Reflections on the Rinchen Terdzöd

Contributed by: Sudie Hargis and Dianne Bigge; Photos by Michael Hruska
Published: 2 June 2009

Photo Credit: Kyabje Tsetrul Rinpoche bestowing an empowerment ©2009 Mindrolling International

So there we were, headed off to India to attend the Rinchen Terdzöd, not quite sure why we were going, other than to trust the teacher and continue training and deepening our understanding of Buddhism and the Mindrolling lineage. There was no way to explain that we weren't traveling 'to see the world,' but would be sitting for up to 12 hours each day and listening to teachers give the Terdzöd lung (reading transmission) and wang (empowerment) to over 4000 tulkus, monks, nuns, villagers, and other participants, totally in Tibetan. We did know that we were choosing to surrender agendas and expectations and just be with whatever the experience would bring.

Photo Credit: His Eminence Namkhai Nyingpo Rinpoche giving the reading transmission ©2009 Mindrolling International

What did we envision or expect? With the vast numbers of people attending, we expected masses of humanity, no peace and quiet, and a bustle of activity. What we experienced upon arrival was calm presence and efficient movement, intense devotion and respect for the teachers and the teachings. We found that the Terdzöd was an incredibly rich and profound experience, and that 'it wasn’t about the language.'

Photo Credit: Highly esteemed Rinpoches and tulkus bless the gathered assembly with the implements of the empowerment ©2009 Mindrolling International
Photo Credit: Mindrolling Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche, Sangyum Koshog, and Jetsün Dechen Paldrön during the parinirvana observances for Kyabe Mindrolling Trichen Rinpoche ©2009 Mindrolling International

We learned about the Terdzöd through the pores of our skin and from hand copying pages and pages of explanations provided by Rinpoche (Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche) that were passed to us all during the 5-6 hour afternoon empowerments. We developed a better understanding of the empowerments, including structure, visualizations, and how they serve to ripen our minds. Additionally, we were reminded about the importance of authenticity in a lineage, and the qualifications and preparations for both vajra masters and students wishing to receive abhisheka. This information was so valuable. Our appreciation to the nuns and westerners working with Rinpoche and Jetsunla (Jetsün Dechen Paldrön) is beyond words.

Photo Credit: Thousands of monastics and others attended the lung and wang each day ©2009 Mindrolling International

The waves of maroon arrived every morning and afternoon — practitioners from every conceivable country, speaking their own language, wearing clothing from their traditions. Sometimes we felt like we were in a National Geographic article, and other times perhaps at a rock concert or outdoor festival. With all the diversity, there was an overlying theme of a common purpose; to hear profound teachings and receive the empowerments from a great master, and to be present as the Terdzöd is passed on to the next generation.

Photo Credit: Tsultrim Dechen, Chönyid Chödrön and Karma Wozer working on empowerment documents during the Rinchen Terdzod ©2009 Mindrolling International

Words cannot really the express the essence of all the impressions, starting the day with about 2500 monastics, westerners, and villagers, all crowding into the lung shrine room shortly after 6:00am, and another 1500 outside sitting in the cold and happy to be there. The next five hours were filled with the pervasive sound of His Eminence Namkai Nyingpo Rinpoche reading the lung, accompanied by an undercurrent of melodic murmurs as everyone softly recited their daily prayers.

Afternoon wang (empowerment) sessions again started with the 'maroon wave' filling the stupa. It provided a daily opportunity for humility and gratitude that Rinpoche not only let us inside, but included us in the Mindrolling sangha, just behind the tulkus and khenpos. Horns signaled the arrival of His Holiness Tsetrul Rinpoche, who sometimes seemed like a combination of the Eveready Energizer Bunny and the Wizard of Oz; manifesting an unrelenting energy and clarity as he bestowed 6-12 empowerments to the entire assembly each day. Rare was the pause in Rinpoche’s reading, and when he did pause, it was often accompanied by an infectious giggle as he rearranged pages to ensure correct delivery of the empowerment. Since not all seats had a direct view of the throne (ours were situated behind a large pillar for part of the month), we often heard the voice alone, punctuated by bell, damaru, and instruments. It engaged all the senses.

Photo Credit: Members of the Tibetan communities surrounding Mindrolling Monastery gather on the lawn outside the stupa to listen to the wang through the loudspeaker system ©2009 Mindrolling International

For 5-6 hours each day, we soaked in the environment and watched the six 'principals' receive the initial abhisheka, followed by the six senior tulkus of Mindrolling gracefully and tirelessly bestowing the empowerment to over 250 other tulkus and khenpos. This was followed by an hour of everyone chanting aspirations (all memorized), during which time the rest of the 4000 assembled received the empowerments. Snacks and tidbits of information and food traveled through the lines of participants, holding us all in a sense of group energy and commitment, and bringing a lightness to the long hours.

We were repeatedly struck by the dedication and devotion of everyone, from Kyabje Tsetrul Rinpoche, Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche and Myumla (Sangyum Kushog), and extending throughout the entire assembly. Their endless generosity in giving 20-hour days for four full months to make the Terdzöd a reality was incredible. The ground was permeated with joy and respect as the foundation, and a current of mantra and practice ran through every activity.

Photo Credit: Authors, Dianne Bigge and Sudie Hargis at Mindrolling ©2009 Mindrolling International

We are left with the afterglow of appreciation for Rinpoche’s kindness in sharing these precious teachings and encouraging us to attend. It feels somehow like the experience brings a molecular shift in our beings, and it becomes increasingly clear that the only way to repay the kindness shown us is to re-dedicate ourselves to practice and try to let the empowerments be a seed to benefit beings. As we ponder the experience from our home in Alaska, we notice that we’ve been waking each day just as the wang starts (a bit inconvenient, as it’s about 1:00 am local time), and we realize there is no coming and no going.