The Special Connection
with the XVIth Gyalwang Karmapa: 1

The Palpung Transmissions and Rinpoché's Pure Samaya
 

As mentioned above, in 1959 Akong Rinpoché was one of the very few chosen to receive the once-in-a-lifetime protector transmissions from the Karmapa, even though there were scores of tulkus present at Palpung who were much more “eminent” than himself. It is not appropriate to discuss the nature of these transmissions in a public document such as this but those familiar with Vajrayana will understand the exceptional and powerful bond of trust and responsibility that this implied between the Karmapa and Akong Rinpoché as well as between Akong Rinpoché and the Kagyu lineage. It made little sense to the other rinpochés present that this relatively-unknown tulku should be chosen yet, in hindsight, it made every sense when one considers Rinpoché’s later roles both in bringing dharma to the modern world and in his powerful participation in the XVIth Karmapa's time in Europe and the story of the XVIIth  Karmapa’s succession.

Akong Rinpoché’s absolute devotion to the Karmapa is legendary, as was his activity on the Karmapa’s behalf. In general, Rinpoché nearly always played down any of his own achievements and was inclined to speak of his own faults rather than his qualities and to retort by pointing out his own shortcomings whenever people tried to praise him. However, as an exception to this, he stated on many occasions over the years that the one thing he could honestly say in his own favour was that he had maintained a perfect and pure samaya with the XVIth Karmapa and that, for that reason, the transmissions of empowerments that he gave—and that he had received from the Karmapa—were worthwhile ones, even though

“I never had the time to really do these practices myself”.

As a tiny and rather anecdotal instance of this, the author recalls that at one point during the Karmapa’s 1977 European tour, the latter had asked Akong Rinpoché to remain behind for a few minutes in the bus in which we were travelling, to care for his dogs. Life became busy in the place we were visiting and people started asking where Akong Rinpoché was, as his management skills were needed. I searched for him and eventually found him still in the bus and told him people were asking for him...he should come. He explained about the dogs. I suggested that His Holiness probably had forgotten and that I could look after them until one of the Karmapa’s attendants could come for the dogs, freeing Akong Rinpoché to go inside. He absolutely refused, saying

“His Holiness told me to stay and I will not leave until he himself has given the instruction, even if I have to stay here for days. The guru’s command is the guru’s command and my duty is to obey.”

I had to go and disturb the Karmapa to get him to say that Rinpoché could be relieved of his duty. Only then would he budge. He literally took each word of the Karmapa as pure dharma and as sacred instruction, just as Kongtrul Rinpoché describes one should do, in Torch of Certainty. That moment also served as an insight and a teaching for the author. .

......continue to the next part of the story: a Secret Yogi and a Special Emanation