Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso Rinpoche
NYC talk on the Bardos and the Paranirvana
of H.H. Penor Rinpoche

His Holiness Completes Thugdam

His Holiness Penor Rinpoche has released his meditation. Please see the letter below from Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso Rinpoche:

Dear Sangha members,

His Holiness Penor Rinpoche remained in thugdam for almost eight days. This morning [Friday, April 3, Indian time] he released his meditation. Now we are preparing to preserve his body for some time so that the public can pay their respects and receive his blessings.

We, the board and faculty of the monastery, have announced that the blessing ceremony will begin on the 9th of April with rituals and a ceremonial procession to carry Kyabje Penor Rinpoche’s body into the Zangdok Palri temple at Namdroling Monastery. It is expected that His Holiness’ body will remain in the temple for a month.

We welcome all of our Palyul students, Dharma friends and benefactors who wish to come for this ceremony or afterward to receive Kyabje Penor Rinpoche’s blessings.

The annual summer retreat for 2009 in the United States will be conducted as usual under the guidance of H.H.Karma Kuchen Rinpoche, H.E. Gyangkhang Tulku Rinpoche, H.E. Mugsang Kuchen Rinpoche and Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso Rinpoche. The details of the retreat will be announced soon in our Palyul website.

Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso Rinpoche

His Holiness Drubwang Pema Norbu Rinpoche Enters Thugdam

March 28th, 2009

The 11th Throneholder of the Palyul Lineage of the Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism, His Holiness Penor Rinpoche, entered the final stage of meditation at 8:20 PM on Friday, March 27, 2009, at the Palyul Namdroling Monastery in Bylakuppe, South India.

Earlier, at noon, His Holiness received offerings from many of the highest Nyingma Lamas, Tulkus and dignitaries who had assembled to pay homage to him. Rinpoche left Columbia Asia Hospital at 3:30 PM with the help of the Bhutanese Government, who arranged a police escort. He reached Palyul Namdroling at 6:40 PM and remained on his bed at the residence. Tulkus, Khenpos and lamas did aspiration prayers together with His Holiness until 8:20 PM. At that time Rinpoche looked around and then closed his eyes and went into meditation.

Prayers continued for 5 minutes and then everyone remained in silence for the next two hours. His Holiness’ meditation continues today, and is expected to continue for the next several days. When His Holiness releases his body from meditation, there will be an official acknowledgement of the final passing, allowing everyone to pay their respects according to tradition.
Kyabjé Drubwang Pema Norbu Rinpoche was born in 1932 in the Powo region of Kham, Eastern Tibet. His Holiness settled in South India where he built, from his own hands and with the help of a few monks, the Palyul Namdroling Monastery. The monastery has grown into one of the largest Tibetan Buddhist Dharma centers in the world, housing over 6000 monks and nuns in the complex, which also includes a hospital, and hospice.
His Holiness has also built temples and established Dharma Centers around the world - in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Australia, United Kingdom, Greece, Canada and the United States - among others. His Holiness frequently traveled to teach and give empowerments at all of them. Worldwide, His Holiness is revered for his loving kindness and compassion, pure upholding of the Vinaya with ceaseless dedication to the welfare of all beings. He has brought and nourished the Buddha-Dharma everywhere he has been.

He will live forever in our hearts.
Lama Lobsang Chophel, Secretary
28 March, 2009