Lama Tharchin Rinpoche's 8th Dechö Anniversary

Our precious guide and beloved teacher Lama Tharchin Rinpoche passed into parinirvana on July 22, 2013, Full Moon Day of the sixth lunar month. We honor this eighth anniversary (according to the lunar calendar July 24, 2021) with a teaching by Lama Tharchin Rinpoche on the Concise Vajrasattva Daily Practice (Dorsem Gyun Khyer) by Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche, given at Bodhi House in Olympia, Washington, only a few months before Rinpoche's passing. (Thank you Kunzang and Willis Brown for requesting and hosting the teaching.)

Stream the teaching for free on SoundCloud during July and August. (It is also available as an MP3 audio download for purchase here.)

Download a PDF of the text here.

Following Dungse Thinley Norbu Rinpoche's passing into parinirvana in December 2011, Lama Tharchin Rinpoche taught that the passing of our lama represents the most powerful time to receive their blessings. Rinpoche taught on Vajrasattva practice, in particular on the Dorsem Lama Chopa, citing the unique nature of the practice as his personal gong-dzok (fulfilling the wishes and enlightened intent of one's lama after their passing), a special guru yoga, which facilitates the merging of our mind with our lama's all-pervasive wisdom mind (t'huk yi say). View Lama Tharchin Rinpoche's introduction to the teaching on Vimeo or YouTube.

The anniversary of Lama Tharchin Rinpoche's passing into parinirvana presents us with a special opportunity through practicing to purify our obscurations and connect with Rinpoche's wisdom mind.

At the request of us at Heart Teachings by Lama Tharchin Rinpoche and the Lama Tharchin Rinpoche Heritage Foundation, his longtime students, Sarah Beasley and Jeremi Plazas, recorded the recitation of the concise Vajrasattva Daily Practice on Vimeo in concise format and with additional prayers or on YouTube.

You'll find links to Vajrasattva practice texts below. If you're able, please join us to practice together on Thursday, July 22nd with Jnanasukha Foundation and Saturday, July 24th with Vajrayana Foundation.

July 24: Yeshe Tsogyal Khandro Tuk-Tik Practice with Tulku Jamyang Rinpoche and Lama Sonam Rinpoche at Vajrayana Foundation at 8:30 am Pacific Time.

Lama Sonam Rinpoche explains why the Decho this year will be so extraordinarily special:

“In many ways, we have perfect circumstances this year when we celebrate our most kind teacher Lama Tharchin Rinpoche’s memory with his Decho. It is very important for people to recognize that the circumstances are very rare and perfect according to the Dharma way, worldly way, astrology way, and auspicious way.

The date is Saturday, it is a full moon, and the Decho. The fact that they are all coming together makes this year very special, especially for Nyingmapas. This convergence may not happen again for a long time.

Also, this year we received at Pema Osel Ling the Yeshe Tsogyal statue that Lama Tharchin Rinpoche made! Amazing! Saturday and full moon are perfect for Yeshe Tsogyal practice, which is why this year is unbelievably special, and why we are doing Khandro T’huk T’hik this year for Lama Tharchin Rinpoche’s Decho.

People can have a special connection with Lama Tharchin Rinpoche by participating in the Decho. We are very lucky like that. Lama Tharchin Rinpoche’s aspiration, his gift, these are all coming together. We have to recognize that with the best celebration of Lama Tharchin Rinpoche’s Decho."

(Details and online text available through the Vajrayana Foundation website link above.)

July 22 & 24: 22nd: Vajrasattva Practice with Lama Dechen Yeshe Wangmo at Jnanasukha Foundation at 6:30 pm Pacific Time. 24th: Guru Rinpoche Guru Yoga

Vajrasattva Texts: 

The Chariot of Great Merit (Dorsem Lama Chopa)

The Distilled Essence of the Profound Path, Lama Vajrasattva's Daily Meditation Ritual (Dorsem Drub T'hab) is included in  Vajrasattva Practices for the Time of Death

Concise Vajrasattva Daily Practice (Dorsem Gyun Khyer)

Photos: 1. Lama Tharchin Rinpoche at the cafe below Paro Taktsang, Bhutan, 1999 (by Pema Dechen); 2. Yeshe Tsogyal statue sculpted by Lama Tharchin Rinpoche in Spokane, Washington, now at Pema Osel Ling, Corralitos, California; 3. Tulku Jamyang Rinpoche and Lama Sonam Rinpoche at Lama Tharchin Rinpoche's throne, Pema Osel Ling, July 2021 (by Sonam Famarin); 4. Lama Tharchin Rinpoche with Lama Dechen Yeshe Wangmo, Orgyen Dechen Cho Dzong, Big Island, Hawaii (date and photographer unknown)

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