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KHENCHEN PALDEN SHERAB RINPOCHE
BIOGRAPHY
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Venerable Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche is a renowned scholar and meditation master of Nyingma, the Ancient School of Tibetan Buddhism. He was born on May 10, 1942 in the Dhoshul region of Kham, eastern Tibet, near the sacred mountain Jowo Zegyal. On the morning of his birth a small snow fell with the flakes in the shape of lotus petals. Among his ancestors were many great scholars, practitioners, and treasure revealers.
His family was semi-nomadic, living in the village during the winter and moving with the herds to high mountain pastures where they lived in yak hair tents during the summers. The monastery for the Dhoshul region is called Gochen and his father's family had the hereditary responsibility for administration of the business affairs of the monastery. His grandfather had been both administrator and chantmaster in charge of the ritual ceremonies.
He started his education at the age of four at Gochen Monastery, which was founded by Tsasum Lingpa. At the age of twelve he entered Riwoche Monastery and completed his studies just before the Chinese invasion of Tibet reached that area. His root teacher was the illustrious Khenpo Tenzin Dragpa (Katog Khenpo Akshu).
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In 1960, Rinpoche and his family were forced into exile, escaping to India. Eventually in 1967 he was appointed head of the Nyingma department of the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies in Sarnath by His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche, the Supreme Head of the Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism. He held this position for seventeen years, as an abbot, dedicating all his time and energy to ensuring the survival and spread of the Buddhist teachings.
Rinpoche moved to the United States in 1984 to work closely with H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche. In 1985, Venerable Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche and his brother Venerable Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche founded the Dharma Samudra Publishing Company. In 1988, they founded the Padmasambhava Buddhist Center, which has centers throughout the United States, as well as in Puerto Rico, Russia, and India. The primary center is Padma Samye Ling, located in Delaware County, New York. Padmasambhava Buddhist Center also includes a traditional Tibetan Buddhist monastery and nunnery at the holy site of Deer Park in Sarnath and the Miracle Stupa at Padma Samye Jetavan in Jetavan Grove, Shravasti, India.
In 1960, Rinpoche and his family were forced into exile, escaping to India. Eventually in 1967 he was appointed head of the Nyingma department of the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies in Sarnath by His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche, the Supreme Head of the Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism. He held this position for seventeen years, as an abbot, dedicating all his time and energy to ensuring the survival and spread of the Buddhist teachings.
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Rinpoche has traveled extensively within the United States and throughout the world, giving teachings and empowerments at numerous retreats and seminars, in addition to establishing meditation centers.
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Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche passed into parinirvana peacefully at his dharma center, in the company of sangha, on June 19, 2010. His kindness and wisdom will be missed.
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His volumes of collected works in Tibetan include:
Opening the Eyes of Wisdom, a commentary on Sangye Yeshe's Lamp of the Eye of Contemplation
Waves of the Ocean of Devotion, a biography-praise to Nubchen Sangye Yeshe, and Vajra Rosary, biographies of his main incarnations
The Mirror of Mindfulness, an explanation of the six bardos
Advice from the Ancestral Vidyadhara, a commentary on Padmasambhava's Stages of the Path, Heap of Jewels
Blazing Clouds of Wisdom and Compassion, a commentary on the hundred-syllable mantra of Vajrasattva
The Ornament of Vairochana's Intention, a commentary on the Heart Sutra
Opening the Door of Blessings, a biography of Machig Labdron
Lotus Necklace of Devotion, a biography of Khenchen Tenzin Dragpa
The Essence of Diamond Clear Light, an outline and structural analysis of The Aspiration Prayer of Samantabhadra
The Lamp of Blazing Sun and Moon, a commentary on Mipham's Wisdom Sword
The Ornament of Stars at Dawn, an outline and structural analysis of Vasubandhu's Twenty Verses
Pleasure Lake of Nagarjuna's Intention, general summary of Madhyamaka
Supreme Clear Mirror, an introduction to Buddhist logic
White Lotus, an explanation of prayers to Guru Rinpoche
Smiling Red Lotus, short commentary on the prayer to Yeshe Tsogyal
Clouds of Blessings; an explanation of prayers to Terchen Tsasum Lingpa; and other learned works, poems, prayers, and sadhanas
The Smile of Sun and Moon: A Commentary on the Praise to the Twenty-One Taras
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Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche and Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche founded Padmasambhava Buddhist Center, based at Padma Samye Ling, in 1988. Padmasambhava Buddhist Center has centers, including retreat centers and monastic institutions, throughout the United States, as well as in Puerto Rico, Russia, and India. The primary center is Padma Samye Ling, located in Delaware County, New York. Padmasambhava Buddhist Center also includes a traditional Tibetan Buddhist monastery and nunnery at the holy site of Deer Park in Sarnath and the Miracle Stupa at Padma Samye Jetavan in Jetavan Grove, Shravasti, India.
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The two scholarly brothers (also known as the Khenpo Rinpoches) made their first trip to America in 1980, and in 1982 moved to New York to work closely with His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche. In 1985, the Khenpos founded Dharma Samudra, a non-profit publishing organization which began by publishing a Tibetan edition of 11 volumes of the hidden treasure teachings revealed by the great terton Tsasum Lingpa in the 17th century.
Together they have authored a number of works on Tibetan language, poetry, grammar, Buddhist philosophy and practice, logic and tantra, and historical perspectives. Many of their books dealing with Tibetan Buddhism are available in English.
They maintain active travel and teaching schedules that include annual visits to their centers where they give talks, teachings, and individual meditation instruction to their devoted sangha (community) of students. Their dynamic teachings, skillful insights, vibrant personalities and humorous wit make the simplest to the most complex teachings of Buddhism applicable to every aspect of our busy Western lives.
The Rinpoches are fully versed in the Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana Schools, and are considered masters of Dzogchen, the most advanced tradition of meditation practice in Tibetan Buddhism. The Khenpo Rinpoches hold the transmissions of the Nyingma Kama, and Terma Lineages of Tibetan Buddhism, and have received many honors, appointments, and recognition from His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and other Tibetan spiritual leaders.
BOOKS & RECORDINGS
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