Kunzang Choling Phoenix

01/26/2024

6th Annual White Khechari Drub Cho in Phoenix, January 19-21 2024 Barway Dorje Khyenno!!

01/20/2024

[From a teaching by Bardor Tulku Rinpoche given in Arizona in January 2010. Translated by Lama Yeshe Gyamtso. Transcribed by Liz Summers. Edited by Basia Coulter. All rights reserved.]

I care very much about all of you and that means, among other things, that I hope that everything will go very well for all of you in every way; that all of you will achieve final liberation from samsara; that all of you will attain the state of realization exemplified by the Kagyu siddhas of the past. And it is this attitude—this intention—that I learned from my guru, because it was and is his as well. So I urge you—this being my intention, this being why I care so much—I urge you not to be misled. Dharma itself is pure. It is pure in all its forms. That means not just the dharma of the Karma Kagyu, but the dharma of the Barom Kagyu, and other traditions as well. But while dharma itself is pure and unchanging, nevertheless we live amongst the dregs of time.

We live in a spiritually dark age. One of the symptoms of this is that the dharma is misused by unenlightened people. Those who misuse it cannot change the dharma itself but they can distort its presentation. Dharma itself is, of course, not a person; it is the truth. And a truth is what is true; that is not going to change. For example, the
Buddha taught how he traveled the path and achieved awakening. Based on his own awakening, he gave a map leading from where we start [the path] to the state of perfect awakening. However, in reinterpreting that map, repackaging that map, some have falsified it; some have created misleading maps that keep people dependent on them by leading them in potentially endless circles. Nevertheless if we have true faith and pure samaya we will still find our way. On the other hand, if we lack faith, even if we meet an authentic spiritual master and receive an authentic map, we will not be able to follow it. Someone without faith is like a burnt seed. If you plant a burnt seed, even in the most fertile soil it is not going to grow. We need to mature. We need to lessen our kleshas. We need to achieve liberation. This is our intention; this is why we have entered the path. We share this intention with all authentic gurus. Their intention is the same—that we mature, that our kleshas diminish, and that we achieve liberation. It is important for us periodically to remind ourselves of why we are doing this, of what it is that we are really trying to do.

https://www.kunzang.org/treasure-lineage/barway-dorje-barom-kagyu-ii/

01/19/2024

[From a teaching by Bardor Tulku Rinpoche given in Arizona in January 2010.
Translated by Lama Yeshe Gyamtso. Transcribed by Liz Summers and edited by Basia Coulter.]

It is not that I do not know about Terchen Barway Dorje. I was born in Tibet, a country filled with dharma; I was recognized at a very early age as a nirmanakaya. Like any nirmanakaya, I am supposed to have been born with special qualities—this is something that is recognized in our tradition. There are two kinds of qualities that people can have: There are those [qualities], which come through training in any given life and there are those that are the result of previous lives. Any nirmanakaya is supposed to be born with an innate recognition of the nature of all things. And indeed we see that the great masters, such as His Holiness the Gyalwang Karmapa and others, from the moment of their birth have complete realization, and they only go through the motions of training in order to serve the needs of others. In any case, even if I lacked the qualities of an authentic nirmanakaya, I have also studied the life and teachings of my predecessor and, therefore, I will tell you a little bit about him and his teachings. https://www.kunzang.org/treasure-lineage/barway-dorje-barom-kagyu/

01/19/2024

[From a teaching by Bardor Tulku Rinpoche given in Arizona in January 2010. Translated by Lama Yeshe Gyamtso. Transcribed by Liz Summers. Edited by Basia Coulter. All rights reserved.]

The Barom Kagyu is not well known in the West but this does not mean that it is not still widespread in Tibet. Traditionally, the Barom Kagyu has focused primarily on the intensive practice of meditation. In Eastern Tibet there have been nine three-year retreats for the Barom Kagyu teachings associated with the Kyodrak monastery alone. Five of them are for men and four for women. A tenth one—a new one for women—has just been opened. The new retreat for women focuses specifically on the White Khenchari (or White Vajrayogini) practice system. An eleventh retreat is also being created now in association with the Kyodrak monastery at the Kyodrak Peak (Kyodrak Utse). It is designed to be what we would call a postgraduate three-year retreat. To enter into that retreat the candidates must have done at least two or more three-year retreats and achieved the status of a retreat master. Thirteen such individuals will be selected and they will undertake this postgraduate retreat. The number is based upon the thirteen accomplished disciples of the dharma lord Sonam Zangpo who did retreat in the cave at Kyodrak Utse and for the sake of that auspicious connection, these thirteen postgraduate retreat masters will be in the eleventh retreat. All those retreats are connected with one monastery, the Kyodrak monastery. Also the original monastery of Lord Gampopa now has a Barom Kagyu three-year retreat, as does the original seat of the Barom Kagyu in northern Tibet. At both locations five sessions of the retreat have now been completed. Each of those three-year retreats has produced between forty and fifty graduates. There is also a growing connection between the Barom Kagyu practice system and the sacred site of the tower of Milarepa (the tower built by Milarepa for Marpa’s son, Tarma Dode). There is a practice facility for the Barom Kagyu at that site as well. In addition, there are thirty-five other branch monasteries, which are a part of the Barom Kagyu. Most of them also have a three-year retreat facility and all of them practice the Barom Kagyu tradition according to the visionary lineage of Terchen Barway Dorje. So if, as the Buddha said, we are supposed to achieve realization through practice, the Barom Kagyu is not doing too badly; we are not the worst of the Buddha’s followers.

But this obviously begs to question why nobody in the West has ever heard of the Barom Kagyu up to this point. And this is where I have to say that the buck stops here, because if you ask whose fault it is that nobody has ever heard of the Barom Kagyu, I would have to say that it is my fault. Why is it my fault? It is my fault, because I am the source of the Barom Kagyu, and therefore it is my responsibility. So it is my fault that nobody has heard of it.

https://www.kunzang.org/treasure-lineage/barway-dorje-barom-kagyu-ii/

12/06/2023

SAVE THE DATE!
KUNZANG CHOLING OF PHOENIX is delighted to host the
6th annual White Khechari Drupchöd
led by
VAJRA MASTER LAMA TASHI TOPGYAL
Vajracharya Lama Tashi Topgyal was born in eastern Tibet, and spent most of his early life there at Raktrul Monastery. He is the current Lineage holder of the Barway Dorje Dharma. In 2003, he was invited to the U.S. by the Third Bardor Tulku Rinpoche, and since that time, has been dedicated to serving the Barway Dorje dharma tradition. Lama currently serves as Vajra Master, offering teachings and empowerments, at Kunzang Palchen Ling, in Red Hook New York.
When: January 19th-21st 2024
Where:
Awakening Seed School,
Phoenix Arizona
6330 S. 40th Street Phoenix, AZ 85042
Also streaming on Kunzang Palchen Ling Youtube
for Registration information and detailed schedule of events please contact:
If you have questions please contact:
Linda Gray heartfulsolutionslinda@gmail.com or
Davis Trachte at 845-926-0271

11/08/2023

SAVE THE DATE!

KUNZANG CHOLING OF PHOENIX is delighted to host the
6th annual White Khechari Drupchöd

led by

VAJRA MASTER LAMA TASHI TOPGYAL
Vajracharya Lama Tashi Topgyal was born in eastern Tibet, and spent most of his early life there at Raktrul Monastery. He is the current Lineage holder of the Barway Dorje Dharma. In 2003, he was invited to the U.S. by the Third Bardor Tulku Rinpoche, and since that time, has been dedicated to serving the Barway Dorje dharma tradition. Lama currently serves as Vajra Master, offering teachings and empowerments, at Kunzang Palchen Ling, in Red Hook New York.

When: January 19th-21st 2024
Where:
Awakening Seed School,
Phoenix Arizona
6330 S. 40th Street Phoenix, AZ 85042

Also streaming on Kunzang Palchen Ling Youtube
for Registration information and detailed schedule of events please contact:
If you have questions please contact:

Linda Gray heartfulsolutionslinda@gmail.com or
Davis Trachte at 845-926-0271

09/23/2023

https://www.kunzang.org/guru-rinpoche-drup-cho-sept-23-24-streamed/

9am-noon, 2-5pm [EST] Led by Lama Tashi Topgyal Hosted by Palchen Study Group S.W. Michigan (Kalamazoo) Texts Daily Guru Rinpoche Sadhana with Tsok Protectors Song of Samantabhadra Long Life Prayers Session 1, 9/23, 9am-12pm: Session 2, 9/23, 2-4pm Session 3, 9/24, 9am-12pm

09/19/2023

Dear Dharma Friends,

On behalf of Kunzang Choling Phoenix, Davis Trachte has graciously agreed to lead the "short" Daily White Kechari Practice. This is a wonderful opportunity to join in the energy of collective practice. May all beings experience the benefit of Rinpoche's blessed Terma.

The daily White Khechari practice comes from the termas of Terchen Barway Dorje. Terchen Barway Dorje was a famous treasure revealer and reincarnation of both Yeshe Tsogyal and Nupchen Sangye Yeshe. Bardor Rinpoche was the third incarnation of Barway Dorje.

We will practice the daily White Khechari sadhana with Bell, Dorje, and Damaru using the traditional music and melodies as well as accumulating the Mantra in order that the Barway Dorje Dharma may flourish for the benefit of the whole world, bringing health, happiness, and freedom from suffering to all beings.

In particular, we are doing this practice with the Dharma group of Kunzang Choling Phoenix, which was founded by the Third Bardor Rinpoche with Erma Pounds. Davis will lead the virtual practice every other Tuesday, beginning September 19th, 2023, from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. EST, alternating with Michael Harris’s biweekly online study group.

Davis was asked to lead this practice by Linda Gray, who is the chair of Kunzang Choling Phoenix, and Vajra Acharya Chopen Lama Tashi Topgyal, the current lineage holder of the Barway Dorje terma, who strongly encouraged this practice opportunity. Davis has received the White Khechari empowerment and teachings from both the third Bardor Tulku Rinpoche and Lama Tashi Topgyal and is delighted to have the opportunity to practice together as a group. This practice will take about half an hour each session, followed by an opportunity for questions/answers and group discussion of the sadhana practice.

Apologies for the short notice of our first practice. Confirmation of this opportunity was just received and we did not want to delay even one moment! Please email kunzangphoenix@gmail.com to get on the email list to receive the bi-weekly zoom link.

07/08/2023

If Your Heart Seeks Dharma

A teaching by Terchen Barway Dorje Rinpoche

given at Palchen Study Group Seattle

Sept. 14 2017

Translation Lama Yeshe Gyamtso

Transcription Marina Nandapurkar

Begins with detailed introduction of Bardor Rinpoche and KPL by Linda Lee

7:33 Rinpoche begins teaching in Tibetan

12:25 Lama Yeshe begins translation

First of all I’d like to thank Linda for her extremely full and detailed account of my life up to now, it was very accurate. As she mentioned during her introduction I served my root guru the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa, Ranjung Rigpe Dorje for many many years but also as she also mentioned, it was his vision and intention that eventually I take up the responsibility with which I was born for the preservation and dissemination of the many treasures of my predecessor Terchen Barway Dorje. In order to do this I consulted both His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa and His Eminence the 12th Tai Situ Rinpoche, requested their advice and their permission to create Kunzang Palchen Ling as a venue for the establishment of the practice, regular practice of these many treasures. And we’ve been able to do this due to the kindness of Lama Tashi Topgyal who has taught and Yeshe Gyamtso who has translated these treasures into English. Now when I say that we’ve established the practice of these treasures you have to understand that in their most elaborate form some of them, particularly what are regarded as the three principle cycles which are the Yamantaka Cycle, the Vajrakila cycle and the Vajrayogini Cycle that in some formats these practices, the liturgies can be between 300 and 400 pages long and require between 18 and 24 hours to perform at a sitting. Obviously that is not practical in this situation but as recommended by both His Holiness and His Eminence we have established the regular and intensive practice of these cycles in an intermediate format that is neither excessively long, nor excessively abbreviated. In addition His Holiness the Gyalwang Karmapa has visited us three times, His Eminence Tai Situ Rinpoche came this past year and consecrated our principle shrine and as Linda also mentioned we’ve had visits from His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche, Garwang Rinpoche, Khandro Rinpoche and many masters with whom I’m familiar and have strong samaya. And I’m confident that we will continue to be visited by these teachers in the coming years. End of Translation

15:38 Rinpoche continues in Tibetan

17:56 Lama Yeshe translation

As Linda mentioned [LY “basically he’s providing commentary of what Linda mentioned” laughter] I’ve worked for many years not only at KTD including in its construction but to teach regularly in its affiliate centers. And as there was at that time an affiliate center of KTD in Seattle I came here several times to teach and then when I stopped traveling to the affiliate centers of KTD then for several years I didn’t come here. But two years ago members of His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche’s center in Seattle invited me and because of their invitation and also since I have many old friends, [LY comments “in Tibetan, it doesn’t mean that the friends are old, he’s not calling anyone here old. It means people I’ve known for a long time. Ah, came out wrong.” Laughter. People I’ve known for not a short time”.] And since I have many old friends here of course I came in response to their invitation. Now after that visit some of you involved felt that in order to keep in closer touch we really needed to create a Palchen Study Group, an affiliate of Kunzang Palchen Ling, here in Seattle, which we have now done. So that means that this is technically the first time I have come to Seattle in order to visit and teach at the Palchen Study Group, the affiliate of Kunzang Palchen Ling. So therefore this being that occasion on this occasion I would like to especially welcome all of you here and offer you my best wishes. End of translation

20:10 Rinpoche continues in Tibetan

27:40 Lama Yeshe Translation

My hope in establishing study groups like this one, this Palchen Study Group is that the study group serve to facilitate each individual who participates in it to receive the blessings of their respective root guru and especially to facilitate their being able to fully hear and study and practice dharma in this life so that through both their connection and their practice they be able to reveal their own buddha nature and be of immeasurable benefit to countless others. This is the idea, this is the plan or the vision in the establishment of a study group like this one. And this is reflected, I think in the liturgy that we use at the beginning and end of teaching sessions. You’ll notice that we began this morning by reciting together the lineage supplication that was composed by Bengar Jampal Zangpo, and essentially the purpose of this supplication is to request the blessings of our root guru vajradhara and his lineage so that those blessings enter our hearts. Following that, since we are Buddhists and especially since we are practitioners of the mahayana we take refuge and generate bodhicitta. We do so using a single stanza, the first two lines are a short form of the refuge vow. And you say “To the Buddha, dharma and supreme assemblies I go for refuge until awakening, that is the Mahayana vow of refuge, and then in the second two lines when you say through my practice of generosity and the rest referring to the 6 perfections, may I achieve Buddhahood for the benefit of all beings, that is the generation of Bodhicitta. And this initial generation of bodhicitta at the beginning of any session, whether it be a session of dharma practice, listening to dharma or study, is very powerful, because it totally alters the fact of what we then do. It says that if a single moment of the thought of bodhicitta had physical form, its merit would be greater, or if the merit of it had physical form, its size would be greater than all the space in the universe. So in short wether we engage in long or short sessions of listening discussion or practice, its important that our motivation be bodhicitta. Then in order to further train our minds we recite and hopefully contemplate as we are reciting them the aspirational form of the 4 immesurables. The 4 immeasurables are immeasurable love, the desire that all beings be happy and accumulate causes of happiness, immeasurable compassion, the desire that all beings be free from suffering and its causes, immeasurable joy delighting in any joy and causes of joy that beings experience and immeasurable equanimity or impartiality, having these attitudes equally without distinguishing between near and far, friends and enemies for all beings. Then we recite the 4 dharmas of Gampopa, again this is phrased as a prayer or an aspiration but it is also a contemplation, the aspiration that one’s mind go to the dharma, the dharma become a path, that the path dispel delusions and finally that delusions be transformed into or replaced by wisdom. And then you might ask why after that you then recite the supplication to Guru Rinpoche, Guru Padmasambhava along with the taking of empowerment. As Linda mentioned, my root guru recognized me as the rebirth of Nupchen Sangye Yeshe and particularly his reincarnation Terchen Barway Dorje. NSY was in the 8th and early 9th centuries a direct disciple of Guru Rinpoche and Terchen Barway Dorje discovered 9 volumes of Guru Rinpoche’s teachings as a treasure. Now Linda mentioned the note that His Holiness the 16th Karmapa sent to me saying “may your dharma fill the world”. At the time as she also mentioned I wasn’t sure exactly what he meant by “my dharma”. We all have the same dharma, it’s the dharma of the Buddhas, so I assumed he meant may I work hard to cause the buddhadharma generically to fill the world. I thought I don’t have any special dharma. But over time I realized that he was referring to the teachings of Guru Rinpoche, which were transmitted by him to both Yeshe Tsogyal and Nupchen Sangye Yeshe, and by them to their combined emanation Terchen Barway Dorje. So we recite that supplication in the hopes of it facilitating our fulfillment together of His Holiness the 16th Karmapa’s vision that these teachings come to flourish without obstacle. Now at the end of the session the last thing we will recite is a 4 line aspiration written by Khenchen Mipham. Mipham who lived from 1846 until the year 1912 was the most famous nyingma master of the end of the 19th and turn of the 20th century. And as he was a friend and admirer of Terchen Barway Dorje, he wrote this aspiration that the teachings, the treasures of Terchen Barway Dorje again fill the world. So we make these prayers at the beginning and end in order that His Holiness’s aspiration be fulfilled. And for my part although I don’t regard myself as an especially capable or courageous person I have done and am doing my best by establishing Kunzang Palchen Ling and its affiliates which consist of formal centers called Kunzang Cholings and study groups like this one called Palchen Study Group and my hope is to put it bluntly that the existence of these as venues and groups really help you. End of translation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hl1LuDLmEdc

Attachments area
Preview YouTube video Bardor Tulku Rinpoche: Teachings Part 1 on “If Your Heart Seeks Dharma”

Part 1 of Bardor Tulku Rinpoche's teachings on “If Your Heart Seeks Dharma” – A Selection from "Treasury of Eloquence: The Songs of Barway Dorje"Date: Saturd...

06/29/2023

KUNZANG PALCHEN LING
June 24-26, 2023
Over the course of three days, Vajracharya Lama Tashi Topgyal conferred the complete White Khechari empowerment and the Entrustment of Protectors.
The complete empowerment of White Khechari (Vajrayogini) consisted of the full vase, the secret knowledge, and the precious word empowerments.
The Entrustment of the Protectors are the blessings of the seven protectors of the White Khechari cycle, including two forms of Mahakala as well as the realm protector dakinis, the charnel ground protectors, and others.