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 Long Life Empowerment in the Boulder Theater
 The Yangsi arrives at the Boulder Shambhala Center for the tea and rice ceremony,
Photo by Marvin Ross
 Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche in Boulder,
Photo by Marvin Ross
 Lady Konchok and Lama Pegyal,
Photo by Marvin Ross
 Boulder shrine room,
Photo by Marvin Ross
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Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche in Boulder
Long Life Ceremony
Posted: August 18, 2010
By Roland Cohen
Boulder Colorado, Friday, August 13, 2010: Organized and hosted by Dzigar Kongtrul, Rinpoche and his sangha (Mangala Shri Bhuti), the ceremony was held at the old Boulder Theater on 14th St., across Spruce Street from the Shambhala Center. It was packed with four or five hundred people. Many Shambhalians were there, but surprisingly, I think there were many more from other sanghas.
The stage was set up in the traditional way with DKYR's large throne in the rear center with long puja tables extending out on its sides to the front of the stage for the Rinpoches, lamas and monks, facing each other across the center of the stage. Large pictures of the previous Dilgo Khyentse and the Dalai Lama were on the two sides of the throne. Many of Dzigar Kongtrul's students were involved in umdze, announcements and other support roles. Matthieu Ricard was in attendance and served as the translator. Lady Konchok and Lama Pegyal, the Sakyong's mother and stepfather, were also present.
The beauty of seeing Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche who is so young, 17, seated on his throne by Rabjam Rinpoche, and witnessing the respect of all the other Rinpoches, was very moving. Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche seems shy, yet wonderfully settled and serious. He began by saying that he felt "nervous and embarassed" to be seated on this large throne in front of the many great Rinpoches. He clearly has great respect (seemingly even some appropriate hesitancy) for the enormity of the seat he's stepping into. Earlier at the tea and rice ceremony, after sitting on the throne, he humbly bowed very low, practically in a prostration, while all prostrated to him.
His sense of humor was apparent when after making some initial remarks and beginning the preliminaries of the long life empowerment, he stopped to say, "What's the use of living 300 years if you're angry, miserable and mean?" (Not in those exact words.) Everyone laughed. Then he continued the preliminaries and stopped:
"The sound of my voice, that's just the way I speak, I know it sounds boring ... But I'm not bored." There was great laughter, particularly from the Rinpoches present. Then he continued with the sadhana, then stopped again and said "I'm being very bad."
We all laughed heartily. There was a strong sense of family, and the continuity; the extraordinary combination of his being trained, supported and empowered while himself giving empowerments to others. We were witnessing the love, care, seriousness, humor and intense training of the lineage being passed on from generation to generation and the inconceivable re-appearance of a nirmanakaya of Dilgo Kyentse Rinpoche.
Also, I think the Rinpoches were somewhat surprised by his unabashed expressions of genuineness, insight, and humor.
Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche's voice was beautifully calm, rich in timbre, strong and soft. Also, there was a sense of inquisitiveness as he frequently checked out what was going on around him.
The mandala offering was performed by our host, Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche and his son, assisted by other western students, first chanted in Tibetan by many, then in English by all of us. Kongtrul Rinpoche standing at a microphone also led the Seven Line Supplication in Tibetan and another chant to Thotrengsal in various melodies at different times during the empowerment. His presence in a western suit and tie was both casually relaxed and completely precise at once. His wife, Elizabeth Matthis, and many from his sangha, were present.
The power and blessings of the empowerment were wonderfully obvious for all. The blessing line at the end must have taken an hour. Sadly I had to leave before it was over.
Humble thanks to Dilgo Kyentse Yangsi Rinpoche, Rabjam Rinpoche, and Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche for enabling us all to re-connect with the endless stream of blessings of the ancient Nyingma lineage and of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.
Tea and Rice ceremony welcoming Dilgo Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche in Boulder
Posted: August 11, 2010
By Nina Rolle
A note from the coordinator's perspective…
We've been having some hot August days in Boulder, with a dry wind. Most of the sangha has returned to town from a summer of retreats up on The Land. Inspiration and devotion to the Sakyong and the Dorje Dradul are at red hot levels, like Smoky the Bear's fire danger signs on the highway. Finally I can staff the huge event welcoming the Yangsi Rinpoche to Boulder – and with servers and ushers straight out of offering devi training ground, nonetheless. Perfect.
The night of August 10th I could not sleep. As coordinator for the Tea and Rice Ceremony welcoming Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche to Colorado and to the Shambhala Center on behalf of the Sakyong, I was buzzing with details that still needed to be dealt with – seating charts, introductions, china service, how many rinpoches, who's gonna shlep the tea and rice from Marpa House to the center? I sat wide-eyed in the dark, and reflected on the Sakyong Wangmo's grace and perspective, her pure motivation. Breathe. Breathe. What is the View…keep going back…comb your hair from the roots…we ARE the clouds of offerings, we simply need to manifest as the retinue of the Rigdens, make it welcoming and magnificent (with the right dishes), that's all….
“We have a princess!” were the first words I heard on August 11. That joyous news colored the whole day of final preparations for the arrival. It's a girl, It's a girl, It's a girl, did you hear, it's a girl became the mantra transmitted down the line as volunteers and servers arrived. Elizabeth Mattis Namgyal from Mangala Shri Bhuti arrived early to get the lay of the land. As guests started trickling in, a colorful crowd of Tibetans, Bhutanese dancers in full costume, and western students with khatas gathered on 14th Street. Flocks of Dorje Kasung appeared. The plane from Boston was early. They've landed. They've left the airport. They're 10 minutes away. Here's the motorcade, led by MSB's John Clancy riding a Harley.
The traveling party was led into the building by Andrew Forbes' bagpipes and met at the door by Sechen Kongtrul Gesar Mukpo and Makpon Jesse Grimes.
Members of the Ladrang greeted the party downstairs. Kalapa Court servers greeted them on the second floor. Of course there was another Rinpoche added with the traveling party, we pretty much expected that. (chair, brocade, side table, lama snacks, rice plate, teacup, done.)
After a color party of Sun Campers led by Sargeant Kelly MacLean presented the colors, tea and rice was served by thirty elegant, nearly invisible servers. Sechen Kongtrul Gesar Mukpo welcomed Yangsi Rinpoche with a brief and very heartfelt address, inviting him to return many many times. Elizabeth Matthis then spoke on behalf of Mangala Shri Bhuti, and representatives of the area sanghas offered khatas to Yangsi Rinpoche and to Rabjam Rinpoche.
Yangsi Rinpoche spoke briefly, very quietly – a simple message about his travels celebrating the 100th anniversary of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. The ceremony ended with the singing of the Shambhala Anthem. Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche and Rabjam Rinpoche were given cards with a picture of the Sakyong and Sakyong Wangmo and the lyrics of the anthem.
Directly after the ceremony, (and the inevitable traffic jam on that narrow staircase between second and third floor) the traveling party, the Sakyong's family, and a few honored guests gathered in the Shambhala Training Hall, which had been transformed into an elegant dining room and reception area. This was, for me, the highlight of the evening, where the Sakyong's court truly manifested.
Lady Konchok – tired from dialysis but blissfully ( and finally!) a grandmother – attended with Grandpa Lama Pegyal and Uncle Gyurme Dorje. Area Rinpoches were able to visit with Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche and Rabjam Rinpoche, and Alexandra Shenpen offered khatas on behalf of her late husband Lama Ugyen Shenpen.
Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche, bustling around in hosting mode, added 4 last-minute guests to the dinner table (more chairs, china, silver, re-arrange, seat the guests, done.) and then sat by himself, enjoying a wee sip of sake in front of the Werma Shrine while the others dined. The dinner itself was exquisitely presented, presided over by Master of the Kalapa Court Mark Thorpe and Head of Household Denise Wuensch. While the dinner was being plated by Machen Janos Porps, Yangsi Rinpoche was shown artwork and calligraphy by the Vidyadhara Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche. With nightfall the temperature had dropped a good ten degrees. The windows were open, letting in a slight breeze, as well as the excitement and sounds of a lively concert on the Pearl Street Mall and the lights from the Boulder Theater across the street.
Our path in creating this event was inclusion – inclusion of older students, younger students, male and female, experienced and relatively green. There was a lot of mentoring going on in the process, with more experienced students instructing the younger crew in service, ushering, and ritual aspects of Tea and Rice. Gesar Mukpo's powerful presence in the days preceding the event was a huge gift. He was there representing the Sakyong, he was there as Sechen Kongtrul, he was there as himself, a young tulku reminding us to make an authentic human connection with this young Khyentse Yangsi tulku, and not just see him as the incarnation of somebody else.
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The Gradual Path of Raising Buddhist Children:
Inner Chronicles:
Work Sex Money: Seminar Three,
Ocean of Dharma: A Shambhala Sun feature on Chögyam Trungpa by Barry Boyce
Tribute to Arbie Thalacker
Chronicles Highlights 2011
Chronicles Holiday Sampler
Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse on the passing of his father, Thinley Norbu Rinpoche
SMR joins Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and Rabjam Rinpoche [Video 11:35]
Tribute to Thinley Norbu Rinpoche
Qualities
Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche on Distinguishing Ordinary Consciousness from Wisdom
At the
Tribute to Fabrice Champion
Crazy Wisdom, a review by Victress Hitchcock
Tribute to Michal Friedman
Radio interview with Chogyam Trungpa in 1971;
Mingyur Rinpoche: The essence of meditation
Julia Sagebien talks with Thrangu Rinpoche about fulfilling the aspirations of the Vidyadhara
Gold Lake Oil, by Tom Bell
THE BIG NO
Thrangu Rinpoche talks about Trungpa Rinpoche and his students [Audio 48:54]
In appreciation of the Very Venerable 9th Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche
Teaching Stories: Never Give Up, told by Jim Lowrey
Memorial to Mary Smith, by Lee Weingrad
Conversation with Elizabeth Mattis-Namgyel: Part Three
Khyentse Foundation: Ten Years of Giving
What Made Him Tick: a Review of Crazy Wisdom by Suzanne Duarte
Teaching Stories:
Tribute to Mary Smith