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Teachers
1st Beru Khyentse Rinpoche
His Dharma Activities
At Palpung, Beru Khyentse Rinpoche established a permanent retreat Centre of Buddha Verotsana and Vajrasattva. He commissioned the carving of wooden blocks of the 15th Karmapa’s text comprising of 15 volumes. These are just some of the few vast Dharma activities that he undertook.
After the 15th Karmapa’s parinirvana, Beru Khyentse built a new stupa for the precious body of the Karmapa. He also wrote a long Guru Yoga sadhana for the Karmapa. He collected all the teachings of the 15th Karmapa and compiled them into a book of many volumes. Occasionally, he gave oral transmissions, empowerments and teachings of all these texts to the lamas and monks of the Tsurphu Monastery.
During that period of sorrow, Beru Khyentse had been very kind to the monks and staff of the Tsurphu Monastery. As such, the head lamas, general secretary and the staff had high respect for him and therefore asked his advice. At the same time, Rinpoche took care and repaired the roof of the Palpung Monastery. For this purpose, thousands of bags of cement were imported from India to the east of Tibet through big caravans of mules. It took several months for the caravan to reach its destination due to the long distance.
In the main hall of the Palpung monastery, he gave oral transmissions of the Jonang Taranatha’s text, empowerments and oral transmission of the Karma Chakmey’s text in its entirety. These teachings were attended by thousands of disciples.
According to the late Kyabje Kalu Rinpoche, Beru Khyentse was one of the fortunate ones among the gathering who had received the entire precious teachings and empowerments bestowed at that time. Furthermore, Kyabje Kalu Rinpoche told that the ability of the clairvoyance of Beru Khyentse to read other peoples’ thoughts had become a way to strengthen the confidence of the faithful sentient beings around him. In outer physical conduct, he gave importance to and practiced the three basic codes in accordance to “vinaya” or “the moral code of ordained community.” Inwardly, he was a Bodhisattva, giving love and compassion to all in accordance to the Bodhicitta training. Kyabje Kalu Rinpoche further stated that Beru Khyentse is a Bodhisattva, a sight of whose countenance involuntarily arouses happiness with faith.
Beru Khyentse had many disciples worldwide in countries such as Bhutan, India, Nepal and China. During the Second World War when China was under the Kuomintang regime, Marshal Chiang Kai Shek invited great Tibetan lamas of the four different schools of Tibetan Buddhism to perform prayers for the quick end to the world war and for peace to prevail in the world. Since the 16th Karmapa was still very young, Beru Khyentse went to China as his representative. He performed the Grand Mahakala Puja for many days. It was said that on the last day of the puja ‘Tordog’ (torma offering), sparks were seen emitted from the top of the torma and earthquakes were felt.
On another occasion, when Rinpoche was staying in the capital city of Beijing, it was stated that a tree had slanted towards the house near where he was staying and was on the verge of falling down on the roof. When Rinpoche was informed of this, he pointed to the tree in a scolding manner. As soon as Rinpoche did this, the tree slanted to the other side. This incident is said to be recorded in one of the history books of China.
Beru Khyentse Rinpoche gave many teachings to his Chinese disciples, such as the explanation of the 3rd Karmapa text, Zabmo Nangdon (Profound Inner Meaning), Vajra yogini and Mahakala teachings. Two of his main Chinese disciples, Yogi Chang and Yogi Chen translated many of these teachings in Mandarin and these texts still exist in Taiwan until today. Beru Khyentse and Bho Gangkar Rinpoche of the Kagyu school and Norlha Rinpoche or Gahra Lama of the Nyingma school were the three very famous and popular teachers in China during the late 19th and 20th century. They spread the Vajrayana teachings far and wide across Mainland China and Taiwan.
His Entering into Parinirvana
Due to the lack of collective merits of sentient beings, Beru Khyentse Rinpoche entered into parinirvana in 1945 at the age of fifty-one at his seat Palpung Monastery. For the cremation of the physical remains, the funeral prayers were held for 49 days where Rinpoches, lamas and monks from Sakya, Nyingma and the Kagyu sect in the region of Derge and Nangchen were present. Unfortunately, at that time, Situ Pema Wangchok Rinpoche had left for Central Tibet and was not at Palpung Monastery. So, the sad news of Beru Khyentse’s parinirvana was sent to H.H Karmapa Ranjung Rigpei Dorje and Situ Pema Wangchok Rinpoche through a messenger. When they received the news they immediately performed detailed post parinirvana prayers and rites. Situ Pema Wangchok Rinpoche purposely visited Lhasa to perform prayers in front of the Shakyamuni Temple and offered butter lamps and monlam at other holy places. Prayers of the swift return of Beru Khyentse were also performed.
His Main Disciples
Beru Khyentse had many non-sectarian disciples from Sakya, Gelugpa, Kagyu and Nyingma traditions. Just to name a few eminent ones from the Kagyu sect were the 15th Karmapa (he was both his Guru as well as his disciple), 16th Karmapa, Nenang Pawo Rinpoche, Kyabje Kalu Rinpoche, Bho Gangkar Rinpoche, Zigar Kongtrul Rinpoche, Khandro Orgyen Tsomo (consort of the 15th Karmapa), Zuru Akong Rinpoche, Zurmang Rechung Rinpoche, Jangtrul Drungpa Pema Tharsen Rinpoche, Great Yogi Drupchen Pema Norbu Rinpoche, Rewa Seljay Rinpoche and the Great scholar Amdo Gedun Choephel.
