Dungse Rinpoche's Visit

I've been a bit behind on sharing some new stories with all of you...this one is from ten days ago...

In the last few weeks my neighbor Chimmi and her friends have been working very hard on preparing the area around our house and the temple near by for the arrival of an important Rinpoche. I heard about this for the first time not long after I arrived, but only in the last couple of weeks have I connected the dots and gathered that the Rinpoche who is coming from the US, is the father of Dzonghsar Khyentse Rinpoche and his brother (who is the lama that Chimmi follows). Dungse Rinpoche has been living in the US for quite some time and this is his first visit to Bhutan in many years. I didn’t realize at first how big of a deal this was going to be. Chimmi mentioned that he would hold a Puja at the chorten, but some reason I thought, oh their rinpoche is coming, and they’ll hold a Puja but it won’t be a big deal…not a big deal? Think again…

Thousands of people came to see him at the Chorten (and thousands went to Paro when he arrived), the Chorten was packed with devotees, and outside of the Chorten there was a crowd waiting to get in. I joined, and waited, there was pushing and shoving and general disorderliness in trying to get through the Chorten gates, the police having to work very hard to try to make sure order is kept and no one gets hurt. People were trying to leave the chorten and the police had to try to make room for them. People from all walks of life were there, older people, young people, young parents carrying their babies on their backs, and even a few students from KILU Music School.

I made it in to the Chorten and glad that I did, as the singing that I had been hearing from my room this morning was still going on. A big crowd of practicioners was gathered, sitting in rows (mostly women) with the monastic dark red covering their shoulders, they had these drums and bells and were reciting mantras, learning songs, and ringing their bells, hitting their drums. Apparently this is unique to the Nyingma tradition of which Dungse Rinpoche is one of the most pre-eminent teachers.

Indeed I found myslelf listening to these mantras and drums and bells and found myself totally engrossed by these sounds. I eventually moved to sit right in the middle between the women, so I could be surrounded by these sounds. I was imagining a piece in which these mantras are recited by a chorus as a kind of underground layer of dronal music, upon which more layers are constructed.

After the mantras were done, it seemed to be time for lunch, I went back to the house to get a few things and head to wisdom tea party, when it appeared that things were being prepared for Rinpoche’s arrival near my house, where he’ll be staying. Yes, I walked back down to the Chorten and there people were lining up hoping to see a glimpse of Rinpoche as he was walking out of the Chorten grounds and towards his car. When he finally made it, all of us rushed towards the SUV, surrounding it, hoping to catch a glimpse, I definitely saw him as he was being lifted up and into the vehicle. Some devotees were so clearly moved, they had their hands on their mouths as they watched in awe, many moved so close to the car, once he was inside and the door shut, windows sealed, and put their foreheads to the car, or kissed the car, some were making prostrations. Clearly this was important for these people, to be near him, in any way shape or form. There was an aspect of this of kind of mass mentality, reminiscent to me (at least) of celebrity following in the US or West. I ran up the alley towards my house, and there, my neighbors all stood, quietly, respectfully, not getting to near, watching as he was moved out of the car and into the compound to get some lunch, in this instance there was no rushing to the vehicle or anything like that, just a whole lot of respect.

Here is a news article story about Dungse Rinpoche's visit to Bhutan!

More to follow soon! (and more pictures as well)

Noam