When Tulku Lobsang presented the work of Nangten Menlang International to His Holiness the Dalai Lama in December 2013, the Dalai Lama asked Tulku Lobsang to introduce Lu Jong to the Tibetan communities in exile. The Ministry of Health of the CTA, the central Tibetan administration (Tibetan government in exile), then organised a tour to this effect. Here is the press article extracted from the Emptinez Magazine to tell us about this exceptional event.
"In September 2014, Tulku Lobsang Rinpoche received a rare and extraordinary request from the Health Department of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA): to bring the precious teachings of Lu Jong to the Tibetan community in India ... to bring them back to their roots...
Honoured by the request, Rinpoche gave an incredible 23 teachings in 8 days. He taught all over India, from Delhi to Dharamsala and from Mundgod to Bylakuppe.
What most of us may not realise is how important these teachings were. In many ways it was nothing short of a revolution. Historically, in Tibetan Buddhism, these Tantrayana teachings were secret. They were not taught openly, especially not to lay people. However, Rinpoche dedicated his life to researching, collecting and preserving these valuable teachings in order to improve the health and well-being of all. Because of his dedication and extremely hard work, the benefits of these practices have spread throughout the world. Until now, however, they had not been taught publicly to Tibetans.
This unprecedented invitation from CTA was prompted by a private audience Tulku Lobsang Rinpoche had with His Holiness the Dalai Lama in December 2013. Rinpoche presented to His Holiness all the work he has done over the past 15 years, and explained the teachings he offers to Westerners (see article An auspicious Audience). Satisfied with Rinpoche's presentation, His Holiness stressed that these practices should be taught openly in Tibetan schools and communities.
So when the Health Department of the Central Tibetan Administration called, Rinpoche graciously accepted their invitation and launched into his most historic teachings.
Rinpoche has taught Lu Jong (the movements of the Five Elements) to thousands of young students and teachers from 11 different Tibetan TCV schools. Teaching in Tibetan, the students were immediately drawn to Rinpoche's charismatic presence. Their laughter filled the air as they learned to exhale through one nostril with the Nine Breaths exercise. The fun continued as they tried to master the Drongmo Sur Dung movement without losing their balance. But when Rinpoche demonstrated his skillful means with the Tog Chöd sword and his breathtaking jumps from the Tsa Lung, the students sat in awe. At that moment they realised that they were witnessing a very great teacher. He inspired them to move their bodies, to improve their health and, just as importantly, to recognise the power and preciousness of their Tibetan heritage.
He inspired them
to recognize
the power and preciousness
of their Tibetan heritage.
Preserve these practices and use them to enhance your Dharma study.
During these eight days, Rinpoche also instructed hundreds of monks and nuns in the most important Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and nunneries in India. In the nunneries of Shugseb, Jamyang Choeling and Dolma Ling, the nuns listened attentively and with deep respect. They took detailed notes and quickly learned the movements. Rinpoche spoke openly with them about how, because of their strong devotion, they have the best opportunity to preserve these practices and use them to enhance their Dharma studies.
In South India, Rinpoche had the honour of teaching his signature Lu Jong practice to his friends and peers at Gaden Shartse Monastery where he had completed his monastic studies in 1992. Looking out over the courtyard full of monks practising the movements of the five elements, Rinpoche noted the irony that years earlier many of them had laughed as he performed these "strange exercises" between studies. The teaching was full of good humour and practical insight that inspired the monks to consider the importance of replicating these Tantrayana movements in their daily practices.
Rinpoche also had the privilege of teaching at Drepung Loseling Monastery. Many of the monks involved in the teaching already had good exercise routines, but they were particularly grateful to learn that Tantrayana Buddhism had its own valuable movement practices designed to help them optimise their physical and mental health.
To complete his audience, Rinpoche gave several teachings to thousands of lay people in community centres and sacred temples such as the Norbulinka Institute and Tsuglagkhang, the Dalai Lama's temple in Dharamsala. The audience was filled with people of all ages, from toddlers to grandmothers, all of whom listened with reverence and amazement to this Tantrayana master who - for the first time in history - shared with them ancient secrets that would improve their bodies and minds.
At Tsuglagkhang, Rinpoche gave two teachings of Tsa Lung and Lu Jong. His Tog Chod demonstrations really inspired the crowd. Here Rinpoche encouraged the Tibetan audience to regain their health and Tibetan heritage.
To ensure that everyone could continue to practice long after the teachings were over, Rinpoche also distributed 10,000 videos and posters of Lu Jong and Gang Gyok.
The teachings were so successful that Radio Free Asia interviewed Rinpoche for its Tibetan news channel. The interview introduced Tulku Lobsang Rinpoche and his revolutionary teachings to the entire Tibetan community in India and throughout Tibet.
He also received a rare invitation to teach at the Men-Tse Khang School - the Tibetan Medical College. With an audience of medical students and teachers, Rinpoche was able to further explain how Lu Jong and Tsa Lung work to improve the subtle body and overall health.
Perhaps the most moving moment of the tour came when Rinpoche taught at Gyuto Monastery in Dharamsala. Gyuto is the largest Tibetan Tantrayana Buddhist college in India (and Tibet) where only the highest Geshes of Tibetan Buddhism are allowed to study. Rinpoche spoke at length about the history and purpose of Lu Jong and Tsa Lung practices in Tantrayana Buddhism. He explained how he had modernised these traditional practices to benefit all sentient beings, but that their greatest importance belonged there to Tantrayana practitioners, where they can be restored and reintroduced as part of the standard teachings.
And as these great practitioners bent in unison for their first Nangmo Chu Tung, these precious treasures of the Tantrayana movement had clearly gone home.
Version française de l'article Emptinez : Tulku Lobsang returns home
Version anglaise de l'article Emptinez : Tulku Lobsang returns home
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