‘Their Blessings Are Here’
An Interview with Khenpo Geshe Nyima Rinpoche, Head of Menri’s Dialectic School
From January 29–February 4, Menri Shedrup Khenpo Geshe Nyima Dhondup Rinpoche, head of the Bön Dialectic School at Menri Monastery, visited Charlottesville and taught at Serenity Ridge. During his stay, he attended a welcome dinner with local sangha hosted by Sue Davis-Dill and Norman Dill, went sightseeing, and gave teachings at Serenity Ridge on the nature of mind from both the Zhang Zhung Nyen Gyü and the Ma Gyü. At the end of his teachings, Rob Patzig, Ligmincha’s president and board chair, conducted a short interview.
VOCL: Rinpoche, thank you for making time to talk. You have been in the United States for a while now. Is this your first visit?
KNR: Yes, this is my first time. All the young people, they all want to go to the U.S., so I thought, if I travel, I should go there. [laughter]
VOCL: You have traveled to other countries in the past. Do you like to travel?
KNR: [Pause] Not so much. I have many responsibilities at Menri. It is best when I am there. But it is very nice here.
VOCL: Can you say something about your role at Menri? You are the abbot and the head teacher of the Bön Dialectic School, yes?
KNR: Yes, that is correct. At Menri I am one of several with the main responsibility for the Monastery. There is, of course, His Holiness Lungtok Dawa Dargyal Rinpoche, who has the greatest responsibility, and His Eminence Menri Lopon Trinley Nyima Rinpoche. As khenpo and lopon for the Dialectic School, I am responsible for the training and education of the monks and nuns. This means I must know the sutra, tantra and dzogchen, and teach them to others.
VOCL: You are responsible for the training of the nuns as well as the monks?
KNR: Yes, both. Right now there are 17 or 18 nuns studying [from nearby Redna Menling Nunnery]. They are very good students. The first group should finish [their geshe degrees] in about three to four years.
VOCL: What do you think of Serenity Ridge?
KNR: I am very happy here. As soon as I came, my mind became very peaceful. As the center of Ligmincha International, Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche has created a powerful place for practitioners. And this place has received so many blessings. His Holiness the 33rd Menri Trizin, His Eminence Yongdzin Rinpoche, His Eminence Menri Lopon Rinpoche, Khenpo Tenpa Yungdrung Rinpoche and many, many others have been here. Their blessings are here. I think that this is a very good place for people to come. It will support their practice, and they will get the blessings of so many masters.
VOCL: Do you have any advice or thoughts that you would like to share with Western students of Bön?
KNR: Hmmm, yes. The texts are very important. We are born, and we all die, but the texts continue and carry the teachings. I often say that the texts are the best teacher of all. You should study a little bit every day, as much as your ability allows. But it is also important to practice. Without practice, the wisdom will not develop. So the texts are not enough. That is what I want to say, yes. I think that is enough. Thank you.
Khenpo Nyima Rinpoche’s Biography
Menri Shedrup Khenpo Geshe Nyima Dhondup Rinpoche, or Khenpo Nyima Rinpoche, was born in 1978 in Delhi, India and attended the Central School for Tibetans in Dolanji from the ages of 8–15. In 1992 he was ordained a novice monk and was admitted to the Bön Dialectic School of Menri Monastery. In February 1996, on the anniversary of Nyame Sherap Gyaltsen, he received full ordination from His Holiness Lungtok Tenpai Nyima Rinpoche and from His Eminence Yongdzin Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche.
After more than 15 years of study of Bön sutra, tantra, dzogchen and the five major and minor sciences of the Bön tradition, he received his geshe degree in 2006. In 2008 he was enthroned as Menri Shedrup Lopon, the head teacher of the Bön Dialectic School at Menri Monastery, and in 2012 he was enthroned as the Menri Shedrup Khenpo, the abbot of the Dialectic School.
Khenpo Nyima Rinpoche has been teaching Bön Dialectic School students for more than 15 years, has presented at several Bön and Buddhist conferences, and has contributed articles to various journals. He also has the additional responsibilities of general secretary of the Governing Council of Menri Monastery and, since 2011, director of Menri’s official website (www.theyungdrungbon.com). He is the author of several books that cover the main philosophical teachings in the Bön tradition.
As both head teacher and abbot for the dialectical school, Khenpo Nyima Rinpoche oversees all of the monks and the nuns studying for their geshes degree. Under most circumstances his obligations prevent him from traveling for long periods of time. However, the 34th Menri Trizin, His Holiness Lungtok Dawa Dargyal Rinpoche, was teaching during the time of his visit, and this allowed Khenpo Nyima Rinpoche to visit the United States.
