Yongdzin Rinpoche

Menri Lopon Yongdzin Tendzin Namdak Rinpoche 

The Menri Lopon Yongdzin Tendzin Namdak Rinpoche was born in 1926 with wonderful signs in the kingdom of Mije, in the village of Khamnyin in the Khyunkar region of Kham. His father was Drewo Pagsam and his mother was Dongza Gachung. At the age of eight, he learned to read and write from his uncle who was an umdze. At the age of eleven, from his uncle Tshering Yangpel and grandfather Lhazo U, he learned thangka painting.

Then, the great master Zödpa Gyaltsen Rinpoche felt that in the future, Tendzin Namdak would be a master of the teachings of Yungdrung Bön, so everyday he gave ablutions of purification and he taught him the biographies of past Dzogchen masters.

Then, at the age of fifteen, Tendzin Namdak felt renunciation for his village, friends, possessions, and so forth, wanting to follow the lives of the past Dzogchen masters, living as they did. At the same time, the Yundrung Ling construction of one-hundred pillars needed painters of deities, so he went to the monastery and worked on the project with artists until the work was finished. At that time, from the former head teacher Tsharong and Sherab Gyaltsen, he received many empowerments, oral transmissions, and instructions. Especially from the Abbot Zangyal, he studied logic and so forth.

At the age of seventeen, he went to Menri monastery and from the representative of the Abbot, Tshagpe Gelong and Sönam Rinchen and so forth he received novice monk vows. Then, he, Gyegè Sherab Sengè, and Sherab Tshultrim went on pilgrimage to Mt. Kailash in Nepal. Upon return, he went to Yungdrung Ling where he learned dudra and astrology from the new head teacher.

From the age of nineteen, he stayed with Yongdzin Tshultrim Gyaltsen for five years. He studied astrology, grammar, poetry, melodies, orthography, making mandalas, and the singing of different rituals. He also received instruction on the commentaries of the Treasury, the stages and paths, and so forth. Furthermore, he trained in the accumulation of the ngöndro, the direct introduction to the natural state, and stayed in the forty-nine day dark meditation.

In 1948, he went to Menri Monastery and joined the dialectic school. From Horlob Sangye Tenzdin, he learned collected topics, reasoning, and cognition and knowledge, valid cognition, prajnaparamita, commentaries on the stages of the vehicles, middle way, cosmology, monastic discipline, Mother Tantra and so forth, cycles of Mantra, the oral and experiential transmissions of Zhang Zhung Nyengyud, and the vital points and so forth of the Dzogchen traditions, reaching the point of certainty.

In 1952, at the age of twenty-seven, Yongdzin Rinpoche and Yonten Lhundrub both earned the degree of Geshe after examination of debating in the middle of a vast assembly of many high level, learned teachers. Then he was enthroned as the Menri Ponlob, the principal teacher at Menri. From Nyima Wangyal he received Drangsong full monk vows. Furthermore, from the former Kharnè Gyaltshab Yungdrung Gyaltsen, Tenpa Lotrö, Nyima Wangyal, Mushen Dzamling Rinpoche and so forth, he received all of the empowerments of the outer, inner, and secret Bön without exception, becoming a master of the teachings of the three secrets. Then, for many years, he taught Sutra, Tantra, and Dzogchen as well as the sciences, turning the wheel of Bön, spreading the teaching of Tönpa Shenrab in all directions, releasing the mindstreams of thousands of students.

In the wood sheep year, his student Sherab Lotrö was enthroned as the abbot and the next year, Tshulthrim Wangden was enthroned as the head teacher. The following year, 1959, at the time of the Tibetan revolution, under difficult and dangerous conditions, he concealed the priceless stupa of Nyamed Sherab Gyaltsen, relics, and the precious Bön Sutra, Tantra, and Dzogchen scriptures and took them to India.

In 1959, he went to England for three years where he taught Tibetan history and learned English. In 1964, he came back to India and went to Mustang where he borrowed many Bön texts and had them published, sending them to the libraries of many countries of the east and west. In 1967, he purchased land in the northern India state of Himachal in Dolanji, forming a new settlement to bring together all the Bön people.

In 1969, Yongdzin Rinpoche was given principal responsibility as the Yungdrung Ling Abbot by Sherab Tenpai Gyaltsen. Yongdzin Rinpoche and Sangye Tenzin and so forth all discussed how to select the 33rd Menri Trizin. Then, Yongdzin Rinpoche and the 33rd Menri Trizin built Palshenten Menri Ling, re-establishing and preserving the activities of the Bön teachings in exile.

Yongdzin Rinpoche taught theory and practice to the community of the monastery daily. In 1978, plans were settled and he along with Menri Trizin established a new Yungdrung Bön Dialectic School. Then for a decade he taught the students Sutra, Tantra, Dzogchen, and the sciences at the monastery, firmly establishing these subjects.

In 1984, to many lamas, tulkus, scholars, and all of the Bön Dialectic students, Yongdzin Rinpoche gave the outer, inner, and secret initiation of the yidam and empowerment, oral transmission, and instructions of the tantras of Yungdrung Bön to many thousands of fortunate students.

In 1986, the first group of six students passed the highest examinations and earned the degree of Geshe of Palshenten Menri Ling and henceforth until now, hundreds have earned the degree of Geshe.

In 1987, for the teachings to remain in the future and so forth, he looked to build a monastery in Nepal near the Phagpa Zhingkün stupa. He started to build the new monastery and with the help of the gods and protectors and favorable conditions, the outside, inside, and all of the statues were completely finished swiftly. From the especially sublime significance of this dependent arising, accordingly, the monastery was named after the place of Tönpa Shenrab, Triten Norbutse.

In 1992, the Yangal lineage Geshe Trinlè Nyima was enthroned as the new preceptor at Menri and also in that year Yongdzin Rinpoche bought two volumes of the Yungdrung Bön canon and brought them to India and Nepal, and for the first time the Bön canon was in both places.

In 1994, at Triten Norbutse he conducted consecration rituals for the monastery, temples, and shrines and at that time the 33rd Trizin was invited and the outer, inner, and secret mandala of the yidam was opened and the consecration was done. At that monastery, a new practice center of the Atri, Dzogchen, and Zhang Zhung Nyengyud and new dialectic school teaching Gabgugor, the treasury, cosmology, grounds and paths, and the sciences was established.

In 1996, the Jeru lineage Geshe Tenpa Yungdrung was enthroned as the preceptor at Triten Norbutse. At that monastery in 1998, the great accomplishment of the sacred medicine of called Odzer Khyilwa was performed over the course of fifteen days by the assembly of monks. After that, Yongdzin Rinpoche gave the initiation of Zhitro Peaceful and Wrathful deities and the initiation of the Odzer Khyilwa medical text. Then in that year, along with the Bön Research Center of Japan, “The Mandalas of Yungdrung Bön” and “Bön Stupa” was published. The outer, inner and secret Yidams were painted and the Tengyur Chenmo was catalogued.

In 2001, the head teacher Tenpa Yungdrung was enthroned as the abbot of Triten Norbutse. Also, six students passed the highest examinations and received the degree of Geshe. Then until this day, hundreds of students have earned the degrees of Geshe and Shen Yogi.

In 2002, Geshe Tshulthrim Tendzin was enthroned as the abbot of the meditation school of Triten Norbutse.

In 2004, Geshe Tshangpa Tenzin was enthroned as the chief teacher of Triten Norbutse.

In 2005, Triten Norbutse celebrated the eightieth birthday of Yongdzin Rinpoche. Also that year, Shenten Dargyeling was established in France where each year there is a summer retreat, and in the winter and spring, instructions, transmissions, and empowerments for many eastern and western people.

In 2012, Triten Norbutse celebrated its twenty-fifth year anniversary. Also, the second Odzer Khyilwa sacred medicine accomplishment was performed. Yongdzin Rinpoche bestowed the Zhitro and Three Medicines initiation.

In 2014, on the occasion of the celebration of his ninetieth birthday, to the many gathered at Triten Norbutse, for three days Yongdzin Rinpoche bestowed the four empowerments of the Kunbum Goched.

In 2016, for Yongdzin Rinpoche who has from the time of childhood until the present, been a holder, protector, and propagator of the Bön teachings, especially as the precious teacher, who raised the Bön religion up when it was collapsing, connecting it when it was split, Bön people from all over the world offered an extensive longevity ceremony at the three monasteries and Triten Norbutse. At that time, Yongdzin Rinpoche bestowed the initiation of the Longevity Practice of Dranpa and the transmission and teaching of the Praise of the Mantra of the Loving Mother.

In 2015, at the time the 33rd Menri Trizin’s health was declining, Yongdzin held healing ceremonies and stability of life prayers, giving guidance on healing medicines and ritual offerings.

In 2017, at the time of the 33rd Menri Trizin’s mind dissolved into the nature of reality, under the guidance and instruction of Yongzdin Rinpoche, the Rainbow Tent Transference was performed, aspiration prayers were made, the memorial service for the deceased and funeral pyre ceremony were conducted, and the process of the day of handling the remains was completed.

Furthermore, many Bön scriptures were translated into other languages and in this way the teachings of Bön spread to many countries. For nearly seven decades, Yongdzin Rinpoche has initiated activities for the benefit of the teachings and beings of the present and future, granting teachings to countless students. Until the present, he has elucidated the meaning and written more than twenty volumes of books in detail on the Bön teachings of Sutra, Tantra, and Dzogchen, the history of the royal lineage, and the explanation of the arts and so forth. His books that explain the meaning of the precious teachings have been published in English and other languages.

Rinpoche is not occupied with power and fame, rather than sitting like a king he would rather be surrounded by books. He lives humbly, content with few desires like the Dzogchen masters of the past, remaining free and unwavering. Although he is in his nineties, without concern for hardship, without rest, each day he elucidates the teachings for monks and lay people, practicing, learning, and meditating. Without distraction and hindrances, he pursues the path of scriptural reasoning, reading the texts and arranging notes on the essential points of the scriptures and so forth, working like a physician for the sole benefit of the teachings and beings.