Namkhai Norbu

Namkhai Norbu (Tibetan: ཆོས་རྒྱལ་ནམ་མཁའི་ནོར་བུ་ ; December 8, 1938 – September 27, 2018) was a Tibetan Dzogchen master.[1] When he was two years old, Namkhai Norbu was recognized as the 'mindstream emanation', a tulku, of the Dzogchen teacher Adzom Drugpa (1842–1924). At five, he was also recognized as a mindstream emanation of an emanation of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel (1594–1651). From an early age, Namkhai Norbu undertook an accelerated course of study, attending monastic college, taking retreats, and studying with renowned teachers, including some of the most important Tibetan masters of his time. Under the tutelage of these teachers, he completed the training required by the Buddhist tradition in both Sutrayana and Tantrayana. At the age of sixteen, he met master Rigdzin Changchub Dorje (1863-1963),[2] who became his principal Dzogchen teacher.[3]

Namkhai Norbu
Namkhai Norbu
TitleRinpoche, Chögyal
Personal
Born(1938-12-08)December 8, 1938
Derge, Tibet
Died(2018-09-27)September 27, 2018
Arcidosso, Italy
ReligionBuddhism
SchoolDzogchen
Senior posting
TeacherRigdzin Changchub Dorje
Websitewww.dzogchen.net
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History and overview
Chögyal Namkhai Norbu at the Kunsangar North center (Moscow region) on July 4, 2013

In 1960, he came to Italy at the invitation of Professor Giuseppe Tucci, and served as Professor of Tibetan and Mongolian Language and Literature from 1964 to 1992 at the Naples Eastern University. Namkhai Norbu was widely recognized as a leading authority on Tibetan culture, particularly in the fields of history, literature, and Traditional Tibetan medicine and astrological sciences such as the Tibetan calendar. In 1983, he hosted the first International Convention on Tibetan Medicine, held in Venice, Italy.[4]

In 1976, Namkhai Norbu began to give Dzogchen instruction in the West, first in Italy, then in numerous other countries. He quickly became a respected spiritual authority among many practitioners, and has created centers for the study of Dzogchen worldwide.[5] On 10 September 2018, the Italian government gave its highest award, Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, to him from President Sergio Mattarella.[6] The Tibetan government in exile regarded him as having been “the foremost living Dzogchen” teacher at the time of his death in 2018.[7]

Nomenclature, orthography and etymology

This section details the origins and meaning of the title Chögyal and the name Namkhai Norbu (Tibetan: Chos-rGyal Nam-mkha’i Nor-bu).[8]

Chögyal is a title most commonly associated with the monarchy of Sikkim, now a state in far-northern India. However, Chögyal (or Chos-rGyal) is also a title conferred upon a special class of temporal and spiritual rulers of the Kingdom of Bhutan, who were recognized mindstream emanations of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel, the 17th Century Tibetan-born founder of Bhutan. Namkhai Norbu, recognized at the age of five as an emanation of Ngawang Namgyel, holds the title of Chögyal in this context.[9]

Namkhai (Tibetan) holds the semantic field of "sky", "space" and "aether," and has the possessive case ending, thus it may be rendered into English as "...of the sky". Norbu (Tibetan) holds the semantic field of "jewel", "crystal", "gem", "cintamani". Therefore, Namkhai Norbu may be rendered in English as "Jewel of the Sky", "Gem of the Aether" or "Crystal of Space".

Biography

Recognition as a Tulku

Namkhai Norbu was a recognized tulku (also trulku), a reincarnate master. At birth two of Namkhai Norbu's uncles, the Dzogchen masters Palyul Karma Yangsid and Shechen Rabjam believed him to be the reincarnation of their master, Adzom Drugpa Rinpoche (1841–1934). When Namkhai Norbu was two years old, this was confirmed by a senior tulku of the Nyingma school.[9]

Then when he was five years old, the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa and the Situ Rinpoche together recognized Namkhai Norbu as the mind emanation[10] of the mindstream of another well known teacher, who was in turn the emanation of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel, the 17th Century Tibetan-born founder of Bhutan.[9]

At a very young age, these recognitions conferred upon Namkhai Norbu a great deal of attention and prestige, as he himself remarks: "As I grew up, I was thus given quite a few names and titles, many of which are very long and grand sounding. But I have never used them, because I have always preferred the name my parents gave me at birth."[9]

Early life

In his early years Namkhai Norbu studied at the Derge Gonchen monastery. At the age of nine he entered a Sakya College where he studied Buddhist philosophy for many years with Khyenrab Chökyi Odzer. He also received numerous tantric and Dzogchen transmissions and teachings from many masters, including his paternal uncle Togden Ugyen Tendzin (who achieved the rainbow body), maternal uncle Khyentse Rinpoche Chökyi Wangchug, Drubwang Rinpoche Kunga Palden, Negyab Rinpoche, Drugse Gyurmed Dorje, Dzongsar Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö and Bo Gongkar Rinpoche. In 1951, he also received Chöd teachings from Ayu Khandro Dorje Paldrön (1838–1953), a woman who spent over fifty years in dark retreat and was a disciple of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo.

Namkhai Norbu was invited to China in 1953 as a representative of the Tibetan monasteries. After visiting Chengdu and Chungching, he accepted the invitation to teach Tibetan language in Menyag. During this time he met Kangkar Rinpoche, from whom he received instructions on the Six Yogas of Naropa and other teachings.

Namkhai Norbu met his root teacher Rigdzin Changchub Dorje in 1955 and stayed at his residence in Khamdogar for six months. From Changchub Dorje he received the authentic transmission of Dzogchen and realized the essence of the dharma (subsuming both Wylie: 'chos' & 'bon') as one state of knowledge beyond all limitations. This realization has remained a characteristic feature of his way of teaching throughout his life.

In the late 1950s, Namkhai Norbu made a pilgrimage to Tibet, India, and Nepal. Because of the turmoil and aftermath of the 1959 Tibetan Rebellion, he could not return to Tibet from Sikkim, so he stayed in the erstwhile kingdom while working as an author and editor for the Chogyal government.

Professorship

Already recognized as extremely knowledgeable in all aspects of Tibetan culture at the age of 22, he was invited to Italy by Professor Giuseppe Tucci to work at the ISMEO Institute in Rome for two years. In 1962, he took up a post in Naples at the Istituto Universitario Orientale, where he taught Tibetan language and literature until 1992. From the time of his residence in Italy, Namkhai Norbu focused his research mainly on the ancient history of Tibet, investigating thoroughly the native Bön tradition. His books include works on history, Tibetan medicine, astrology, Bön and folk traditions such as namkha. They have been highly appreciated by Tibetans as well as scholars throughout the world.

Trul Khor: Yantra Yoga

In 1971, Namkhai Norbu began to teach Yantra Yoga, an ancient form of Tibetan Yoga combining movement, breathing and visualization. A few years later, he started to give Dzogchen teachings to a small group of Italian students, with whom he founded the 'Dzogchen Community' (Wylie: rdzogs chen 'dus sde).[11] At that time, Dzogchen was relatively unknown in the West.

International Dzogchen Community
Tibetan letter "A", the symbol of body of light

As interest in his teachings grew, Rinpoche dedicated himself to spreading Dzogchen and establishing 'gars' (Tibetan), seats of the International Dzogchen Community, throughout the world. Today there are gars in Italy, the United States, Mexico, Venezuela, Argentina, Australia, Romania, Russia, Spain, Ukraine and China. Apart from his spiritual activity, he founded the International Shang-Shung Institute to preserve the cultural traditions of Tibet, and ASIA, a nonprofit organization in Tibet mainly dedicated to serving the educational and medical needs of the Tibetan people.

Bibliography
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  • A History of Zhang Zhung and Tibet, Volume One - the Early Period (2013) (North Atlantic Books) ISBN 9781583946107
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  • A request to all those who are part of the Dzogchen Community and are linked with Merigar (1987) (Shang Shung Edizioni)
  • Namkhai Norbu at sunset on 15 November 2015
    Comcise Experiental instructions on the short thun as a daily practise for the Dzogchen Community (2001) (Shang Shung Edizioni)
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  • From the Light of Kailash: on Shang Shung (1993) (unpublished)
  • Guru Arya Tara and Her Twenty-One Praises (met CD) (Shang Shung Edizioni)
  • Healing with Fire: A Practical Manual of Tibetan Moxibustion (2011) (Shang Shung Edizioni) ISBN 978-8878341135
  • Instructions for the second level Practices of Santi Maha Sangha (1996) (Shang Shung Edizioni)
  • Journey Among the Tibetan Nomads (2002) ( Paljor) ISBN 81-86470-10-7
  • Journey into the Culture of Tibetan Nomads (1983) (Shang Shung Edizioni)
  • Key for consulting the Tibetan calendar (2003) (Shang Shung Edizioni) ISBN 9788878341234
  • Lhalung Sangdag Teachings on Vajrapani (to be translated by Adriano Clement)
  • Longde Teachings: Based on the Original Texts by Vairochana and Dzin Dharmabodhi (2001) (Shang Shung Edizioni)
  • Mantras and Invocations for the Practices of the Dzogchen Community
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  • On the Tibetan Language, the basis of Tibetan Culture (1992) (unpublished)
  • Oral instruction on The Yoga of Prana for Clarity and emptiness
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  • Primordial Experience: Manjusrfmitra's Treatise on the Meaning of Bodhicitta in rDzogs chen
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  • Santi Maha Sangha Third level, New Edition (to be translated by Adriano Clement)
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  • The Ati Treasury of Contemplation (2008) (Shang Shung Edizioni)
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  • The Cycle of Day and Night and the Upadesha of Vajrasattva (2003) (Shang Shung Edizioni)
  • The Cycle of Day and Night: An Essential Tibetan Text on the Practice of Contemplation (1987) (Station Hill Press) ISBN 0-88268-040-4
  • The Cycle of Day and Night: Where one proceeds along the path of the Primordial Yoga (1984) (Blue Dolphin) ISBN 0-89581-080-8
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  • The Four Contemplations of the Semde (1986) (Shang Shung Edizioni)
  • The Garuda Practice (2000) (Shang Shung Edizioni)
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  • The Mirror: Advice on the Presence of Awareness (1996) (Station Hill Press) ISBN 1-886449-10-4
  • The Necklace of the Jewels (unpublished)
  • The Necklace of Zi (1981) (Shang Shung Edizioni)
  • The Opening of the Door of Intelligence: First level of Santi Maha Sangha Kumar Kumari (1996) (Shang Shung Edizioni) *The Practice and Action Mantras of Dark Garuda
  • The Practice for the Naga (1993) (Shang Shung Edizioni)
  • The Practice in Daily Life (2004) (Shang Shung Edizioni)
  • The Practice of Guru Medicine Buddha
  • The Practice of Narag Tongtrug (1998) (Shang Shung Edizioni)
  • The Practice of Self-Liberation of the Causes of the six Lokas (2004) (Shang Shung Edizioni)
  • The Practice of Sinhamuka (1991) (Shang Shung Edizioni)
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  • The Way to enter the Teaching (2000) (unpublished)
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  • The Yoga of Arya Tara (2001) (Shang Shung Edizioni)
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  • Introduction: The Tibetan Book of the Dead: Awakening Upon Dying (2013) ISBN 9781583945551
  • Introduction: The Golden Letters (1996) (Snow Lion) ISBN 1-55939-050-6
  • Introduction: Togden Shakya Shri. The Life and Liberation of a Tibetan Yogin (2009) (Shang Shung Edizioni) ISBN 978-88-7834-103-6
  • Introduction: You Are the Eyes of the World (2011) (Shambhala ) ISBN 9781559393676

CDs and DVDs

  • Chöd: Cutting through dualism (1995) CD (Amiata Records) ARNR-0193
  • General Introduction to Dzogchen (2009) DVD
  • Music for the Dance of the Vajra (2009) CD (Amiata Records) ARNR-0200
  • My Reincarnation (2012) DVD (New York) ISBN 9781422918746
  • Purification of the Six Lokas (2001) CD (Shang Shung) 10020

See also

Notes
  1. Luca, Veronica De (September 28, 2018). "È morto il maestro Namkhai Norbu: ha fondato il tempio di Merigar".
  2. Granger, Liz (May 19, 2020). "The Biographical Dates of Rigdzin Changchub Dorje". The Mirror. Shang Shung Publications.
  3. Norbu, Namkhai (1980, 1982) The Necklace of Gzi, A Cultural History of Tibet (Information Office of HH the Dalai Lama, Dharamsala).
  4. Dzogchen Romania. A brief biography of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Online: (accessed: May 14, 2008)
  5. Tsegyalgar East. Chögyal Namkhai Norbu (Biographical Sketch). Online: Archived 2008-05-09 at the Wayback Machine (accessed: May 14, 2008)
  6. Saldon, Tenzin (11 September 2018). "Tibetan Buddhist master Prof Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche receives Italy's highest honour | Central Tibetan Administration". tibet.net. Archived from the original on 11 September 2018. Retrieved 2019-02-20. One of the foremost Tibetan Buddhist master, Professor Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche, was honoured with Italy’s highest recognition, Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic on Monday. The President of the Republic of Italy, Sergio Mattarella, has conferred the honour on Prof Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche on the proposal of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers.
  7. "Religion and Culture Kalon offers condolence over the demise of Honorable Kyabje Choegyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche". Central Tibetan Administration. Retrieved 2018-10-06.
  8. Capriles, Elías (2003). Buddhism and Dzogchen: The Doctrine of the Buddha and the Supreme Vehicle of Tibetan Buddhism - Part One Buddhism: A Dzogchen Outlook. University of the Andes: Mérida, Venezuela. Source: (accessed: January 14, 2008) p.5
  9. Norbu, Namkhai (2000). The Crystal and the Way of Light: Sutra, Tantra, Dzogchen. (Snow Lion Publications) pg.19-20 & Notes.
  10. Mindstream emanations may be either body, voice, mind, qualities or activities emanations; refer: Three vajra.
  11. "'dus sde - Rangjung Yeshe Wiki - Dharma Dictionnary". rywiki.tsadra.org.
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