Meeting a Rinpoche

“Rinpoche” means “precious one” - a title given to reincarnated lamas who are recognized as the rebirth of great masters. Meeting one is a profound blessing, but it requires knowing proper protocol.

Who Are the Rinpoches?

Bhutan has several lineages of reincarnated masters:

• The Je Khenpo - Chief Abbot of Bhutan (highest religious authority)
• The Tertoens - Treasure revealers (Pema Lingpa lineage)
• The Trulkus - Reincarnated lamas from various monasteries
• The Khenpos - Abbots and scholars (not reincarnated but highly respected)

How to Request an Audience

Step 1: Find the Right Connection

You cannot simply walk in. You need:

1. A local introduction - Your guide or tour operator can request
2. A specific purpose - “Blessing for safe journey” or “Teaching on meditation”
3. Proper timing - Not during retreat periods, not during exams

Step 2: Prepare Offerings

Never arrive empty-handed. Standard offerings:

• Kata (ceremonial scarf) - White silk scarf, approximately 1 meter
• Monetary offering - In envelope, appropriate to your means (typical: Nu 500-5,000)
• Butter lamp offering - Pre-pay at monastery, typically Nu 50-100 per lamp
• Fruit or sweets - Fresh, not packaged

Step 3: The Meeting Protocol

Upon entering:

1. Remove shoes before entering the room
2. Approach with hands pressed together in prayer position
3. Bow slightly with head inclined
4. Present kata with BOTH hands, arms extended
5. The Rinpoche will return the kata after blessing it

During the audience:

1. Sit cross-legged if possible (if not, sit with feet tucked behind)
2. Never point feet toward the Rinpoche
3. Listen more than you speak
4. Accept anything offered (tea, blessed fruit, cord)

Upon leaving:

1. Back away a few steps before turning
2. Do not turn your back directly to the Rinpoche
3. Place the returned kata around your neck or over your shoulders

What to Ask - And What NOT to Ask

Appropriate questions:

• “Please bless my family with health and happiness”
• “What practice would you recommend for someone like me?”
• “How can I cultivate compassion in daily life?”
• “Please bless this journey I’m undertaking”

Inappropriate questions:

• “When will I find love/money/success?” (This is fortune-telling, not dharma)
• “Are you really a reincarnation?” (Disrespectful)
• “Can I take a selfie with you?” (Inappropriate unless first requested properly)

The Blessing You’ll Receive

Most Rinpoches will:

1. Place the kata over your shoulders after touching it to their forehead
2. Give you a protected cord (srung sku) to wear around neck or wrist
3. Offer verbal blessing specific to your situation
4. Sometimes give blessed items - pills, pills, water, or small relics

Finding Authentic Opportunities

Legitimate ways to meet:

1. During tshechu festivals - Rinpoches often give public blessings
2. Through monastery request - Your guide submits letter of request
3. At teaching retreats - Some monasteries hold public teachings
4. Special ceremonies - Weddings, house blessings, funerals

Red flags - avoid:

• “Rinpoches” who charge fixed fees for blessings
• Anyone who guarantees material benefits
• Monasteries that refuse to provide credentials

The Meaning of the Blessing

In Bhutanese Buddhism, a Rinpoche’s blessing is not about supernatural power. It’s about:

• Transmission of lineage - Connecting you to centuries of practice
• Opening the heart - The presence of a realized master affects your mind
• Reminding your potential - You already have Buddha nature

The blessing works as a mirror - showing you your own capacity for wisdom and compassion.

After the Meeting

• Wear the blessed cord until it falls off naturally
• Keep the returned kata in a clean, high place in your home
• Practice what was taught - The real blessing is in applying the teaching
• Make offerings to the monastery annually - Maintains connection