KHEN RINPOCHE DAWAI WOZER
Besides being learned in an infinity of textual traditions and having perfected the
excellent qualities of a monk, Supreme Khen Rinpoche Dawai Wozer immersed
himself in Dzogchen night and day. Unstained by the eight worldly obsessions, he
stayed in solitude and there joyfully took hold of the victory banner of
accomplishment. He lived as a hidden yogin-practitioner.
Whenever I met him, a special feeling would come over me. Whatever teaching
and advice Khen Rinpoche gave, it was always extremely touching. For example,
one day when he was speaking about the benefits of Longchenpa’s Seven
Treasuries, such strong faith was induced in me that my hair stood up on end, my
eyes became wet with tears, and I said to Khen Rinpoche that I was going to try to
have the Seven Treasuries written out in gold. He replied, “It is an excellent project
to have the Seven Treasuries written out in gold, but the most important thing is to
live what they teach, and it’s best if you just get wooden printing blocks carved for
them.”
Similarly, one day he told the life story of Kunu Lama Tenzin Gyeltsen—how for
thirteen years Kunu Lama wandered from place to place, meeting teachers, going
on pilgrimage, listening, contemplating and meditating on an ocean of different
texts, and staying in places where he was totally unknown. Khen Rinpoche praised
this kind of lifestyle tremendously. I told him, “I’m also going to do that.” He
replied, “That is an admirable aspiration. But you should know that for those who
are realized, it makes no difference whether they are on the move or stay in one
place, and for people like us, it is best not to travel around to many different
places; it’s better if we stay in one place. Stay in one place and realize the
dharma!” As everyone knows well, I am not subject to sudden impulsive thinking,
but the way Khen Rinpoche used to teach, his proclamations of truth would shake
me up and turn my mind around.
In short, the little knowledge I now have and my external appearance as a
dharma practitioner, directly and indirectly, are solely due to the kindness of Khen
Dawai Wozer Rinpoche. He has influenced me more than anyone else in my life,
and I acknowledge him as one of my root gurus endowed with the threefold
kindness I can never forget.
With regard to how I received Dzogchen pointing-out instructions, one time
when I was receiving teaching on Longchenpa’s The Treasury of the Dharmadhatu,
I said to Khen Rinpoche, “We’re already about halfway through the text, but so far,
even though I understand the words, I don’t have even the slightest understanding
or experience about the real meaning of pure presence [rigpa]. What should I do?”
Khen Rinpoche then said, “It’s not a problem. Supplicate Longchenpa one-
pointedly. Chant the root text continuously and then at some point, due to some
adventitious condition, you will recognize rigpa.
“For example, the great scholar and undisputed reincarnation Dza Patrul
Rinpoche, although he had relied for a very long time on genuine teachers without
ever parting from them, he recognized rigpa, the nature of mind, in the following
way: Once when Patrul Rinpoche was coming down from Shri Singha, he met Do