Chhi’mèd Rig’dzin Rinpoche
The Mahasiddha’s Carefree laughter
Chhi’mèd Rig’dzin Rinpoche was one of Ngak’chang Rinpoche’s most wrathful Lamas, and Ngak’chang Rinpoche often describes teaching scenarios in which Chhi’mèd Rig’dzin Rinpoche was alarmingly fierce – but he could also be exceptionally gentle as Ngak’chang Rinpoche explains:
Chhi’mèd Rig’dzin Rinpoche was certainly a wrathful Lama, but this was not his entire persona. Many people experienced his gentle mien – particularly Ngakma Lé-kyi. There were sometimes occasions when the students around Chhi’mèd Rig’dzin Rinpoche were obviously attuned to his teaching and obviously free from major interpersonal neuroses. At times such as this Chhi’mèd Rig’dzin Rinpoche would become vividly carefree in his expression, and the retreat in Yorkshire was one such occasion. Chhi’mèd Rig’dzin Rinpoche loved the landscape of the Yorkshire Moors and commented that it looked familiar to him. One evening Chhi’mèd Rig’dzin Rinpoche asked people to tell him stories about their lives which they found humorous – and a fascinating evening followed in which people were almost in pain from laughter. Everyone seemed contented and uncharacteristically unselfconscious. One could never tell which way Chhi’mèd Rig’dzin Rinpoche was going to shape an event – all one could tell was that it would be a life-changing experience.
