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Adopted from Palyul Main Website
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His Holiness Penor Rinpoche is Supreme Head of the Nyingma School, which is the oldest tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. Its origins go back to the eighth century reign of the Dharma King Trisong Deutsen in Tibet. During this time, with the help of Acharya Padmasambhava and Bodhisativa Shantarakshita, the teachings of Sakyamuni Buddha and commentaries of the Indian scholars of Nalanda University were translated in very pure form at Samye, the first Tibetan monastery. This photo is an image of
Padmasambhava at Samye Monastery today.
 The Nyingma teachings are
uniquely categorized in nine yanas, or vehicles. The main practices are emphasized in the three inner tantras of Maha Yoga, Anu Yoga, and Ati Yoga. Ati Yoga is also known as the Great Perfection, Dzogpa Chenpo, or simply as Dzogchen.
The practice of Dzogchen is the heart of the Nyingma tradition. It is the most ancient and direct stream of wisdom within the teachings of Buddhism. Mipham Rinpoche (1846-1912), one of the greatest scholars and masters of Tibet, wrote: "Crowning the banner of the complete teaching of Buddha is the beautiful ornament of the clear light teachings of Dzogpa Chenpo." Through the practice and realization of these teachings, tens of thousands of beings have become enlightened. The Dzogchen teachings are the clearest, most effective and most relevant for the needs of aspirants today. As Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche said:
"Due to the degeneration of time, human beings' minds have become more complex and deluded in their attachment to the external world. So, this age of extreme confusion demands a teaching of comparably extreme power and clarity. "
The Dzogchen teachings have been passed down in an unbroken line from teacher to student from the Primordial Buddha Samatabhadra to the present day, retaining all their freshness, immediacy and power. As HH Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche further explains:
"Dzogchen is a state, the primordial state, that state of total awakening that is the heart-essence of all buddhas and all spiritual paths, and the summit of an individual's spiritual evolution. "
The Nyingma school particularly places an emphasis on practice. His Holiness Penor Rinpoche similarly places this emphasis in the retreat environment. To read more about His Holiness Penor Rinpoche's training, click here. To read about the Palyul lineage, click here. More on the Nyingma tradition from the Tibetan-government-in-exile here.
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