Dorje Zahorma hat
spontaneously originated design by Chhi’mèd Rig’dzin Rinpoche
When Chhi’mèd Rig’dzin Rinpoche visited Cardiff in 1988 most of his suitcase contained texts and therefore a Dorje Zahorma hat needed to be made for the empowerments he was to give to the sangha. Chhi’mèd Rig’dzin Rinpoche explored Ngak’chang Rinpoche’s draw of paper and coloured cards and selected card in red, yellow, green, sky blue, dark blue and white. He then worked with Ngak’chang Rinpoche to create the hat worn in this photograph. Ngak’chang Rinpoche and Chhi’mèd Rig’dzin Rinpoche then went into Cardiff City Centre to visit Howells department store where they matched the colours of the card with the available fabrics as closely as possible.
Ngak’chang Rinpoche recollects:
I went to the counter with the bolts of material and was in the process of ordering a yard of each colour when Chhi’mèd Rig’dzin Rinpoche surprised me by telling me that I should make it two yards of each – and it was only later that he told me that he wanted me to have a hat made for myself as well. Some years later Chhi’mèd Rig’dzin Rinpoche suggested that I should have a new hat made of brocade in Nepal. I was sorry to give up the hat because it held such delightful memories for me.
