photograph of the Ordained Sangha, Baarlo, Netherlands (January 2000)

Ordained Sangha

Baarlo, Netherlands (January 2000)

This photograph of the ordained sangha, the gö kar chang-lo’i dé of the Confederate Sanghas of Aro, was taken on the occasion of the 2000 International Aro gTér Retreat. This was the third large international retreat and was attended by almost all the members of the three existing Aro sanghas, comprising of students of: Ngak’chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen, Ngala Rig’dzin Dorje, and Ngala ’ö-Dzin and Ngala Nor’dzin. On this wonderful occasion twelve of Ngak’chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen’s apprentices (gétrugs – ge’phrug) became Vajrayana disciples, and two took vajra commitment. Also three of Ngala Rig’dzin Dorje’s apprentices took ordination into the gö kar chang-lo’i dé with Ngala Rig’dzin Dorje as their Tsawa’i Lama.

Ngak’chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen wrote:
This was an extremely moving occasion for us – because Ngala Rig’dzin Dorje is our disciple and the fact that he now has disciples of his own, makes us ngak’phang grandparents. We are immensely proud of Ngala Rig’dzin Dorje ( sNgags bLa Rig ’dzin rDo rJe) and were delighted to witness the sincere devotion his apprentices feel for him. It was wonderful also to have the presence of Ngala ’ö-Dzin and Ngala Nor’dzin and the lively intelligent members of their young sangha.

This ngak’phang ordination retreat was a wonderful experience for us in so many ways – we now have 25 ordained members of our gö kar chang lo’i sangha, and of those several have now begun to study within the Aro gTér teacher training programme. Since His Holiness Düd’jom Rinpoche, in 1976, encouraged us to establish the gö kar chang-lo’i dé in the West – we have worked toward this end, and now feel that we are finally beginning to fulfil the marvellous scope of His Holiness Düd’jom Rinpoche’s kind suggestion.

On this occasion, the Confederate Sanghas of Aro celebrated the culmination of various momentous efforts. Two large appliqué thangkas were brought from Austria for the event, one of Yeshé Tsogyel and one of Padmakara in the form of Guru Nang-srid Zilngön. These appliqué thangkas were made by the sangha of Ngala Rig’dzin Dorje on a series of intensive Vajrayana craft retreats, and are a wonderful example of the energy of the Aro gTér tradition in the West. Apprentices attended the retreat from the USA, Britain, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Holland, Spain, Sweden, and Finland – and many people made new friends – and were excited and inspired by all the different skills and insights they witnessed. Ngala Rig’dzin Dorje gave teachings, and likewise Ngala ’ö-Dzin and Ngala Nor’dzin – which made the event a remarkable confluence of perspectives and styles – all of which were valued.

Ngak’chang Rinpoche said:
I was delighted by the apparent lack of hierarchic distinction with regard to our apprentices’ appreciation of the teachings given by Ngala Rig’dzin Dorje and Ngala ’ö-Dzin and Ngala Nor’dzin. Although the apprentices of Ngala Rig’dzin Dorje and Ngala ’ö-Dzin and Ngala Nor’dzin know that their Lamas are our disciples – they are obviously so well served by them that no hint of desire seems to exist for them to be other than where they are. This makes Khandro Déchen and I jubilant – because if the Aro gTér is to survive, this is the very spirit which will make that possible.

Of Ngak’chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen’s apprentices – Bartje Van Veldhoven became Naljorpa Bar-ché Khyungtsal Ying-rig Dorje (Overwhelming blazing energy of the garuda – the indestructible nature of rigpa); Jon Cain became Ngakpa Seng-gé Ngawang Ngödrüp Dorje (Thunderbolt Lion with the siddhi of the empowered word) Helen Fielding became Ngakma A’dzom Lé-kyi Khalding Pamo (Heroine eagle whose activity is imbued with the rich qualities of the primordial A); Leslie Kramer became Ngakma A’dzin Pema ’ö-Zér Khandro (Lotus light-rays sky-dancer who possesses the nature of the primordial A); Linda Lafki became Naljorma Mé’gyür Déwang Lhundrüp Pamo (Heroine of the powerful bliss of spontaneously moving fire); Lisa Grant became Ngakma Kündröl Nyi-da Tashi Pema (All-liberating auspicious lotus of the sun and moon); Namgyal Dorje became Ngakpa Namgyal Rangdröl Ga-tak Dorje (Indestructible joyful tiger – the self-liberated king of the sky); Ögyen Dorje became Naljorpa Ögyen Draktsal Rigpa’i Dorje (Thunderbolt of awareness from Uddiyana – consummate radiance of realised wrath); Ögyen Khandro became Naljorma Sel-zér Ögyen Yeshé Pamo (Rays of clarity from Uddiyana – heroine of primordial wisdom); Shé-zér Khandro became Ngakma Shé-zér Dzü’drül Ga’-drüp Khandro (Joy-empowered sky dancer of knowledge-rays and magical appearances); Virge became Naljorpa Rangdröl Rigpa’i Long-tsal Dorje (Self-liberated awareness – self-radiance of the vast expanse of reality); Zoot became Ngakma Sang-gyé Dé’dzin A-tsal Pema (Lotus of complete open wakefulness who is the radiance of the primordial A). Norman D’Souza took vajra commitment as Sky Tiger, Namtak Chö-ying Gyamtso Dorje (Indestructible sky tiger of the ocean of space); and Greg Robbins took vajra commitment as Ga’wang Ga’gyür Tséwang Dorje (Lord of the dance who moves with joy – the life empowering thunderbolt).

Of Ngala Rig’dzin Dorje’s apprentices – Renate Gallei became Naljorma Dzü’drül Dé-tsal Rolpa’i Pamo (Heroine of magical display, radiance of bliss, and the playful energy of the primordial state / Heldin der magischen Darstellung, strahlende Glueckseligkeit und spielerische Energie des urspruenglichen Zustandes); Lukas Gallei became Ngakpa Trögyal Traktung Wangdrak Dorje (Indestructible wrath-empowered blood-drinking king of rage / Unzerstoerbarer Zornermaechtigter Bluttrinkender Koenig der Raserei); and Eveline Josten became Naljorma Künzang Pema Nyi-tsal Khandro (Entirely unconstrained lotus sky dancer – radiance of the sun / Vollkommen ungehinderte Lotus-Himmelstaenzerin – Strahlende Sonne).