A Saint in Seattle: The Life of the Tibetan Mystic Dezhung Rinpoche

802 Pages·2004·59.27 MB·English

by  David P. Jackson

cA Saint in Seattle
THE LIFE OF THE TIBETAN MYSTIC
DEZHUNG RINPOCHE
David P. Jackson ~
Wisdom Publications • Boston
Wisdom Publications, Inc.
199 Elm Street
Somerville MA 02144 USA
www.wisdornpubs.org
© 2003 David P. Jackson
All rights reserved.
First Edition
09 o8 07 o6 05 04
6 5 4 3 2 l
No part of chis book may be reproduced in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photography, recording, or by any
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Iacer developed, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Library ofC ongress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Jackson, David Paul.
A saint in Seattle : the life of the Tibetan mystic Dezhung Rinpoche I
David P. Jackson.
p. ern.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-86171-396-6 (pbk.: alk. paper)
1. Kunga Tenpay Nyirna, Deshung Rinpoche, 1906-1987. 2. Sa-skya
pa lamas-Biography. 3. Buddhist monks-China-Tibet
Biography. I. Title.
BQ7950.K867J33 2004
294.3'923'092-dc22
2004004098
Wisdom Publications' books are printed on acid-free paper and meet the
guidelines for the permanence and durability sec by the Council of
Library Resources.
Cover design by SU2anne Heiser
Interior design by Gopa & Ted2, Inc. Typeset in Adobe Gararnond
10.5fr3.5
Printed in the United Scates of America.
Contents
Foreword by H. E. Jigdral Dagchen Sakya IX
Preface xi
List of Illustrations XIX
List of Maps XXXI
Part I: Life in the Old World: 1906-I96o
1. First Years at Tharlarn 3
2. Early Studies under Garon N gawang Lekpa 14
3. First Scholastic Studies under Shenga Rinpoche at Jyekundo 25
4. Initial Recognition as a Trulku 34
5. Journey to Derge and First Studies of Sanskrit 45
6. Studies under Jarngyal Rinpoche and Khunu Lama 54
7. Travd to Horkhok and Lithang Oezhung 72
8. The Two Previous Oezhung Trulku Incarnations 84
9. Final Studies in Oerge 91
10. Further Studies under Garon at Tharlarn and
Enthronement as Garon's Successor 99
11. Second Visit to Dezhung and the Death of Garon II3
12. Four Years in Minyak 124
13. Pilgrimage to Sakya and the Holy Sites ofMilarepa 139
14. Great Offerings at Sakya and Ngor 153
VI A SAINT IN SEATTLE
15. Sojourn at Sakya and Travel to Serdokchen and Lhasa 163
16. Return to Kham, Teaching among the Nomads,
and a Visit from the Sakya Dagchen and Dagmo 181
17. A Second Visit to Minyak 200
18. The Activities ofKhenpo Kangshar and the Death
of Surmang Rolpay Dorje 2!0
19. Flight from Kharn to Central Tibet 218
20. Flight from Lhasa to Bhutan and India 228
21. The First Year of Exile in India 239
Part II: Life and Travels in Exile: I960-I987
22. Arrival and First Months in America 249
23. Collaborators and Friends at the University of Washington 260
24. Misunderstandings at the University 273
25. Further Instruction of Gene Smith 281
26. Adapting to a Long-Term Stay 295
27. Buddhist Students and Scholars in Seattle in the Late Sixties 307
28. Final Years at the University 318
29. Beginnings of a Public Buddhist Teaching Career
in North America 329
30. Founding a Buddhist Center in Seattle 339
31. Teaching Activities in Seattle and Canada
and the First Dharma Center House 350
32. Visit to New York as Translation Collaborator 358
33. The Second Year in New York 364
34. Travels and Teachings on the West Coast 376
35. A Second Visit to New York 387
36. Establishment of the Cambridge Center
and Further Teachings 398
CONTENTS VII
3 7. Return to India and the Beginning of the
Tharlam Temple in Nepal
38. The Journey to Southeast Asia
39. Return to North America and a Visit to Taiwan
40. Final Visits to the East and West Coasts
41. The Second Journey to Nepal
42. His Final Year
43. Epilogue
Appendixes
A. Dezhung Rinpoche on Buddhism without Sectarianism 485
B. Previous Attempts and Main Biographical Sources 494
C. A Brief Autobiography of Dezhung Rinpoche 502
D. Dezhung Rinpoche's Influence on Non-Tibetan Scholars 504
E. Dezhung Rinpoche's Ancestry 518
F. Gakhok, Dezhung Rinpoche's Place of Birth:
Historical Notes 522
G. Dezhung Rinpoche's Daily Schedule of Meditation 537
H. Invitations to Teach the Path with Its Fruit 539
I. The Life of Kalu Rinpoche 541
J. The Writings ofDezhung Rinpoche 547
Abbreviations 575
List of Interviews 576
Notes 578
Table ofTibetan Words and Names 691
Bibliography 721
Index of Names 739
2. H.H. Sakya Trizin, Dezhung Rinpoche, and Dagchen Jigdral Rinpoche. Sakya
PhUntsok Phodrang residence, Seattle, May 1978.
'Foreword
CORDING TO TIBETAN TRADITION, it is very important to read
the biographies of great lamas as an example and inspiration to
spiritual life. H. E. Dezhung Rinpoche was one of the greatest
and most learned Sakya masters of our time. His reatization was incompa
rable, his compassion unlimited, and his influence on all he met continues
to this day.
It is my pleasure to introduce the first complete biography of his life that
is available in English. It is fortunate that this has been written by Dr. David
Jackson. Not only is he a student and scholar of Tibetan Buddhism, but he
was one of H. E. Dezhung Rinpoche' s closest disciples, lived near him for
many years, and served him as interpreter. Dr. Jackson has drawn on his
own experience as well as interviewed those who knew Rinpoche well.
As Sakya Phi.intsok Phodrang Head Lama of the Sakya order of Tibetan
Buddhism, I knew H. E. Dezhung Rinpoche as a great Sakya lama, as the
cofounder with me ofSakya Monastery in Seattle, Washington, as a teacher,
and as a relative-the uncle of my wife and great uncle of my five sons. We
shared a spiritual lineage as well as a family lineage. In all my contact with
H. E. Dezhung Rinpoche, he epitomized the life of a bodhisattva.
A~'-"'S~'-~1........., 7:"'()-~ ~
H. H. Jigdral Dagchen Sakya, Sakya Phi.intsok Phodrang
3· Dezhung Rinpoche in a private garden. Seattle, ca, 1g8o.