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Some Moments in Vancouver
Posted: Setempber 3, 2010
By Ben Hines
I am elated to be alive as a new generation of powerful tulkus is being trained to teach in the West. Two years ago in Seattle, it was the XVIIth Karmapa and a very few days ago, it was the 17 year old Dilgo Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche in Vancouver, B.C.
I was co-head of household so my view of the Yangsi’s visit is narrow and what I offer here are a few snapshots. My view is narrow because the hours were long for me as for many on the visit staff. When I attended the Yangsi's talks, my mind was as a hot but sleepy flea, not particularly settled or clear and attentive.
As elsewhere on his North American tour, Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche mentioned his "boring" voice during a talk while assuring everyone that he was not bored. That drew laughs in Vancouver too. In his humble way, he listed the many wonderful qualities of the previous Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche while declaring he himself had none of those qualities.
At the final celebratory feast (the tsok) on Sunday, the Shambhala Anthem was requested. During the KI KI SO SO that followed---it was rousing as though expressing much love and appreciation---I saw Yangsi Rinpoche look down a little and try to cover a small smile as though perhaps a little embarrassed. His humility was evident.
Spectacular weather invigorated staff on Monday’s boat tour of Vancouver’s harbor. The tour occurred in part to thank the staff but also for Yangsi Rinpoche to perform a life release ceremony for 40 crabs. Big sky, ocean and mountains, clear weather and Vancouver’s glittering skyline were the setting for complete access to Rinpoche throughout the tour. The boat shimmied left and right for a little while when Rinpoche captained the boat with little nine-year-old Bianca.
On the last and final Tuesday evening, a backyard barbecue was enjoyed by all with Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche, Rabjam Rinpoche, Changling Rinpoche and Matthieu Ricard in attendance. Somehow a bocce ball set was brought out and instructions given. This is a gentle game though it can be quite competitive. Yangsi Rinpoche, Rabjam Rinpoche and Matthieu Ricard all played and eventually some visit staff too. It was noticed that no one was particularly competitive and in fact all clapped when Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche or anyone got his or her ball close to the pelota.
Later in the evening, Rabjam Rinpoche and Yangsi Khyentse led a small group of staff into the family room while escaping the mosquitoes and the gathering darkness. They stayed late and stories were told. This was a wonderfully intimate time and went on for quite a while. I was quite busy, but at the very end, my co-head of household generously relieved me for a few minutes and I had the opportunity to ask the Yangsi about his earliest memories.
Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche with Ben Hines at the airport
| | The Yangsi began to remember his first hair cutting and Rabjam Rinpoche -- who has a big smile and personality -- interjected, telling everyone in the circle how much Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche did not want his quite long hair cut and how he cried. Yangsi Rinpoche then remarked how he now thinks long hair would be "sissy."(!) He also offered some observations to one of our young kasung earlier in the evening on the kasung uniform saying the uniform seemed old-fashioned to him, and could be "sharper." He offered some design ideas.
At the airport with the party checking in, some of us had the opportunity to sit with him as he waited off to the side in a steel and vinyl airport lounge. As I sat alone with Yangsi Rinpoche, he said a few things and then said, looking directly at me, "Ben, I will always remember you." I felt the warm pressure of the hand of the lineage on my heart.
Others had their turn being with him a final time. Then check-in completed finally, some sad and laughing goodbyes were said until next time.
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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
