Fearless in Tibet: The Life of the Mystic Terton Sogyal (36 page)

Khenpo Jikme Phuntsok, holding a phurba that belonged to Tertön Sogyal, was the most prominent teacher who emerged from the Cultural Revolution to teach and revive Buddhism in Tibet. He was one of the two simultaneous reincarnations of Tertön Sogyal.

Tsullo died in the year of the Fire Bird (1957). He had two reincarnation: Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche of Nango Gonpa in Trango and Tulku Nyoshul Lungtok of Tawo; both are students of the late Khenpo Jikme Phuntsok from Larung Gar.

Regarding the reincarnations of Tertön Sogyal, there were a number of prophecies. Tertön Sogyal indicated he would emanate beneficial activity through hundreds of future practitioners. He also predicted that there would be two principal reincarnations.Tertön Kunzang Nyima revealed a prophecy about these two incarnations that reads:

It is believed that Khenpo Jikme Phuntsok was the “turquoise dragon” and Sogyal Rinpoche has the “voice resounding everywhere like a lion’s roar.”

Khenpo Jikme Phuntsok was born in the Water Bird year (1933) in a valley between Dodrupchen and Shukjung monasteries near Padma Township in Golok, and received his training from the Dzogchen scholar-hermit Thubten Chöpel before taking up residence at Nubzor Monastery, where he was the chant leader. He later founded the famous Larung Gar Buddhist Academy, which grew to house more than 10,000 monks, nuns, and lay practitioners at its height in early 2001. In June 2001, the Chinese government demolished a large portion of the academy and expelled more than 3,000 students. Despite the Chinese government’s restrictions, Larung Gar remains the largest center of Buddhist studies in the world. Khenpo Jikme Phuntsok was the single most influential lama in Tibet since the liberalization of religious policy by Chinese authorities in the late 1980s. He died in January 2004 at the age of 71.

Sogyal Rinpoche, born in the Lakar Tsang family in Trehor, was recognized as the reincarnation of Tertön Sogyal by Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö. Sogyal Rinpoche and his family fled Tibet with Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö in the 1950s and eventually settled in Sikkim in northern India. Sogyal Rinpoche was raised like a son by Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö, and after the great master’s passing, he studied with Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Dudjom Rinpoche, and Nyoshul Khenpo Rinpoche, eventually establishing one of the largest networks of Dharma centers in the West—Rigpa Fellowship. His book
The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying
has been translated into 34 languages.

In August 1993, the two principal reincarnations of Tertön Sogyal—Khenpo Jikme Phuntsok and Sogyal Rinpoche—met for the first time at Sogyal Rinpoche’s retreat center of Lerab Ling in southern France. Khenpo Jikme Phuntsok said at the time, “So, it was said, Dorje Dudjom was to have two incarnations. One of them was to be a monk [turquoise dragon], who would benefit beings through the Vinaya monastic discipline [the jewel], and the other was to be one who would spread the secret mantra Vajrayana [lion’s roar] far and wide. When I saw this, I thought that Sogyal Rinpoche must be the one to spread the secret mantra Vajrayana, and I might be the monk.”

Khenpo Jikme Phuntsok went on to say, “In the predictions of Tertön Sogyal’s
The Tathagata Practice of the Gathering of Drolö
it says that during his own lifetime, his teachings would not spread very far, only to a small extent in central Tibet around the Thirteenth Dalai Lama. During his second incarnation, however, his teachings would flourish and become known all over the world. Now, when I see the work of Sogyal Rinpoche, I am convinced that he is the reincarnation of Tertön Sogyal, and I am filled with faith and confidence in him. Tertön Sogyal predicted that if his two main reincarnations were harmonious and helped each other, then their benefit for the Dharma and for sentient beings would be as vast as space, but if there were any disagreement or conflict between them, this would be a disaster for the Dharma and for beings. Yet suppose we were to consider that Sogyal Rinpoche and I were the reincarnations of Tertön Sogyal, then I declare that our minds are inseparable, and that all our spiritual and material things are one. Consider that we are one.”

Khenpo Jikme Phuntsok and Sogyal Rinpoche at Lerab Ling in southern France upon their first and only meeting in August 1993.

In
GRATITUDE

With deep gratitude for teaching the profound doctrine of the Great Perfection, and for having given me a glimpse of the teachings and mind of Tertön Sogyal, I bow to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Sogyal Rinpoche, Khenpo Jikme Phuntsok Rinpoche, Khenpo Namdrol Rinpoche, Garje Khamtrul Rinpoche, and Lodi Gyari Rinpoche. May the masters’ aspirations for the Dharma, for Tibet’s unique wisdom culture, and for the world manifest spontaneously!

I am grateful for the blessing and guidance that I have received from lamas who are no longer with us, including Trulzhik Rinpoche, Khenpo Akhyuk Rinpoche, Chagdud Rinpoche, Adeu Rinpoche, Sherab Özer Rinpoche, Lama Wangde of Kalzang, and Amchi Chime of Lumorap. I am immensely appreciative to the teachers who have given me instructions, protection, and advice while researching
Fearless in Tibet,
including Dodrupchen Rinpoche, Tenzin Gyatso Rinpoche, Khenpo Tsodargye, Tromge Konchok Wangpo, Ajam Rinpoche, Osel Dorje Rinpoche, Tertön Wangchen, Neten Chokling Rinpoche, Tsikey Chokling Rinpoche, Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche, Tulku Thondup Rinpoche, Jamphel Sherab Rinpoche, Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche, Rabjam Rinpoche, Tsoknyi Rinpoche, Arjia Rinpoche, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Gelek Rinpoche, the Medium of the Nechung Oracle Thubten Ngödrup, Venerable Matthieu Ricard, Khenpo Gyurme Tsultrim, Lama Chonam, Sangye Khandro, and Mayum Tsering Wangmo of Lakar. And I am grateful to Patrick Gaffney in particular for his guidance and wisdom, and for being an example to us all of a true Dharma practitioner. May all obstacles to the flowering of the Dharma be vanquished!

I am indebted to the learned translator-practitioners who have given their energy to this project, and grateful for their friendship. Thanks especially to Venerable Tenzin Choephel of Nechung Monastery and Lotsawa Adam Pearcey; both translators opened for me the meaning of Tsullo’s biography of Tertön Sogyal. Deep appreciation also goes to Venerable Jampa Tenzin (Sean Price), Gyurme Avertin, and Venerable Lozang Zopa, who translated teachings and interviews for me in Nepal, India, France, and the United States, and provided critical feedback. I also relied upon Antonio Terrone’s linguistic skills in Nyarong, Lhasa, Larung Gar, and elsewhere; thank you. May the Dharma continue to be communicated in skillful and diverse ways!

A number of scholars have generously given their time to discuss with me Tibet’s religious history, and the life and times of Tertön Sogyal, including Gen Pema Wangyal, Tashi Tsering, Gray Tuttle, Matthew Akester, the late E. Gene Smith, Heather Stoddard, Erik Pema Kunsang, Venerable Gyaltsen of Nechung Monastery, Phelgye Kelden, my professors at the School of Oriental and African Studies, including the late Alexander Piatigorsky and Tadeusz Skorupski, and S. K. Pondicherry. Thanks to those who maintain the Rigpa Archive, and those who provide the excellent material at Lotsawa House (
www.lotsawahouse.org
), Rigpa Shedra Wiki (
www.rigpawiki.org
), Rangjung Yeshe Wiki (
rywiki.tsadra.org
), and the Treasury of Lives (
www.treasuryoflives.org
).

I want to thank the kind people at Hay House, especially my editor Patty Gift, who believes in the transformative power of the written word. Thanks also to Kendra Crossen Burroughs and Laura Gray for excellent copyediting. Many drafts were read both by my mother, Francey Pistono, whose support is always there for me, and by the poet James C. Hopkins, whose feedback I value highly. My family in Wyoming and Colorado has been understanding of my being away for years on end in Tibet and the Himalayas, for which I am grateful. I could not ask for better literary agents than Gail Ross and Howard Yoon. And thanks to Jocelyn Slack and John Wasson, who rendered the map of Tibet; Jamyang Dorjee Chakrishar, who digitally retouched the seal of Tertön Sogyal; and Robert Beer for his kind permission to use his art from his
The Encyclopedia of Tibetan Symbols and Motifs
for the section breaks.

I always felt the support and appreciated greatly my Dharma brothers and sisters at Rigpa and elsewhere for their directed prayers. And a special thanks to Josh and Ali Elmore and Mark Rovner for their generosity. The International Campaign for Tibet supported my travels to Tibet, Nepal, and India on various occasions; I thank Richard Gere and all of the ICT board of directors and staff for their trust and support.

The research and writing of
Fearless in Tibet
has taken more than 15 years. It is the culmination of many people’s blessings, guidance, and efforts. To those I have mentioned here, and many others in Tibet and around the world, I am forever grateful. Thank you. But of all the people I owe my deepest gratitude, it is to my wife, Monica, whose support and love and encouragement have been unceasing. I could not have written this book without her. With love and devotion, I pray that all of her aspirations manifest spontaneously.

Finally, to Sogyal Rinpoche, our precious teacher, who tirelessly guides countless beings in skillful and manifold ways to abide in the natural state of primordial awareness; any benefit and merit accrued from writing this book about the life of your previous incarnation, I dedicate to the realization and spontaneous fruition of your aspirations and prayers.

Matteo Pistono
The full moon of the tenth month of the Wood Horse year
March 16, 2014

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

Alak Gurong, Orgyen Jikdrel Chöying Dorje
(1875–1932) Tibetan polymath; sponsor of Tertön Sogyal around Jentsa and Rebkong; photographer of the tertön in 1913.

Amgon, Gonpo Namgyal
(d. 1865) Chieftain from Tertön Sogyal’s home region of Nyarong. He perpetuated a culture of violence in Nyarong and forcibly took over much of eastern Tibet.

Atrin
(d. 1922) Loyal attendant to Tertön Sogyal, who traveled and served him for more than 25 years.

Avalokiteshvara
(Sanskrit; Tibetan
Chenrezik
) The Buddha of Compassion, who embodies the compassion of all the buddhas. The Dalai Lamas are believed to be manifestations of Avalokiteshvara, who is regarded as the progenitor of the Tibetan people and the patron deity of their country.

Chenrezik
See
Avalokiteshvara.

Chöpel Gyatso, Pema
(1914–1959) Tertön Sogyal’s grandson, who was a fully ordained monk and renowned teacher in Nyarong and Kandze region.

Dalai Lama, Thirteenth: Thubten Gyatso
(1876–1933) Spiritual and political ruler of Tibet (beginning in 1895) and a disciple of Tertön Sogyal.

Dalai Lama, Fourteenth: Tenzin Gyatso
(b. 1935) Reincarnation of the Thirteenth Dalai Lama, who ruled Tibet until 1959, and currently resides in exile in northern India.

Dargye
Father of Tertön Sogyal.

Demo, Ngawang Lobsang Trinley Rabgye
(1855–1899) Regent of Tibet before the Thirteenth Dalai Lama’s accession to power in 1895; head of Tengyeling Monastery; implicated by association in an assassination plot against the Thirteenth Dalai Lama.

Dodrupchen, the Third: Jikme Tenpe Nyima
(1865–1926) One of the most outstanding Tibetan masters of his time; collaborated with Tertön Sogyal to compose philosophical treatises. He was the teacher of many great lamas, including Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö.

Dorje Dudjom, Nanam
(8th century) Previous incarnation of Tertön Sogyal; minister of religion in Tibet; close disciple of Padmasambhava; accomplished Vajrakilaya practitioner.

Drolma, Orgyen
Mother of Tertön Sogyal.

Dza Choktrul Kunzang Namgyal
Learned master associated with Katok Monastery; teacher of Tertön Sogyal; student of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo and Jamgön Kongtrul.

Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye
(1813–1899) Eminent master and tertön who inspired the Rime (ecumenical) movement; teacher to Tertön Sogyal. Also known as Jamgön Kongtrul the Great, and as Pema Garwang.

Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö
(1893–1959) Reincarnation of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo; student of Tertön Sogyal; recognized Sogyal Rinpoche as the reincarnation of Tertön Sogyal.

Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo
(1820–1892) Eminent master and tertön who inspired the Rime (ecumenical) movement; teacher of Tertön Sogyal. Also known as Dongak Lingpa.

Khandro Pumo
(1865–1949) Spiritual wife of Tertön Sogyal and accomplished meditation master.

Khenpo Jikme Phuntsok
(1933–2004) One of the two simultaneous reincarnations of Tertön Sogyal, who remained in Tibet throughout the Cultural Revolution, and later in the 1980s, established Larung Buddhist Academy; teacher of current Fourteenth Dalai Lama.

Kunzang Nyima, Tertön
(1904–1958) Student and attendant of Tertön Sogyal in Golok; grandson of Dudjom Lingpa; nephew of Dodrupchen; teacher of Khenpo Jikme Phuntsok.