Timeless Rapture: Inspired Verse from the Shangpa Masters

The Shangpa Masters and Their Lineage 357
One time, Jamgon Kongtrul the Great, already an important lama
of Palpung Monastery, had entered a strictly sealed retreat. During
the course of this retreat he heard that the principal holder of the
Shangpa Instruction Lineage, one Lama Norbu (Zhenpen Özer)
was to visit Palpung. Kongtrul was already familiar with the
Shangpa tradition and had profound respect for these teachings.
He had also heard that Lama Norbu was an extraordinary individual.
He felt the opportunity to receive the transmission directly
from this, the actual lineage holder, was an extremely rare one, and
so made the decision to break his retreat in order to meet this person.
Hearing of the arrival of Lama Norbu, Kongtrul left his retreat
and made his way to the visitor’s apartments to pay his respects,
and investigate the possibility of receiving transmission from this
lama. Upon arriving in Lama Norbu’s room, Kongtrul found he
was completely ignored. Although one of the principal lamas of
the monastery, it was as though he didn’t exist! To Jamgon
Kongtrul’s great consternation, as long as he remained, no sign was
given that he was even present.
Very disturbed by this turn of events, Kongtrul returned to his
own rooms. He reflected on his misfortune, and wondered what
former negative actions he must have committed to so rupture his
connection to the Shangpa tradition and its lineage holder. At no
point did he entertain any thought critical of Lama Norbu; rather
he examined himself again and again to discern his own faults. So
concerned was he that he did not sleep that night but passed the
whole of it reflecting on his own shortcomings, performing confession
and purification, and reciting the mantra of Vajrasattva.
As dawn was approaching an idea entered into Kongtrul’s mind.
Perhaps by offering to establish a retreat center expressly dedicated
to the propagation of the teachings of the Shangpa tradition he
would be able to make atonement and so establish a fruitful personal
connection with these teachings! The more he considered
this idea, the more convinced he became of its appropriateness.
First thing in the morning, Kongtrul once again made his way
to the rooms of Lama Norbu with this idea foremost in his mind.
As he was entering the room, before he could say a word, Lama
Norbu addressed him saying, “That is an excellent idea! I don’t