Kyabje Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, a tribute from Tenga Rinpoche of Benchen

Spoken by Tenga Rinpoche

I would like to briefly tell you about the fine qualities of Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche. In the past a great master, who was the emanation of Prince Murub Tsenpo, incarnated as a great terton. His name was Orgyen Chokgyur Lingpa and he was accepted by everyone, without dispute. It is in the family line of this treasure revealer that Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche consciously accepted to incarnate.

When young he studied both the general and esoteric topics of knowledge to perfection. As he grew up, Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche sat at the feet of his sublime father as well as Rigpey Dorje, the 16th Karmapa, and received all the genuine instructions. Later at the retreat center of Tsurphu, known as Pema Khyung Dzong or Dechen Choling, he practiced extensively, and through this practice he realized, in terms of the four visions of the Dzogchen teachings, the view known as 'exhaustion in dharmata.' Based on this realization, Rigpey Dorje, the 16th Karmapa who could see the three times of past, present and future in actuality, as well as directly seeing the death and rebirth of all beings, and who is acclaimed by everyone in the snowy land of Tibet as the authentic and perfect being, then requested Orgyen Chokgyur Lingpa's terma teachings from Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche and so accepted him as his root guru, the lord of the mandala.

Having accepted Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche as his root guru, the Karmapa received the ripening empowerments, the liberating instructions, and the supportive reading transmissions for the profound Dzogchen teachings and the terma teachings of Orgyen Chokgyur Lingpa, in their entirety, correctly and perfectly. It is for this reason that I feel that Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche definitely was both an authentic Dzogchen yogi, who had reached the stage of exhaustion in dharmata, and an extraordinary and great master, fully qualified and perfect.

Moreover in recent years all the lineage-holders of the Karma Kamtsang - Shamar Rinpoche, Situ Rinpoche, Jamgon Rinpoche, Gyaltsab Rinpoche, as well as Dabzang Rinpoche and many others - accepted Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche as their root guru, supplicated him as the lord of the mandala, and received from him the complete terma teachings of Chokgyur Lingpa. From this perspective as well, I feel that he was without a doubt an accomplished Dzogchen master, at the stage of exhaustion in dharmata.

He spent his life in practice and retreat, the later years at the Nagi Gompa hermitage. Here, having reached the end of his practice, accomplished all his activities, and completed his life-span, he displayed the temporary dissolving of his physical presence in order to inspire to practice those of us disciples who cling to permanence and hold on with attachment. Just like other noble beings and bodhisattvas, who never forsake the Buddhadharma and sentient beings, I believe that before long we will again undoubtedly have the excellent fortune to behold the golden countenance of a sublime new tulku who will be enthroned, to enact his eminent deeds of boundlessly turning the profound and vast wheels of the Dharma, his health and life-span as indestructible as a diamond.

Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche bestowed immense kindness upon me, graciously extending his compassion by conferring the empowerments, instructions, and reading transmissions of the Dzogchen Desum, the Three Sections of the Great Perfection. Therefore, I consider him one of my special root gurus, one whose kindness is incomparable.

Due to my poor health these days, I am unable to attend the weekly ceremonies in the presence of the kudung, but still, through guru yoga, supplications, devotion, and the prayer for his swift return, I exert myself in supplicating him during the six periods of day and night.

All of you, his disciples, even though the guru has passed away and you obviously feel saddened by his passing, you shouldn't think that he has totally disappeared. Even though the guru resides in a pure buddhafield, he still continues to see our actions - what we do, say or think - correctly and unmistakenly, both day and night. Moreover, when a new sublime nirmanakaya appears, we will be able to meet with him again, hear his words, and receive teachings. This is our great good fortune. Therefore, all of you, disciples and followers, it is extremely important to practice his guru yoga, supplicate him and chant the prayer for his swift return to the utmost of your ability, while creating as much merit as you can through your thoughts, words, and deeds. Please keep this in your hearts!