ABOUT OUR RINPOCHE
		Chödje Lama Gawang Rinpoche As a boy of seven years old Gawang was accepted in the Tibetan Kyobdrak monastery for his initial schooling as a Lama to be. When he was only nine he already concluded that meditation would be of essential value to him and started his first retreat. He meditated early on the yidam Dorje Phurba, which he realized. From his 13th until his 30th he was instructed in various ceremonies; making tormas (ritual cakes); the liturgic chodje dances; playing the musical instruments used in Tibetan rituals; and of course in the esoteric teachings of Tantric Buddhism in the Nyingma and Kagyu tradition. On his 30th, following the invasion of the Chinese army, he fled from Tibet. Upon his arrival in India he went to the holy place of Guru Rinpoche - who is also called Padmasambhava, the 'Lotus Born' - in Tso Pema, for a long and intensive retreat during which he realized Chenrezig and other major meditative objectives. There he led an ascetic life as a yogi without possessions and he hardly took any food. After eight years in his cave on top of Tso Pema, his tutors, the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa and the widely venerated Kalu Rinpoche, sent him a letter instructing him that his retreat in solitude had lasted long enough and that he had to return from his cave to serve the living beings in the six realms of suffering - samsara. Following the orders of these two highest dignitaries of the Kagyu lineage of that moment, he finished his successful retreat and left for the Rumtek monastery in Sikkim, the formal seat of the Gyalwa Karmapa in India. In Rumtek he received all required attributes for his Lamaship from the 16th Karmapa and was sent to the Netherlands as the Karmapa's envoy for Northern and Middle Europe with the instruction to occupy himself with spreading the Dharma and to promote well being in the area. Still, now until his 80th, he is daily occupied to fulfill this mission and indeed, his wisdom, humor and activities have a beneficial and peace instilling effect on whoever has experienced his presence for some time - animals included. At first he settled himself in the middle of the Netherlands, but after the donation of a piece of land with and old farmhouse on it in the Northern province of Friesland, near the terp (and age-old artificial knoll) village of Hantum close to the North Sea, he moved there and initiated the construction of the centre including a majestic Stupa. Especially just before dawn in the season time when the leaves have fallen, it is an impressive spectacle to see the Stupa rise from the early morning haze of the lowlands - as an altruistic yet powerful beacon for any sentient being. Apart from giving courses, initiations and special services (pujas in Tibetan, sadhanas in Sanskrit), no day passes or Gawang Rinpoche provides his regular morning and evening pujas. These are respectively: the Tara puja in the early morning; incidental special pujas during the late morning and afternoon; and, the Mahakala puja in the evening. There are many in the region who - even though most of them are not Buddhists - would not like to miss Gawang Rinpoche's beneficial presence in their surroundings. This appreciation is mutual because his regular trips to his second homeland India notwithstanding - to visit the major Kagyu events and see his old fellow Lamas again - he always gladly returns to Hantum to continue his duties. Not only in the Netherlands he is seen as the foremost Buddhist dignitary, but also in Germany, Austria and France. In 2005, during the 25th anniversary of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Beatrix in the Utrecht Cathedral, Chödje Lama Gawang Rinpoche was present as the representative of the Dutch Buddhist community on the Queen's personal invitation. In 1981, after the death of the 16th Karmapa who, during his bodily life, was Gawang Rinpoche's root guru and next highest in the line of transmission, it took several years before the regents, among whom was Tai Situ Rinpoche, had located the rebirth of the 16th Karmapa in a deserted part of Tibet on instructions left by the deceased former Karmapa. The question is then whether the newly found Karmapa and his former close ones will experience recognition. When Gawang Rinpoche arrived for the first audition with the young new 17th Gyalwa Karmapa there was no more doubt. Their eyes became moist as a result of joy of the reunion and for Gawang Rinpoche it was clear that Ogyen Trinley Dorje is the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, his reborn root guru. Concluding this short profile - something more about the name of our Rinpoche. Chödje means Dharma Boss according to Gawang Rinpoche... with a wink and tongue in the cheek. More precisely it means Dharma Lord (Chö - Dharma; Dje - Lord). As for the term Lama, many Westerners think that it means monk, but this is not correct. In the Kagyu lineage a Lama does indeed live under celibacy in a monastery or secluded retreat during his/her education, initiations and concluding meditations, but thereafter he/she can accept a position in society as a spiritual counselor and can start a household. La means height and Ma means mother; Gawang is his given name and Rinpoche may be translated as (precious) jewel of the faith. Generally he is referred to as Gawang Rinpoche and is commonly addressed as Rinpoche.
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