On the Parinirvana of His Holiness Jigdral Yeshe Dorje's Emanation
I'd like to say a few words in memory of His Holiness Jigdral Yeshe Dorje's undisputed yangsi emanation. It's very, very sad. We have all heard that recently he dissolved his awakened mind into the expanse of peace. His passing was very sudden and abrupt. It's a tremendous loss for the Buddhadharma in general and specifically for the Ngagyur Nyingma early translation school teachings and especially for the Dudjom Tersar lineage. It's a great loss and it's an even greater loss because he was so young. The blooming of his enlightened activities was just beginning. And he was the undisputed tulku, the undisputed emanation. Personally, I knew him very, very well from a very young age. We were very close. To find that he has suddenly passed into parinirvana is extremely sad. There's a heaviness in my heart and great suffering, and of course that's the case when we understand that a holder of the Buddhist teachings has suddenly left this world.
We talk about impermanence. This is in fact the nature of samsara, the nature of conditioned existence. We always think, "Oh, impermanence is a theoretical truism that exists somehow and affects everyone else but us." But in reality, impermanence affects every one of us, and this is yet another reminder of that. So I want to express my condolences over this tremendous loss.
Even though the display of Yangsi Rinpoche's rupakaya, his form body, has dissolved into basic space, in the basic space of the true nature of phenomena, the Dharmadhatu, he never leaves us ever. He is omnipresent and he never dissolves, he is always with us in the basic space of phenomena. As long as we keep our dharma samaya pure and we have faith and devotion, the blessings of the awakened beings will always be right there, ready to enter into our hearts. Especially if we pray to Dudjom Lingpa, Dudjom Jigdral Yeshe Dorje, even now, their presence and their blessings are as penetrating as ever. They will be aware of us and will grant their blessings.
Remember that the awakened beings are always with us. In the expanse of Dharmadhatu there is no passing away, there is no passing into parinirvana in the expanse of truth. We should continue always to supplicate our lamas. Remember, the interdependence is there. As long as we keep the pure samaya and we maintain our faith, especially for those of you who had a connection, when your lama passes, always remember, always supplicate. Continue to pray to your lama, practice what the lama instructed you to do, and always try to keep pure faith and samaya with your lamas and with your dharma siblings, your Sangha.
Always maintain the inseparability of the lama's awakened mind and your own mind, inseparable. There's a direct connection between the teachings of taking happiness and suffering on the path, and this experience, because when impermanence suddenly manifests, everybody experiences suffering. To take this suffering as fuel for the path is to remember this truth: that in the expanse of Dharmadhatu, there is no passing into parinirvana and the lama is never separate from us. The blessings are always there for us to enter into our hearts.
Even though we have a feeling of loss, actually, there is no loss. Remember that the Lama's presence is always here.
The Lama’s physical manifestation in a particular body and a particular rupakaya form has dissolved due to the nature of conditioned existence. That aggregate, that physical body, yes, it has dissolved into the expanse of parinirvana. And yet the lama's wisdom eyes are always looking upon us, and the lama's heart-mind is always holding us in its care. Remember, at all times, the lama is always present with us, beyond passing away.
Chakung Jigme Wangdrak Rinpoche
February 24, 2022, at Pema Osel Ling, Corralitos, CA
Translated by Vanessa Kubota