Heart Teachings by Lama Tharchin Rinpoche

The core teachings are edited into a 1-2 hour-long monthly video, recorded on high quality tape, and packaged for addition to our Dharma libraries.

Through Rinpoche's kindness and generosity, we now have a monthly opportunity to make an auspicious connection with Rinpoche's retreat, to support his ongoing wisdom activity through our sponsorship, and to build a library of very special Dharma teachings. Please don't miss this auspicious and important opportunity.

Beginning in June, Rinpoche will give detailed teachings on the practice of Vajrakilaya, specifically from the new treasures of His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoché's Dorjé Phurba Putri Rekphung. This is a root yidam practice for our sangha and one we do regularly at Pema Ösel Ling. Lama Tharchin Rinpoche said: "Vajrakilaya practice is extremely powerful in removing outer, inner, and secret obstacles on the Dharma path. Vajrakilaya is one of the main yidam practices in the Nyingma lineage and is the root of spiritual accomplishments (siddhis), swiftly bringing both ordinary and extraordinary accomplishments."

This series is being released to subscribers now . You can subscribe and obtain all that have been released thus far, or wait until the series completes to purchase this set of teachings.

Below are the current list of past series all of which are still available, though some not on DVD:

Series 21: Riwo Sang Chod (Mountain Smoke Offering) by Lhatsun Namkha Jigme, teachings by Lama Tharchin Rinpoche.

The current video series is a detailed teaching on the Riwo Sang Chöd (Mountain Smoke Offering) that Rinpoche taught last year at Pema Ösel Ling (see Rinpoche's description below). There is a beautiful translation of the text, including a commentary on the text and the Windhorse Smoke Offering, by Heidi Nevin available through Dharma Treasures Bookstore. The series started in November and we expect there to be 6 months of teachings plus a video with Rinpoché doing the practice itself. We also will have an audio CD of the practice available separately.

"The Riwo Sang Chöd is a treasure revealed by Lhatsun Namkha Jigmé when he opened the hidden country of Sikkim. This smoke offering comes from the viewpoint of Dzogchen, the Great Perfection. It is really the best practice to remove obstacles and fulfill both temporary and long-term wishes. The smoke offering is made to all wisdom beings, to the Three Jewels, the Three Roots and Dharma Protectors, and the Three Kayas. Offering to the wisdom beings helps us to accumulate merit and wisdom. This brings short-term happiness and ultimate enlightenment. We also offer to all demonic beings who are actually manifestations of our karmic debt. These karmic debtors cause obstacles of all kinds, both temporary in this life and also long-term obstacles to enlightenment. Through this offering, karmic debtors are repaid, removing all of these obstacles. This is really the best technique. In particular, His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoché did this practice all the time and recommended it to all of his students. In my life I have had such success with this practice and recommend it to all my spiritual friends and vajra brothers and sisters." - Lama Tharchin Rinpoché

Series 20: Calling the Lama from Afar (Nying U Dai Pay) by His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche

9 Teachings, 18 discs total (the 10th teaching is the recitation of the Dudjom Tersar Ngondro with practical explanations. The 10th teaching can also be purchased standalone.

Additional Prayers Handout

Lama Tharchin Rinpoché recites the following as part of his Ngöndro practice on Series 19 Teaching 10. “Calling the Lama from Afar” is available as a downloadable pdf. The Ngöndro is available in Three Roots Daily Practice, Bero Jeydren Publications, Vajrayana Foundation, and other sources. The rest of the prayers are available as a downloadable pdf, “Heart Teachings Series 19 Additional Practices.” Please contact Dharma Treasures Bookstore (info@dharmatreasures.com) to purchase texts.

Series 18: Maha Guru, Yeshé Tsogyal’s Prayer to Guru Rinpoché as He Left Tibet

As Guru Rinpoché was leaving Tibet for the cannibal island of Ngayab Ling, Yeshé Tsogyal recited this prayer to him. Her last direct prayer is profound and full of the blessings of her longing. Although ultimately Guru Rinpoché and Yeshé Tsogyal have no separation, on a relative historical level, these were her last words uttered with very intense and powerful intention and aspiration.

The prayer was revealed as a dharma treasure by the tertön Pema Lingpa in fifth century Tibet. All Nyingma practitioners and followers of Guru Rinpoché and Yeshé Tsogyal recite this prayer. His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoché recited this prayer at the end of each sadhana session. Prayer is a very important part of our practice. We are trying to accomplish enlightenment in this lifetime. But if we don’t completely reach the result based on our own ability, making prayers of aspiration forms a connection to continue our goal after this lifetime, in the bardo, and throughout future lifetimes – it has that great power. Prayer connects us with the blessings of the deity. Through the accumulation of merit and wisdom by making prayers of aspiration, sooner or later our goals reach fruition.

The prayer is available in the Vajrayana Foundation Additional Prayers, available through Dharma Treasures Bookstore (info@dharmatreasures.com or 831.761.6274).

Two DVDs, Cost: $66

On May 22nd, 2008, fire broke out on the Summit above Pema Osel Ling, Vajrayana Foundation’s retreat center in the Santa Cruz mountains. It rapidly spread and covered areas surrounding Pema Osel Ling and Sang Ngak Chokhor Ling, the drubdra retreat land. The mountainside above the retreat area as well as the slopes behind the office, bookstore, and cabins down nearly to the stupa were significantly scorched. We suffered some damage to structures, but most were not affected. The shrine and stupa were completely safe.

Lama Tharchin Rinpoche gave this teaching at Pema Osel Ling and Sang Ngak Chokhor Ling shortly after the fire. Rinpoche walks around the land to show us the effects of the fire and the amazing protection in all the areas that were saved. He spoke about the lessons we can take from this fire, such as how to use catastrophic events in our practice, as well as deep appreciation for the blessings of Guru Rinpoche and the Three Jewels who provided a canopy of protection, like a Vajra Tent. Rinpoche also expresses deep gratitude to the fire fighters who devoted their lives to saving our precious land, as well as to the lamas and sangha members who worked bravely and tirelessly in such difficult conditions during the fire. He’s so happy this land that was dedicated to benefit all beings was able to provide a sanctuary for the fire fighters and a large source of water to fight the Summit Fire.

Rinpoche has offered this teaching to the monthly subscribers of Friends of Lama Tharchin Rinpoche as the June 2008 video. He’d also like to make it available to everyone, with half of the proceeds going to benefit the Vajrayana Foundation for clean up and rebuilding of the retreat land.

Series 16: Concise Tsok Offering, Ying Kyi Bhendhar, Teaching 1 (January 2008)

This short but incredibly profound tsok offering verse arose as a treasure from the enlightened mind of His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoché, beginning with the terma’s symbolic proof of dakini script. As he says in the colophon to the treasure,

This was written by myself, the one known as Jigdral Yeshé Dorjé, from a deluded vision I had when I was 33 years old, in the 1st month, the 17th day of the Fire Rat Year. After the evening that the Dzogchen practitioner, Trulshik Dorjé, did hundreds of tsok fulfillments of the dakini for my health, in the early morning, I had a dream and heard a woman reciting these words clearly, and when I awoke, I remembered them. Later that day, there was an auspicious sign that I had recovered from my sickness.

This tsok offering is unlike any regular tantrayana tsok. It belongs to the highest Clear Light vehicle, which is related to the result, fully awakened buddhahood. The vehicle of Clear Light brings this result to the path in order to make it manifest. Through practicing this tsok offering, we can purify our habit of believing in material phenomena as real. Those of the greatest capacity already know that all phenomena are the display of awareness (rigpa). For those who believe in the reality of apparent phenomena, this practice can purify this delusion into the dharmakaya, pure, stainless great emptiness. Through this practice, we can go beyond our ordinary dualistic mind to inconceivable wisdom mind where all phenomena naturally appear as the three kayas. This practice is more powerful than any done through mental creation’s effort. Because this practice is related to Clear Light wisdom, effortless, beyond mind, one moment of recognition of awareness is equal to doing one eon of practice with mental creation and effort.

Source: “Concise Tsok Offering (Ying Kyi Bhendhar)” by Kyabjé Dudjom Rinpoche, Dudjom Sung Bum, Volume MA (no.16), page 107. Bero Jeydren Publications, Vajrayana Foundation, 2002/07.

Download Text

Dharma protectors (dharmapalas) include both wisdom beings as well as those on the path of dharma. Their job is to protect practitioners from obstacles and to aid us on the path in order to bring about good experience and realization. While we practice making offerings to the dharma protectors, our main offering is keeping pure samaya. We request that the protectors outwardly remove all external obstacles, inwardly purify the five afflictive emotions into the five wisdoms, and secretly remove obstacles to receiving the ordinary and extraordinary spiritual accomplishments in order to attain fully enlightened buddhahood for the benefit of all beings. Lama Tharchin Rinpoche will teach on several of the main dharmapala practices commonly done in the Dudjom Tersar tradition.

Teaching 1: Damchen Chyi-tor (released May 2007)
Source: “The Coalesced Essence of the Daily Torma Offering to the Three Roots and the Oath-Bound Ones (Concise Damchen Chyi-tor)”; Dudjom Sung Bum Volume Ma (16), p.109-115

Teaching 2: Concise Offerings to Lhachen, Shenpa, Ekajati, Rahula and Dorje Lekpa (released June 2007)
Source: “Concise Supplications to Lhachen and Nöjin Shenmar”; Dudjom Sung Bum Volume Tsa (17), p.431.5-431.6 and “A Concise Prayer-Offering to Ekajati, Rahula and Dorje Lekpa”; Dudjom Sung Bum Volume Tsa (17), p.428.6-430.1

Teaching 3: Phurba Protectors (released July 2007)
Source: “A Concise Prayer Offering to the Vajrakilaya Guardians (Phur-Sung Sol-Chö Gyun Khyer)”; Dudjom Sung Bum Volume Ba (15), p.531

Teaching 4: Drekpa Dé Gyay (released August 2007)
Source: “Offering Prayer to the Eight Classes of Drekpa (Drekpa Dé Gyay)”; Dudjom Sung Bum Volume Ba (15), p.221-222

Teaching 5: Lion-Faced Dakini (release September 2007)
Source: Seng Dong T’hal-Deb (Lion-Faced Dakini Daily Practice with Hand Clapping); Dudjom Sung Bum Volume Tsha (18), p.304.5-305.4

Teaching 6: Ekajati (release October 2007)
Source: "Essential Torma Offering to the Mamo, Protectress of Mantra, Ekajati" from the Dudjom Sung Bum, Volume Ma (16), p.117-119

Teaching 7: Ekajati, part 2 (release November 2007)

Teaching 8: Dharma Protectors recited by Lama Tharchin Rinpoche (release December 2007)

Series 15 can be purchased when completed in December. If you wish to subscribe now and obtain all shipped DVDs from the current release, please give us a call. (831) 480-5943

The texts from this series (except for Ekajati*) are available in "Dharma Protectors Daily Practices" from HH Dudjom Rinpoche, Bero Jeydren Publications, Vajrayana Foundation. Corralitos, CA: August 2007. They can also be found in the long dharmapalas text "Dharma Protectors" by Bero Jeydren Publications. *Ekajati can be found in the Yeshe Tsogyal Khandro T'huk-T'hik Sadhana & Tsok published by Bero Jeydren Publications, as well as through Lama Yeshe Wangmo at jnanasukha.org.

A Nay Dren is a ceremony to help people who have died and are wandering in the bardo. It involves using symbols, seed syllables, name plaques and so on, that serve as supports to draw in the dead person’s consciousness that is wandering in samsara. The ceremony includes sections giving dharma teachings, empowerment, making offerings, showing the path, and finally transferring their consciousness into the pure land. This extremely profound Nay Dren in particular is connected with T’hröma Nagmo, the heart essence of Dudjom Lingpa’s treasure cycles. It comes from Dudjom Lingpa’s treasure “Chö Nyid Nam Khai Long Dzöd (The Treasury of the Vast Expanse of the Space of Dharmata)”.

Teachings I & II are based on the extensive practice text from Dudjom Lingpa’s T’hröma Volume p.375-392: “chos nyid nam mkha’i klong mdzod las / tshe ‘das rjes ‘dzin gnas lung khrus lung bzhugs so” (“From the Treasury of the Vast Expanse of the Space of Dharmata, A Ritual of Purification to Care for Those Who Have Passed Away, Guiding Them to a Pure Land”). This text has not yet been translated.

This is an image of the 6-petalled lotus that’s used in the Nay Dren (Death Ceremony). It’s called a “Nay Dren Pema Dab Druk” or “6-Petalled Lotus for Nay Dren Ceremony”). The artist is Kumar Lama. We have 10x10 laminated image for $20 (it can be used again and again).

The Tsen-Jyang is used in death ceremonies, such as the T’hroma Nay Dren (from Series 14) to symbolize the person who has died. It is burned aiding them in liberation and protection from the suffering of samsara.

T’hröma Nagmo Fire & Water Offerings – Mé-Chöd, Nol-Sang, Drib-Sang, Sur-Chöd, and Concise & Extensive Chu-Jin

This series of teachings comes from Dudjom Lingpa’s treasure teachings “Chö Nyid Nam Khai Long Dzöd (The Treasury of the Vast Expanse of the Sky of Dharmata)”, T’hröma Nagmo cycle. Teaching 1 has the Mé-Chöd, which is a short version of the jin-sek fire offering, involving visualization of the mandala of wisdom deities. The four activities (peaceful, expanding, magnetizing, and wrathful) can be performed according to your needs and desires – they are all contained within this concise and easy to perform offering.

Teaching 2 includes the Nol-Sang, which purifies defilements or pollution of our energy caused by various impure circumstances. It also includes the Drib-Sang to clear away impurities related to our environment, as well as the Sur-Chöd. It is an offering to the four guests (the guests of reverence – the Triple Gems; the guests of noble qualities – the protectors; the guests of compassion – the six types of beings; and the guests to whom we owe karmic debt – the obstructers) , in particular a food offering for those who have died and are wandering in the bardo.

Teaching 3 has the concise and extensive water offerings (chu jin) from the T’hröma cycle. Like the Sur-Chöd, it is an offering to the 4 guests and a special offering to the wealth deity Black Dzambhala in order to remove suffering of poverty and gain the blessings of wealth. The concise version has been translated and is very easy to perform.

Teaching 4: In addition to teaching from the texts, Lama Tharchin Rinpoche performs several of the ceremonies so we can learn the melodies and actually see each step of how they are set up and performed.

In the future, Rinpoche also hopes to teach on the longer versions of jin-sek and sang offerings, and many others contained within this T’hröma Nagmo cycle.

Text for Fire Offerings: “Spontaneously Accomplished Enlightened Activity: Fire Offering of the Dakini T’hröma Nagmo” by Dudjom Lingpa (Bero Jeydren Publications, 2000)

Texts for Water Offerings: T’hroma Cycle: Extensive p.465-472 (“chos nyid nam mkha’i klong mdzod las: chu sbyin bdud rtsi kun khyab bzhugs so”) – not translated; & Concise p.473-474 (“chos nyid nam mkha’i klong mdzod las: chu sbyin bdud rtsi’i gter mdzod bzhugs so”/ “From the Expansive Treasure of the Space of the Nature of Phenomena: The Treasure Trove of Nectar Water Offering”)

Green Tara, teachings by Lama Tharchin Rinpoche on Dudjom Lingpa's Prayer that confers protection from all fear

"After his death, Dudjom Lingpa appeared to his son Ter-say Dorje Dradul in a vision and gave him this Green Tara practice. It is extremely profound and powerful, yet very easy to practice and accumulate. It offers protection from all of our fear and suffering, whether immediate or long-term. Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche always did this practice and very often gave it to his monastery and drubdra as well as to many other students. So I thought it would be very special for us to do."
Lama Tharchin Rinpoche

Text: The Eightfold Profound Essence: a concise ritual of the Tara Mandala from "The Treasury of the Sky-Expanse of Reality" by Dudjom Lingpa (Bero Jeydren Publications, March 2006; translated by Ngawang Zangpo). This text accompanies the DVD or you can download the prayer

Series 11, which started in Dec. is on T'hrö-Chung (Short T'hröma Sadhana & Tsok)

Pema Karpo (White Lotus): A Commentary on the Seven Line Prayer by Jamgön Mipham Rinpoche
13-14 hours, $216

T’hröma Nakmo practice contains the complete path of Dzogchen (the pinnacle of Buddhist teachings). One of T’hröma’s practices is the Feasts of Chöd.

Chöd, developed by the Tibetan Dakini Machig Labdrön, cuts through unwanted circumstances, afflictive emotions, and dualistic clinging. This practice was revealed directly to Dudjom Lingpa in a vision from Machig Labdrön herself.

Chöd removes obstacles, both short-term in this life and those hindering our ultimate enlightenment. It carries incredible healing powers and accumulates merit and wisdom in a vast and potent way. Merely making a connection to the practice will bring great short- and long-term benefit.

Lama Tharchin Rinpoche teaches from “A Commentary on the Stages of Visualization for the Four Feasts of the Profound Practice of Chöd, called ‘An Ornament of the Great Mother’s Wisdom’” by His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche. Lama Tharchin Rinpoche trained in the practices of T’hröma Nakmo directly with His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche, the incarnation of Dudjom Lingpa.

A 2 DVD set with Lama Tharchin Rinpoche singing the Four Feasts and the Short Feast of T’hröma Nakmo is also available from Friends of Lama Tharchin Rinpoche. It is a compliment to Series 9 and is not part of the subscription.

$25 for set

Future series will include teachings on the T’hröma Ngöndro, the Short and Medium-Length T’hröma Sadhana & Tsok, the T’hröma Nol-Sang (a burnt offering that purifies any kind of negative energy), T’hröma Sang-Chöd (smoke offering), many other branches of the T’hröma cycle related to healing, and others, as well as recordings of Rinpoche singing the practices.

Series 8: Dream Yoga: A commentary on Karma Lingpa's 'Self Liberation in the Dream State'
4 DVDs, $132

Series 7: A Heartfelt Longing Melody of Faith: A Prayer to the Dakini Yeshe Tsogyal by Lama Tharchin Rinpoche (2 Teachings) (2004)

Lama Tharchin Rinpoche provides commentary to a prayer he wrote to the Wisdom Dakini Yeshe Tsogyal. The prayer is related to the gradual path of Khandro T’huk-T’hik, the mind treasure of His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche. It is based on the preliminary practices and the four yogas of the main practice that comprise the complete path of Vajrayana: the Common Yoga of Form (Mahayoga); the Profound Yoga of Mantra and the Special Yoga of Great Exaltation (Anuyoga); and the Ultimate Yoga of Wisdom (Atiyoga, Great Perfection). Through this prayer, we develop the aspiration and auspicious connections to recognize our own true nature and attain enlightenment in this lifetime or in the bardo, the intermediate state after death.

Series 6
Khandro T'huk-T'hik: Sadhana and Ritual

This series will explain the Sadhana word for word, give instruction for set up of shrine, music, chopon activities, and other ritual matters. He will perform the entire Sadhana on tape. In this way he will ensure that any practitioner who wishes to do this practice will have total instruction on every facet. Even if one never intends to do in-depth practice, there is a wealth of knowledge which is incidental in his explanations of the ritual that will deepen one's understanding of what is happening on so many different levels during the Sadhana. ( Every wonder what a Torma really signifies? You'll get the answers to this and many more of your question in this series.)

Series 5
The Wish-Fulfilling Source of Attainments:
A Commentary on the Two Stages of “The Profound Path of the Dakini’s Heart Essence”
By His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche
Rinpoche has requested that anyone who wishes these should obtain all of the videos as it is a complete teaching. There are five discs that make up this series.
5 DVDs, $165
Sale: $110
More Info

**For those subscribers who bought this on VHS beofre it was available on DVD, it is available to you at our cost of $50. PLease contact us at by phone or fax a (831) 480-5943.

Series 4
Ri Chod
His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche's Mountain Retreat 6 Tapes,
12 Hrs, $192

Series 3
Jewel Ship
A commentary on Longchenpa's text
Translation available as You Are the Eyes of the World.
12 videos $384

Series 2
Ornament of the Wisdom Mind of Kuntuzangpo
This was the second series of Heart Theachings sent to subscribers from march 2001 to September 2001. 12 Hours of teachings on 6 video tapes. $192.00 including tax and shipping.

Series 1
Calling the Lama From Afar (Ngo Wo Do Nay)
This was the first series of Heart Theachings sent to subscribers from October 2000 to March 2001. 7 Hours of teachings on 6 video tapes. $192.00 including tax and shipping.

This prayer (Ngo Wo Dö Nay) arose spontaneously as a song of realization from His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoché’s wisdom mind. It contains the complete path of Dzogchen Great Perfection. Garab Dorjé took the four categories of view, meditation, action and result and elaborated them into the 6,400,000 Great Perfection teachings. His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoché explains the essence of these four categories in this single prayer.

This Calling the Lama from Afar is actually the most profound of Great Perfection teachings. It explains the innermost secret lama related with the view free from any elaboration, like the sky; meditation, unmovable and stable, like a mountain; and action, profound and vast, like the ocean. It is related with the practice of Guru Yoga and guides us to integrate the outer, inner, secret, and innermost secret practices of the lama. Through directly recognizing our own original, undefiled nature free from delusion, the innermost secret lama is revealed.

The direct lineage has been transmitted to us through Dudjom father and son, His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoché and Thinley Norbu Rinpoché. The blessings of the lineage are still warm and directly penetrate our minds. This kind of teaching is particularly effective and suitable for these degenerate times. It is so profound and powerful, yet easy to do. A teaching such as this is vast and profound as the ocean, but my knowledge is just one little drop. Still the unbroken lineage is pure, and my intention is to offer you as much as I can.

The Three Words that Strike the Vital Essence: The Final Words of Garab Dorje.

This is the teaching given at the Thanksgiving Reatreat 2003. Ngawang Zangpo translating.

10 DVDs, $240
[ Note: This set may take up tp 6 weeks for delivery as it is a special order ]

Pema Karpo (White Lotus): A Commentary on the Seven Line Prayer by Jamgön Mipham Rinpoche
13-14 hours, $216

The Video Series

The Video Series