Khandro Rinpoche: A Modern Dakini

- through Henry Oudin

Published on

Meeting with an exceptional master, daughter of one of the most eminent representatives of Vajrayana, Mindrolling Trichen Rinpoche, and one of the rare women to impose herself in the essentially male world of Buddhist teachers.

You are the daughter of a recognized Tibetan Buddhist master. How did you manage to find your place in such a context?

I was very lucky to be born into a family of great visionary masters and to receive teachings from them. They had a very clear understanding of gender equality, male and female. In Eastern countries, Buddhism evolved in a cultural context of patriarchal societies. However, society influences the points of view of individuals. But all these great masters possessed such a spirit of wisdom that they had this ability never to discourage me, and especially not because I was a woman.

It was therefore not difficult to work with them and I was very well guided. But beyond the teachers, there is the structure of the monastic system as well as the culture of Tibetans and Eastern societies. All of this is often a challenge for a woman. However, as you advance in your own understanding of Buddhism and the teachings, you learn to see difficulties as inspiration. You learn not to always follow what others think, but to be more true to your own heart. You think: is it about being influenced by society or finding your own way? The strength of buddhist teachings has always been what allowed me to work with difficulties in a more constructive way.

What type of obstacles did you have to overcome?

My sister and I were the only two women to study among five hundred men. The position of women, whether they are teachers, practitioners or meditators, is not always easy. Day after day, you are faced with challenges. You also have to constantly work with people's assumptions about what a female practitioner or teacher is supposed to be. It requires being more aware of what you are doing and why you are doing it. But still, some people have a very archaic and traditional outlook. Then arise the problems linked to the inequality between men and women and we must strive to resolve them. Sometimes it can be quite challenging, but sometimes quite fun, too.

What relationship did you have with your father, who was also your master?

I consider him above all as my master, my guru. He was one of the most outstanding enlightened beings of his generation. One could not dream of a greater source of inspiration. The role of a teacher is not only to give you teachings, he must also be a living example of what he teaches you. In this sense, those of us who had the opportunity to study with Mindrolling Trichen Rinpoche were very lucky: he was not just a teacher, he brought the teachings to life within him. With such a person in your life, it is not difficult to trust in the master, but also in the fact that you can manage to follow the path he shows.

“I consider my father above all as my master, my guru. He was one of the most outstanding enlightened beings of his generation. Those of us who had the opportunity to study with Mindrolling Trichen Rinpoche were very lucky: he was not just a teacher, he brought the teachings to life within him. »

What I admire most about him is that he had absolutely no dualistic conception of what women could or could not do. My sister and I were very lucky, because as a teacher and as a parent, he had this absolute confidence in the fundamental qualities of every human being, male or female without distinction. He was also an exceptionally kind father. He was all for spoiling his daughters. My mother was the stricter of the two. With my father, we could always get what we wanted. He was a very loving parent and a wonderful teacher.

What does it mean to be a manifestation of a Dakini?

(Laughs) I think people use the word Dakini very loosely, whereas the Dakini principle has much more to do with wisdom. Some think that by calling a woman Dakini they are paying her a compliment. I find it amusing. Admittedly, this is one, but on the other hand, the Dakini principle is above all the full and complete incarnation of wisdom. Any person, male or female, who expresses this uncompromising wisdom of absolute truth, could therefore be said to be a Dakini. (a Daka for a man, editor's note)

photo of author

Henry Oudin

Henry Oudin is a Buddhist scholar, spiritual adventurer and journalist. He is a passionate seeker of the depths of Buddhist wisdom, and travels regularly to learn more about Buddhism and spiritual cultures. By sharing his knowledge and life experiences on Buddhist News, Henry hopes to inspire others to embrace more spiritual and mindful ways of living.

Leave comments