresses the practice of retreat. He has established numerous retreat centers throughout the Himalayas
Himalayas
The Himalaya Range or Himalaya Mountains Sanskrit: Devanagari: हिमालय, literally "abode of snow"), usually called the Himalayas or Himalaya for short, is a mountain range in Asia, separating the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau...
, including in Pharping, Yolmo
Yolmo
The people of Hyolmo or Hyolmopa are ethnically Buddhist people whose ancestors migrated in Hyolmo region at some 13/15th centuries from the Kyerong region of Tibet to the forested foothills of the Hyolmo region.-Origins:...
, and Darjeeling.
Primary teachers
- Khenpo NgagchungKhenpo NgagchungKhenpo Ngagchung, also known as Osel Rinchen Nyingpo Pema Lendrel Tsel or Khenpo Ngawang Pelzang, is considered to be an emanation of Vimalamitra, the Indian master who was responsible, with Guru Padmasambhava, for introducing Vajrayana teachings to Tibet in the 8th century and who promised to send...
(also known as Khenpo Ngaga, Ngawang Palzang) - Dudjom Jigdral Yeshe DorjeDudjom RinpocheDudjom Rinpoche is the title of a prominent line of tulkus of the Nyingmapa order of Tibetan Buddhism. Dudjom Rinpoche was born in 1904 on the tenth day of the sixth month in the year of the wood dragon in Southern Tibet in a region called the "hidden land" of Pema Ko. He died on January 17, 1987...
- Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Lodro (previous incarnationIncarnationIncarnation literally means embodied in flesh or taking on flesh. It refers to the conception and birth of a sentient creature who is the material manifestation of an entity, god or force whose original nature is immaterial....
of Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche) - Sera Khandro
Primary lineages
Though his main lineage is the Longchen Nyingthig, Chatral Rinpoche is also closely associated with the Dudjom Tersar lineage. He was empowered as the regent of His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche and is currently passing on this lineage to this master's reincarnation, who lives primarily in central TibetTibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
.
- Longchen NyingthigLongchen NyingthigLongchen Nyingthig is a systematic explanation of Dzogchen within the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism. Like the world famous Bardo Thodol, the Longchen Nyingthig is a seminal example of the terma tradition...
- Sera Khandro Terma
- Dudjom Tersar
External links
- A wonderful translated biography of Chatral Rinpoche's life story (rnam thar)
- His Holiness Chatral Sangye Dorje Rinpoche
- Declaration of Chatral Rinpoche With Regard to Misuse of His Name at April 2007
- Chatral Rinpoche and Abstaining From Eating Meat
- High Resolution Picture of Chatral Rinpoche (for personal use only)
- Photograph with explanatory text