HH Pabongka Rinpoche meeting Dorje Shugden

[WisdomBeing]

I was just browsing the Great Masters and re-read this article on Pabongka Rinpoche.
http://dorjeshugden.com/articles/KyabjePabongkaRinpoche.pdf

This in particular stood out for me - can you imagine meeting Dorje Shugden?!:

Mahasiddha Pabongkha Rinpoche has a long history and during his time the Dharma increased greatly in Tibet. He was actually Heruka Demchok. He was born in north central Tibet and as a boy entered Gyolrang house of Sera Mey. At first he was very poor and not famous. He studied hard to be a Geshe, meditated and gave empowerments. Pabongkha studied with Jaba Sonpo Rinpoche who was a complete lineage holder, especially of the teachings of Ranchi Lama. One night, he dreamt of a person giving him a pot of milk and requesting him to drink it completely. This symbolized that the complete teachings would be transferred to him.

Later on, a monk came to see him. This monk explained that there were a lot of philosophies in Tibet but not much teaching on Lam Rim. The monk offered to be his patron so that he could go and teach.

At one time while returning from the south of Tibet, Pabongkha Rinpoche met many people, requesting Lam Rim teaching. He taught in Lhasa and he went every where in Tibet and many people became his students. Of course this caused some jealously at times. He propagated Tsong Khapa's Dharma with much enthusiasm and stated that these teachings were the best.

Finally the monk who was Pabongkha Rinpoche patron returned and thanked him. He told him to rest, while he was away at the Five Mountains of Manjusri in China. At this period no one asked him to teach Lam Rim. Three years later, this monk returned and requested him to teach Tantra. After this many people requested Tantra teachings. Now, Pabongkha, contemplated these events and realised that this monk was Dorje Shugden.

[Big Uncle]

Amazing story! It would not be unusual for Dorje Shugden to have emanated to request teachings from Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche. Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche was widely envied by many other traditions because his charisma, teaching and ability to relate to everyone including lay householders made him extremely popular. This was unusual for a Gelug Lama as Gelugs have their stronghold with the monastic community and upper echelons of society.

On the other hand, the other traditions had long established their stronghold with the lay community of Tibet. Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche was the first Lama to break with this tradition by giving teachings to thousands of lay people who thronged to receive blessings as well as to listen to a powerful teaching. This led to the ire of some of the monastics of the other traditions. Some went as far as to spread malicious false rumours of Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche desecrating temples by breaking Guru Rinpoche statues. Some of these rumour survive to this day and have somewhat been revived by the on-going ban on Dorje Shugden - the protector practice that was spread by Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche.

[vajrastorm]

It is difficult to imagine how anyone can see HH Pabongka Rinpoche as a close-minded Lama who practiced sectarianism to the extent of destroying statues of Guru Rinpoche.

He defied narrow-minded tradition that confined teachings of the Lamrim to only monastics and the upper echelons of society. Instead, he gave teachings to thousands including laypeople so that as many as possible could benefit from receiving Lamrim teachings for their own ultimate goal of full Enlightenment and total freedom from suffering.

Dorje Shugden’s compassion is limitless. He will emanate in whatever form so as to ensure that the precious teachings of Je Tsongkapa, so very necessary for this degenerate age, would spread and grow. The Lamrim of Je Tsongkapa(coming from Atisha), containing all Buddha’s instructions that take you on a graded Path to full Enlightenment, is  the Buddhist ‘Bible’ for this age. Hence it comes as no surprise that Dorje Shugden should appear as a ‘monk-patron’ to urge Pabongka Rinpoche to disseminate the Lamrim to the many people who requested for it.

Then later, as the same patron, he directed Pabongka Rinpoche to teach the Tantra. Thereupon, many people started to request for the teachings and Pabongka promptly gave the teachings to them. It is interesting to note that each time the patron appeared to Pabongka Rinpoche to urge him to teach, this would be naturally followed by innumerable requests for the teachings prescribed by the patron. Thus does Dorje Shugden use His skillful means to enable the Gelug lineage teachings to spread.

[icy]

On the other hand, the other traditions had long established their stronghold with the lay community of Tibet. Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche was the first Lama to break with this tradition by giving teachings to thousands of lay people who thronged to receive blessings as well as to listen to a powerful teaching. This led to the ire of some of the monastics of the other traditions. Some went as far as to spread malicious false rumours of Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche desecrating temples by breaking Guru Rinpoche statues. Some of these rumour survive to this day and have somewhat been revived by the on-going ban on Dorje Shugden - the protector practice that was spread by Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche.

This is the skillful method Dorje Shudgen, the wisdom buddha used to benefit many people far and wide.  Obviously the success, popularity and the power of the teaching had created competition and jealousy in traditions that had dominated the lay people which causes malicious rumours of Kyabje Pabongkha Rinpoche.

May Dorje Shudgen squash these malicious rumours so that its teaching will quickly increase forever more.

[WisdomBeing]

At the end of that document, HH Dalai Lama says that HH Pabongka Rinpoche and HH Trijang Rinpoche were wrong to practise Dorje Shugden though their other practices were "unquestionable".

"Anyway, I am of the opinion that Phabongkha and Trijang Rinpoche’s promotion of the worship of Dholgyal was a mistake. But their worship represents merely a fraction of what they did in their lives. Their contributions in the areas of Stages of the Path, Mind Training and Tantra teachings were considerable. Their contribution in these areas was unquestionable and in no way invalidated by involvement with Dholgyal."

My question is that if these two Lamas were (and are) regarded so highly, how can their practice of Dorje Shugden be questionable? These two Lamas are considered as highly attained being and even Buddhas. Their reincarnations have come back and been confirmed. This surely proves that everything they taught were/are correct. It is quite logical, isn't it?

[kurava]

Dorje Shugden’s compassion is limitless. He will emanate in whatever form so as to ensure that the precious teachings of Je Tsongkapa, so very necessary for this degenerate age, would spread and grow. The Lamrim of Je Tsongkapa(coming from Atisha), containing all Buddha’s instructions that take you on a graded Path to full Enlightenment, is  the Buddhist ‘Bible’ for this age. Hence it comes as no surprise that Dorje Shugden should appear as a ‘monk-patron’ to urge Pabongka Rinpoche to disseminate the Lamrim to the many people who requested for it.

Duldzin  is certainly fulfilling his promise to Nechung 

My question is that if these two Lamas were (and are) regarded so highly, how can their practice of Dorje Shugden be questionable? These two Lamas are considered as highly attained being and even Buddhas. Their reincarnations have come back and been confirmed. This surely proves that everything they taught were/are correct. It is quite logical, isn't it? - WisdomBeing

Dear WB,
If we recall it's Nechung that requested Duldzin to protect the teachings of Je Rinpoche, then it makes perfect sense that Nechung through DL is working  hand in hand with Dorje Shugden to spread the lineage of Je Tsongkhapa in ways that are beyond our ordinary perceptions.

[DharmaSpace]

Yes in other lineages there are stories of their protectors manifesting in a human form to benefit the myriad of beings.

Dorje Shugden is an enlightened protector so he can take on a many and varied form to benefit.  Pabongka RInpoche revolution to teach lay people paved the way for buddhism to spread in a modern manner.

Without the kindness of Pabongka Rinpoche who defied the conventions of his day, most of us would have not been able to access the real dharma, if dharma remained only to be disseminated to monastics. 

[dsiluvu]

Thank you WB for this enlightening post. H.H Pabongka Rinpoche is definitely an emanation of a Buddha, some consider him Heruka on earth.

I like the fact like Nechung who appeared as a boy to Duldzin to request him to become a protector, and now we see another person appearing to Pabongka to let him. So similar are the stories and so interesting to know that DS was the one who gave advice to Pabongka.

It clearly shows that only a Buddha can manifest any time and anywhere. It will certainly be nice to know what the latest/current Pabongka Rinpoche is doing. Does anyone have any information on the current Pabongka?