Lama Tharchin Rinpoche Introduces
Lama Dechen Yeshe Wangmo
Honolulu, 1992
Dear Sangha,
I want to introduce Lama Yeshe Wangmo to all of my Dharma
friends. She is a great practitioner and a wonderful teacher. Generally speaking, in our tradition, a teacher must have turned
the first two wheels of learning and practice before turning the wheel of teaching. First,
one must learn the doctrine of buddhadharma through education. Lama Wangmo has been a
student of Kyapje Kalu Rinpoche for many years, and received a rigorous education in both
doctrine and the Tibetan language, the present source of the Dharma. She served on Kalu
Rinpoche's translation committee, translating the Shey Jya Kun Khyap Dzod (The Treasure of
All-Pervasive Knowledge), an encyclopedic volume by Kongtrul Rinpoche. Not only does Lama
Wangmo have a skillful command of the Tibetan language, she also has profound experience
and understanding, the qualities which make genuine translation possible.
Lama Wangmo turned the second wheel of meditational experience
through accomplishing Kalu Rinpoche's traditional three-year retreat under the superb
guidance of Lama Norlha during his first three-year retreat on New York. Lama Wangmo and I
have spent many years together. As soon as we met, our strong karmic connection through
the Dharma was clear. Lama Wangmo says that our meeting was the result of many prayers to
Kalu Rinpoche. I myself have seen that her education is very strong, her experience and
practice so wonderful, and especially that her motivation is completely pure. Motivation
is the essence of all great qualities. One may be a great scholar with lots of knowledge
or even have much experience but without pure bodhicitta motivation there is no
possibility of true benefit or connection with people. Lama Wangmo's qualities can be
genuinely beneficial.
Of course, there are many reasons that I recommend Lama Wangmo to
my friends. At this time, it is rare to find female lamas, especially ones who are
teaching. This is a great opportunity for anyone to connect with her wisdom qualities, and
for women to have such a role model of accomplishment in the Dharma. Similarly for my
western students, Lama Wangmo can translate Dharma into both the language and culture of
the West, opening up what might sometimes seem an obscure and confusing practice. In this
way, all that Tibetan lamas themselves do not have, Lama Yeshe Wangmo is able to bring to
you.
For several years, we have worked together to support Dharma
activities in Hawaii. Our connection has grown stronger and during the Yeshe Tsogyal
retreat on Oahu last February, I enthroned Lama Wangmo as Hawaii's resident lama giving
her this new name. Since that time, I have been encouraging her to turn the third wheel of
teaching in order to share her wonderful education and experience with all of our sangha.
She has begun to do this by teaching in Hawaii and here at Pema Osel Ling. Everyone agrees
that she's doing a remarkable job and people are completely satisfied.
Now I want to share this with all branch centers of Vajrayana
Foundation, including those in Washington, Hawaii, New York, Mississippi, Arkansas,
Louisiana, Los Angeles and the Bay Area. I have requested that she teach in all these
places to make more firm our connection and practice, While I may only visit my sangha in
these centers once a year, Lama Wangmo can also visit in order to benefit your practice
with additional teachings. Along with other great lamas, she can help support my intention
to spread the Dharma to all of my students who have faith and devotion. I am requesting
that you receive Dharma teachings from her and continue well with your practice.
Please listen to my recommendation now and later you will realize
the benefit of such a teacher. Lama Wangmo has generously agreed to my request to teach in
all of the Vajrayana Foundation's root and branch centers. I wish that anyone who believes
in and trusts me can be introduced to Lama Wangmo's teachings. We have this very good
fortune now, so I hope that everybody can rejoice and be happy.
With love,
Lama Tharchin Rinpoche