In an auspiciusous and unexpected occurence, His Holiness Pedma Norbu (Penor) Rinpoche offered a body relic of Terton Migyur Dorje to Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo and the students at his Western seat of Kunzang Palyul Choling (KPC) in Poolesville, MD. His Holiness' surprise gesture came in the midst of a 15-day conferral of the entire cycle of Migyur Dorje's Nam Cho revelations this June. To express their gratitude and devotion, the KPC sangha will enshrine the Migyur Doije relic in a 45-foot stupa at the precise center of their 65-acre meditation park.

His Holiness considers this relic so rare, and of such great importance to the Nyingma tradition, that he is sending Tulku Rigdzin Pema, a stupa expert from H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche's monastery, to supervise every detail of the stupa's construction and perform necessary rituals. Because Tulku Rigdzin Pema is in such demand worldwide, he can only come to KPC for a month and a half in the early fall. The construction must be complete before he leaves. After its completion, the stupa will be available to all people as a place of pilgrimage and devotional retreat.

Migyur Dorje, the 17th-c. child terton whose past lives include that of Ananda, the Buddha's personal attendant, revealed sadhanas for over 700 meditational deities before his death at age 23. These revelations continue to be the principal practice for the hundreds of Palyul monasteries as well as the Karmapa's Kathog monastery, and have led countless beings to realization.

Penor Rinpoche, in another occurence unusual at American dharma centers, ordained 15 people during his visit, some coming from as far away as New York, New Mexico, and Oregon. Among these 15 were nine monks taking the 253 vows of gelong (full) ordination, eight of whom will remain at KPC. The other six, four men and two women, took the getsul vows of novice ordination. In an extraordinarily generous gesture, His Holiness provided all 15 with new robes, ceremonial yellow robes, a shirt and a dingwa (meditation mat). KPC's ordained community now numbers 35, making it the largest community of Westerners in the Tibetan tradition in North America.

If you would like information about supporting the construction of the Migyur Dorje stupa by donating money, materials, or labor, please contact KPC at 18400 River Road, Poolesville, MD 20837 or call 301428-8116.