The iron chain-link shawl

The original Iron Chain-link Shawl was commissioned by Kyabjé Düd’jom Rinpoche Jig’drèl Yeshé Dorje and first seen by Ngak’chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen in Bartsham Chador Lhakhang (Sangdag Gyelpailing Monastery) in Eastern Bhutan in October 2019.

Ngak’chang Rinpoche had a dream-vision of Kyabjé Düd’jom Rinpoche Jig’drèl Yeshé Dorje — whilst staying in Chador Lhakhang with Khandro Déchen and 25 of their ordained students. Kyabjé Düd’jom Rinpoche conveyed to Ngak’chang Rinpoche (in the dream) that if he were to make a replica of the shawl he had made for Chador Lhakhang —— and add one link made by Pema Lingpa and one link made by Thangtong Gyalpo — then that the shawl would have exactly the same qualities as the one he had made for Chador Lhakhang.

The original iron chain-link shawl was made in Pemaköd by Kyabjé Düd’jom Rinpoche Jig’drèl Yeshé Dorje and sent to Chador Lhakhang. On seeing it Ngak’chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen immediately initiated a project to make an iron chain-link shawl exactly like the one at Bartsham Chador Lhakhang.

Ngak’chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen were able to obtain a one link from Pema Lingpa and one made by Thangtong Gyalpo — and so the instruction of Kyabjé Düd’jom Rinpoche Jig’drèl Yeshé Dorje was fulfilled. The iron chain-link shawl is now at Drala Jong — having arrived in Wales last Summer. It was made by Naljorma Charok, the Finnish blacksmith with the help of the Finnish sangha.