Tengyur Rinpoche: What is Enligtenment and why is it possible?

Tengyur Rinpoche who visited our center in November 2019 and gave online teachings during pandemic has kindly agreed to give teachings at Yeshin Norbu in person on June 3-5 2022. Tengyur Rinpoche completed more than 25 years long rigorous study program with the highest degree possible, Geshe Lharampa, in 2021 at Sera Jey Monastic University and one year program on Vajrayana at Gyumed Tantric College in south India.

The weekend teachings will be based on exploring the buddha nature, the seed of basic goodness or greatness, the potential to go beyond our limited views of ourselves and the world around us.

Why do we sometimes have limited views of ourselves, at times going into spirals of guilt, low self-esteem, self-criticism? It is because we don’t recognize this seed for goodness in us, say the teachings.

To strengthen this seed in us, first, we need to study the logical arguments about the possibility for such a seed in us and all sentient beings. Tengyur Rinpoche’s teaching will be based on the scriptural references which argue that all sentient beings possess buddha nature, tathāgatagarbha, and therefore, can achieve enlightenment and become awakened just like the historical Buddha Shakyamuni.

The course will be a mixture of teachings, reflections, and discussions. This course is both for beginners and experienced students.

Saturday & Sunday, June 4-5 10:00-16:00

Tulku Tenzin Gyurmey Rinpoche was born in 1981 in Mon Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, India. His father is from Tawang Zhol village and his mother, who relocated to Tawang before 1959, is originally from Lhasa. He is the sixth oldest among ten siblings, comprising six brothers and four sisters.

In 1990, at the age of nine he formally joined Sera Jey Monastery in Bylakuppe. The following year, when His Holiness the Dalai Lama visited Gyudmed Tantric College, Tenzin Gyurmey Rinpoche was recognized as a reincarnated lama and also subsequently recognized both at Sera Je Monastery, Bylakuppe, and Gaden Namgyal Lhatse Monastery in Tawang.

From 1991 to 1998, he studied at Sera Je Secondary School and completed his Secondary School Certificate course obtaining distinction grades in all his exams. In 1998, on completion of formal schooling, he began his advanced philosophical and dialectical training and studies at Sera Jey Monastery. During his twenty years of monastic education for achieving a Geshe degree, he was able to undertake three-year foundational course on Pramana and also complete the seven-year Paramita (Lit. perfection of wisdom) and four-year Madhyamika (Lit. middle-way philosophy) degree courses at the monastery, three years of Vinaya (Lit. Monastic discipline), one year of Adhidharma (Lit. Studies of Metaphysics in Buddhism). Tengyur Rinpoche has completed his Geshe Lharampa degree in 2021 and one year special course on Vajrayana Buddhism at Gyudmed Tantric College in South India.

He received novice ordination (Dge tshul) from His Eminence Choden Rinpoche at Sera Jey on 15th April, 1994 and received full ordination (Dge slong) from His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 2009. He is also recognized as reincarnation of Drengkhar Khensur Urgen Gonpo, one of the former abbots of Tawang Monastery, by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

In addition to the formal monastic curriculum, Tulku Tenzin Gyurmey made time to study Tibetan and English grammar and literature. He has attended various conferences and discussions on Tibetan grammar and literature as well as on science and Buddhism, and he has written articles on these topics. He considers himself fortunate to have had numerous opportunities to give talks about Buddhism to Indians and foreigners, both within and outside the monastery. Tenzin Gyurmey Rinpoche had the rare opportunity of serving as English interpreter for His Holiness in numerous teachings attended by thousands from all over the world. He looks forward to continuing to share the teachings of the Buddha and explore how ancient Buddhist wisdom can bring maximum benefit in the modern world.