Sunday, January 29, 2012

The Kudung of H.H. Dungse Thinley Norbu Rinpoche returns to Bhutan

"The kudung (body) of His Holiness Dungse Thinley Norbu Rinpoche, who passed away on December 27 in the United States, is scheduled to arrive in Paro on February 1, where the purjang (cremation) ceremony will be held.

The final rites will take place on March 3 on a plot of land in Lango facing taktshang monastery in keeping with the last wishes of the Dungse Rinpoche.

The secretary of Rangjung foundation, Phub Dorji Tangbi, said the kudung will be taken to Rangjung monastery, Trashigang, by the domestic air services on February 5 where it will remain for public viewing until February 10.

It will then be taken to Chador Lhakhang in Bartsam for three days and for two days to Ugyen Dongag Chokhorling monastery in Yonphula, before being flown back to Paro on February 15.

“The kudung is being taken to Trashigang to give an opportunity to disciples and devotees there, who cannot afford to come to Paro, to see the kudung,” His Eminence Garab rinpoche said.

A 25 feet tall chorten is being built to house the kudung for the purjang. Until the purjang, the kudung will be kept in a room where devotees and visitors can offer prayers Tsampa Mahakala from Rangjung monastery said.

The purjang ceremony will be conducted by the reincarnation of late Dudjom Jigdral Yeshe Dorji, Tulku Sangye Pema, who is a son of Dudjom rinpoche. Late Dungse Rinpoche was the eldest son of Dudjom rinpoche.

Tsmapa Mahakala said the last wish of His Holiness Dungse Rinpoche was to be cremated at a location where the Takstang monastery can be seen, it was decided the cremation would take place on a plot of land in Lango owned rinpoche which is facing Taktsang.

The government is facilitating preparations like pitching tents, collecting firewood and building a temporary access road. “We are providing labour support as well,” cabinet secretary Dasho Tashi Phuntshog said.

His Holiness Dungse Thinley Norbu Rinpoche was a primary holder of the Dudjom Tersar lineage, a collective name for the large collection of terma teachings revealed by his late father.

He was born in 1931 in Tibet and is widely recognised as an emanation of the great master Longchenpa, one of most deeply revered masters of the Nyingma lineage. He is father of Dzongsar Khyentser rinpoche, Garab rinpoche, trulku Jampal and trulku Ugyen.

Dungse Rinpoche was the chief architect of the Thimphu Memorial chorten, which he built under the guidance of his father. It was built in 1974 to honour the memory of the third King, His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck (1928-72).

Rinpoche lived in Bhutan since the mid ‘50s. He left Bhutan in the mid ‘70s in deferment to the directives of his father to teach in the West. Since then, Rinpoche has been residing in upstate New York.

His Holiness last visited Bhutan in October 2009, on the invitation of Prime Minister Jigmi Y Thinley.

He passed away in Palm Desert, California, on December 27 last year. He was 81 years. The kudung was later taken to upstate New York."

By Tenzin Namgyel ---- from the Kuensel