The discussion about contemporary people of
significance in the legacy of the Vidyadhara
in Tibet must begin with Karma Senge
Rinpoche, who spent over fifteen years beginning in
the mid-1980s travelling across Eastern Tibet collecting
written materials of the Vidyadhara from his youth.
Karseng Rinpoche, as he is also called, was born a few
years after the Vidyadhara, his uncle, left Tibet in 1959.
The two never met. He later entered the dharma and
became a student of the siddha Karma Norbu Rinpoche,
who had known the Vidyadhara well (see Panel 3).
Karma Norbu undoubtedly told Karseng Rinpoche
much about his remarkable uncle. Karseng Rinpoche
later located over ninety of the Vidyadhara’s surviving
students in Eastern Tibet, collecting from them original
materials they had received from him. When Sakyong
Mipham Rinpoche visited Surmang for the first time in 2001, Karseng
Rinpoche presented many of these to the Sakyong. As written by the
Nalanda Translation Committee, “In a spontaneous and emotional
ceremony in the Dorje Khyung Dzong retreat at Surmang, Karma Senge
Rinpoche presented the Sakyong with a copy of the collected works
of the Vidyadhara compiled thus far” (see photo Panel 3). Karseng
Rinpoche had to stop
reading repeatedly while
crying as he presented a
reading transmission of
some of the texts to the
Sakyong. He is currently
leading efforts to rebuild
Kyere monastery, the
nunnery near there, and
the school for children.
The Twelfth Trungpa
Tulku, Chökyi Senge,
was born in 1989 in
Dege to a nomadic
family. He was recog-
nized by Tai Situ
Rinpoche and enthroned at Surmang Dutsi Tel in 1992. He began his
monastic training at the shedra at Palpung monastery, alternating with
time at Surmang. Beginning in 2003, his primary residence became
Dutsi Tel, in order to learn the Surmang traditions, including the
Chakrasamvara dances. In 2008, he enrolled at Serta monastery, the
renowned institute of dharmic learning in Eastern Tibet, founded by
Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok, who visited our sangha in 1993.
Another significant contemporary individual is Surmang Khenpo,
whose root guru was also Karma Norbu. He is from a Surmang village
and moved to Dutsi Tel following the completion of his studies at Serta
and receiving the degree
of khenpo. He has been
the organizing force
behind the construction
of the shedra at Dutsi Tel.
5. Significant Contemporary People and Activities
Konchok Foundation • www.konchok.org
Karma Senge Rinpoche and Twelfth Trungpa Tulku
PH
OTO
: Jes
se L
itvin
Other significant individuals include Damchö Tenpel Rinpoche, brother
of the Vidyadhara, and Aten Rinpoche. Damchö Rinpoche is several
years younger than his brother and also studied
with Jamgön Kongtrul of Shechen. He is the abbot
of Kyere monastery. Aten Rinpoche most recently
has taken responsibility for the rebuilding of the
original main shrine building at Dutsi Tel. The first
western student of the Vidyadhara to visit
Surmang was Lee Weingrad, who first traveled
there in 1988, following which he started the
Surmang Foundation, which built a health clinic
at Dutsi Tel, providing free medical care for the
past fifteen years.
Prior to his second trip to Surmang in 2004, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche
created the Konchok Foundation, named for his mother, Lady Könchok
Paldrön. In a statement issued prior to that trip, the Sakyong said that
the mission of the Konchok Foundation is “to help meet the spiritual,
cultural, educational, and humanitarian needs of the Tibetan people in
Surmang and elsewhere in the Kham and Golok regions of Tibet.” The
Konchok Foundation is currently completing the shedra at Dutsi Tel,
providing support for the Twelfth Trungpa, supporting the children’s
school and other projects. It also provided humanitarian assistance
following the recent
earthquake disaster in
Jyekundo. Funds for these
and other activities,
including the projects of
Karseng Rinpoche, may be
made through the
Konchok Foundation at
www.konchok.org.
Credits:
Text and coordination, David Garrett. Editing and accuracy, Larry
Mermelstein. Graphic design and layout, Liza Matthews, Sweet Design.
Photographers as noted.
Damchö Tenpel Rinpoche
PH
OTO
: Jon
Ran
soho
ffAten Rinpoche
PH
OTO
: Jon
Ran
soho
ff
PH
OTO
: Dia
na C
hurc
h
Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche and 12th Trungpa, Sadhana of Mahamudra abhisheka, 2001
Shedra Dutsi Tel (lower right), Vidyadhara’s former residence (upper left)
PH
OTO
: JLy
ndon
Com
tock
Children’s school at Dutsi Tel shedra
PH
OTO
: Lyn
don
Com
tock
Celebrating the Life and Legacy of the Vidyadhara Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche in Tibet