Teachings given at Miaocheng Dharma Garden on March 15, 2019
I have studied the teachings of Kurukulla under many masters, but I received the complete transmission from Langga Rinpoche and Sakya Dachen Rinpoche. While in the United States, I spent a month under Dachen Rinpoche receiving the teachings and empowerments of the Sakya school’s uncommon lineage of the Three Red Deities, as well as common and uncommon oral instructions. I received the complete transmission from Langga Rinpoche. I also received other Kurukulla teachings from Penor Rinpoche, Karma Chame Rinpoche, and Pema Rinpoche, but the complete common and uncommon transmissions were primarily received from Langga Rinpoche and Dachen Rinpoche. Especially from Langga Rinpoche, I received four or five common and uncommon empowerments and uncommon teachings from him. The Kurukulla nectar pills, fire offerings, and the painting of the Kurukulla protective wheel were all personally taught to me by Langga Rinpoche.
I transmit the teachings of Kurukulla every year on the eighth day of the second lunar month, sometimes more than once, and I have also transmitted them several times when disciples specifically requested it. The reason I transmit them annually is because Langga Rinpoche instructed me to transmit this teaching in the future. He also instructed his attendant, Jigme Drikung, and other disciples to learn from me if he were unable to transmit it in the future. Therefore, I must fulfill my Guru’s instructions and repay his kindness.
Langga Rinpoche’s passing anniversary is not the eighth day of the second lunar month, but he particularly liked it. Although every eighth day is Kurukulla’s day, because my Guru liked this day, we have designated the eighth day of the second lunar month as Langga Rinpoche’s memorial day. On this day, we hold a memorial ceremony, and regardless of the number of attendees, we practice Kurukulla as an offering to our Guru.
The mantra of Kurukulla is a secret mantra. According to the old Sakya tradition, those who haven’t received empowerment and oral transmission cannot see the texts or hear the mantra. However, things are different now. Previously, the thirteen golden teachings of the Sakya school were only transmitted within the school, and even then, only among the transmitting masters; they weren’t transmitted to the general public. Later, the Chapa Rinpoche transmitted it to the Panchen Lama’s master, and after that, the thirteen golden teachings were transmitted more openly to other schools. Kurukulla’s mantra is mentioned not only in Hevajra but also in other scriptures such as the Tara Tantra. Although it’s a secret mantra, reciting it with someone who has received oral transmission is generally not a problem.
While the Nyingma and Kagyu schools consider Kurukulla a very secret deity, they don’t maintain strict secrecy. The Sakya and Gelug schools are very secretive, especially in the old Sakya tradition. Without extensive prior practice, it was almost impossible to receive secret empowerments. Things have changed slightly in the last ten years or so. Among the great masters of the Sakya school, His Holiness Dachen Rinpoche transmits the teachings publicly, while Pandita Rinpoche requires that the preceding preparatory work be completed before he can transmit them. Other masters, such as Sakya Gyaltsen Rinpoche, Luding Khen Rinpoche, and Pema Rinpoche, transmit the teachings in a very confidential manner.
Pema Rinpoche said that the unique empowerments cannot be transmitted to those who haven’t done the necessary practices. Pema Rinpoche stayed with us for a long time; he transmitted the Thirteen Golden Teachings in Taiwan right here. At that time, he asked everyone if they had received the highest tantric empowerments and done the necessary practices. This requirement is also mentioned in our Dharma newsletters. He did the same in other places; not everyone could come, there were very strict requirements.
Personally, regarding the Kurukulla mantra, simply reciting the mantra is fine, but the visualizations and rituals within cannot be transmitted or viewed by those who haven’t received empowerment and oral transmission. For example, the complete collection of teachings by my Second Rinchen Tsewang Norbu has been printed and is available online; the 12 ebooks can be downloaded from many websites. However, I didn’t include two teachings: one on Red Tara and one on Rahula. When they were printed, Shakya Rinpoche specifically requested that they not be included. Similarly, you can’t find the complete ritual of the Three Red Deities in any of the Sakya school’s practices online, but the mantras are sung by many masters and singers, and they’re everywhere online. So there’s nothing wrong with just reciting the mantras.
The mantra of Kurukulla is only found in the highest tantras, including the Kriya Tantra, Charya Tantra, Inner Tantra, Outer Tantra, and Secret Tantra. Of these three, only the Secret Tantra contains it; Kurukulla is not found in the Outer or Inner Tantras. In terms of hierarchy, she is an extremely secret deity. The rituals and visualizations of the generation and completion stages also belong to the Secret aspect. Regarding the Kriya Tantra, mudras, clothing, directions, and timing are all confidential. Yesterday, I also mentioned that recordings and sharing are not allowed; simply reciting the mantra is acceptable. This is my opinion, and other masters may not agree.