THE ART OF WARRIORS: REMEMBERING MIPHAM GYATSO AND KING GESAR ‘THE GREAT LION JEWEL WHO SUBDUES FOES’: The Epic of King Gesar, Mipham Gyatso ‘s ‘pure vision’ Lingdro dance and texts, and the Karmapa connection

"Embodiment of the three buddha families,Through the compassionate light rays of Pema Totreng, you arose as the splendour of the world—Supreme being, Great Lion, Norbu Dradul, to you we pray!Grant us supreme and ordinary siddhis!" --Mipham Gyatso Rinpoche “In short, there is no doubt that Gesar is a wisdom emanation of the venerable hero Mañjuśrī—of… Continue reading THE ART OF WARRIORS: REMEMBERING MIPHAM GYATSO AND KING GESAR ‘THE GREAT LION JEWEL WHO SUBDUES FOES’: The Epic of King Gesar, Mipham Gyatso ‘s ‘pure vision’ Lingdro dance and texts, and the Karmapa connection

The Karmapas, Vajrakīlaya and Chogyur Lingpa’s ‘Dagger of the Seven Profound Cycle’ (Zabdun Phurba)

Introduction Today, on Guru Padmasambhava day, the Palchen Choling Monastery in Ralang, Sikkim, the monks are performing the Vajrakīlaya cham(dance) The Seven Profound Daggers (Zab bdun phur ba) in the tradition of treasure-revealer, Chogyur Lingpa. See live video here and photos on their Facebook page, here. For this reason, I am republishing a research article, first… Continue reading The Karmapas, Vajrakīlaya and Chogyur Lingpa’s ‘Dagger of the Seven Profound Cycle’ (Zabdun Phurba)

‘IMMUTABLE, GREAT BLISS’: GURU PADMASAMBHAVA AND THE KARMAPAS

"Om Swasti!To Dharmakāya, limits of appearances; Sambhogakāya, Avalokiteśvara;Nirmanakāya, Great Padmasambhava,With continual devotion of body, speech and mindBy this heart-felt supplication, bestow the blessings of the siddhis! In particular, for those of the degenerate age lacking refuge,May the incomparable, supreme protector of the three secrets and all the qualities,Bless our three ‘doors’ with luminous clarity,Purifying all… Continue reading ‘IMMUTABLE, GREAT BLISS’: GURU PADMASAMBHAVA AND THE KARMAPAS

The Karmapas, Chogyur Lingpa and Vajrakīlaya

Vajrakīlaya Rumtek monastery, the seat of the Gyalwang Karmapa in Sikkim, India[1], is currently performing the annual Vajrakīlaya ritual in the tradition of The Seven Profound Cycle Phurba (Zab bdun phur ba) tradition of treasure-revealer, Chogyur Lingpa. Monks at Rumtek monastery, Sikkim constructing the Vajrakīlaya sand mandala (August 2020) Vajrakilaya drubchen, Rumtek monastery, Sikkim (August… Continue reading The Karmapas, Chogyur Lingpa and Vajrakīlaya

Tibetan script of Guru Padmasambhava’s prophecy on 15th to 21st Karmapas, as revealed by Chogyur Lingpa

Recently, I wrote about the 15th Karmapa and how his incarnation was predicted by Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche) as revealed to terton Chogyur Lingpa (1829-1870). Although there are a few online accounts of this revelation and what Guru Rinpoche prophesised, I had not see the original 19th Century Tibetan script of it. So, here today, am… Continue reading Tibetan script of Guru Padmasambhava’s prophecy on 15th to 21st Karmapas, as revealed by Chogyur Lingpa