Lama Ngawang Phuntsok

Lama Ngawang Phuntsok

Programme:

The following will take place at the Nyingma Buddhist Centre, 269 Mt Pleasant Road, Christchurch

Weekend course Sat 11th – Sun 12th July – HOW TIBETAN BUDDHIST TECHNIQUES CAN HELP YOU IN YOUR LIFE.

Saturday 11th July, 10 am, Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism, followed by lunch (no cost).

2 pm, The indespensible sources of invaluable assistance for liberation and enlightenment – the 3 jewels and the 3 roots

Sunday 12th July, 10 am, Meditation/ View / Conduct, followed by lunch (no cost)

2pm, The Life Story of Guru Rinpoche – Tales of India’s greatest tantric yogi, renowned as the “2nd Buddha”, who completed the teachings of Shakyumuni Buddha and bought the Vajrayana Dharma to Tibet.

Friday 17th July, Dakini (Female Sky Goer) Day – Tsok Practice including explanation into the meaning of Dakini

We appreciated you confirming what events of above you will be joining in on, it helps with preparations. All the above is suitable for new comers.

About Lama Ngawang:

Ngawang Phuntsok  was born in Golok a remote region in Eastern Tibet.  When he was a small child he gave up eating meat after having witnessed an animal being killed for its flesh.  He also had a remarkable love of giving to those less fortunate than himself.  Thus he was known for his compassion.
When he was 10 years old his parents agreed to allow him to become a monk.   When he entered the monastic order at Denang Monastery, which was his family’s home monastery,  he immeadiately began practising the Longchen Nyingthig Ngondro (preliminary practices) under the guidance of his first teacher Tulku Kadag Rinpoche. He remained at Denang Gonpa for 2 years in which time he completed the Ngondro and gained mastery of Tibetan Buddhist text reading and writing.
Khenpo Munsel Rinpoche

Khenpo Munsel Rinpoche

His uncle, who was the senior master at Denang Gonpa, decided to take him to the Shedra or philosophy school at Talang Gonpa where he studied the traditional philosophy curriculum for the next 6 years including receiving the entire  Rinchen Terdzod together with many other empowerments from the head of the Kathok Lineage, HH Moktsa Rinpoche.  During this time Ngawang Phuntsok availed himself of  every opportunity to go to see Khenpo Munsel, the peerless Dzogchen master, the Great Wish Fulfilling Jewel, one of the two foremost students of the Great Khenpo NgakChung, in order to receive  teachings and instruction on Dzogchen, which were more precious to him, than life itself.  He received the rarely bestowed  Nyingthig Yabzhi from the incomparable  Khenchen Jigme Phuntsok whilst he was still at Talang Shedra, shortly thereafter he decided to leave the monastery.

From a very young age he had wanted to pursue a life of meditation but because his family was very poor he did not have the means to do this.  So when he was 18 years old he decided to run away to the mountains where his family would not be able to find him and he therefore would not be a burden on them.  With his cousin Kalzang Geleg who was similarly minded, he walked to Lhasa. From there they went to Guru Rinpoche and Khandro Yeshe Tsogyal’s meditation cave at Yarlung Sherdrak where they meditated for 6 months.  After this they travelled on foot to Mt Kailash where they did meditation retreat at various holy caves including that of Milarepa for the next 3 years. Even though they were close to death at times  due to the bitter cold and hunger verging on starvation, their resolve to follow the examples set by the great meditation masters of the past was such, that they never contemplated breaking their retreat.

His teacher - Chadral Sangye Dorje

His teacher - Chadral Sangye Dorje

After they finished their 3 year retreat they escaped to Nepal, walking for 29 days over the Himalayas.  Ngawang Phuntsok had a deep longing to do 3 year retreat under the direction of  the supreme Dzogchen master Chadral Sangye Dorje Rinpoche , who, together with Khenpo Munsel had been named by Khenpo Ngakchung himself, as his two foremost students.  Chadral Sangye Dorje accepted Ngawang Phuntsok as his student and agreed to put him into 3 year retreat.  He did his retreat at Yangleshod, a Guru Rinpoche Holy place in Parping, Nepal.  He successfully accomplished his retreat and was awarded the title Dorje Lopon together with the special hat signifying his status.  This title is only bestowed on a select few of  those who complete retreat under Chadral Rinpoche.  Before coming to Australia, he spent a further 10 years near Chadral Rinpoche many of those years were spent in solitary meditation.

Ngawang Phuntsok follows faithfully in the footsteps of his great masters, adhering to their advice and to their methods, not being swayed by worldly considerations to give teachings and empowerments to those who have not prepared their minds in the time honoured way to receive them.
The above is an abridged version of his biography.