Jigme Khyentse Rinpoche
In July 1995, together with 14 other friends we joyfully taken/renewing our refuge to the Teacher, Buddha, Dharma and Sangha in Norman, Oklahoma, USA. His trip to Norman was inspired by Bob Rickner who learned under His father, Kangyur Rinpoche (1898-1975) - a Great Master/Teacher of Nyingma Tradition. Bob continues to serve and learn under this humble Rinpoche. Bob gave us a hand-scatch chart narrativing His leaneage springs from 'The Khyentse Rinpoche', Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo (1820-1892) [co-founders of the non-sectarian of Rime movement]. From the simple chart, it depicts the emanation of speech from the Great Master. I learned that after his recognization by the great masters, he learned languages like a special gifted child. This was the first time 'officially' i met a Tibetan Master and that open the door for me learning one of the main school of Vajrayana Traditions. We learned Meditation and have much joy listening to his narrative and creative way of teaching the Dharma. Many inspired by his natural humor and gentleness in communications.
At that time, i do not really understand (though i have read in Chinese Mahayana text) this Great Vehicle's teaching of Bodhisattva vows - compassionately and deliberately take re-birth in human form to fulfill this Great Wish of continuing the past Dharma works to free suffering beings.
In 1995, Rinpoche's second visit to Norman, Oklahoma, we took the Bodhisattva Refuge. Rinpoche put it in simple way - making a connection to the devotion. I was given the name Nying Top Barma, he explained it means 'courage'. Joyfully, i asked is it a quality i need to cultivate? At that time, i took it as it is, without much thoughts of how much 'time' i am able to devote to practice. In retrospection, i felt His unconventional simple way has planted a beutiful seed in my little heart!
After i returned to Malaysia, i spent much time coping with job and work requirements; later taking care of aging parents. Occassionally I will do Three Jewels Buddhist chants (in Pali), also those three pieces of print-out chants used while i was with the Maitrikara Friends and sometimes practice meditation.
In 2002, i had a very serious car accident which a speedy rackless car collided me from behind and made the car i was driving go forward and turned about one-hundred and eighty degrees, miraculously stopped beside a huge hole under a highway construction. My car behind bonet completely smashed, i was uninjured except with a windsplash at my neck. Within a month, the Master visited Malaysia while returning from Australia to France. When I narrated my car was in hospital, he laughed joyfully and said briefly that he also had similar car accident not long ago.... I was surprised to know this 'miraculously survived encounter' took another person's, his assistance, Ingrid, had a similar windsplash at her neck being a front sitter besides the Teacher who was the driver. I then narrated to our physics scientist friend in Oklahoma, then i learned that a great practitioner could compassionately 'absorbed' the nagative karmic energy of someone who has made a connection in someway. My heart is touched with his compassion and gentleness every time i think of those days i met him and with Maitrikara friends. Even though those short period and time of encounter, it has changed my life in many meaningful ways. He is my Spiritual Friend - in my heart and my mind. Thus i recite one of the phrase in a text written by H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche's longevity prayer for Jigme Khyentse Rinpoche: 'May his vajra lifespan and wisdom increase'...
In this visit in Malaysia - We had 'chatting' sessions with Rinpoche in a Friend's residence. Rinpoche had a gift for us - a special text The Mind Training in Eight Verses by Langri Tangpa (Editions Padmakara), given by Rinpoche to Malaysian friends present. Humorously he said to me gently: 'if you have no time, contemplate one verse per day, and the last verse. if you have time, all the seven verses and the last verse.'
Pictures of passion: [1] Jigme Khyentse Rinpoche with Maitrikara Friends in Norman, Oklahoma, 1995. [2] A picture with Jigme Khyentse Rinpoche, Bob Rickner (1st left), Wah YS (1st right)
