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Letter from Khenting Tai Situpa Regarding Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche's Retreat

In early June, 2011, Mingyur Rinpoche left his monastery in Bodhgaya, India to begin a period of extended solitary retreat. He departed in the middle of the night without telling anyone. He did not take any money or belongings, just the clothes he was wearing. The day after he left, his close friend and attendant, Lama Soto, found a letter in his room which may be found here.

The following letter was written by Mingyur Rinpoche's teacher, Khenting Tai Situ Rinpoche:

To all those connected with pure samaya to the sacred Dharma,

On June 9th, 2011, Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche's attendant, Lama Soto, arrived with the letter that Mingyur Rinpoche left behind. Based on the intent of this letter and on the account provided by Lama Soto, [it seems that] Mingyur Rinpoche has left to practice for a number of years, wandering without any fixed location like the yogis of times past.

To help ensure that Mingyur Rinpoche's pure intention meets with success, and that his efforts to emulate the deeds of the holy beings of the past do not meet with any outer or inner obstacles, I myself will pray to the buddhas and bodhisattvas of the ten directions and enjoin the enlightened activities of the ocean of oath-bound Dharma protectors.

All the students in the Dharma communities and monasteries connected to Mingyur Rinpoche should do their share by continuing to practice the Dharma and continuing to nurture, and not lose sight of, the root of the Buddha's teachings. As stated above, to ensure that Rinpoche's profound efforts to practice for the benefit of the teachings and beings, the following should be performed: a single recitation of the entire Kangyur (the Collected Teachings of the Victorious One), one hundred thousand Tara recitations, the guru yoga practices of Marpa, Milarepa, and Gampopa, one hundred million recitations of the Seven Line Supplication, one hundred million recitations of the hundred-syllable mantra, and one hundred thousand amendment and feast offerings to Mahakala and Mahakali. In addition, it is also important to perform on a vast scale whatever Dharma practices one deems appropriate.

This was written at the monastic seat of Palpung Sherab Ling Monastery by Khenting Tai Situpa on June 24th, 2011. May it be meaningful.

To download the original version of the letter, click here.