Tcheu Sengey Tsewa - January 2005

Teachings by His Holiness 12th Gyalwang Drukpa Drukpa Plouray, Brittany, France. New Year 2005

by Angela Poole-Chivers/Jigme Tsomo

The Tcheu Sengue Tsewa teachings are specific to the Drukpa Lineage. This is a secret and tantric practice, a true Terma, revealed by Machik Labdron to Pema Karpo (the Fourth Gyalwang Drukpa). The text was transmitted to His Holiness from his late Guru, His Eminence the First Thuksay Rinpoche, who requested His Holiness to expand the text and transmit these teachings to his students in the future. Traditionally Tcheu Sengue Tsewa is only transmitted to students on completion of Preliminary practices. It was therefore with great fortune that, with His Holiness's unique style of teaching, encompassing His infinite wisdom; clarity; humour; unconditional love and compassion, the essence of this new teaching seeped into our consciousness

His Holiness emphasised the obstacles on our path, which are the root of all suffering, such as hope, fear, attachment, the polarities of subject and object, the basic foundation of our ego. He emphasised the need to develop Prajnaparamita, Prajna meaning the wisdom of all emptiness, which is the foundation of all practices. As we develop equanimity with wisdom, understanding and awareness, then the obstacles of hope, fear, attachment, diseases and accidents will gradually reduce. His Holiness continued that we also need to attain Diamond like concentration to realise the Union of Emptiness and Form. Therefore our main goal is to realise this phenomena, which is primordial, within us already, our Buddha nature. So with the realisation that we are not spiritually qualified to receive the teachings of Tcheu Sengue Tsewa,

His Holiness with such loving kindness, bestowed on us these teachings and the initiation. We were truly privileged and humbled to be present on such a momentous occasion. Consequently our goal is to accumulate merit and wisdom with pure minds and altruism and to become great practitioners with humility and without fanaticism. That practice is, every moment of our lives, to be open in the present moment, whatever the situation. As we develop Bodhicitta, the development of awareness in the present moment can offer profound insight, if we are open enough to receive it. His Holiness encouraged us to commit ourselves to Preliminary Practices and familiarise ourselves with Tcheu Sengue Tsewa practice. This enables us to develop determination, perseverance and devotion as we progress on our path. Tcheu Sengue Tsewa eventually will become our ultimate practice. As each day converged into the next, all too soon we found the retreat nearing its end. We celebrated the New Year with a Great Tcheu Sengue Tsewa Ganachackra, and the offering of 1000 lamps at the Stupa, giving a magical display.

His Holiness informed us of the tragedy of the Tsunami that had taken place in the Indian Ocean that had affected parts of Asia. Of the hundreds of thousands of people who had lost their lives, or their homes and everything they owned. We offered prayers for all sentient beings and especially those who had died or been affected by the Tsunami. Such incomprehensible news brought home to me the preciousness of a human birth. Your Holiness we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for bestowing on us such grace and blessings, we are truly humbled to receive the Tcheu Sengue Tsewa initiation and teachings. That with devotion and Prajnaparamita we will attain realisation and that you will remain with us as our guide and Great Master in this life and future lives, for time immemorial.