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In this article, discover Samye-Chimphu, a major centre of Dzogchen in Tibet. Paul explores its history and significance.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Feature 14″ _builder_version=”4.16″ min_height=”695px” custom_margin=”-1px|||||” custom_padding=”0px||49px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”2″ make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”|auto|-17px|auto||” custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ module_class=”column1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding_tablet=”||50px|” custom_padding_phone=”” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}” padding_tablet=”||50px|” padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” custom_padding__hover=”|||” padding_phone=”||50px|”][et_pb_text quote_border_weight=”0px” quote_border_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” module_id=”up1″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ text_font=”Montserrat||||||||” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.8em” link_font=”Montserrat|700||||||#BF9E77|” link_text_color=”#BF9E77″ link_font_size=”18px” link_line_height=”1.8em” quote_font=”Cormorant Garamond|700|||||||” quote_text_color=”#13204d” quote_line_height=”1.3em” header_font=”|700|||||||” header_2_font=”Quattrocento Sans|700|||||||” header_2_text_color=”#13204d” header_2_line_height=”1.6em” header_3_font=”|700|||||||” header_3_text_color=”#000000″ header_4_letter_spacing=”12px” header_5_font=”|300|||||||” header_5_text_color=”#bfbfbf” header_5_letter_spacing=”12px” header_6_font=”|700|||||||” header_6_letter_spacing=”12px” module_alignment=”left” min_height=”596.4px” custom_margin=”||-4px|||” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|tablet” custom_padding=”29px||29px||true|” quote_font_size_tablet=”” quote_font_size_phone=”” quote_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” saved_tabs=”all” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
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Samye is the very first Buddhist monastery in Tibet, and Chimphu (pronounced: Tchimpu) is its retreat site, a half-day\u2019s walk away.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s just too much to say about Samye-Chimphu.<\/p>\n
Almost impossible.<\/p>\n
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\n\u00a0\u201cSamye-Chimphu is thus one of the eight power places of Tibet and Bhutan consecrated by the Lotus-Born and by Yeshe Tsogyal.<\/span><\/p>\n
There is so much to say!\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
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First, Samye is a very specific geomantic site, where Santarakshita anointed Emperor Trisong Detsen\u2019s head with essential earth (sa zhag<\/em>) in white, red, and yellow\u2014excellent omens of fulfilled wishes and widespread teachings.<\/p>\n
Chimphu\u2014it is said that the mountain there, is like a leaping turquoise lion, and the valley is a blooming lotus.<\/p>\n
Samye is where a temple complex began to take shape, despite the forces of nature, the serpentine spirits of the waters, and the wrath of the underworld.<\/p>\n
Samye is the place deemed impossible to build, which took 52 years (762\u2013814) to complete; the pretext for summoning the Lotus-Born, Padmasambhava of Oddiyana, who had attained sublime realization at Maratika, where Amitabha and Tara had appeared to him to impart all the teachings of the three times.<\/p>\n
Chimphu: it is said that Padmasambhava blessed the site by performing a vajra<\/em> dance there, and that the surrounding wall was built according to the outline of his immense shadow, which had fallen as he danced.<\/p>\n
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Samye is where the Lotus-Born subdued the earth spirits of Tibet and established a sacred site that radiated the teachings for centuries.<\/p>\n
Samye-Chimphu: It is said that the first temple built there was dedicated to Tara, for it was through Tara that Emperor Trisong generated the pure and perfect mind, and through Tara that obstacles were removed.<\/p>\n
Samye is the temple where the old man received the Dzogchen instruction on the Pointing of the staff.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n
Chimphu: Jigme Lingpa says that Emperor Trisong stayed there in retreat and there also where he wrote his treatise on logic; and Khyentse Wangpo says that he had retreat houses built there.<\/p>\n
Samye is the place where, once a year, the wooden block had to be replaced\u2014the one that the retinue of the red protective yak\u1e63a Tsi\u2019u-mar would carve into to cut wicked individuals to pieces, the place where he judged the karma of the deceased.<\/p>\n
Chimphu is the cave where the flower of the twenty-five disciples fell into the mandala, the cave where Gyalwa Chokyang attained realization, the cave where so many Dzogchen masters came to realize themselves in a continuous stream for over a millennium: Longchenpa, Rangjung Dorje, Jigme Lingpa\u2026<\/p>\n
Samye-Chimphu: it is said that the temple statues there were modeled after the emperor\u2019s relatives, the statue of Tara after the beautiful Queen Chokro-sa.<\/p>\n
There were so many statues and paintings.<\/p>\n
Samye-Chimphu is thus one of the eight power places of Tibet and Bhutan consecrated by the Lotus-Born and by Yeshe Tsogyal.<\/p>\n
There is so much to say!<\/p>\n
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\u00a0Bibliographical References<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n
- \u00ab Chronology, Small chronological compendium of various masters \u00bb, compiled by Konchok Tendzin (M. Ricard), Shechen Monastery, Nepal<\/li>\n
- Tcheuky Sengu\u00e9, Petite Encyclop\u00e9die des Divinit\u00e9s et Symboles du Bouddhisme Tib\u00e9tain<\/em>, 2002, Claire Lumi\u00e8re.<\/li>\n
- Matthew Akester et mKhyen brtse dbang po, Jamyang Khyents\u00e9 Wangpo’s Guide to Central Tibet,<\/em> Chicago, 2016, Serindia Publications.<\/li>\n
- Jigme Lingpa, The Kalavi<\/em>\u1e45ka\u2019s Call: a Guide to Glorious Samye-Chimpu : <\/em>https:\/\/www.lotsawahouse.org\/tibetan-masters\/jigme-lingpa\/kalavinkas-call-samye-chimphu<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n