Dilgo Khyentse

Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Tashi Paljor () (c. 1910 – 28 September 1991) was a Vajrayana master, Terton, scholar, poet, teacher, and recognized by Buddhists as one of the greatest realized masters. Head of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism from 1988 to 1991, he is also considered an eminent proponent of the Rime tradition.

As the primary custodian of the vast collection of teachings both authored by and recovered by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo, Dilgo Khyentse was the de facto custodian of a vast majority of Tibetan Buddhist teachings. He taught many eminent teachers, including the 14th Dalai Lama. After the Chinese invasion of Tibet, his personal effort was crucial in the preservation of Tibetan Buddhism.

Biography

Early life, ancestry

Dilgo Khyentse was born on the 3rd day of the 3rd lunar month of the Iron Dog Year (1910), in the Denma region of Derge, in Denkok Valley, in Kham, Eastern Tibet, during a teaching on the Kalachakra Tantra given in his house by Ju Mipham. Ju Mipham conferred the name Tashi Paljor. while both Khyentse Chokyi Lodro and the 10th Zurmang Trungpa, Karma Chokyi Nyingche, had urged him to pursue terma treasure revelations. They had two daughters, the elder being Dechen Wangmo, and the younger being Chime Wangmo.

Student and master

Dilgo Khyentse then spent the next 21 years as an active Terton, while also traveling and teaching. In 1936, he revealed a section of "one of his most celebrated treasures", Pema's Heart Essence of Longevity (pad+ma tshe yi snying thig), Dilgo Khyentse was also a considered a master to many qualified teachers from all four schools of Tibetan Buddhism. the Chinese forces were also specifically hunting certain tulkus, among them Dilgo Khyentse.

Gyatrul Rinpoche (b. 1924), in a purport to Karma Chagmé Rinpoche (, fl. 17th century), conveys Dilgo Khyentse's samaya, diligence and humility in receiving empowerments (Tib: དབང,  Wylie: dbang) and oral Dharma transmissions (Tib: ལུང, Wylie: lung). B. Alan Wallace elaborates:

Reincarnation

thumb| Reincarnation of Dilgo Khyentse, Dilgo Khyentse Yangsi, 2010

The reincarnation (or Yangsi) of Kyabje Dilgo Rinpoche is informally called Dilgo Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche. Formally, he is called Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche or Ugyen Tenzin Jigme Lhundrup (Tib. , Wylie ').

The reincarnation was born in Nepal on the 11th day of the 5th lunar month of the Female Water Bird Year (30 June 1993) in Kathmandu, on the day following Guru Rinpoche's birthday. His father is Tsikey Chokling Rinpoche, the son of Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, and his mother is Sangyum Dechen Paldron. His siblings are Phakchok Rinpoche, Mingyur Paldron, and Kelsang Bhuti.

Trulshik Rinpoche is said to have had numerous visions concerning the Yangsi, which he shared with Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche,

Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche personally supervised the upbringing of Dilgo Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche, in Nepal and also in Bhutan where Khenpo Yeshe Gyaltsen focused on providing Dilgo Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche's Shedra education. The North American leg of the tour included events in New York state, in Boulder, Colorado, Vermont, and in Canada before the tour traveled to Mexico.

In 2014, Dilgo Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche and Matthieu Ricard gave talks and teachings in France and in the U.K.. At Nyima Dzong in Paris, an empowerment was given for the Dilgo Khyentse Terma of Vajra Vidharana (Dorje Namjon), and Dilgo Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche celebrated his birthday. Afterwards, teachings were given at Lerab Ling and at Chanteloube. In the U.K., talks were given at Rigpa London, and a series of talks and empowerments were given at the newly opened Buddhist Community Centre UK in Aldershot, hosted by the Nepali Buddhist Community.

Later in July 2014, Dilgo Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche returned to Mexico and to his center Shechen Mexico, and held two talks and gave a teaching on Rangjung Pema Nyingtik ngondro practice. In Toronto, Canada, at Riwoche gompa, Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche gave empowerments on Namgyalma and Vajrakilaya.

In July 2024, Dilgo Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche gave an eight-day Kurukulle, Guru Padmasambhava, and Yeshe Tsogyal drubchen and puja, in the historic E Maha Viraha ("Yempi Mahaviraha") in Patan, Kathmandu, Nepal, where Guru Padmasambhava had taught.

Film

The film Spirit of Tibet: Journey to Enlightenment, The Life and World of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche was released in 1998. It was made by Matthieu Ricard, a French student, photographer, Buddhist monk, and author who had traveled with Khyentse for 14 years. It tells Dilgo Khyentse's story from birth to death, to rebirth. The film also tells of his escape from Tibet, following China's brutal invasion of Kham and Central Tibet, and of Dilgo Khyentse's determination to preserve and transmit Buddhist teachings far and wide. The film reveals Tibet's profound and sacred art, ritual philosophy, and the sacred cham dances. Along with rarely photographed areas of Tibet, Bhutan and Nepal, the film features interviews with the 14th Dalai Lama, who also speaks about his own spiritual life.

The film Brilliant Moon: Glimpses of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, written and directed by Neten Chokling Rinpoche, and narrated by Richard Gere and Lou Reed, uses animation, previously unseen archival footage and photos along with new interviews of Tibet's qualified masters to tell Dilgo Khyentse's life story.

Publications

File:Dilgo Khyence rinpoche.jpg|Undated late photo

File:Kentse.jpg|In regalia

File:His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche's broad smile, Seattle, Washington, USA 1976.jpg|Khyentse in 1976

File:Kentse01.jpg|The younger Khyentse

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References

Sources

External links

Dilgo Khyentse Fellowship – Shechen
Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche Series at Lotsawa House
Dilgo Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche Series at Lotsawa House
Biography of Dilgo Khyentse Tashi Peljor at The Treasury of Lives
Longchen Foundation Founded by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche
Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche – Rigpa Wiki