Many centuries ago, the great masters of the past gathered on the cold misty Gungthang mountain pass to bid farewell to Guru Rinpoche as he was leaving Tibet for the last time for the land of the Rakshas. A distraught Murti Tsenpo, son of the great Trisong Dutsen and King of Tibet at that time implored Guru Rinpoche not to leave. It is believed Guru Rinpoche said “When you read the texts I leave behind, you will experience my speech. When you mediate on the great perfection, you will experience my mind”. The Guru then reached down and pressed a fist full of earth in his hand and gave it to the King and said “and with this, you will experience my body. You will never be apart from me even for an instant as you will always have my body, speech and mind”. The statue known as the “Guru Dewa Chenpoi Kutshab” would be hidden as a terma and would be discovered centuries later by the 4th Terton King Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo.
At the same time, an emotional Khandro Yeshey Tsogyal prostrated for the final time at the feet of her Guru, knowing she will never see him again, with eyes filled with tears, she made the great aspiration prayer known as the “Maha Guru Monlam”. This prayer would be recorded on a scroll and hidden as a terma to be reveled in the future when the world was in need timely revival and inspirations. Like the statue, the noble aspiration prayer would also be discovered centuries later. It would be revaled by the Bhutan’s very own Pema Lingpa at the Lion headed rock of Lhodrak. The prayer has become one of Pema Lingpa’s most celebrated and beloved treasures, being practiced by Guru Rinpoche disciples the world over.
On the first Guru Rinpoche day of Iron Ox year, we are happy to share the “Maha Guru Monlam” receited by Kelden Lhamo Gurung, together with a photo of the “Guru Dewa Chenpoi Kutshab” with kind permission from its present holder, Dzongsar Jamyang Khyenste. The video collage contains photos from various Guru Rinpoche and Pema Lingpa associated sites, including Singye Dzong, the site where Khandro Yeshey Tshogyal would herself attain enlightenment.
