Empowerments given by Lama Tharchin Rinpoche

Note: This is an incomplete list of empowerments given in the US and a work in progress. Rinpoche’s early schedule is barely represented and he may have given empowerments for some of the summer retreats not yet listed. This does not include empowerments Rinpoche gave privately in Drubdra. If you have information about additional empowerments or more information about those listed, please email Libby at info@heartteachings.com. Thank you. This list has been updated March 5, 2025.

1985_12_26: Red Tara empowerment; Santa Cruz, CA; followed by retreat

1987_07_06: Guru Rinpoche empowerment (s/b Tsokyey Thuk-Thik, connected w/ recorded teachings the following day, in which he gave the rlung); likely Santa Cruz

1990_03_03: Tsedrup Empowerment and practice (r/t Amitayus & Amitabha) (3/3-4); Issaquah, WA (Val Hoover’s; coordinated by Susie Iverson)

1990_03_09: Amitabha Empowerment; Spokane, WA (Lama Inge)

1990_03_17: Medicine Buddha (probably Orgyen Menla) empowerment; location UK

1990_03_??: Dorje Phurba Putri Rekphung wang & rlung; at Orgyen Dorje Den (San Francisco, CA)

1990_05_26: Shitro empowerment, Aptos, CA

1990_06_01-29: Summer Retreat, 2^nd Annual (Mt Baldy, CA): LTR gave Tsokyey Tuk-Tik with Wk 3 & Khandro Tuk-Tik with Wk 4; don’t know if he gave Vajrakilaya Wk 1 but possibly not

1990_12_01: Guru Rinpoche Empowerment (must be TTT; w/ rlung & teaching retreat) (Seattle, WA)

1991_01_07: Guru Rinpoche Empowerment (Tsokyey Tuk-Tik) & retreat (Kauai, Hawaii)

1991_01_27: Vajrakilaya Putri Rekphung (San Francisco; ODD)

1991_02_22: Orgyen Khandro Norlha (Berkeley; Dudjom International, Juan’s)

1991_03_04: Orgyen Khandro Norlha (location UK)

1991_04_12: Terkha Dun Dü empowerment (Los Angeles; followed by teachings)

1991_06_??: likely LTR gave VK (Putri Rekphung) wang for Summer Retreat, 3^rd annual)

1991_09_13: Medicine Buddha (Seattle, WA; followed by teachings; unclear if this was Medicine Buddha or Orgyen Menla – the text LTR gave is not necessarily Orgyen Menla)

1991_11_14: “Guru Rinpoche empowerment” – Berkeley, CA – this was on a schedule but I’m not sure it happened; with Bhaka Tulku

1992_02_02: Khandro Thuk-Thik empowerment & retreat (Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii)

1992_03_18: Shitro empowerment (POL)

1992_03_20: Khandro Thuk-Thik (Los Angeles)

1992_04_13: Dorje Drolo (lay-jyang, not Sok Drub) (POL)

1992_06_00: Dorje Phurba Putri Rekphung empowerment (POL) (s/b sometime around 6/12/1992)

1992_06_00: Terkha Dun Du (POL, Summer Retreat) – it was the first Drupchen & we did a week of practice before the Drupchen & it’s likely that LTR gave the empowerment at the beginning of it but need to confirm)

1992_10_16: Rikpa Cher Tong Rang Drol (Self-Liberation through Seeing with Naked Awareness) (POL) – rlung given at beginning of retreat

1992_10_22: Black Dzambhala Wealth Empowerment (Los Angeles)

1992_10_26: Khandro Thuk-Thik Empowerment (Los Angeles)

1992_10_31: Collection of Seven Treasures Guru Rinpoche empowerment (s/b Terkha Dun Du) (Seattle, WA)

1992_11_02: Khandro Thuk Thik empowerment (Seattle, WA)

1992_11_04: Guru Rinpoche Long Life empowerment (Tsokyey Tuk-Tik) (Seattle, WA)

1992_11_07: Terkha Dun Du (probably) Guru Rinpoche Empowerment (Seattle, WA)

1992_12_09: Shitro empowerment (POL)

1993_01_24: Vajrakilaya Putri Rekphung (Paaulio, HI) (very likely empowerment was given at the beginning of this retreat – confirm w/ LYW)

1993_04_05: Khandro Thuk-Thik empowerment; rlung given 04_06 (with POL Spring Retreat)

1993_04_30: Orgyen Menla Medicine Buddha empowerment (Santa Cruz)

1993_06_14: Dorje Phurba Putri Rekphung empowerment & rlung (POL Summer Retreat)

1993_09_03: Orgyen Menla and Khandro Norlha empowerments (Los Angeles)

1993_10_04: Khandro Tuk-Tik empowerment (at beginning of KTT Phowa Retreat) (POL)

1993_11_07: Orgyen Menla Medicine Buddha empowerment (Oakland, CA – Kathy Morrow’s)

1993_11_??: Tsokyey Tuk-Tik empowerment (at beginning of TTT Retreat) (Seattle, WA; Nov 16-21)

1994_02_21: Tsokyey Tuk-Tik empowerments: Orgyen Menla, Khandro Norlha, Lake-Born Vajra (VF Hawaii; Paleaku Gardens, Big Island, Hawaii; beginning of a retreat)

1994_03_12: Tsokyey Tuk-Tik empowerment (at beginning of Guru Yoga Retreat) (Los Angeles, CA)

1994_05_??: rlung for Concise Saraswati (Lama Sherab Rinpoche) (POL)

1994_06_03: Dorje Phurba Putri Rekphung empowerment (at beginning of Summer Retreat 1994) (POL)

1994_06_20: Troma Nagmo empowerment (retreat 06/20-26, likely at the beginning; Summer Retreat 1994) (POL) (samaya is to do a 1, 2, or 3 week retreat in 3 years, per Susie I’s notes)

1994_07_22-08_05: Lausanne, Switzerland empowerments

1994_08_31: Vajrakilaya Namchak Putri Wang, ODCD, Big Island, Hawaii (per Susie I’s notes; it would be surprising b/c I don’t think LTR gave Namchak Putri this early except to the first Drubdra but maybe he did)

1994_09_??: Los Angeles, CA – likely gave empowerments but I don’t have records

1994_11_09: Seng Dongma empowerment (Portland, OR)

1995_01_06: Red Tara Empowerment (Paleaku Gardens, Honaunau; Big Island, Hawaii) (confirmed by Pure Land 1994 Nov newsletter)

1995_01_07: Vajrakilaya empowerment (Hawaii – this likely happened but needs to be confirmed)

1995_02_11: Yeshe Tsogyal Khandro Tuk-Tik empowerment (w/ retreat) (Little Rock, AR) (I’m not sure LTR gave the wang; he did give the rlung during the first session and possibly a short Tor-Wang rather than the full KTT empowerment)

1995_02_??: Red Tara empowerment (Denver, CO) (trip was 2/16-21)

1995_03_10: Khandro Tuk-Tik empowerment (w/ retreat, The Dakini Principle) (Los Angeles, CA)

1995_03_14: Kurukulle empowerment & rlung (w/ above retreat) (Los Angeles, CA) (no samaya given - confirmed)

1995_03_16: Seng Dongma empowerment & rlung (w/ above retreat) (Los Angeles, CA)

1995 Summer Retreat: unlikely any empowerments were given b/c that’s when we had to cancel DTNR wangs & very likely LTR would not have given any himself under those circumstances

1995_09_01: Dzambhala empowerment (w/ Lama David Liu) (Monterey Park, CA)

1995_09_18: Tsokyey Tuk-Tik longevity empowerment (Open Secret, San Rafael, CA)

1995_10_06: Vajrakilaya Dorje Phurba Pudri Rekphung (Spokane; Lama Lakshey Zangpo?)

1996_01_00: Troma Nagmo Wangchen + Protectors (not Rahula w/ hair samaya) (per Susie I’s notes; need to confirm; Iocation?)

1996_02_05: Red Tara empowerment (w/ teachings) (Naropa, Boulder, CO)

1996_03_15: Dorje Drolo (possibly given at Hawaii ODCD retreat but not confirmed)

1996_03_29: Shitro empowerment (POL)

1996_04_19: Guru Rinpoche empowerment (Los Angeles, CA) (not sure which one would have been done but it was before a teaching retreat on the Terkha Dun Du, Collection of Seven Treasures Daily Practice; likely on 04/19; LTR refers to having given the empowerment last night; gives rlung for Sadhana and Daily Practice on 04/20)

1996_05_17: Lake-Born Vajra empowerment (Little Rock, AR); rlung 5/18 or 5/19

1996 Summer Retreat: DTNR gave Nang Jang; unlikely LTR gave any empowerments during the retreat

1996_11_16: Kurukulle Wang & rlung (ODCD, Big Island, Hawaii; given near the end of the Nying Nor (Heart Jewel) Retreat which was 11/13-17; reference to Saturday, which would be 11/16; samaya: 400,000 Kurukulle Mantra or 1 week retreat)

1996_12_09: Tsokyey Tuk-Tik Tse-Wang (Long Life) (San Rafael, CA, Open Secret Bookstore)

1997_01_31: Vajrakilaya Putri Rekphung empowerment (POL; at Gutor Retreat)

1997_02_16: Dorje Drolo, Tsokyey Tuk-Tik, Khandro Tuk-Tik empowerments (were these in drubdra?)

1997_03_28: Shitro empowerment (POL; part of Death & Dying Spring Retreat)

1997_05_02: Dorje Phurba Putri Rekphung (Los Angeles, CA; Lama David Liu) (empowerment before weekend teaching retreat; gave rlung on 05/03)

1997_05_16: Nying Nor rlung (SF Dharmadhatu w/ teaching; also gave on 05/17)

1997_06_16: Khandro Tuk-Tik empowerment (POL) (beginning of YT KTT Retreat for Summer Retreat; rlung on 06/17)

1997_06_29: Green Tara empowerment (Dudjom Lingpa) w/ rlung for Eight-Fold Profound Essence (POL) (Summer Retreat; part of YT KTT Retreat, Dakini Day)

1997_05_12: Khandro Thuk-Thik with Long Life Empowerment (Tse-Wang) (Open Secret)

1997_06_16: Khandro Thuk-Thik (POL, Summer Retreat) (06/17: rlung)

1997_08_06: Khandro Tuk-Tik (Orgyen Dechen Cho Dzong, Big Island, Hawaii; part of KTT Phowa Retreat w/ VF Hawaii & LYW)

1997_09_06: LTR gave rlung for Karma Lingpa’s Self-Liberation through Seeing with Naked Awareness during 3-day retreat

1997_11_28: Dorje Drolo Pemay Sok Drub wang and rlung (POL)

1997_12_08: Guru Rinpoche Long Life Empowerment (likely Tsokyey Tuk-Tik Tse-Wang) (Open Secret)

1998_05_30: Vajrakilaya Putri Rekphung empowerment; rlung given (likely on 05_31 but not confirmed) (POL; Summer Retreat)

1999_02_04: Lake-Born Vajra empowerment (likely on 02_04 but retreat went through 02_07) (Hawaii; Big Island, ODCD)

1999_03_26: Shitro (POL; beginning of Spring Retreat w/ death & dying)

1999_05_01: Manjushri empowerment (it may have been on Friday, 04/30) (Los Angeles, CA) (Lama David Liu)

1999_06_?: Orgyen Menla (Five Branches, Santa Cruz)

1999_06_10: Troma Nagmo (POL)

2000_01_30: Troma Nagmo (Orgyen Dechen Cho Dzong, Hawaii; final day of retreat, Dakini Day; rlung given on 1/26)

2000_05_05: Dzambhala, Orgyen Dorje Den (Alameda, CA)

2000_06_11: Vajrakilaya Dorje Phurba Putri Rekphung (POL Summer Retreat)

2000_07_25: Zhitro (POL??)

2000_08_09: Troma Nagmo (which level?) (given to a small group at Regina’s house)

2001_01_05: Dorje Drolo (lay-jyang?) (POL)

2001_03: Shitro (POL) (need to confirm)

2001_04_07: Zhitro (POL) (need to confirm)

2001_06_01 or 02: Vajrasattva (POL Summer Retreat)

2001_09_11: Tsokyey Thuk Thik plus begin Rushen teachings (POL)

2001_10_06: Shitro empowerment (Los Angeles, CA)

2002_04_05: Vajrakilaya Putri Rekphung empowerment for Jnanasukha (ODD, Hawaii; not sure if this happened but Lama Wangmo usually requested a wang at the beginning of a mahayoga retreat so it’s possible; need to confirm)

2002_04_14: Seng Dongma (KTT) for Jnanasukha (Maui, Hawaii)

2003_03_03: Losar Day with Lake-Born Vajra wang (note from video on Losar morning when Yeshe Nyima says the wang will be given; was this LTR or Loppon Jigme??)

2003_05_03: Orgyen Menla (TTT) (Orgyen Dorje Den)

2003_06_03: Terkha Dun Du (POL)

2003_07_03: Troma Nagmo (POL)

2004_01_17: Kurukulle (KTT) (POL) (Samaya: accumulate four bum of mantra within 3 years); LTR gave higher commitment when he taught on this practice on Feb 8, 2004 at POL; Drubpon Freddie suggests that may have been 12 bum)

2004_12_26-27 (or 29-30): Phurba Namchak Putri Wang-chen (POL) (12/26 is Full Moon Day; but 12/31 started Namchak Putri Trekchod Retreat); LTR gives the rlung in drubdra & at POL (during 2005 Gutor Losar Retreat, very likely 2/06/2005)

2005_03_19: Khandro Thuk-Thik with Tse-Drub (POL for Jnanasukha)

2005_07_01: Red Saraswati (Yangchen Marmo) (POL) (Samaya: accumulate 10 Bum of mantra)

2006_01_21: Orgyen Menla (TTT) (POL?)

2006_05_13-14: Phurba Namchak Putri Wang-chen (POL)

2006_07_09: Troma Nagmo (which version?) (POL)

2008_07_04: Terkha Dun Du Guru Rinpoche Empowerment at Drubchen (POL) (very likely given on the 1^st day of Drubchen)

2008_07_13: Lhadrub Tigle Gyachen Longchenpa Guru Yoga Empowerment (given in drubdra to a larger group)

2009_04_04: Guru Rinpoche Blessing Empowerment (for Jnanasukha, Maui)

2009_06_09: Troma Nagmo (POL, Summer Retreat)

2009_06_23: Collection of Seven Treasures (POL, Drupchen; likely 1^st day, the 23^rd)

2009_11_21: Khandro Tuk-Tik empowerment (Austin, TX; Jnanasukha retreat)

2009_11_27: Amitabha (POL)

2010_11_10: LTR gave Kurukulle (KTT) empowerment (for Jnanasukha retreat in Portland, Oregon)

2011_11_12: Troma Nagmo empowerment (Spokane, WA; Lama Lakshey Zangpo requested for Tsinta Mani Choling)

2012_06_09: Troma Nagmo Tsa-Wang (POL)

2012_07_13: Red Saraswati (given in Drubdra to a larger group; he must have given the rlung for Lama Sherab Rinpoche’s daily practice & the concise daily practice, which is the practice he handed out to participants)

2012_07_28: Tsokyey Tuk-Tik Lake-Born Vajra (Saraha Nyingma Buddhist Institute, Eugene, Oregon)

2012_08_12: Troma Nagmo (likely Tsa-wang) (for Jnanasukha retreat in Los Angeles)

2012_11_03: Khandro Norlha wang & Sampa Lhundrupma rlung (Orgyen Dorje Den)

2013_03_31: Dorsem Lama Chopa (POL)

Lama Tharchin Rinpoche Heritage Foundation 2025