Conclusion

Over many centuries, Tibet has produced innumerable extraordinary Buddhist saints and scholars, but it is rare for a Lama’s teachings to become classics within his own lifetime, such as the works of Pabongka Rinpoche.

Without Rinpoche holding all the important lineages of Sutra and Tantra and passing them on to most of the important Gelug lamas of the next two generations, many students may not even have the benefit of learning the Dharma that we have today. In particular, the central text used in many of the largest Buddhist organizations in the world today, Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand,was authored by Pabongka Rinpoche. This is the culmination of the Lamrim tradition in Tibet, which can be traced all the way back to Tsongkhapa , Atisha and all the many illustrious great scholars and masters throughout history within the lineage’s Guru Tree.

As with all great masters, most of their disciples would maintain that nothing is as significant to them – not their fame, riches or authority. Only their Guru remains supreme in their hearts and minds. This is exactly what Ribur Rinpoche proclaimed: “The only thing that matters to me is that I was a disciple of Pabongka Rinpoche.

In a way we are all disciples of Pabongka Rinpoche, because all our Gurus or our Gurus’ Guru in the Gelugpa Lineage were all taught by Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche. He was truly the Guru of Gurus – the Grand Master.

What other great Lamas say about Pabongka Rinpoche

“This great Lama was like the sun of Dharma, illuminating the hidden meaning of both Sutra and Secret Mantra (Tantra). He passed the Mahamudra lineage to his heart Son, Yongdzin Trijang Dorjechang.” ~ Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

“Our childish minds were unfit vessels for so vast an ocean of teachings, so precious a source of qualities. How sad if these teachings were forgotten.” ~ Pabongka’s foremost disciple, Trijang Rinpoche, praising his teacher highly in Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand

“Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche and Kyabje Ling Rinpoche were tutors to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. They taught His Holiness everything from basic teachings to advanced levels. Kyabje Pabongka passed all of his lineages to Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang. He often said this in discourses. The purpose of this detailed exposition is to affirm the power of the lineage. If we lose faith in the lineage, we are lost.” ~ Kyabje Zong Rinpoche

“Likewise, Lama Trijang Dorje Chang, Junior Tutor to His Holiness the present Dalai Lama, folds his hands upon the crown of his head whenever he mentions Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche. He was such a great Lama, unsurpassed by any, that hardly any Lamas or Geshes of the Three Pillars (the monasteries of Ganden, Sera and Drepung) had not been his disciples.” ~ In Geshe Ngawang Dhargyey’s commentary to the Wheel of Sharp Weapons

“Another thing is that some Tibetans and others severely criticize Pabongka Dechen Nyingpo because he practiced Shugden, making him out to be some kind of demon. However, Pabongka Dechen Nyingpo wrote incredible teachings on Sutra and Tantra; on Heruka, Tara Cittamani and many other topics. All these amazing teachings were written purely from his experience. So it’s impossible that he can really be some kind of evil being, as some extremists accuse him of being. There’s no way he could have done the negative things they say he did.” ~ Lama Zopa

Ribur Rinpoche, for example, was held and tortured during the Cultural Revolution for two decades and famously said “If I told you what happened on a regular basis, you would find it hard to believe.” By all accounts he emerged from his trials with a heart full of love and forgiveness and, when asked how, he replied that it was due to the blessings and teachings of his root Lama Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche.

“To my mind he was the most important Tibetan lama of all. Everybody knows how great his four main disciples were (these include Trijang Dorje Chang and Ling Rinpoche, the two tutors of the Dalai Lama) - well, he was their teacher. He spent a great deal of time thinking about the practical meaning of the teachings and coming to an inner realization of them, and he had practiced and accomplished everything he had learned, right up to the completion stage. He didn’t just spout words, he tried things out for himself. Also, he never got angry; any anger had been completely pacified by his Bodhichitta.” ~ Ribur Rinpoche

According to Kyabje Zong Rinpoche, a highly regarded Lharampa Geshe, Je Pabongka was considered an emanation of the Highest Yoga Tantra Deity, Heruka Chakrasamvara. He explains how 32 reincarnate Lamas, including his own teacher Dagpo Dorje Chang, attended his Lamrim teachings in Lhasa:

“Dagpo Dorje Chang could hear statues of Avalokiteshvara and Tara speak, and saw visions of multi-armed Yidams (Deities). Once Kyabje Pabongka invoked the wisdom beings of Heruka’s mandala to enter into a statue of Heruka Chakrasamvara. Heruka then offered nectar to Kyabje Pabongka, and prophesied that seven generations of his disciples would be protected by the body mandala of Heruka. Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang is cared for by Heruka Chakrasamvara, as are his disciples.” ~ Kyabje Zong Rinpoche

“Once, in the cave-under-water, he experienced a manifestation of Yamantaka for nine days, while he himself was essentially Heruka Chakrasamvara. Further, he experienced a manifestation of Vajrayogini who told him of the benefits to be derived from merging the Vajrayogini teachings of the Sakya and Gelug traditions into one meditational practice. When he once made a great (Tsog) offering beside a Heruka statue in Lhasa, the wisdom body actually entered into the statue. The statue danced and told him that whoever received Heruka initiation from him up to the seventh generator would be taken to the dakini realms.” ~ Geshe Ngawang Dhargyey, in his commentary to Wheel of Sharp Weapons

“Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche Dechen Nyingpo and his classmate, Gyelrong Sharpa Choje – known as Jangsem Choje Lobsang Nyima – went together very often to debate when they were at their monastery. Indeed, both of them became Geshes. Later Jangsem Choje Lobsang Nyima entered Gyu Me Tantric College and became a great scholar. He proceeded to become gi-go, an administrator, as I did, then Lama Umze, then Abbot, and finally almost reached the position of Ganden Tripa.

Pabongka Rinpoche Kyabje Dechen Nyingpo’s life proceeded in another direction such that he was later to become a very famous teacher of Sutra and Tantra, especially of the Lamrim (Stages of the Path to Enlightenment) tradition. Whenever he taught, many people came from miles and miles around to attend his teachings. Everybody said he was an unbelievable expert on all subjects.

Later, when Lobsang Nyima had learned that Kyabje Dechen Nyingpo was going to be in nearby Chusang Ritro, his curiosity piqued from having heard so much relating to Kyabje Pabongka’s fame coming from all quarters, he decided to visit him and so he brought along a pot of excellent yogurt as a gift for Rinpoche. During that visit, they met for a long time discussing many points on numerous topics. Since Kyabje Pabongka had answered every one of his questions so thoroughly, Lobsang Nyima couldn’t argue with him at all on any of the points.

Upon his return, when others asked about the visit he remarked: “When we were on the debate ground at Sera Mey, Kyabje Dechen Nyingpo wasn’t an expert at debate by any means. At the time I didn’t think he had learned very much. But now I understand that his way of studying and mine went in different directions. For instance, when we debated, I for my part, would apply reasons and quotations to back up my arguments, all the time focusing on the other debater. But Kyabje Pabongka, for his part, when studying, asking questions, giving answers, reciting quotations, giving reasons, everything, would focus all of these on himself, applying them to his own mind. Therefore, by using such a method, there is no way to argue with him on any of the points since he has mastered them all.” ~ Sermey Jetsun Khen Rinpoche Losang Tharchin, ex-Abbot of Sera Monastery