Akong Rinpoche

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Akong Rinpoche (2010)

Akong Rinpoche (also Akong Tulku or Trülku ; * 1939 or 1940 in Riwoqê County, then Xikang Province , Republic of China ; † October 8, 2013 in the Wuhou District of Chengdu , Sichuan Province , People's Republic of China ) was a Tibetan doctor , author and Lama of the Karma-Kagyu School of Tibetan Buddhism .

Together with Chögyam Trungpa , Akong Rinpoche founded the first Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Europe, named after Samye- Ling, in Dumfriesshire, Dumfries and Galloway in 1967 . Akong Rinpoche also founded the aid organization Rokpa International in 1980 , of which he was president until his death.

Life

Akong Rinpoche was recognized at a very young age by the 16th Karmapa Rangjung Rigpe Dorje as a trülku of the abbot of the Drölma Lhakhang ( Tib .: sgrol ma lha khang ) monastery (1st Akong ). He was taken to Drölma Lhakhang at the age of four to receive traditional training and become the next abbot of the monastery. In addition to religious training, Akong Rinpoche also received instruction in Tibetan medicine.

In order to continue his studies he traveled to Shechen as a teenager , where he was instructed in the Mahamudra teachings of the Kagyu by "Shechen Kongtrül Rinpoche" .

In 1959, Akong Rinpoche fled Tibet to India. After spending some time in refugee camps, he was asked, among other things, to look after the “Young Lamas Home School” in Dalhousie in the Chamba district .

In 1963 he traveled to England with Chögyam Trungpa to study English at the University of Oxford . In addition to his studies, Akong Rinpoche worked as a nurse for a few years.

Samye Ling Temple in Dumfriesshire

In 1967 Akong Rinpoche founded "Kagyü Samye Ling" in Scotland together with Chögyam Trungpa. The 16th Karmapa Rangjung Rigpe Dorje visited the monastery in 1974 and 1977. Between 1972 and 1987, many well-known Buddhist teachers were invited to Samye Ling. Under the direction of the 16th Karmapa, Akong Rinpoche created the opportunity to hold three-year retreats in Samye Ling. A large traditional Tibetan Buddhist temple was also built, with an associated college, library and museum. The temple was opened in 1988 a. a. opened in the presence of the 12th Tai Situpa Pema Dönyö Nyinche and Lord David Steel .

Akong was one of the key figures in the discovery of the officially enthroned 17th Karmapa Orgyen Thrinle Dorje in 1992 . Orgyen Thrinle Dorje was brought to Tshurphu with his help and Akong Rinpoche arranged the meeting there with the 12th Tai Situpa and the 12th Goshri Gyeltshab Rinpoche, who gave Orgyen Thrinle Dorje his monk's name and later enthroned him. The People's Republic of China awarded him the title "Living Buddha". In August 2011 he was the guest of honor of the Chinese government in Lhasa, which celebrated the 60th anniversary of the "liberation of Tibet" there.

In collaboration with western therapists he developed "Tara Rokpa", a path for inner development that extends from a therapeutic level to meditative training. The main sources are the philosophy, psychology and meditation experience of Buddhism, supplemented by psychotherapeutic methods and an understanding of the Western initial situation. Tara Rokpa is not religiously bound and is open to everyone.

Akong Rinpoche was killed on October 8, 2013, according to reports from monasteries and the media; Together with his nephew and an accompanying monk, Akong Rinpoche was stabbed to death in Chengdu (China) during an attack or a dispute over money.

See also

Web links

Commons : Akong Rinpoche  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Homepage of Kagyu Samye Ling - Tibetan Buddhist Center
  2. ^ Rokpa International: The Organization ( Memento June 10, 2007 in the Internet Archive )
  3. ↑ simhas.org: Some Teachers and Teachings at Samye Ling 1967–1988
  4. ↑ simhas.org: The Venerable Dr. Akong Tulku Rinpoche ( Memento from May 5, 2003 in the Internet Archive )
  5. ↑ simhas.org: The Gyaltsab Rinpoches ( Memento from July 26, 2001 in the Internet Archive )
  6. ^ Julian Gearing: Struggle for Tibet's Soul ; AsiaWeek, 26 (2000), issue 41 from October 20, 2000
  7. ↑ Jayadeva Ranade: China Uses 60th Tar Anniversary to Undermine Dalai Lama ; ( Memento from October 19, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Center for Air Power Studies, Issue Brief from August 16, 2011 (pdf; 120 kB)
  8. ↑ Exile Tibetan Traitors Attends “60th Anniversary In Lhasa” . Akong Rinpoche is on the far left at 1:31.
  9. ↑ Eskdalemuir monastery founder Akong Rinpoche killed in China ; BBC news dated October 8, 2013
personal data
SURNAME Akong Rinpoche
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Akong Tulku; Akong Trulku
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Tibetan doctor, author and lama of the Karma-Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism
DATE OF BIRTH 1939 or 1940
PLACE OF BIRTH Riwoqê
DATE OF DEATH October 8, 2013
Place of death Wuhou , Chengdu