Last autumn Ngak’chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen, accompanied by a group of students, made their annual pilgrimage to Nepal and on this occasion Bhutan, as well.
During their visit the pilgrimage party visited the master wood carver Ngakpa Tséring in Paro, where he is engaged in a very special commission for the Shrine Hall at Drala Jong: an over-life-sized statue of Kyabjé Düd’jom Rinpoche Jig’drèl Yeshé Dorje.
The head of the sculpture was made at Pema Osel Ling Retreat Center in California by the artists who made the head of the statue of Kyabjé Düd’jom Rinpoche at Chador Lhakhang in the East of Bhutan.
These connections with Vajrayana artists and their work are of great value and importance, Ngak’chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen were delighted by the progress and look forward to when the statue is installed in the Shrine Hall at Drala Jong, where it will form the major focus.
Whilst in Bodhanath in Kathmandu, accompanied by their students, Ngak’chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen visited their last remaining teacher, Jomo Sam’phel Déchen Rinpoche. These visits are always filled with laughter, story-telling and merriment.
Jomo Sam’phel Déchen Rinpoche was the Sangyum of Kyabjé Künzang Dorje Rinpoche and a disciple of Kyabjé Düd’jom Rinpoche Jig’drèl Yeshé Dorje. Khandro Déchen comments:
“Kyabjé Künzang Dorje Rinpoche was our Root Lama as Jomo Sam‘phel Déchen Rinpoche still is. We go to see her as often as we can. Groups of our students go to see her every year and she is unfailingly kind and helpful to them in their practice. She epitomises Dzogchen in her being — and simply to sit in her presence is a vast inspiration.”
