Turning the Three Wheels of Buddhadharma: Learning,
Practice, and Teaching
Lama Tharchin Rinpoche is a Dzogchen (Great Perfection) master of Vajrayana
Buddhism. He is the tenth lineage holder of the Repkong Ngakpas. This
is a family lineage of yogis, or householders, and was the largest community
of non-monastic practitioners in Tibet. Rinpoche was trained in
His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche's monastery, engaged in five years of solitary
retreat and then completed the three year retreat with three others under
Dudjom Rinpoche.
In addition to Dudjom Rinpoche, his main teachers have been Chatral
Rinpoche, Lama Sherab Dorje Rinpoche, and Dungse Thinley Norbu Rinpoche. Rinpoche
left Tibet by foot with his family in 1960.
Many of the early years of Rinpoche's life were dedicated to intensive
study, practice and retreat. Mastering the many traditions of his lineage
under the guidance of His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche, Lama Tharchin Rinpoche
benefited countless beings through the purity of his heart and his compassionate
dedication to all beings. Through many years of practice and retreat, Rinpoche
developed the skills and qualities most needed to bring maximum benefit
to beings in this lifetime.
Fulfilling the request of his teacher, Lama Tharchin Rinpoche came to
the West with the intention to protect the holy Buddhadharma and to plant
authentic seeds of dharma in the West. With an incredible flurry of enlightened
activity, Rinpoche's blessings and accomplishments have flowed like rich
wisdom nectar. Founder of the Vajrayana Foundation, Rinpoche has established
the College of Tibetan Buddhist Studies (Shedra), and the three-year
retreat program (Drupta). He has directed study and practice retreats,
given us bountiful empowerments and pure Dzogchen teachings, and he has
shown us the true nature of our own minds.
Rinpoche's seeds of pure wisdom and compassion will bloom for countless
generations beyond our own lifetimes. His enlightened activity will benefit
our children, our grandchildren, and truly all sentient beings of the
future. Now Rinpoche has begun a new era of wisdom activity. He has entrusted
his many programs and projects to the skilled and dedicated direction
of Lama Sonam Rinpoche and the Vajrayana Foundation. Preparing for countless
future lifetimes of benefiting beings, Lama Tharchin Rinpoche is once
again turning his focus towards practice and retreat. Of his retreat,
Rinpoche has often said that he has "begun preparing for the long journey," a
journey into his next incarnation with the pure motivation to best help
suffering beings. Rinpoche continues his work coordinating the translation
and publishing of many precious Dharma treasures, as well as continuing
his training for those in three-year retreat.
All who love him can be most joyful knowing that Rinpoche has an opportunity
for rest and extensive practice. And while we can all look forward to
seeing Rinpoche in person at teachings and retreat, over the last few
years many of his students have yearned for more opportunities to receive
his teachings, and to make an auspicious connection with their precious
teacher.
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