TEACHER OF TEACHERS – LOPÖN TENZIN NAMDAK

Portrait of one of the Dalai Lama's teachers
Broadcast date: Sunday 15-11-2009 12.00 - 13:00 ned. 2
Repeat: Saterday 21-11-2009 09:20 - 10:20 ned. 2
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Long before Buddha Sakyamuni lived Tonpa Shenrab, the founder of the BON religion. It is said that these teachings date back 18,000 years and that it’s roots go back to shamanism in Tibet, among other places.

One of the greatest teachers in the Yungdrung Bon tradition is Lopon Tenzin Namdak. In the ‘60s he taught at Oxford University in England. Because of his vast expertise in Dzogchen, the teaching of the Great Perfection, and his personal transmission of these teachings, Dzogchen became more accessible to western students as well.

The Dalai Lama too has taken Dzogchen teachings by Lopon Tenzin Namdak. Upon support of the Dalai Lama, BON was recognized as the fifth tradition in Tibet a few years ago. After his escape from Tibet, the Lopon spread BON teachings via Nepal and India to Europe and the US. During his teachings at the summer retreats, which are held regularly at his monastery in France, various students give their view on a key element in the Dzogchen teachings: recognizing the ‘nature of the mind’. It becomes clear that Lopon has enriched their lives in a profound way. Recently, the Yungdrung Bon tradition is, also gaining momentum in Mexico. A passionate Mexican entrepreneur visits Lopon in his monastery in Kathmandu and shares with us how the wisdom of this teacher has encouraged him to develop numerous initiatives.

Directed by: George Schouten & Babeth  M. VanLoo
With: Yongdzin Lopon Tenzin Namdak, Kenpo Tenpa Yungdrung Rinpoche, John Myrdin Reynolds, Florens van Canstein, Isabelle van Canstein, Ruby van Canstein ,Leonides Guadarrama, Dmitry Ermikov, Ani Sherab Wangmo
Commissioning editor/producer: : Babeth M. VanLoo  Camera: Alexander Oey, Bernd Wouthuysen
Sound: Leon van Sprakelaar, Martijn van Haalen
Editing: Chris Teerink
Music: George Schouten
Soundmix: Michael Sauvage, Warnier Studio
Color grading: Loods, Lux & Lumen
With gratitude to: Triten Norbutse monastery Nepal, Kenpo Tenpa Yungdrung, Florens van Canstein, Leonides Guadarrama, Shenten Dargyé Ling  monastery France, Isabelle Cantona
© 2009 a Buddhist Broadcasting production