Drukpa Choegon Rinpoche

24th March 2010

The Return of My Beloved Guru - Adeu

Rinpoche

! !

H.E. The 8th Kyabje Adeu Rinpoche H.E. The 9th Adeu Yangsi Rinpoche

I have been very fortunate to have met some of the greatest masters of the
twentieth century. In the Vajrayana practice, there is nothing more
important than meeting the right guru! And I am so blessed to have had
these three great masters as my root gurus - 8th Kyabgon Khamtrul
Rinpoche, H.H Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and 8th Kyabgon Adeu Rinpoche.
They have left a lasting impression on me and made the person that I am
today, for which I am greatly indebted.

Of the root gurus, Khamtrul Rinpoche and Adeu Rinpoche were pivotal in
the transmission of the Dechen Choekhor Lineage of the Drukpa Kagyu
teachings in my life. They in turn had received the complete teachings from
the previous 8th Choegon Rinpoche (Choekyi Gyamtso) in Nangchen Garh
XSRQLQYLWDWLRQE\WKH.LQJRI1DQJFKHQLQWKHV1DQJFKHQZDVRQHRI
WKHNLQJGRPVRIHDVWHUQ7LEHW7KHVHNLQJGRPVZHUHLQGHSHQGHQWIURPERWK
&KLQDDQGWKH7LEHWDQJRYHUQPHQWLQ/KDVDDQGHDFKZDVUXOHGE\DNLQJ

I was three years of age when Khamtrul Rinpoche recognized me as the
reincarnation of previous Choegon Rinpoche. At age of six, I was then
invited to Tashi Jong and formal enthroned by Khamtrul Rinpoche. At the
age of fourteen, I received an urgent message from Khamtrul Rinpoche in
Bhutan, who requested me to go to Bhutan to receive the complete lineage
teachings. Unfortunately, shortly thereafter he passed away in
Bhutanaftercompleting some of the mostimportant transmission.

!
Khamtrul Rinpoche perform the enthronement ritual in Khampagar, Tashi Jong, India

!
Formal Enthronment performed by Khamtrul Rinpoche in Khampagar, Tashi Jong,
India
My life was suddenly left empty since he was my sole pillar and guidance at
that time. His presence was almost like a father figure who nurtured and
cared for my spiritual developments and worldly needs. It was at this
critical juncture that Adeu Rinpoche was invited from Tibet to transmit the
lineage teachings to me and 9th Khamtrul Rinpoche.

I was twenty years of age at that time when he came to our monastery in
Tashi Jong, India. I can clearly remember the first time I met him. Upon
arrival, he wanted to meet me immediately, which made me very honored
and nervous as well. I had only heard stories about him and how a great
spiritual master he was. But all my anxieties vanished when I finally met
him in person. He showered me with so much affections and reverence that
I was totally disarmed. It almost felt like a meeting between a long lost
father and son. He had so many things to talk about and I was so eager to
listen to him - an incomparable compassionate enlightened master.

!
Posted with Adeu Rinpoche in Khampagar when he first came visited Choegon
Rinpoche in year 1987

In particular, he told me a lot of wonderful stories about the roles of

previous Choegon Rinpoche which is of utmost importance to me since I
will have to follow his life's work. Tears welled up in his eyes when he
recounted the stories of his root guru. It was tears of devotion, I believe. I
was overwhelmed and deeply moved by his devotion and affection to his
guru. At that point it reinforced in me the crucial teaching on the
importance to develop complete and sincere devotion to one's own guru.
And in a very profound way it made my life complete and meaningful.
There were many inspiring stories too. The difficult times he had when he
was imprisoned during the Cultural Revolution. But he told me that, one of
the most meaningful times for him was in fact in the prison. As conditions
became tougher, his Dharma practices became stronger. This reaffirmed
my faith in him as a truly enlightened master since only genuine
enlightened beings can maintain their enlightened state under such difficult
times.

He also highlighted to me some important points about tulkus that I have

never forgotten ever since. He said that tulkus should not only take pride in
simply being the reincarnation of the previous lamas. Tulkus (Rinpoches)
should instead revere and pray to their previous incarnations. They should
learn about their practices and works, and emulate it as much as they can.

!
The VIII Shabdrung Choekyi Gonpo, Thutop Chokyi Gyatso

!
A precious image of the VIII Drukpa Choegon Rinpoche in a branch monastery of Druk
Dechen Choekhorling in Kinnaur

And since then I learnt earnestly about the previous Choegon incarnations,
their practices and lives. Adeu Rinpoche was a wealth of knowledge on my
previous incarnations. In every meeting with him he would unceasingly talk
about his root gurus and I would be completely immersed in his stories.
Adeu Rinpoche therefore wanted me to make my primary practice in
following the works of the previous Choegon Rinpoches. I have tried to
continue, not always successfully, where they have left off.

In particular he emphasized on three primary areas:

Firstly, put into practice the teachings of the previous Choegon Lineage.
Secondly, construct Dechen Choekhor monastery in Tibet and India to keep
the Lineage unbroken.
Thirdly, recognize Drukpa Kagyu Tulkus and provide them empowerments,
transmissions, and oral instructions. The reason he said this is because the
previous Choegon Rinpoche recognized the majority of Drukpa Kagyu
Tulkus in eastern Tibet.

Of all these tasks the last has been the most challenging. But in keeping
with his wishes and for the sake of the lineage, I have assumed these duties
with all my heart and humility. Incidentally in 2007 when Adeu Rinpoche
passed away, I was suddenly left with the daunting task of finding his
reincarnation.

In early June 2007 Adeu Rinpoche gave me a surprise call when I was
traveling in Seattle, USA. He asked me to go to Tibet urgently to meet up
with him, and without any further delay, I took the next available flight to
Xining, Tibet.

!
Choegon Rinpoche having lunch with Adeu Rinpoche and Satrul Rinpoche in June
2007, when Adeu Rinpoche requested Choegon Rinpoche to meet with him urgently ...
a month before his passing away.
Rinpoche requested all his followers to leave the room and had the door
closed. He then started talking about how satisfied he was with all the
works he had done until then. Sadly I felt like I was talking with a master
who had completed his journey on earth. He laid out the works he took
satisfaction in, including complete transmission of lineage teachings to all
Drukpa Kagyu tulkus, full compilation of the Drukpa Kagyu texts (120
volumes), and construction of his temple in Nangchen, Tibet. However he
noted that the only thing he will not be able to do was to visit my monastery
in India where I had invited him for quite sometime. I was very surprised at
first and naturally I asked him why? Matter of fact he replied that his health
is not good, but surprisingly, to me he did look in good health.

As the fact dawned on me that he was confident about when he will be

passing away, I even asked him about his future reincarnation. We
discussed a lot on important future issues. I duly noted them in my mind.
And finally he emphasized that I should take care and support Satrul
Rinpoche with all my heart. He mentioned that Satrul Rinpoche will play an
important role in upholding both the Monastery (Choe Gyud) and the
Tulku Lineage (Tul Gyud).

With a heavy heart I returned to India in June 2007. After a month, in July
2007, I received the sad news of his demise which he had already hinted to
me earlier. I went to Nangchen Garh immediately upon their invitation. It
was a very sad moment and hundreds of monks and tulkus came to pay
their homage including HH Gyalwang Drukpa who came two days after my
arrival; it wasHHvery first visit to Adeu Rinpoche's monastery. The
ceremony completed with lots of auspicious signs and great blessings.
At the end of the ceremony, the monastery then made an announcement. It
declared that no Rinpoche can recognize Adeu Rinpoche's reincarnation
unless Nangchen Ning, Tulkus and monks of the monastery make such an
official request. This was because of their fear that multiple Adeu
Rinpoches might be recognized.

Having two reincarnations is not something that has never happened,

because higher emanations have manifested in multiple incarnations. For
example, 4th Gyalwang Drukpa Kunchen Pema Karpo had two
reincarnations - Druk Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal and Druk Gyalwang
Paksang Wangpo. Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal later contributed
tremendously to the propagation of Buddhism in Bhutan, while Paksang
Wangpo served equally under the tutelage of 1st Yongzin Ngawang Zangpo
in Tibet. And there are similar great stories of multiple tulkus in other
lineages.

!
Performing the rituals and ceremonies in front of Adeu Rinpoche shrine

However a number of people including myself, sometimes have

reservations about multiple reincarnations in our current times.
Historically, only rarely multiple incarnations have happened.

In Feb 2009, I was in Dehradun for the five months Rinchen Terzoe
teachings. One morning Tsoknyi Rinpoche and Satrul Rinpoche suddenly
visited me and officially requested me for the search of Adeu Rinpoche's
reincarnation and thus handed me this immense responsibility. They also
showed me a letter from Adeu Rinpoche written to a monk in Nangchen
Garh. The letter mainly discussed the monastic matters, and there was a
small section where he hinted on his reincarnation. I prayed long and hard
to my root guru for a long time, and finally based on Adeu Rinpoche's own
wishes and his final letter, I handed over the confirmation letter along with
newly composed long life prayer to Tsoknyi Rinpoche.

On 7th March, 2010, Drubwang Tsoknyi Rinpoche took the letter to

Nangchen Garh and officially opened the letter in front of the monks and
held a small ceremony to celebrate his announcement. The next day, they
called me from Xining and told me that the ceremony went very
auspiciously. I was very much overjoyed to receive that news.

Now I am looking forward to meeting him soon, and will gradually plan to
transmit all the precious teachings and instructions that I have received
from his previous incarnation.
!
Satrul Rinpoche & Tsoknyi Rinpoche offering the long life prayer composed by
Choegon Rinpoche to Adeu Yangsi Rinpoche

I am also excited that the reincarnation of Sengdrak Rinpoche has been

recognized and will be enthroned by by HH Gyalwang Drukpa in the 2nd
Annual Drukpa Conference in Druk Amitabha mountain. I am looking
forward to meet him as well. I am moved by an informal request from his
private assistant Wangchuk (through Roshan Lal Negi), who also wishes to
send young Sengdrak Rinpoche to Dechen Choekhor for traditional
spiritual training as all his predecessors have done so too.

!
Sendrak Rinpoche offered all his limited possession to Adeu Rinpoche during his visit
to Nepal to request for the complete transmission of Dechen Choekhor Lineage of
Drukpa Kagyu

I plan to request this matter to HH Gyalwang Drukpa, and I am sure His

Holiness will consider it since he understands that the survival of any
lineages like Dechen Choekhor is dependent solely on the tulkus of their
own lineage.

Interview with Adeu Rinpoche

!
Adeu Rinpoche lives at Tsechu monastery in Nangchen, Quinghai province

CTF: When did you meet Samten Gyatso?

Rinpoche: I guess I was about 9 or 10, probably 10 yrs. old and the Ning of
Nangchen had a son. There was some kind of childbirth syndrome in the
family and they were afraid that the newborn son would die too, so they
called upon a lama to cure it. That was the first time Samten Gyatso was
invited to the palace and that was also when I met him for the first time.
After that he would be invited back occasionally and as my tutor Tubten
Wangpo was a lama who was close friends with Samten Gyatso, whenever
Samten Gyatso came to the castle he would visit the royal family for a day
and then come to visit us the next day.

CTF: What empowerments did you receive from him?

Rinpoche: The first empowerment that I received from Samten Gyatso was
an empowerment for Manjushri composed by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo
which is called The Entrustment of Knowledge.

The second one was The Lord of Speech, Mawey Senge, one of the twelve
emanations of Padmasambhava belonging to the cycle of Tukdrub Barchey
Kunsel. These two Manjushri practices were the first ones I received from
him. After that I received a large number of empowerments, reading
transmissions and instructions from him as well as Dzogchen teachings.
One of the Dzogchen teachings was actually composed by my previous
incarnation, also by the name of Adeu Rinpoche. in whose monastery and
under whose care Chokgyur Lingpa had grown up as a monk. The previous
Adeu Rinpoche was also one of Chokgyur Lingpas teachers. There is a
particular guidance manual in Dzogchen which was requested by Chokgyur
Lingpa and written by Adeu Rinpoche called The Oral Teachings of
Vajrasattva. Chokgyur Lingpa had transmitted this to his son Tsewang
Norbu, who gave it to Samten Gyatso and then he passed it on to me again.
In addition to that, since Samten Gyatso was a holder of the Barom Kagyu, I
also received the Chakrasamvara, Vajra Yogini, Mahakala and Mahakali
empowerments from that tradition, as well as many other teachings. So, in
short, I received plenty of transmissions such as the Tukdrub Barchey
Kunsel in full including both its primary and subsidiary aspects in their
entirety.

! !

CTF: Perhaps Rinpoche could give us his impressions of Samten Gyatsos

qualities.
Rinpoche: I can clearly remember what Samten Gyatso looked like, his
manner of speaking, how he carried himself and what kind of presence he
had. There was no particular feature which stands out except that when he
gave empowerments it was really impressive, unlike any other teacher that
I have met. It was like the tone of his voice, how he sang, how he performed
every single detail during an empowerment was really with a lot of
presence, very unique.

CTF: When did Rinpoche first meet Kyabje Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche?
Rinpoche: The first time I met Tulku Urgyen was when Samten Gyatso
came and gave the extensive empowerments of Tukdrub Barchey Kunsel
which lasted about an entire month. During this time Tulku Urgyen, we
called him Tulku Karma Urgyen, acted as the shrine master and made all
the tormas, he was also Samten Gyatsos attendant together with another
servent named Dudul. Another time we met was when Samten Gyatso was
giving the Barom Kagyu empowerments and Tulku Urgyen alternated with
another as umdze (chant master). On another occasion he came back with
his father, Chimey Dorje, his brothers Pema Jigm and Tenzin Dorje. They
all came and it was during this time that I became good friends with Tulku
Urgyen.

CTF: Could Rinpoche please tell us what Kyabje Tulku Urgyen was like at
that time?
Rinpoche: I was really young, just a kid, and Tulku Urgyen was young too.
He seemed to become quite fond of me and, you could say he would act as
my babysitter. He was very skilled in different games, we would carve wood
together and make drawings and masks. He was quite adept at these sorts
of things, so he would distract me by playing with me. Sometimes he would
run around with me on his shoulders. His brother, Tendzin Dorje, wasnt
interested in playing any games at all, he would just stay by himself and
never do anything, so I never got close to him. But Tulku Urgyen was much
more playful.

CTF: Could Rinpoche describe his relationship with the Chokling Tersar
and which practice is most wonderful for him?
Rinpoche: First of all, I havent been able to bring any practice to
completion nor do I feel that I should discriminate between any of the
termas of Chokgyur Lingpa evaluating which one is good and which
inferior, not at all. But I did receive all of the Tukdrub Barchey Kunsel in
great detail, both the primary empowerments and the subsidiary
empowerments and the subsidiary subsidiary empowerments and so forth.
During that time Samten Gyatso told me that among the twelve
manifestations of Guru Rinpoche there is one called Dzutrul Tuchen, Great
Power of Miracles, about which he said, This is your destined deity to
dispel obstacles, so you should practice it. I followed his advice but later all
of a sudden while I was sitting and memorizing, I was still quite young, my
tutor had gone to do circumabulations, and I was just sitting there trying to
repeat what I had learned by heart earlier in the day, when all of a sudden I
opened my eyes and there was Samten Gyatso with his attendant Dudul
who had a tray with all the empowerment articles. They simply walked in,
my tutor hadnt returned yet, but Samten Gyatso said, I already prepared
for the empowerment, I have done the preparation and now it has to be
given. While I was arranging their seats etc. my tutor came back and
Samten Gyatso said, I am going to give the tulku, meaning me, his
empowerment. This was the empowerment of Sangtik Phurba, the
Vajrakilaya of the Secret Essence which was one of Chokgyur Lingpas
termas. It occurred to me that there must be some kind of sudden obstacle
and that Sangtik Phurba would be the practice or blessing through which
this obstacle could be dispelled. Later, after Samten Gyatso had given the
empowerment, my tutor asked him, Why didnt you give it to all the monks
in the monastery? To which Samten Gyatso replied, No, no its just for the
tulku, this is enough. Then he said to me, If you can you should practice
this daily without break, or at least for one month without break. Since
then I have practiced it everyday my entire life until now.

In addition to this I also did the Rakasha Totreng recitation and the
Ngensong Dongdruk from the New Treasures, but only a minimum number
of recitations. I have also done the Trinley Nyingpo, as well as the Samten
Phurba, the extensive version of the Sevenfold Profundity of Vajrakilaya.

CTF: Thank you Rinpoche.

Rinpoche: I have met a lot of great masters in my lifetime, but the one
whom I treasure in my heart and whom I have the deepest respect and
devotion is Samten Gyatso. The last teaching I received from Samten
Gyatso, just before he passed away, was the terma of Guru Chowang [Tulku
Urgyen Rinpoches previous incarnation ed.] called Lama Sangdu, The
Secret Assemblage of the Guru.

CTF: Rinpoche many people receive our newsletter and your story is very
inspiring and will probably help many people find inspiration to practice
the dharma.
Rinpoche: Very good. Thanks a lot.

Note: Samten Gyatso is the root Guru of Kyabje Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche