Kyabjé Chhi’mèd Rinpoche & Ngak’chang Rinpoche
at Ngala Nor’dzin & Ngala ’ö-Dzin’s home, Cardiff – 1988
In 1988 Kyabjé ‘Khordong gTérchen Chhi’mèd Rig’dzin Rinpoche visited Ngak’chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen’s sangha in Cardiff, staying with Ngak’chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen for ten days.
Kyabjé Chhi’mèd Rig’dzin Rinpoche gave Inner Tantra teachings on gÇod – and the empowerments of Seng-gé Dongma, Dorje Tröllö, Tröma Nakmo and Guru Drakpo. The apprentices of Ngak’chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen at that time were fortunate to have the rare opportunity to spend time with Kyabjé Chhi’mèd Rig’dzin Rinpoche in a relaxed and informal manner. This picture was taken when Kyabjé Chhi’mèd Rig’dzin Rinpoche and Ngak’chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen had accepted an invitation to share a meal with Ngala Nor’dzin and Ngala ’ö-Dzin at their home. Kyabjé Chhi’mèd Rig’dzin Rinpoche is wearing one of Ngak’chang Rinpoche’s informal waistcoats – one which is used to wear when not in robes.
An explanation is required concerning this
photograph as Ngak’chang Rinpoche appears to
be holding a non-existent glass. Kyabjé Just before the photograph was taken
Chhi’mèd Rig’dzin Rinpoche had informed Ngak’chang Rinpoche that his glass
was empty. Ngak’chang Rinpoche’s glass was
actually full (and sitting in the foreground of the photograph on the right)
but Ngak’chang Rinpoche replied:Yes
Rinpoche – it is.
and formed his hand around an invisible glass. Then
Kyabjé Chhi’mèd Rig’dzin Rinpoche and Ngak’chang
Rinpoche both burst out laughing. Later in the evening Kyabjé Chhi’mèd
Rig’dzin Rinpoche told a highly amusing
story about a hunchback, a person with a club foot, and a mighty demon – and
Ngak’chang Rinpoche has taken great delight
in re-telling that story ever since.
It was also on this occasion that Ngala Nor’dzin
had trouble settling her son Daniel to
sleep – he was about eight months old at the time.
Ngala Nor’dzin remembers:
After having left the room several times to settle Daniel—unsuccessfully—I
was getting up to go and see to him again. Kyabjé Chhi’mèd
Rig’dzin Rinpoche indicated to me
that I should sit down. Within moments Daniel was quiet and when I checked him a
little while later, he was sleeping peacefully and slept soundly for the rest of
the night.
This was the second time that Kyabjé Chhi’mèd Rig’dzin Rinpoche had visited Ngak’chang Rinpoche in Cardiff and Ngala Nor’dzin and Ngala ’ö-Dzin feel most fortunate that they were able to be present on both occasions. During Kyabjé Chhi’mèd Rig’dzin Rinpoche’s first visit, they went on an expedition to share a picnic on a beach about twenty miles away from Cardiff. On this day, Ngala Nor’dzin and Ngala ’ö-Dzin witnessed his manipulation of the elements by stopping the torrential rain so that they were able to have their picnic.
