Unprecedentedly, the His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche was invited, as a Tibetan Buddhism Vajramaster, to deliver a speech and award prizes to students at the renowned M. G. N. school in the Sikh region of Punjab province in north India on October 29, 2006.
It takes about 3 to 4 hours from Punjab to Pakistan. The M. G. N. public school is a Sikh charitable foundation as a long-term sponsor for an education system composed of primary school, junior high school, university and kinds of colleges. It is very renowned in northern India. The school annually invites elite or a contributor of virtue and prestige, such as a Nobelist, to address and award prizes for the teachers, students and their parents at the anniversary celebration as an encouragement for the honors students. It was the Prime Minister of India invited to make a speech in 2004 and 2005, and the His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche, the Vajra master of the Glorious Jewel Buddhist Centerin of the Drikung Kagyu in Tibetan Buddhism, in 2006.
As usual propagating journey, Rinpoche always made a hurried journey without stop. He would rather be exhausted than let the beings wait more time. After a 7-hour fatiguing journey from Delhi, Rinpoche was informed at the last moment that there would be a press conference. He only took a short break before joining the conference. Without any advanced preparation, Rinpoche gave an impromptu speech in beautiful and noble British English in a magnanimous manner, and answered various sharp questions raised by the journalists, regarding religion, education, drugs, AIDS, beauty contest, politics, and so on. With utmost compassion and wisdom of Buddhadharma, Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche inspired and convinced all the journalists and dignitaries on the scene. All the attendees gave their highest praise to Rinpoche. Overwhelmed with joy, one participating journalist recited a poem and praised that Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche is the most precious gift to them from heaven. Moreover, some journalists continuously asked Rinpoche questions after the conference. On the next day, 6 local media reported this news in Hindi, Punjabi, Arabic and domestic languages in a highlighted title “Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche directs our youths and students with Buddhism”.
A parade was hold as the unveiling ceremony at the anniversary celebration of school. Led by honor guards, the governor of Punjab invited Rinpoche to inspect ceremonial escorts. Rinpoche composedly returned the salute on the reviewing stand. Such a courteous treatment is totally the same as the standards of greeting the prime minister of India. The vice-chairman of the foundation indicated that Rinpoche was even more welcome than India prime minister.
After the performance of the students, Rinpoche awarded prizes to the honor students and classes one by one, as representative of the school authority. They also took pictures with Rinpoche. The evening was climaxed by Rinpoche’s speech. He enlightened the attendees of Buddhism, such as the Ten Virtuous, in elegant British English. Thousands of audiences were all attention, without moving out or making any noises but listened in respectful silence, which let us witness again Rinpoche’s awe-inspiring power beyond different languages, races, politics and cultures showing the incredible light and heat in front of all the people. After the speech was finished, Rinpoche blessed everyone on the scene by holding mantra, wishing them health and bright future.
As everyone knows, Sikhism in India persuades people to do good but has little contact with the other religion associations. This time, Rinpoche could propagate Buddhism in the Sikh region and get such high standard greetings and appreciation, which showed that the awe-inspiring compassion of Rinpoche has already spread through the world, just as Yunga Rinpoche said “Each sentient being of the six realms will be liberated as long as they hear the mani mantra recited by Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche one time.”
When Rinpoche was back there after the speech, His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche especially hurried Delhi from his dwelling place at DehraDun to meet Rinpoche in person. His Holiness gave Rinpoche a visit and instructed him in practices. Besides, His Holiness anxiously advised the disciples of the Glorious Jewel Buddhist Center that “(Every disciple) shall offer Rinpoche, protect Rinpoche, and serve Rinpoche with hygienic food”. His Holiness also hoped that Rinpoche would get 2 days off every week, and could have a half day off after having half day of receiving believers. The solicitude and care from His Holiness to Rinpoche were fully expressed. His Holiness as well prophesied that “Every puja Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche wants to hold will be perfected; everything he wants to do will be achieved.”
Rinpoche is a rare Siddha (adept) in the world nowadays. Many believers make light of traveling a long distance to inquire for Rinpoche. Wherever in India, Tibet, Qinghai, Japan, Holland, and many other parts of the world, we can see the believers lining both sides of the street for welcoming Rinpoche. For some believers, only touching the corner of Rinpoche’s clothes makes them joyful and satisfied. The same case applies in this journey of speech in India. Someone took airplane from Mumbai to Northern India and someone would not leave for Europe unless having met with Rinpoche. A mother brought her child who suffered from Down syndrome and waited all night merely to request for Rinpoche’s blessing. Rinpoche would not say no to seekers of help. No matter how busy or tired he is, he has not the heart to refuse the request by suffering sentient beings. Rinpoche usually says” There is no other way since too many sentient beings need help.” What Rinpoche thinks about all the time is to benefit sentient beings; therefore, no matter how far the distance is or how exhausted he is, Rinpoche works on it day and night, at the age of 60, with his thin body with S-shaped Scoliosis, but he completely disregards his own life. Every time when Rinpoche stays at a place, such as in a hotel or at a banquet, there is a never- ending flow of believers, gathering in 10 minutes, waiting and requesting for Rinpoche’s blessing and enlightening. Not giving up on sentient beings, Rinpoche will not take a rest until he completes blessing all the believers. Even at midnight, before leaving to the airport, he still blesses all the believers to fulfill their wishes to the last minute.
Updated on November 20, 2006