Chhi’mèd Rig’dzin Rinpoche

Vajra Master and disciple

Chhi’mèd Rig’dzin Rinpoche

Ngak’chang Rinpoche studied with Chhi’mèd Rig’dzin Rinpoche from 1979 and they often discussed the future of the Vajrayana lineages in the West. Chhi’mèd Rig’dzin Rinpoche always encouraged the students of Ngak’chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen to practice sincerely and to follow the guidance of their vajra masters. Ngak’chang Rinpoche comments on this point that:
Kyabjé Chhi’mèd Rig’dzin Rinpoche always mentioned his teachers and their importance in his life. He was utterly devoted to His Holiness Düd’jom Rinpoche and regarded him as the living embodiment of Padmasambhava and by far the greatest Lama of the 20th Century. The uninterrupted stream of devotion which flows from generation to generation is a continual source of inspiration, and this is why it has been so important for our students to observe our relationship with Chhi’mèd Rig’dzin Rinpoche and with Kyabjé Künzang Dorje Rinpoche and Jomo Sam’phel. It is important for students to understand that the stream of devotion is what keeps the lineages alive and what enables them to be practised. The ungainly and maladroit ‘post modern deconstructionist’ ideas of those who wish to change Buddhism with regard to the rôle of the vajra master, fail to comprehend that the Vajrayana texts are inert without the vajra master. Chhi’mèd Rig’dzin Rinpoche made this point many times – as have each one of my Root Lamas: HH Düd’jom Rinpoche, HH Dilgo Khyentsé Rinpoche, Kyabjé Künzang Dorje Rinpoche and Jomo Sam’phel, Kyabjé Chhi’mèd Rig’dzin Rinpoche, and Lama Yeshé Dorje Rinpoche. Dung-sé Thrin-lé Norbu Rinpoche, the elder son of HH Düd’jom Rinpoche makes this point extremely clear for people and has provided great encouragement to this end through his writings and the writings and talks of his own western disciples.