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Teachers
2nd Beru Khyentse Rinpoche (continued)
In 1958, when Rinpoche was twelve years old, there were some troubles related to the Cultural Revolution instigated by the Chinese. For this reason and as it was important for the young Rinpoche to meet the Karmapa and to go to his birthplace on pilgrimage. So, the Drongsar brothers contacted the Chinese Government and obtained permission to this effect. Hence, Khyentse Rinpoche with his family, monks and the two Drongsar brothers with their subjects started on seemingly an official pilgrimage to the Central Tibet , but in reality initiated their exodus from Tibet.
While they were in the presence of the Karmapa at Tsurphu Monastery, they heard news of Cultural Revolution becoming more aggressive. During this hectic period Rinpoche continued with his Dharma practices, studies and teachings. In 1959, when they were traveling through the northern Tibetan region, Rinpoche gave empowerment and oral transmissions of Phowa to a large gathering. Besides that, Rinpoche consistently performed the Tara Puja every morning and Mahakala puja every evening. Rinpoche also regularly practiced the yearly and monthly puja such as the annual summer retreat and the bi-monthly confession ceremony. Rinpoche and his followers did not face many obstacles on the way. Whenever they were in a state of hesitation, they would miraculously get some help. For example, if they are lost and not sure of the way, they would meet some pilgrims who would appear out of nowhere, and after giving directions and cautioning them of any risks, disappeared suddenly. This happened to the party when they were passing through the northern desert region. Even though, they had lost their way in the desert, an old man would suddenly appear out of nowhere and showed them the direction and then disappeared after a moment. Such instances happened often to the party. All the people in Rinpoche's group were aware that these were the Dharma protectors guiding them day and night.
After a long journey, Rinpoche, the Drongsar brothers and their followers reached the Nepalese territory of Mustang , the Nepal-Tibet border Jang Tsokar. Thus, it became possible for the group to stay there. They continued to move towards the capital city of Nepal through Pokhara. On reaching Kathmandu , they went to Boudhanath and had a vision of golden countenance of Karmapa. They requested and sponsored H.H. the Karmapa to perform the Black hat adorning ceremony and also took advice in respect of the future course of action to be taken. For the time being, however, they decided to return to the Lo area as the climate at Kathmandu was very hot, resulting in many people dying. About fifteen people from Rinpoche's group passed away within a few months and Rinpoche himself fell ill. However, he recovered soon due to the blessing of the Karmapa.
When they returned to the Lo area they came to know that Dzongar Khenpo Chime, a close disciple of Dzongsar Khyentse Chokyi Lodro has arrived at Lo. Drongsar Drakpa Namgyal approached him personally and made known to him the close-disciple relationship that he shared with Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche. He further requested him to take the responsibility of educating the reincarnation of Beru Khyentse. Dzongar Khenpo Chime Rinpoche accepted this request and agreed to become his teacher. Unfortunately, later that year, Drongsar Drakpa Namgyal fell ill and after many months of facing his illness, he passed away in 1960. The responsibility to support Rinpoche, the monks and his followers was handed to his younger brother, Drongsar Namkhe Dorje.
After sometime Rinpoche, Namkhe Dorje and their followers left for Nyeshang 'Manang' as many people have been requesting Rinpoche to visit them for quite sometime. At the age of fourteen, Rinpoche began his philosophy education from Khenpo Chime. In the beginning, Khenpo Chime gave him an explanation of Manjushri prayer and then Rinpoche memorized various root texts and studied grammar. Khenpo Chime then gave commentaries on Bodhisattvacaryavatara five times on different occasions.
That year during the monsoon retreat of forty-five days, traditionally, on the last days of the retreat, the lamas and khenpos would gave teachings all through the night. On that occasion, Rinpoche preached on the root text and explanation of the Bodhisattvacaryavatara for three hours without reference. This was the first preaching conducted by Rinpoche.
Gradually, in 1961, Rinpoche, monks and the lay followers moved to India and were united with Namkhe Dorje in Tso Pema or Rewalsar, a holy place of Guru Rinpoche. The monastic community led by Rinpoche stayed in this holy place for four years. The rest of the people worked at various road constructions site in different places such as Kulu and Manali. Rinpoche received many teaching from his master during their stay in Tso-Pema. These included Abhidharma, Prajnaparamita Alankara, Three Trays of Madhyamika, Three Yana Certainty, Gampopa's 'Jewel Ornament of Liberation', Uttaratantra of Maitreya, Getsul Karika, grammar, vocabulary, poetry and handwriting in different scripts. Thus, Rinpoche studied under the guidance of Khenpo Chime Rinpoche for five years. Due to the kindness and compassion, Rinpoche has become a learned master.
In 1963, while Rinpoche was studying philosophy at Tso-Pema, H.H. the Gyalwa Karmapa came on a pilgrimage. It was at this time that Rinpoche received from His Holiness, the oral transmissions of Ngondro or 'Preliminary Practice' and the Guru Yoga of Karmapa himself. At this time, H.H. the Karmapa presented a vajra, a bell and a piece of brocade to Beru Khyentse Rinpoche. H.H. the Karmapa also advised Rinpoche to receive oral transmissions and empowerments of his 'gongter' or mind treasure text of Vajrakilaya from Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and practice it daily. Rinpoche obeyed and followed the advice of Karmapa. When Sakya Trizin Rinpoche visited Tso-Pema, Rinpoche received oral transmission and empowerments of Sakyapa's Thirteen Golden Dharma, Mahakala Gurkyi Gonpo and Vajrayogini. That same year when Kyabje Kalu Rinpoche visited Tso-Pema, Namkhe Dorje met and requested him to give oral transmissions and empowerments necessary for the practices in the retreat to Rinpoche and the other monks. Kyabje Kalu Rinpoche accepted his request with joyful kindness.
Thus, in the sacred land of Tso-Pema, Beru Khyentse Rinpoche received complete empowerments and oral transmissions of Chikshey Kundrol as well as empowerments of all the peaceful and wrathful deities and those of about forty-two yidams. He also received empowerments and the oral transmissions of Chagchen Ngedon Gyatso (Definitive Meaning Mahamudra) or (Mahamudra Text Ocean of Certainty), Ngedon Donme Marig Munsel (Torch of Certainty Eliminating the Darkness of Ignorance), and Kunzung Lamey Shelung ((Words of Perfect Guru). Kyabje Kalu Rinpoche gave the complete empowerments and oral transmissions for the three year three months retreat to the first batch of retreat entrants in exile that was organized up in the hills of Tso-Pema. At that time, Rinpoche was eighteen years old and stayed up in the hill retreat centre for five months and practiced Mahamudra preliminary practice of the Kagyu Tradition.
In 1965, following their earnest request, Rinpoche and his family, Namkhe Dorje and his family, the monastic community and followers of about five hundred people, settled in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, in a place called Mainpat, in the eastern region of the state. Thus, due to the kindness of H.H. the Dalai Lama and H.H. the Gyalwa Karmapa, and the guidance of Central government of India , the Nangchen camp no. 2 were established. Mainpat, which is situated on a high plateau four thousand feet above sea level, is very isolated and has a remarkable countryside.
Meanwhile, Beru Khyentse Rinpoche continued with his philosophy studies by revising those which he had already studied, and went through those texts which he had not yet studied. A the same time, Rinpoche gave teachings to his students on Bodhisattvacaryavatara many times, Gampopa's 'Jewel Ornament of Liberation', Zapmo Nangdon (Profound Inner Meanings), Domsum Namnge (Three Yana Certainty), Getsul Karika, Nagarjuna's Suhridalekha texts, and Asangha's thirty-seven practices of Bodhisattva etc. He also taught them grammar and handwritings of different scripts.
In 1967, Kyabje Kalu Rinpoche wrote a letter to Khyentse Rinpoche saying that Rinpoche has studied well and acquired knowledge comparable to any learned man. Therefore as a Kagyupa, practice, meditation and comprehension is more important. He further advised Rinpoche to enter the three-year retreat saying that he should do it now while he had time otherwise when Rinpoche's Dharma activities flourished later, he would not have the opportunity to do so. Rinpoche accepted this kind advice and replied in affirmation entering into retreat.