Chime Rinpoche

This article is about Benchen Radha Tulku (commonly known as Chime Rinpoche, born 1941). For the other Benchen Chime Tulku born 1991, see Chime Tulku.
Lama Chime Tulku Rinpoche
Religion Tibetan Buddhism
Lineage Karma Kagyü
Personal
Nationality British
Born 1941
near Jyekundo, Amdo, Tibet
Religious career
Teacher
Reincarnation Lama Chime Rata Rinpoche
Students
Website http://www.marpahouse.org.uk

Lama Chime Tulku Rinpoche is a Tibetan Buddhist, Tulku and Dharma teacher. Chime Rinpoche was born in 1941 in Amdo, Tibet. In 1959, due to the occupation of Tibet, he was forced to flee to India via Bhutan into exile. Gaining British citizenship in 1965. He taught extensively throughout Europe and established Marpa House, the first Tibetan Buddhist Centre in England. His students include American author and Buddhist nun Pema Chödrön and musicians Mary Hopkin, David Bowie and Tony Visconti.

Biography

Here's Chime Rinpoche, information about my birthplace in Amdo is wrong. I was born in Jyekundo, Kham, East Tibet You can see correct information at the Marpa House website : http://www.marpahouse.org.uk/marpa-house/tradition-lineage/

Early Life in Tibet

Chime Rinpoche was born in Jyekundo, Kham, East Tibet, Tibet, into a family that were direct descendants of the chieftain Rardha Pontsong, who was inspired to give his land to the 4th Sangye Nyenpa so that Benchen Monastery could be built (in the 14th Century).[1][2] He was not the only Tulku in his family, as both Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and the 9th Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche were his maternal uncles.[3] He was educated at Benchen Monastery,[4] where he gained the Khenpo (Master of Studies) degree, Kyorpon (Shrine Ritual Master) degree and Dorje Lobpon (Vajra Master) degree. Chime Rinpoche studied and combined the practices of Mahamudra and Dzogchen (Atiyoga) through receiving instructions in Mahamudra from Kabje Sangye Nyenpa and Dzogchen from Dilgo Khentse Rinpoche.[5]

Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche - Chime Rinpoche's Uncle

Escape From Tibet

Due to the invasion of Tibet and subsequent occupation by the Chinese army, the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa indicated that Chime Rinpoche should flee Tibet.[6] In 1959, Chime Rinpoche reached India via Bhutan alongside his Root Gurus and maternal uncles, Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and 9th Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche.[7]

Life in Britain

In 1965, Lama Chime was invited to live in the UK. He shared a small apartment with Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche and Akong Rinpoche in Oxford.[8][9] He later gained British citizenship and has lived in Britain ever since.[7] As Akong Rinpoche was the first one to find paid employment, becoming a hospital orderly, Akong supported both Chime Rinpoche and Trungpa Rinpoche.[10]

Marpa House

In 1973, Chime Rinpoche founded Kham House in Ashdon, Essex, UK the first Tibetan Buddhist Centre in England.[11][12] The building was purchased with the help of sponsors. Previously an orphanage for homeless children called All Saints' Home, it was built by the rector of Ashdon Henry Barclay Swete.[13][14] In 1975, just two years after Kham House was established, the 16th Karmapa visited this centre after visiting the Kagyu Samyé Ling Monastery and Tibetan Centre earlier in the year.[15] Kham House was later renamed Marpa House and is run by the charity The Dharma Trust.[16] Although presently in poor health, Chime Rinpoche still teaches at Marpa House on occasion.

Status as a Tulku

During his 1975 visit, the 16th Karmapa identified Chime Rinpoche as Radha Tulku, the incarnation of Radha Phuntsok, one of the four Tulkus (incarnate Lamas) of Benchen Monastery.[15][17]

The Four Benchen Tulkus are

In 2011, Chime Rinpoche travelled from London for a surprise reunion with two of the other Benchen Tulkus, Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche and Tenga Rinpoche, to the 2011 Summer Camp at Benchen Phuntsok Ling, Benchen's European headquarters.[18]

Personal life

In England, Chime Rinpoche chose to stop being a monk and married.[15][19] He and his English wife had three daughters, all of whom are now adults.[20]

In Britain, Chime Rinpoche is the President of the Tibetan Terrier Association, a club that is dedicated to preserve and promote the Tibetan Terrier breed of dog. The club was established in 1967.[21]

Rinpoche still teaches occasionally at Marpa House when his health permits and annually leads a ten-day Summer School retreat in Baerenthal in northeastern France.[22]

In a video message to his students on the passing of Tenga Rinpoche, Chime Rinpoche stated that he is preparing for his own visit to the 'Pure Lands' by praying and meditating more but assures his students that it is 'a very nice place, very nice'.[23]

Work at the British Library

Rinpoche was employed by the British Library as Curator for Ancient Tibetan Manuscripts for 16 years.[12]

Notable students

Pema Chödrön
David Bowie
"One day, I walked into the office and it was empty," Bowie said, calling from his New York office.

"I went down the stairs and saw a man in saffron robes. He said, in very broken English, 'You are looking for me.' I realized years later that it was a question, but as a 16-year-old, I took it as a statement: 'You are looking for me.'"

The man in the saffron robes, Chime Yong Dong Rinpoche, became Jones' guru for several months.

"After a few months of study, he told me, 'You don't want to be Buddhist [...] You should follow music."[27]
Later, on his first album David Bowie, Bowie wrote and recorded the song "Silly Boy Blue" about a young Tibetan Monk who broke the rules as a tribute to his teacher.

Bibliography

References

  1. ↑ History of Sangye Nyenpa: Sangye Nyenpa - History of Sangye Nyenpa
  2. ↑ wikipedia.org: Benchen-Kloster – Wikipedia
  3. ↑ Chime Rinpoche's - 'A Spiritual Journey in a Turbulent Life' on YouTube
  4. ↑ "FAQ". marpahouse.org.uk. 2012. Retrieved 6 September 2012.
  5. ↑ "Buddhist Summer School 2012 Registration Form" (PDF). 2012. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
  6. ↑ Kagyu Lineage: Karma Triyana Dharmachakra - Kagyu Lineage
  7. 1 2 "Biographien, Kagyu Benchen Ling". Retrieved 6 September 2012.
  8. ↑ "Kagyu Samye Ling - Course Leader Choje Akong Tulku Rinpoche and Gelong Thubten". samyeling.org. 2012. Retrieved 6 September 2012. Chime
  9. ↑ samye.org: Dr Akong Tulku Rinpoche: biography.
  10. ↑ Dr. Choje Akong Tulku Rinpoche: AboutUs - Dr. Choje Akong Tulku Rinpoche
  11. ↑ "Karma Triyana Dharmachakra - Kagyu Lineage". kagyu.org. 2012. Retrieved 6 September 2012.
  12. 1 2 "Marpa House". marpahouse.org.uk. 2012. Archived from the original on 10 March 2012. Retrieved 6 September 2012.
  13. ↑ "History". web.archive.org. 2012. Archived from the original on April 17, 2009. Retrieved 6 September 2012. Henry Swete
  14. ↑ http://elibrary.ibc.ac.th/files/private/Tibetan%20and%20Zen%20Buddhism%20in%20Britain%20Transplantation,%20Development%20and%20Adaptation.pdf
  15. 1 2 3 Google Books: The Buddhist Handbook: A Complete Guide to Buddhist Teaching and Practice - John Snelling - Google Books
  16. ↑ charitycommission.gov.uk: Charity overview
  17. ↑ "Benchen Monastery's European website - Short Profile of Radha Chime Rinpoche (archived at FreezePage 10/10/2012)". benchen.org.pl. 2012. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
  18. ↑ benchen.org: Review Summer Course 2011 Benchen Phuntsok Ling (archived at FreezePage 10/10/2012)
  19. ↑ benchen.org.pl: Radha Chime Rinpoche
  20. ↑ ktc-bremen.de: Karma Thegchen Chö Ling Bremen
  21. ↑ the-tta.org.uk: TTA Officers & Committee
  22. ↑ events (summer school in Alsace): Kagyu Benchen Ling - events (summer school in Alsace)
  23. ↑ Message on the passing of Tenga Rinpoche from Lama Chime Rinpoche on YouTube
  24. ↑ Fabrice Midal (2005). Recalling Chögyam Trungpa. Shambhala Publications. p. 476. ISBN 1-59030-207-9.
  25. ↑ Becoming Pema: Shambhala Sun - Becoming Pema
  26. ↑ shambhala.org: Pema Chödrön
  27. ↑ newsday.com: Stardust Memories / Without Tibet House, David Bowie never may have gotten Ziggy with it. Now the pop star returns the favor by performing at the annual benefit concert.
  28. ↑ "tony visconti v3.0". tonyvisconti.com. 2012. Retrieved 6 September 2012.
  29. ↑ Strange Fascination: David Bowie: The Definitive Story, 2005, p.47 (Virgin)
  30. ↑ amazon.co.uk: You Look Familiar: Mary Hopkin and Morgan Visconti: Amazon.co.uk: MP3 Downloads
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