The source of Nyingmapa Ancient Translation teaching- The Kathok Main Monastery
舊譯教法之源寧瑪巴
[Vernerable Vajra
Master: The autobiography of Tubten Sonam Norbu Pe
Sangpo Rinpoche]
【尊貴金剛上師─徒丹索南諾布貝桑波 仁波切自傳】
[Picture of the H.E Vajra Master Sonam Norbu Rinpoche]
Incomparable Shakyamuni
Eight Bodhisattvas and the Arya Arhats
Three roots and the protectors
To you I prostrate
Please benefit the sentient beings and bestow blessing
The Vajra Master of the Nyingmapa Ancient Translation teaching in Kathok Monastery- Sonam Norbu Rinpoche was born in the first month in Tibetan Calendar in 1978, in a place in front of one of the six main Nyingma Monastery- Kathok Vajra Seat. His father was a Mantrayana Lama Danjin Sangpo, and his mother was Sangdan Drolma.
He was bon in a family with many Tulkus, and Dharma masters. The Eighteenth H.H. Motza Rinpoche Shoje Longpo of the Golden Steps of the Vajra Seat in Kathok Main Monastery, Tulku Gencho Zaba Rinpoche of the Onchen Dorde Monastery in Golok,Buddhism Master Yishi Kenbu , powerful Vajra Master Lama Moja Norbu of the Main Kathok Monastery, and Mantrayana Master Danjian Sanpo all came from his family line.
During the morning of his birth, His father witnessed a big ball of butter exploded in a barrel, which was a sign of great virtue. Due to the incident, he named his son Sonam Norbu (virtuous Jewel).
Rinpoche was very fond of monastic robes when he was small. One time he went to an even in a temple with his father and his ordained uncles (1) , he refused to step out of the house and cried because there was not enough monastic robs, so his family wanted him to wear layperson’s clothes. When he was eight years old, while he was receiving refuge vows in the Kathok Monastery from Khenchen Jiansen Oser Rinpoche (Lama of all lama), Sonam Norbu Rinpoche heard the sound of a gong in Kenchen’s room. Kenchen Jiansen Oser immediately said:” this is an auspicious circumstance!”
At eleven, he began to learn how to read and write Tibetan with his father with no difficulty.
At sixteen, he received novice vow from Kathok Kenchen Jianyan Jiansen Oser Rinpoche.
At
twenty-five years old, he received the Bikshu vows, and
was named Tubten Truchen Nima.. He received the
complete oral transmission and empowerments on Rinchen
Terzod.
Nyingmapa
Kathog Ningong Meditation Center
H.H The Luoga Rinpoche and
H.E Vjra master: Sonam norbu
Rinpoche
In the
Kathog Ningong Meditation
Center
[Picture
of Sonam Norbu Rinpche in
the retreat cabin
in Land of Ningong Meditation Light.]
H.H The Kathog Jamyang Rinpoche
and H.E Vjra master: Sonam norbu
Rinpoche
In the Kathog Ningong Meditation Center
H.H The Kathog Jamyang
Rinpoche and H.E Vjra master:
Sonam norbu Rinpoche
In the Kathog Ningong Meditation Center
H.H The Kathog Dimey
shing kyong Rinpoche and H.E Vjra master:
Sonam norbu Rinpoche
In the Kathog monastery
[Picture of Vajra Master:
Sonam Norbu Rinpche in the Kathog
monastery's
for worshipping Buddha]
H.H The Kathog Mozha
Rinpoche and H.E Vjra
master: Sonam norbu
Rinpoche
In the Kathog monastery
H.H The
Luoga Rinpoche
and H.E Vjra master:
Sonam norbu Rinpoche
[Picture of the Kathog monastery's Buddhism Ceremony
Prayer of Peace]
He then received the Ngondro of Master Rinchen Lonsel Nyinpo Lineage from Vern able H.H. Mozta Rinpoche, and completed the preliminary practice.
Then he received the profound Loching Nyingtig Ngondro
from his uncommon root lama, the great Dzogchen Master
H.E. Anzang Drupa. He also received the great
Illuminous Utmost Sercret Dzogchen Trechod and Togyal
mind to mind transmission and instructions.
Later, H.E. Anjian Drupa Rinpoche requested Sonam Norbu Rinpoch to turn the wheel of dharma to his students. H.E. Anjian Drupa Rinpoche also personally gave Master Sonam Norbu Rinpche a Dogchen highest mind transmission secret letter.
He received the Chod ripening empowerment from the 85th Kathok Main Monastery throne holder, the Fifth H.H. Jianyang Danjian Gyatso. He also received and perfected all the long and short (Terma) Kathok Tradition transmission, melodies, music, percussion, procedure of making tormas, recitation, Vajra dance for all the methods of accomplishments, procedure on setting up altar, astrological calculations, and Feng-Shui from his uncommon root guru Kathok Kenchen Jianyan Jiansen Rinpoche, H.H. Jianpa Danjian Gyatso, Kathok Khanpo Tsering Dorje Rinpoche.
[Picture of Kathog Khanpo Tsering
Dorje Rinpoche &Vajra
Master Sonam Norbu Rinpoch
and Kathok Urgen Chamchuk Rinpoche]
Rinpoche then went to the highest retreat cabin in Kathok Ningong Oser Ling Center. During the three years and six months in retreat, he practiced on the Nnongdro, the [ Jewel State ], Dzogchen, and the secret instruction of the profound path of Phowa.
He recited Dudrol’s Phuba Sword of Meterioric Feather Mantra for removing obstacles one million nine hundred thousand times, Guru Padma Oser’s Mantra one million four hundred thousand times, Wrathful Guru Blazing Wisdom mantra two million five hundred thousand times, Lion Face Dakini’s Mantra one million five hundred thousand times, peaceful and wrathful deities mantra two million five hundred thousand times, Eight Command Herukas’ manstra one million six hundred thousand times, and mantra of the Five Dakinis one million times. He then received from his root lama Jianyang Jianseng Rinpoche the Nyima Karma empowerment, Nyingtig Yabshi, method of clearing the mind, Karma Lingpa’s Shitro, Kathok Gongka Bonpa’s Chod, and all the empowerment and oral tansmission of both the Terton Rigzin Durdul Dorje and Longsel Nyingpo.
[Picture
of Vajra Master Sonam Norbu
Rinpoche and Kathok Khanpo
Tsering Dorje Rinpoche]
In summary, Rinpoche first learned, contemplated, and practiced the profound Vajrayana generation and completion stage practices. Also, he constantly made offerings to his root lamas and to all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas during the retreat.
In
the Sixth Month, the Tenth Day in Tibetan Calendar ( the
birthday of Guru Rinpoche), at the holy site where
Padmasambhava had blessed thirteen times, the Vajra
Monastery of Kathok, the place where one hundred
thousand practitioners attended rainbow body, during the
great retreat focusing on Guru Siddhi Ghuyasamvajra
(Master Accomplishment Secret Gathering Vajra), in front
of the 85th Kathok throne holder H.H Jamyang
Rinpoche, many Tulkus, khenpos, and thousands of monks,
Sonam Norbu Rinpoche received a hat marked with the
Terma Seal of Rigzin Durdul Dorje and a Lopon Dorje
Rinpoche’s certificate. He then was entroned as a Vajra
Master.
[Vajra Master
Sonam Norbu Rinpoche’s
hat- marked with the Terma Seal of
Rigzin Durdul Dorje]
[ H.E.Vajra Master
Sonam Norbu Rinpoche]
[Picture of H.E the Kathog Vajra
Sonamnorbu Rinpoche compassionately smiling in
front of camera during the time when he was seeing his
followers in li tang Pa bar Monastery]
[Picture of H.E the Kathog
Vajra Sonamnorbu Rinpoche compassionately smiling
in front of camera during the time when he was seeing
his followers in li tang Pa bar Monastery in Tibet]
[ H.E.Vajra Master
Sonam Norbu Rinpoche
in Taiwan]
[ H.E.Vajra Master
Sonam Norbu Rinpoche
in Taiwan]
[ H.E.Vajra Master
Sonam Norbu Rinpoche
in Taiwan]
[ H.E.Vajra Master
Sonam Norbu Rinpoche in
Taiwan]
[ H.E.Vajra Master
Sonam Norbu Rinpoche in
Taiwan]
[ H.E.Vajra Master
Sonam Norbu Rinpoche &Foguang
shan
buddhism Master Shinding in Taiwan]
In 2003, due to the request from the students in Taiwan, Rinpoche had agreed to come to Taiwan. Kathok Throneholder H.H. Jamyang Rinpoche gave the center in Taiwan the name [Kathok Monastery Land of Sutra and Tantra Prosperity Buddhist Center ] requested by Sonam Norbu Rinpoche, His Holiness gave Rinpoche a certificate with his seal of recognition.
Venerable Vajra Master Sonam Norbu Rinpoche has completed both the generation and completion stage practice, Tsalung, Dzogchen, and Phowa practice. He also has engaged in more than 14 years of meditation practice, including the practice he has done in the retreat center. He is very well qualified to bestow teachings to benefit the sentient beings. Because of this, H.H. Jamyang Rinpoche has named Sonam Norbu Rinpochee the resident Lama in the Nyingmapa Kathok Monastery in Taiwan , and his student can have faith in His Holiness’ nomination.
Footnote
1. The Maha Siddhas that is close to Rinpoche’s family line. Rinpoche was born in the family that has many tulkus and head lamas.
Gathok Dorjeden Main Monastery Golden Throne, the 18th H.H. Moza Rinpoche Jiza Shoje Longpo, Tulku Genchu Zaba Rinpoche of Unchen Dorde Monastery in Golok, powerful Vajra Master Moza Nuobu of Kathok Monastery, and Ngakpa Danzhen Sanpo all came from the same family line.
Rinpoche’s father Danzhen Sanpo was a great Ngakpa
practitioner. His root lama was a master in Great
Perfection- Angzang Jiase Jigme Dorje Rinpoche. His
other root lama is Kathok Golden Throne Gathok Gezer
Maha Pandida Jigme Danpa Rangje.
Rinpoche’s mother Sandan Droma (included was the recognition certificate recognizing Rinpoche’s mother who had taken the monastic vows given by H.H. Gathok Gaze Rinpoche) had recited Guru Rinpoche’s Mantra and Avaloketeshvara’s Muni Mantra 100 million times each. She was born in a Buddhist family. Venerable Khaza Terton, Khaza Tulku (an artist), and Lama Khaza Chime were some of her ancestors.
Colophon :
When he was 18 years old, while meditating on the three roots in Kathok Monastery, Vajra Master Sonam Norbu had received signs of accomplishment. The tormas of the Three Roots began to grow long thick black hair to a point the hair had completely covered the torma. His father Ngakpa Danzhen Rinpoche was extremely pleased when he saw this. Rinpoche also received many signs of accomplishments from the protector while meditating in Ningong Ozser Ling. However, due to the profoundness of secretcy, Rinpoche did not disclose these signs.
In end of October 2003, during one of the nights in his second month Kaoshong Nyingmapa Kathok Sutrayana and Vajrayana Prosperous Land Buddhist Center in Taiwan, the attendant of the center Lama Sonam Tsering saw a man radiate with light walked up the stairs. Lama Sonam was speechless, and his hair was standing on its end. When Lama Sonam told what he saw to Rinpoche, Rinpoche laughed and said it must be Rinpoche’s protector Tsoerpa that came up. Rinpoche was invoking his protector for an emergency situation. Tsoerpa is one of the protectors that accomplishes activity swiftly, and Rinpoche has concentrated on His practice when Rinpoche was young. Protector Tsoerpa is the most important protector in Kathok Lineage Ningong Ozer" Ling Retreat Center . He protects the practitioners in the meditation center.
Towards the end of
a four day practice on the Wrathful Guru in Janurary 21,
2004, brother Lu saw smoke started to steam up on top of
the Wrathful Guru Yidam Averting Torma. At first he
thought he was mistaken, so he continueed to look at the
torma three more times, and it was not a mistake. From
this, we know a Lama’s accomplishment and
blessing is extraordinary and auspicious!
May the virtuous lama live long.
May the dharma practitioners flourish.
May the benefactors’ wealth and fortune increase
May the wish of dharma teacher be fulfilled!
