Kathok Rigzin Chenpo Rinpoche
Chusang Rinpoche grew up with HH Rigzin Chenmo of Dorje Drak. Chusang Rinpoche regarded HH as the Buddha himself and had very strong faith in him. Wherever he went, Chusang Rinpoche would bring HH’s photo and place it in the mandala or shrine. This was a very old photo. Rinpoche would place HH’s photo there and make prostrations to it.
Chusang Rinpoche said that the Dharma had truly entered HH Rigzin Chenmo’s mind through his practice. The mind had merged with the Dharma and so HH's mind was gentle, pliant, and serene. Chusang Rinpoche praised HH as a master who has equalized the Eight Worldly Winds (or concerns).
How was HH unmoved by the Eight Worldly Winds? HH was born into a very large family in Tibet — an aristocratic lineage, one of the eight great noble families of Tibet and he was the eldest son. He had a very prestigious family background and yet when he entered the monastery many people felt that he did not seem aristocratic at all because from childhood he never possessed any pride or arrogance.
All his life until the time of his passing, HH constantly abided in a meditative state. Masters who are completely free from the stain of pride are extremely rare. HH was like that from childhood and has never changed. He did not get changed because of his noble birth, or because of his power or status, or because his monastery was one of the most important in the Nyingma lineage.
He remained continuously in the state of equality amid the Eight Worldly Dharmas— this is something ordinary people cannot achieve.
Many people who encountered him praised him in this way. Those who met him found that in his presence their own pride would naturally dissolve; after spending some time with him, many people’s altruistic mind will naturally arise, and they will dedicate themselves entirely to benefiting sentient beings.
HH never sought anything for himself, his monastery or his lineage. This was one of his greatest quality. He always placed himself and those associated with him last. In all matters he was fair and impartial, always considering entirely for others. He was a person who had a vast mind to benefit others and possessed vast Bodhicitta.
During the difficult period (of Chinese cultural revolution), HH swept the Barkhor Street. He personally cleaned every toilet. At that time, a highly respected Tulku from Tibet was working together with him. The space beneath the toilets was probably very small (note: these are toilet pits filled with faeces and urine as toilets in Tibet had no modern sewage disposal system), and each time the two of them would compete to go in to clear it first.
HH would say, “My body is bigger and my arms are longer, so it’s more convenient for me to go.” The other would reply, “I’m shorter, so it’s easier for me to get in — you shouldn’t move.” The two of them did the work joyfully. Even while cleaning toilets, they felt no suffering or dejection. They regarded cleaning toilets and sweeping the streets as acts of benefiting sentient beings and did not feel any sense of suffering or distress at all.
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| HH Rigzin Chenmo was a lay practitioner |
