Alak Zenkar Rinpoche
Bardor Tulku Rinpoche
Born in 1950 in Kham, East Tibet, Bardor Tulku Rinpoche [1] was recognized as the third incarnation of Terchen Barway Dorje [2] (1836-1920) by is Holiness the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa [3] (1924-1981). After the Communist invasion of Tibet in 1959, Rinpoche and his family, like many Tibetans, fled their homeland to seek safety in India. The arduous journey over the Himalayas and later the tropical climate of Assam brought death to all Rinpoche’s family, and the young Rinpoche found himself alone in a foreign country. With a twelve-year old friend, Rinpoche left Assam and traveled to Darjeeling where His Holiness the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa found him and arranged for him to be taken to Rumtek Monastery [4] in Sikkim.
Bardor Tulku Rinpoche underwent his training as a tulku (reincarnate lama) under the tutelage of the 16th Karmapa at Rumtek Monastery. He remained close to His Holiness throughout his life, serving as his attendant and traveling with him overseas. At His Holiness’s request, he stayed in the United States to help establish the Karmapa’s Seat in North America, Karma Triyana Dharmachakra [5]. Since 1980s, Rinpoche has taught at KTD and its affiliated centers across the United States and abroad. Some of his teachings have been published as books and DVDs; many more still await publication.
In 2000, Bardor Tulku Rinpoche established the Raktrul Foundation [6] and a Tibetan Buddhist center, Kunzang Palchen Ling [7], in Red Hook NY, where he offers teachings and empowerments. In 2005, a ground-breaking ceremony for a new building at Kunzang Palchen Ling was held. When the new facility is completed, all traditions of Tibetan Buddhism will be taught there. Furthermore, Bardor Rinpoche intends to make the center available to people of other spiritual affiliations as a quiet and sacred space where they can seek refuge from the busyness of daily life.
Kunzang Palchen Ling is also a venue for the preservation of the treasure (terma) teachings of Terchen Barway Dorje and the hidden teachings of the Barom Kagyu lineage. Since the conception of Kunzang Palchen Ling, Bardor Tulku Rinpoche has been overseeing translations of the treasure texts of Terchen Barway Dorje into English. Rinpoche himself is an author of many liturgies and songs of realization (dohas) [8].
Published teachings by Bardor Tulku Rinpoche (books and DVD)
Practice of Green Tara (1999) Rinchen Publications
Preparing for Death and Dying (1999) Vajra Echoes
Twenty-One Praises to Tara (1999) Vajra Echoes
Living in Compassion (2004) Rinchen Publications
Tashi Prayer (2000) Rinchen Publications
Rest for the Fortunate: The Extraordinary Practice of Nyungne (2004) Rinchen Publications
Life of Yeshe Tsogyal (2008) Karma Kagyu Institute
References
- ↑ See also biography of Bardor Tulku Rinpoche on Kunzang Palchen Ling and Karma Triyana Dharmachakra web sites.
- ↑ Terchen Barway Dorje, a student of Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa and the Ninth Tai Situ Rinpoche, was an incarnation of Nupchen Sangye Yeshe, one of the twenty-five principal disciples of Guru Padmasambhava and a prime minister for the King Trisong Detsen. He was also the founder of Raktrul Monastery in Eastern Tibet. The inner autobiography of Terchen Barway Dorje has been published in English as Precious Essence. The Inner Autobiography of Terchen Barway Dorje (KTD Publications, 2005). A collection of his songs of realizations is available in English as Treasury of Eloquence. The songs of Barway Dorje (KTD Publications, 2007)
- ↑ His Holiness the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa is the head of the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism.
- ↑ Rumtek Monastery is the main seat of the Karmapas outside of Tibet.
- ↑ Karma Triyana Dharmachakra (KTD), the main seat of the Karmapa in North America, is located in Woodstock, NY.
- ↑ Raktrul Foundation is a non-profit organization, the mission of which is to assist underprivileged communities in Tibet by developing and implementing programs for education, medical care, and basic community support.
- ↑ Kunzang Palchen Ling is a Tibetan Buddhist center in Red Hook, NY. Its mission is to make available the teachings of all major traditions of Tibetan Buddhism.
- ↑ Samples of Bardor Tulku Rinpoche's dohas can be viewed on Kunzang Palchen Ling web site.