Tulku
Orgyen P'huntsok
Statement
of Intent
My responsibility
toward, and aspirations for the Pema Köd retreat land and temple are,
foremost, to continue to preserve and propagate the spiritual practices
and activities instituted in my former life among the new generations of
practitioners, especially those in the sacred land of Pema Köd. However,
fulfilling this responsibility has not, until recently, drawn the urgency
of my attention; rather, my focus has been on my own spiritual practices
and on gaining a western education. Nevertheless, during the past few years,
I have always held the conviction that my responsibilities in this life
to my disciples and my former activities in Pema Köd must come to
fruition.
I believe that Dudjom Drodul Lingpa and, in particular, H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche entrusted
H.H.'s most important sacred objects to my previous incarnation, Togden
Sithar, based on what they saw in the future. His Holiness had great confidence
that his entrustment would be spiritually beneficial both at that time
and in generations to come.
To benefit present
and future generations, Togden Sithar nurtured a tremendous aspiration
to propagate the Buddhadharma during his lifetime, while maintaining the
practice and study of pure spirituality in this very holy land, Pema Köd.
He emphasized to his followers the importance of not leaving this region
but, rather, to remain in the holy land to pursue the path of liberation.
He knew that any spiritual practice undertaken in Pema Köd would be
far more effective than in any other place during this degenerate time.
I consider H.H.
Dudjom Rinpoche's aspiration for the Pema Köd region, and his recognition
of me as the rebirth of the master, Togden Sithar, to be very significant.
I understand this as meaning that I have the blessings both of my lineage,
and my former life, to achieve the goals and responsibilities set before
me in this life. For these reasons, in spite of my inability to proceed
with this work before now, I have held deep in my heart the optimistic
vision of my predecessors, that this life's responsibilities will be accomplished
according to their wishes when the time is right.
During my visit
to my homeland last year, I decided that it was time to begin to rebuild
the retreat cabins and temple that have fallen into ruins in the past 35
years. The original temple in Yoldong is also in serious need of many repairs
and upgrades.
My
aspiration for the near future:
Life in the United
States is rich, lavishly endowed with a multitude of pleasures and conveniences,
and so wonderful. Yet my thirst to drink the nectar of spiritual experience
and taste of the genuine peace that arises within has, in a greater way,
been urging me to return to the forest every year and be in solitary retreat.
Through my own experience, I have come to the conclusion that whatever
spiritual practice I undertake in the land of Pema Köd will be very
effective. I believe this is due to the undiluted purity of the environment
and, particularly, to my personal connection to this holy land.
In order to make
my relationship with my close, heartfelt friends in this life purposeful,
it is important that I offer them not only the important teachings of the
Buddhadharma, but also, the opportunity to practice the Dharma with me
in this holy land. This is so that they may truly apply the teachings and
their understanding in their lives, and thus find their pure inner path
that will lead to enlightenment.
The project
description which I have briefly outlined affords a wonderful opportunity
for the current residents of the retreat land in Pema Köd who have
a sincere desire to practice the Buddhadharma. It is my wish that my
friends here will support me in accomplishing the project I have outlined,
based on their understanding the nature of this project and their insight
into my aspiration for its fruition.
Tulku
Orgyen and Bhakha Tulku Rinpoche
A
letter from Tulku Orgyen P'huntsok
As a tulku, or
reincarnation of a spiritual master, it is my responsibility to continue
the spiritual lineage to which I belong. This entails the pursuit of my
present inner spiritual path, as well as furthering the outer dharmic activity
that began in my previous lifetime as Togden Sithar Rinpoche.
Togden Sithar
was a master who maintained a strong spiritual legacy in “The Hidden
Land"
of Pema Köd, where he remained in constant retreat and helped develop
the structures that would support retreat. Before his passing in 1970, he set
the course for the continuation and expansion of dharma activity there in future
generations.
Though mindful
of my two-fold obligation, my focus in recent years has been on my own
spiritual practice, as well as on gaining a western education, so that
I teach the Buddhadharma as well as to explore the wisdom legacy of the
West. Yet, as many of my friends here in the West are aware, I have long
expressed a wish to spend at least some time every year in the sacred land
of Pema Köd, which is so significant to our lineage. Many of my friends
have also expressed a wish that they might join me there in retreat, and
support others in long-term residential retreat in Pema Köd.
My recent sojourn
in Pema Köd has inspired me to a renewed sense of urgency in this
area of my life's work. There has been a decline of dharmic activity in
the Pema Köd region since Togden Sithar Rinpoche's passing. My visit
to Pema Köd renewed the hope among Togden Sithar Rinpoche's remaining
students that, as the reincarnation of their beloved master, I might swiftly
fulfill my commitment and responsibility to my spiritual lineage and to
the retreat land at Pema Köd, my spiritual homeland.
And so, in order
to reassure my people in Pema Köd of my commitment to the lineage
and to the land, while there I initiated various projects aimed at revitalizing
and restoring the retreat land and its dharma activities. I began these
projects though the financial means that would support this effort was
not at all clear to me at the time.
Now that I have
returned to the States, I have come to understand that I will not be able
to complete the work of restoring and sustaining this retreat land without
the help of my friends. And so, I humbly ask for your support in helping
me to accomplish this work. Whatever you can do, based on your understanding
of the nature of this project and your insight into my aspirations for
its fruition, will surely further it and bring measureless benefit to many.
May all beings
benefit!
tulkuorgyen@gmail.com
www.vairotsana.org
Offering
form