Update: Shambhala Center Presents MOVIE: TULKU
Tulku is a documentary film about young people caught between the modern culture they were born into and the ancient Tibetan Buddhist culture from which they were reborn. They are Western tulkus – all of them recognized when they were children as reincarnations of great Tibetan Buddhist masters. Filmmaker Gesar Mukpo is one of them. In Tulku he sets out to meet others like him – young people struggling between modern and ancient, East and West. Click here to attend.

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A Great, Young Buddhist Tulku visits America for the First Time.

In the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, the responsibility of teaching the Buddhadharma is passed not by blood succession, or vote, but by a strange, wonderful system of tulkuhood—identifying a random citizen to become the next teacher in a particular line. Sometimes, it doesn’t seem to work (a few of the 14 Dalai Lamas, as well as many other lines of teachers, have been party animals more interested in good times than meditation or teaching).

But more often than not, there’s a sort of “ordinary magic” to it—the young ordinary citizen, often a peasant, grows up under tough, enthusiastic tutelage and becomes a wonderful, generous teacher in her or his own right.

One of the greatest (in size, height, reputation and compassion) teachers of the 20th century was Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, a towering man all the more impressive for his kindness and patience. I met him many times as a child, still have some blessings from him, and was lucky enough to practice meditation with him (along with many others) and receive teachings (though I didn’t always fully get them).

His successor, Yangsi Rinpoche, is now visiting America for the first time. And we’re trying to raise a little money to help receive and host him in a wonderful manner.

> The Sakyong Foundation is organizing a gift on behalf of Sakyong Mipham and the international Shambhala Buddhist community. Any of us are cordially invited to give, if so inspired. It will be presented at the traditional Tibetan Buddhist welcoming tea and rice ceremony in Boulder by elephriend Gesar Mukpo, son of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche.
> Participate: we’ve collected $3,500 so far! $5,000 would be wonderful.

Click here to make an offering to help offset this visit and host Yangsi properly.

Photos of the last great Khyentse Rinpoche with Trungpa Rinpoche, and others (including a young Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche!):

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~ General Information ~

Shambhala Community Celebrates & Supports Unbroken Lineage of Profound Teachings.

His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche was a principal teacher to both the Vidyadhara Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche and the Sakyong, Jamgon Mipham Rinpoche. 2010 marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of His Holiness as well as the first visit of his tulku, Dilgo Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche to the west.

The Sakyong Foundation is gathering contributions to offer a grant to support this historic visit. Gesar Mukpo, Sechen Kontrul Rinpoche, will present this collective gift on behalf of the Sakyong and the entire Shambhala community at the tea and rice ceremony at the Boulder Shambhala Center on 11 August. All are welcome.

Please join us in expressing our Shambhala community’s generosity and support of Dilgo Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche’s first teaching tour in the west. Individual contributions as well as gifts collected on behalf of Shambhala Centres are welcome. To participate, please visit The Sakyong Foundation by 11 August.

For extensive coverage of the heart connection His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche has to our sangha, please visit the Chronicles of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche.

For more information about the tour, or to purchase tickets, please visit the Celebrating the Return.

Bonus: videos:

And, the young tulku: