In this video, Zawa Tulku Rinpoche is performing Chod Tsok.

The Chod offers us a method to forcefully cut off the source of our most undesirable negativities—self-cherishing and ego-grasping. In this book the translators have rendered into English both the Chod texts and its commentary given by His Holiness, the late Kyabje Zong Rinpoche.

Kyabje Zong Rinpoche was the foremost master of the Ganden oral tradition following the passing of the two gurus of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in the early 1980′s.
~ Gehlek Rimpoche

The above is extracted from: ‘CHOD IN THE GANDEN TRADITION: The Oral Instructions of Kyabje Zong Rinpoche’

The Current Zawa Tulku Rinpoche

His reincarnation was discovered in India, born of his Mother, Lhamo and his Father, Ngawang. Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche instructed his Father to send his young son to Ganden Shartse and he gave him the name, Tsering Dorje.

Then as a gesul (ordained monk), he received his ordination from the illustrious teacher, Kyabje Zemey Rinpoche and was given the name Jangchub Ngawang by Venerable Lati Rinpoche. From that time in 1982, being recognized by various Yogis and high Lamas as the incarnation of the previous Geshe Zawa Rinpoche, he started intensely his monastic studies.

In 1997 during an elaborate and large ceremony at Ganden Shartse Monastery, he was enthroned and the title bestowed upon him was Zawa Tulku Lobsang Dorje Chokye Gyaltsen Rinpoche. He had achieved the highest levels of oral philosophical debate during his final examinations.

Then, in 2001, because of frequent requests from the people of Chating and the monks from Chating monastery, he visited his old homeland in Tibet. There again an enthronement ceremony was performed by his devoted community of monks and laypeople.

This was a happy and melancholy visit for Rinpoche because of his past history and the current conditions in Tibet which had changed so much for his old community of friends and students.

Returning to the world outside of Tibet and at the request of many Dharma centers he has traveled extensively giving teachings, empowerments and constructing sacred sand mandalas.

Following the directions and advice of his teacher, Geshe Tsultrim , he is now residing in Chang Chub Choling, Temple Bouddhiste Tibetain in Montreal, along with his assistant, Gen Lobsang Tashi.

As Resident Teacher he has taken in hand responsibility for Temple affairs and he has given advice to its members. Further due to his presence and active participation many dharma activities are now being offered: teachings, initiations, ceremonies and the publication of Buddhist practice texts (sadhanas) which are available for all.

To read more about Zawa Tulku Rinpoche check out this link here.
Zawa Tulku Rinpoche

This video highlights some of the beautiful enlightened imagery in Serpom Monastery. There are also many scenes of adult and younger monks in the Gompa performing prayers.

The video shows literally a mountain of offerings piled up in front of the altar. It is really inspiring to see this thriving monastery still spreading the Ganden Lineage and upholding the Dorje Shugden practice.

(Portuguese with English Subtitles)
Note: at 2:58 in the video, there is a thangka of Dorje Shugden

Nothing comes from nothing and nothing comes to nothing.

To know and understand this better, the reality we live in, we need to know and understand the past and the present that surrounds us. Increasingly, we live without connecting with the relation of cause and effect, interdependence.

We look to see the fruits without the roots. This means that we have a superficial and not well-understood reality in which we live. Living almost everything as a fad, passing by and aimless.

By knowing the root, you will value the fruit and their seeds.

In Buddhism, the roots are important and manifest themselves through the lineage. The lineage is the uninterrupted transmission of knowledge, feelings, blessings and accomplishments. Moving on from master to disciple. From father to son.

Like a big family, which arises from a root with many distinct branches, Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha Shakyamuni, began this lineage. By His great compassion and wisdom He taught and showed the way for people in different ways, with different qualities.

So then began the different traditions, each following a path shown by Buddha. Each tradition, school, or philosophical views may seem in direct contradiction with another, but are in perfect harmony to the extent that they lead to the same result by different means.

The Ganden Gelug Nyengyu – the Whispered Lineage of Ganden, is a branch of this vast spiritual family. It was brought to Tibet from India by Atisha Dipankara, and then passed down to Lama Tsongkhapa, the 4th Panchen Lama Losang Chökyi Gyaltsen, passed to lineage masters like HH Pabongkha Dechen Nyingpo, HH Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche and from them to the present generation of teachers who maintain and transmit these teachings excellently in both the East and West.

To convey the preciousness of this lineage, this film aims to connect us with our roots and appreciate them. Thus creating value of the principles, values and knowledge we have and to be grateful for those handed down to us.

A comment about this part of the video – Our lineage has produced a massive number of great masters since the time of Lama Tsongkhapa. This lineage has also been engaging in the Dorje Shugden practice for the past 350 years.

The last 350 years saw the Gelugpa lineage in an uninterrupted fashion still producing great masters like His Holiness Trijang Rinpoche, His Holiness Pabongka Rinpoche and many others too many to be named here who relied on Dorje Shugden as their main protector. Hence the Dorje Shugden practice is proven to be beneficial and valid for our times.

The name of the documentary this trailer was made for is called ‘Lineage’. Read about what Lama Michel says about this documentary below.

‘Lineage’

LAMA MICHEL Rinpoche – “A spiritual tradition is kept alive not only by knowledge, but mainly for the inner transformation that comes as a result of spiritual practice based on transmission of knowledge and experience between master and disciple.

The documentary will tell the story of the lineage of Ganden Nyengyu, beginning with Shakyamuni Buddha, transmitted via many other great eminent masters before getting to His Holiness Trijang Rinpoche and contemporary masters like Lama Gangchen Rinpoche.

The value of this documentary is that it is important to all who are and still part of this spiritual family, all who are following this lineage. I ask everyone to believe in the value of the lineage and the importance of telling their story, to contribute and participate at making this project a success.

The first phase will be filming in Tibet, in August, and then there will be other phases of filming in India, Nepal, Europe, USA, Brazil, and the editing and completion.

I believe that with the help of the Sangha we will do it without any obstacle! I deeply appreciate the dedication, effort and affection of everybody!”

Cheers, in Dharma, Lama Michel