When in December 2013 Tulku Lobsang presented the work of Nangten Menlang International to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, His Holiness asked him to introduce Lu Jong to Tibetan exile communities. The Department of Health of the CTA, the Central Tibetan Administration (Tibetan Government-in-Exile), then organized a teaching tour to this effect. Below is the press article excerpted from Emptinez Magazine reporting on this exceptional event.
“In September 2014, Tulku Lobsang Rinpoche received a rare and extraordinary request from the Department of Health of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA): to bring the precious teachings of Lu Jong to the Tibetan community in India … to return them to their roots.
Honored by this request, Rinpoche gave an incredible series of 23 teachings in just 8 days. He taught across India, from Delhi to Dharamsala and from Mundgod to Bylakuppe.
What most of us may not realize is how important these teachings were. In many ways, it was nothing less than a revolution. Historically, in Tibetan Buddhism, these Tantrayana teachings were secret. They were not openly taught—especially not to laypeople. However, Rinpoche has devoted his life to researching, gathering, and preserving these precious teachings in order to improve the health and well-being of all. Because of his dedication and extremely hard work, the benefits of these practices have spread all over the world. Until now, however, they had never been openly taught to Tibetans themselves.
This unprecedented invitation from the CTA was sparked by a private audience that Tulku Lobsang Rinpoche had with His Holiness the Dalai Lama in December 2013. Rinpoche presented to His Holiness all the work he had accomplished over the past 15 years and explained the teachings he was offering to Westerners (see the article An Auspicious Audience). Pleased with Rinpoche’s presentation, His Holiness emphasized that these practices should be openly taught in Tibetan schools and communities.
Thus, when the Department of Health of the Central Tibetan Administration called, Rinpoche graciously accepted their invitation and embarked on one of the most historic teaching tours of his life.
Tulku Lobsang demonstrating the Wisdom Sword Tog Chöd in front of the altar at Gyuto Monastery.
Rinpoche taught Lu Jong (the Five Elements Movements) to thousands of young students and teachers from 11 different Tibetan Children’s Village (TCV) schools. Teaching in Tibetan, the students were immediately drawn to Rinpoche’s charismatic presence. Their laughter filled the air as they learned to exhale through one nostril with the Nine Breathings exercise. The amusement continued as they tried to master the Drongmo Sur Dung movement without losing their balance.
But when Rinpoche demonstrated his skillful means with the Wisdom Sword Tog Chöd and the breathtaking jumps of Tsa Lung, the students sat in awe-filled silence. In that moment, they realized they were witnessing a truly great teacher. He inspired them to move their bodies, improve their health, and—just as importantly—to recognize the power and preciousness of their Tibetan heritage.
During these eight days, Rinpoche also instructed hundreds of monks and nuns in the most important Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and nunneries in India.
At the nunneries of Shugseb, Jamyang Choeling, and Dolma Ling, the nuns listened attentively and with deep respect. They took detailed notes and quickly learned the movements. Rinpoche spoke openly with them about how, because of their strong devotion, they had the best opportunity to preserve these practices and use them to enhance their Dharma studies.
In South India, Rinpoche had the honor of teaching his signature practice of Lu Jong to his friends and peers at Gaden Shartse Monastery, where he had completed his monastic studies in 1992.
As he watched the courtyard filled with monks practicing the Five Elements Movements, Rinpoche noted the irony that years earlier, many of them had laughed when he performed these “strange exercises” between study sessions. The teaching was filled with good humor and practical insight, inspiring the monks to recognize the importance of incorporating these Tantrayana movements into their daily practice.
Rinpoche also had the privilege of teaching at Drepung Loseling Monastery.
Many of the monks attending the teaching already had good exercise routines, but they were especially grateful to learn that Tantrayana Buddhism has its own precious movement practices designed to help them optimize their physical and mental health.
To reach an even broader audience, Rinpoche gave several teachings to thousands of laypeople in community centers and sacred temples such as the Norbulinka Institute and Tsuglagkhang, the Dalai Lama’s temple in Dharamsala.
The audience was filled with people of all ages—from toddlers to grandmothers—who all listened with reverence and amazement to this Tantrayana master who, for the first time in history, was sharing with them ancient secrets to improve both body and mind.
At Tsuglagkhang, Rinpoche gave two teachings on Tsa Lung and Lu Jong.
His demonstrations of Tog Chöd truly inspired the crowd. Here, Rinpoche encouraged the Tibetan public to reclaim their health and their Tibetan heritage.
To ensure that everyone could continue practicing long after the teachings ended, Rinpoche also distributed 10,000 Lu Jong and Gang Gyok videos and posters.
The teachings were such a success that Radio Free Asia interviewed Rinpoche for its Tibetan news channel.
The interview made Tulku Lobsang Rinpoche and his groundbreaking teachings known throughout the Tibetan community in India and across Tibet.
He also received a rare invitation to teach at Men-Tsee-Khang — the Tibetan Medical and Astrological Institute. Speaking to an audience of medical students and teachers, Rinpoche was able to go deeper into explaining how Lu Jong and Tsa Lung work to improve the subtle body and overall health.
Perhaps the most moving moment of the tour came when Rinpoche taught at Gyuto Monastery in Dharamsala.
Gyuto is the largest Tantrayana Buddhist college in India (and in Tibet), where only the highest Geshes of Tibetan Buddhism are allowed to study. Rinpoche spoke at length about the history and purpose of Lu Jong and Tsa Lung practices within Tantrayana Buddhism. He explained how he had modernized these traditional practices to benefit all sentient beings, while emphasizing that their greatest significance lay with Tantrayana practitioners, where they could be restored and reintegrated into the standard teachings.
And as these great practitioners bent forward in unison for their first Nangmo Chu Tung, it was clear that these precious treasures of Tantrayana movement had truly come home.
English version of the Emptinez article: Tulku Lobsang returns home
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