Main practices at Dropan Ling

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Vidyadhara Guru Sadhana (also known as Big Rigdzin) is the main practice of the Khordong tradition. This terma (a Dharma treasure) has been discovered in the seventeenth century by Nudan Dorje Dropan Lingpa, who was the founder of the Khordong lineage. While Big Rigdzin contains instructions to meditation, it remains as the shorter version of the elaborate practice of guru yoga.

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Padmasambhava’s Practice (Small Rigdzin) is as short, daily practice of Padmasambava’s guru yoga. It is a terma that also has been discovered by Nudan Dorje. According to Chhimed Rigdzin Rinpoche many sentient beings have achieved Buddhahood thanks to this very practice.

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Butter Lamps Offering is a group practice that entails offering of 100 000 aflame butter lamps. This practice is conducted every year here in Dropan Ling and Khordong monastery in India. The light of the flame of the butter lamps is said to light up the darkness of ignorance. The practice consists of cleaning the lamps, filling them with oil, lighting them up, and finally the recitation of the offering prayer. Each one of those activities helps in purifying the affliction of the mind. For instance, Vajrasattva’s mantra should be recited during the cleaning of the lamps, which transforms the activity of cleaning dirty lamps into the activity of purifying negative karma. The prayer of offering the laps is the tercho of Chhimed Rigdzin Rinpoche, which he discovered during a three-year long retreat. Thanks to its recent discovery, this terma brings extraordinary blessings.

At Dropan Ling, during the Butter Lamps Offering retreat we practice the butter lamp offering twice a day, we also conduct the practice of Big and Small Rigdzin. The whole course lasts for three weeks and it is a time of intense and diligent practice. Every year, Tulku Migme, who is Chhimed Rigdzin Rinpoche’s son, participates in this course.

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Dorje Phurba Drubchen – drubchen is an intensive group practice that only lasts for a couple of days. This practice consists of the constant, unbroken recitation of mantras and an elaborate ritual. The intensive practice renews broken vows and its benefits resemble the benefits of mediation in retreat. Dorje Phurba Drubchen provides protection and allows overcoming of obstacles. The yearly practice of this drubchen has been initiated in Dropan Ling by Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche and it is conducted in accordance with the traditions of the Jangter lineage. The text of the practice is the terma (Dharma treasure) of Rigdzin Godem.

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Chod is a practice that is conducted by groups, but by individuals. It engages abandonment of the attachment to one’s own body and the development of compassion and generosity for all sentient beings, particularly our enemies and those who want to cross us. All of this can be accomplished through an understanding emptiness that is both the method and the goal of the practice. Numerous versions of the chod practice are conducted in the tradition of Dropan Ling, namely the termas of Nudan Dorje, Gonpo Wangyal, and Jigme Lingpa.

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Dorje Drollo Sadhana is a very elaborate practice that is conducted either by groups or on individual retreats. Dorje Drollo is one of eight manifestations of Padmasambhava. It is a wrathful form, which overcomes obstacles. The practice conducted in Dropan Ling is a terma of Nudan Dorje.

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