The late 14th Gyalsay Tulku Rinpoche established Sakya Tharpa Ling in 1988. It was the first Sakya centre to be established in Australia. Rinpoche had trained in both Tibet and India and was widely known for his great kindness and generosity. He passed away in Canberra in 1993.
His Eminence 14th Gyalsay Tulku Rinpoche
His Eminence Gyalsay Tulku Rinpoche was born in 1952, the Year of the Water Dragon, to a religious family in the Drong Pa Me Ma village of Nang Chen province, Eastern Tibet. Two of his brothers were also recognised as reincarnate lamas - Ongtrul Rinpoche, by the Drigung Kagyu tradition and Bagyod Rinpoche, by the Karma Kagyu tradition. Both these brothers still live in India. Gyalsay Tulku was a graduate of Sakya College.
In moving to Australia he left behind the large monastery which he founded in Bir, Himachal Pradesh. He also left behind his role in the Tibetan Government in exile in Dharamsala, where he had represented the Sakya tradition for several years. In Australia he was the representative of His Holiness Sakya Trizin, and surprised many with his accessibility and unpretentiousness. While leading a Vajrayogini retreat for several months at Vajradhara Gonpa, he cooked for the students by day and taught the finer points of practice by night. There are not many teachers like this!
His Eminence Gyalsay Tulku Rinpoche first arrived in Australia on his birthday, the 25th of March 1988. He took up his position as resident abbot of Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche's Vajradhara Gonpa in Northern NSW. Most of Rinpoche's first two years in Australia were spent at the Gonpa. Listed in chronological order are His Eminence's main activities during these two years. First, preparation and assistance to His Holiness Sakya Trizin with the Common Lam Dre given at the Gonpa and subsequent attendance with him on a national tour of Australia. During this time Rinpoche also supervised several students in a Vajrapani retreat at the Gonpa. Subsequently Rinpoche himself made a national tour of Australia which included the cities of Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Adelaide, Alice Springs and Darwin. This tour was spent familiarising himself with Australia and giving dharma teachings. On this tour Rinpoche established centres in Darwin and Adelaide.
After returning to the Gonpa Rinpoche spent much of his time in private retreat. He also gave teachings to a small number of students in residence. Gyalsay Tulku prepared and assisted in the initiations and teachings given by His Holiness Gyalwang Drukpa at the Gonpa. This was in December 1988 and January 1989. In the first part of 1989 Rinpoche travelled to France, India, Singapore and Malaysia. He came back to Darwin in August of that year and after giving teachings and initiations he travelled again through Alice Springs to Adelaide, Canberra, and Sydney where he prepared, assisted and acted as translator for Jetsun Kushola's Australian and Asian tour. Rinpoche then led a 3 month Vajrayogini retreat with 15 students.
In 1990 Dzongsar Kkyentse Rinpoche visited and taught at the Gonpa and it was during that visit that Gyalsay Tulku was released from his position as resident teacher, his work there having been completed.
Gyalsay Tulku Rinpoche continued his work in Australia by then moving to Sydney and developing the Sydney Sakya Centre. This centre had been founded and named Sakya Tharpa Ling by His Holiness Sakya Trizin during his previous national tour. The centre had a very small membership and was in inappropriate premises, so Rinpoche's first task was to establish it into new premises.
In the easter of 1990 Sakya Tharpa Ling moved to its first premises in Balmain. This was a small but homely house. The shrine room was established beautifully and Rinpoche commenced transmitting the buddhist teachings in their essence.
At this time the dharma was not very well known in Australia, however the depth of his presence and his teachings helped to deepen the understanding of those who already knew him, and his versatility and humour began to attract new members. He told many stories of the great practitioners, taught dharma ritual and music, taught about Tibetan culture including the cooking of momos and thukpa, and gave traditional tibetan language classes. At this time, which included many social gatherings, such as barbeques and momo dinners, Rinpoche inspired everyone and the centre became a warm and welcoming home for all. Rinpoche also invited teachers and students from other Buddhist traditions to the centre and he thus began establishing the ground for continuing relations with these traditions.
Rinpoche translated and edited into English the Sakya Ngondro: The Excellent Path of the Two Accumulations. Weekly Ngondro and Chenrezig practices commenced on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings and on Sunday mornings a Shamatha and prostration practice. All sessions were comprised of Rinpoche teaching, the sadhana practice and then a gathering for tea or breakfast. The centre also elected a committee, a roster of people cooking for Rinpoche was established and a system of sponsorship formed. Members and friends increased and soon this centre, especially the shrine room was too small.
In 1991 the centre moved to a larger house with a bigger shrine. The stories and laughter continued as did the practices. People reported their lives being radically changed as they learnt the relevance of Buddhism to their daily lives. People wanted to become like Rinpoche, with his kindness, his calmness, his humour and his equanimity. Students watched carefully the way he lived; how he treated others, how he watched movies, and so on. Many began seeking his wisdom on personal matters and he always made time and gave his utmost so that each who was with him felt that they were the most important person in the world at that time. As Rinpoche was one of the few dharma teachers in Sydney people from many traditions came for appointment and asked his advice. Rinpoche gave Chenrezig initiation each year since 1990. He also gave Guru Rinpoche initiation in 1990. He gave Vajrapani initiation to a number of students who then completed their retreats in their Sydney suburban homes or at the centre. Other students attended retreatants and this system encouraged inspiration for further individual retreats in Sydney.
Rinpoche and all his students were heavily involved with the organisations for His Holiness Dalai Lama's Australian visit. Prior to arrival Rinpoche hosted a dinner and raised over $2000 for His Holiness. He introduced His Holiness to the Sydney public at the public talk.
Annual joint retreats began in 1991 between the Sydney and Canberra Sakya centres. Rinpoche taught at these in a way that showed students the real depth of the teachings and his love for them. This now is an annual event. In 1993 at Rinpoche's invitation, Khenpo Migmar Tsering, Principal of the Sakya College taught at the joint retreat.
In 1991 Rinpoche assisted and hosted His Holiness Gyalwang Drukpa's teachings and retreats in Australia. 1991 Rinpoche also hosted Dzongsar Kkyentse's week-long Bardo teachings in Sydney and in 1993 he hosted the visit of Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche and also in 1993 Khenpo Migmar Tsering's Australian tour. All tours have been well organised and well attended thanks to the clear and loving guidance of Rinpoche.
As Rinpoche was the most eminent lama living in Sydney all these teachers requested that Rinpoche guide their students in their absences. Rinpoche did this to the maximum and many students came to love and accept him as their dear friend and guru. Gyalsay Tulku Rinpoche truly had an open mind and was non-sectarian and Rime, even though he and his centre was always Sakya. Rinpoche conceived and organised an annual Joint Tsog in Sydney. These tsogs were a time to bring together the centres of different Tibetan Buddhist lineages, the Tibetan community and organisations working for the Tibetan cause. The first of these joint tsogs took place one week after he died. It became a tribute to him and over 300 people attended. These joint tsogs continue annually.
Other visiting teachers to Rinpoche's Sydney centre included Beru Kkyentse Rinpoche, Sogyal Rinpoche, Geshe Dawa, Ketchog Rinpoche, Lama Samtem, Lama Trijam and Lama Choedak. Through all of Rinpoche's activities friends and students continued to grow and again a bigger centre became needed. It took some time to find the right premises however with Rinpoche's diligence in June 1993, just four months before his death, Sakya Tharpa Ling moved to its new premises. In this time, Rinpoche's activities really flourished. More students became involved each week. He conducted individual interviews, attended the dying, spoke at schools, churches and community organisations, he led the weekly practices, all just as he had done in previous years, however now there seemed to be more involvement from so many different quarters.
At a birthday given for him in 1993, some 60 people were invited. This included well known and lesser known church leaders, politicians, ambassadors, artists, professionals, writers, teachers and so on. Rinpoche was the spiritual advisor to three martial arts schools, one is 'chom den jutsal' which he named and was instrumental in establishing with a student.
Rinpoche had over the years kept working for the freedom of Tibet and human rights. He attended many demonstrations such as those for 10th March 1993, anniversary of Tienamen square, when Chinese foreign ministers came to Australia and protests against the Beijing Olympic bid. He was often the main speaker at these events and spoke passionately about the sufferings of Tibetans and their cry for freedom and independence. He was Tibetan Ambassador at a Tibetan tent embassy, he opened art exhibitions, Tibetan fairs and the like. He spoke often on the radio and on TV about Tibet especially around the time of the Dalai Lama's visit when much local interest was raised.
Rinpoche always sought to fulfill the wishes of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Subsequent to completing his official duties on behalf of the Tibetan Government the Dalai Lama personally requested Rinpoche to continue his good work and represent the Tibetan cause wherever and whenever possible. Again during his visit the Dalai Lama personally congratulated him on his introductory speech and again said for him to continue his good work. Thus all of Rinpoche's students have been actively involved in organisations and activities for the freedom of Tibet. Rinpoche was still advisor to the Tibetan Youth Congress.
As the Tibetan community in Sydney is dispersed Rinpoche always made an effort to bring the entire Tibetan community together. He always encouraged them to practice the dharma and in the few months before his death he organised the joint tsogs and a meeting with them with the Nechung Oracle who was visiting Australia. He also invited them to hold their meetings at the centre. Sydney's Tibetan community loved and respected Gyalsay Tulku and elected him to their executive committee. Rinpoche also worked for the establishment of the Office of Tibet in Australia and when it was recently established he liaised closely with its representative. The ABC made a documentary about this unusual Tibetan Rinpoche living in Sydney.
In 1992 Rinpoche took a group of his students from Australia and Singapore with him on pilgrimage to India. They visited His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Rinpoche's own monastery in Bir amongst other places. Rinpoche continued to support the Bir monastery and encouraged students to send clothes, toys, sponsorship; sell carpets, do retreat and just holiday there. Gyalsay Tulku Rinpoche has three main centres in this world; Driru in Tibet, Bir in India and Sydney in Australia.
In addition to his work in Sydney Rinpoche continued to support his centres in Adelaide and Darwin as well as visit other cities and give talks and lead retreat. Rinpoche's centres in Australia were in Sydney, Adelaide and Darwin. Rinpoche also continued to visit and teach at centres in Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan. Also in San Francisco, USA, where he had a small number of devoted students.
In hindsight it can be seen as a sign that Rinpoche had been planning to be away from his main home in Sydney for most of 1993. He had had meetings with all his students and given final words of advice. He had worked hard with the Sakya Tharpa Ling committee to write a forward plan which included his complete vision for Sakya Tharpa Ling. In the long term he wanted to build a centre, Tibetan in style, that is a thriving hub of spiritual practice and learning, as well as a place of Tibetan cultural activities. He had also outlined a detailed plan of his centre's activities for the next 12 months. Another sign is what he said in teachings of how to be when one has physically lost one's guru. Just a few days before his death he also spontaneously said "someone is dead".
Gyalsay Tulku Rinpoche expired in Canberra's Sakya Centre on 21st November 1993, after having given a Medicine Buddha initiation on Medicine Buddha Day. He died in the early hours of the morning of a spontaneous cerebral haemorrhage His friend Ketchog Rinpoche inspected his body and indicated that all the signs were of a great practitioner. His consciousness left his body immediately. On the night he died his beloved disciples, even in different parts of the world experienced signs. His most dearly beloved brothers also each experienced signs.
Rinpoche's death in Australia really brought to view the inadequacy of foreign laws in handling the body of Tibetan Rinpoches. Because of Rinpoche's death the laws are now being reviewed, thus other beings will benefit from this unfortunate event.
Rinpoche's remains were brought to India and his precious body was cremated on 17th December 1993 amidst some signs.
May all beings know the truth of impermanence that he is now teaching us
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