Chödpa Lama Rinpoche
A Life Dedicated to All Beings
Chödpa Lama Rinpoche was born into a family of Ngagpa lineage and Mö Divination Masters. This illustrious Ngagpa lineage and “the ancient practice of Juthig Mö divination” was held by his father, Venerable Yogi Kalsang Rinpoche, who was renowned as a great Tibetan healer and who attained inner wisdom through devotion, meditation, years of practice, retreats and experiences. He practiced only Juthig Mö divination and healings. Yogi Kalsang Rinpoche used the six knot strings of the short version of Juthig Mö. The full version uses 100 knot strings but this lineage has been discontinued. Centuries ago, when Ling Gesar Gyalpo asked the Tibetan Divination Master, Moma Dung Go Chen, how to defeat his enemy Ho Gurkar, he was practicing this same ancient Juthig Mö divination.
Chödpa Lama Rinpoche’s grandfather, Chadral Pama Gyurme, was also a very great and accomplished Tibetan Naljorpa Yogi, a Chödpa Vajrayana and a Master of Mö Divination. The term “Chadral” is a title of respect given to a person who leads a life of meditation and great renunciations in the high holy mountains of Tibet. Chadral’s consort Pema Gyurme, also known as Lingzama, is from the Ling family.
Thus, are the legacies of Chödpa Lama Rinpoche: meditation practices, Juthig Mö divination and healing practice which have a long historical past and are no longer to be proven.
The practice of Chöd, the ancient practice of Juthig Mö divination and healing are part of the early memories of Chödpa Lama Rinpoche. At the age of six, Rinpoche was ordained as a monk in a monastery of the Drikung Kagyu lineage, where Rinpoche studied the main teachings of the Kagyu and Nyingma lineages for many years. Rinpoche received his first Chöd initiations and teachings from his father, Ven. Yogi Kalsang Rinpoche, and the previous HE Dilgo Kyentse Rinpoche transmitted the Rinchen Terzod to him.
Chodpa Lama Rinpoche received formal meditation instructions and was guided in various practices and retreats. Rinpoche also received heart teachings from his father, Ven. Yogi Kalsang Rinpoche. The latter taught his sons, including Chödpa Lama Rinpoche, the second eldest son, the specific healing techniques known only to family members of this lineage. Following the Tibetan tradition, Chödpa Lama Rinpoche spent many years alongside his father learning and practicing Juthig Mö divination and Chöd. In 1990, after a full retreat from Juthig Mö divination, Rinpoche officially began practicing as a healer. These foundational years of Chöd practices, Juthig Mö divination, retreats and meditations, honed his skills as a healer and Divination Master.
After completing his monastic studies, Rinpoche led the life of a Yogi. Then Rinpoche got married and started a family life. During this time, Rinpoche traveled to the United States and then to Canada, which has been his home since 1999. Rinpoche has been serving all beings for over 20 years. With his enthusiasm and open-heartedness for Juthig Mo as a method of healing and divination, Chödpa Lama Rinpoche continues to help all people around the world.
In 2005, HH the 17th Karmapa Urgyen Trinlay Dorje sent Rinpoche to study with the most precious HE Kyabje Tenga Rinpoche, who became his Root Lama. The latter transmitted to him many teachings on Chöd and led him in many complete retreats until 2012, including the 100 days of Tsoggya retreat (in Tibetan: Zhag Gya Tsog Gya) at the 3-year retreat center of Benchen in Yangleshod Yang-Le-Shod (Yang-Le-Shod ) a place of great power where the second Buddha, Guru Rinpoche, subdued gods, spirits and demons in Nepal.
In 2006, Rinpoche retreated to Tashiding Cemetery in Sikkim, India, known for its most sacred shrines. HE Dilgo Kyentse Rinpoche called Tashiding, “Zangdog Palri” (the Pure Land of Guru Rinpoche). In this cemetery, many have seen the owner of the cemetery, skeletons, and many other spirits.