Drikung monks with long hair

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Varis
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Drikung monks with long hair

Post by Varis »

Does anyone know why a lot of Drikungpa monks have long hair? I've heard it's because of retreat commitments, but many seem to keep it outside of retreat as well, and you really don't see the same thing with other Kagyupas.
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PuerAzaelis
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Re: Drikung monks with long hair

Post by PuerAzaelis »

It’s because Garchen Rinpoche is metal.

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Lhasa
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Re: Drikung monks with long hair

Post by Lhasa »

PuerAzaelis wrote: Thu Jan 25, 2018 1:54 am It’s because Garchen Rinpoche is metal.

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Varis
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Re: Drikung monks with long hair

Post by Varis »

PuerAzaelis wrote: Thu Jan 25, 2018 1:54 am It’s because Garchen Rinpoche is metal.

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:twothumbsup:
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bryandavis
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Re: Drikung monks with long hair

Post by bryandavis »

Varis wrote: Thu Jan 25, 2018 1:29 am Does anyone know why a lot of Drikungpa monks have long hair? I've heard it's because of retreat commitments, but many seem to keep it outside of retreat as well, and you really don't see the same thing with other Kagyupas.
There is a strong tradition of retreat in Drikung. Usually practitioners of Chakrasamvara / Vajrayogini in this tradition do not cut there hair for retreat commitments, that is correct. Some when then exit retreat due to personal choice and a strong connection to their practice tend to not cut their hair.

Some do not cut their hair due to advice of their Guru. Some are not monks, so they do not have any reason to shave their heads if they do not wish. Some think long dreaded hair will make them more authentic. Some are lazy. Some have a a big mole on their head and are shy because of that so they keep their hair long to cover it up.

That is as much as I know from my time around Drikungpas.

:cheers:
Varis
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Re: Drikung monks with long hair

Post by Varis »

bryandavis wrote: Thu Jan 25, 2018 6:30 pm
Varis wrote: Thu Jan 25, 2018 1:29 am Does anyone know why a lot of Drikungpa monks have long hair? I've heard it's because of retreat commitments, but many seem to keep it outside of retreat as well, and you really don't see the same thing with other Kagyupas.
There is a strong tradition of retreat in Drikung. Usually practitioners of Chakrasamvara / Vajrayogini in this tradition do not cut there hair for retreat commitments, that is correct. Some when then exit retreat due to personal choice and a strong connection to their practice tend to not cut their hair.

Some do not cut their hair due to advice of their Guru. Some are not monks, so they do not have any reason to shave their heads if they do not wish. Some think long dreaded hair will make them more authentic. Some are lazy. Some have a a big mole on their head and are shy because of that so they keep their hair long to cover it up.

That is as much as I know from my time around Drikungpas.

:cheers:
Interesting, thank you!
Does any tradition have a strong connection with wandering yogis? I noticed quite a few Gandenpas who practice their special Chod seem to engange in wandering retreats. Is this common across the board, or do Gandenpas in particular do wandering retreats the most?
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Re: Drikung monks with long hair

Post by pemachophel »

this is not especially a gandenpa practice. serious chod practitioners of all sects tend to do 108 springs retreat where they go from spring to spring to practice chod. some also go from charnel ground to charnel ground. ime, most return to their previous lives after the retreat is over, either as monk or ngakpa. probably only a small percent keep up the wandering lifestyle. read Lama Wangdu's bio for a description of a "wandering" chod retreat.
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Varis
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Re: Drikung monks with long hair

Post by Varis »

pemachophel wrote: Thu Jan 25, 2018 8:45 pm this is not especially a gandenpa practice. serious chod practitioners of all sects tend to do 108 springs retreat where they go from spring to spring to practice chod. some also go from charnel ground to charnel ground. ime, most return to their previous lives after the retreat is over, either as monk or ngakpa. probably only a small percent keep up the wandering lifestyle. read Lama Wangdu's bio for a description of a "wandering" chod retreat.
Understood, thank you.
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Re: Drikung monks with long hair

Post by Norwegian »

Just to add, it's not at all the case that only Drikung Kagyus have long hair in the Kagyu school. There is also the Togdens of the Drukpa Kagyu school. In short, these are fully ordained monks who through qualified study and practice have received permission to do long-term strict solitary retreat (often several decades long), and they cease cutting their hair upon entering retreat. Their hair tend to be in the form of either dreadlocks or mats. When they emerge from retreat, they may receive the title of "Togden", which means that they have realization. There are not many of them, as there are very strict qualifications for receiving that title. They do not marry or have children.

Some photos:

https://scontent.ftrd3-1.fna.fbcdn.net/ ... e=5ADE61F6
https://scontent.ftrd3-1.fna.fbcdn.net/ ... e=5AF47206
https://scontent.ftrd3-1.fna.fbcdn.net/ ... e=5ADD3702
https://scontent.ftrd3-1.fna.fbcdn.net/ ... e=5B247E10
https://scontent.ftrd3-1.fna.fbcdn.net/ ... e=5AE0C184
https://scontent.ftrd3-1.fna.fbcdn.net/ ... e=5AF18F6A
Varis
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Re: Drikung monks with long hair

Post by Varis »

Norwegian wrote: Thu Jan 25, 2018 11:20 pm Just to add, it's not at all the case that only Drikung Kagyus have long hair in the Kagyu school. There is also the Togdens of the Drukpa Kagyu school. In short, these are fully ordained monks who through qualified study and practice have received permission to do long-term strict solitary retreat (often several decades long), and they cease cutting their hair upon entering retreat. Their hair tend to be in the form of either dreadlocks or mats. When they emerge from retreat, they may receive the title of "Togden", which means that they have realization. There are not many of them, as there are very strict qualifications for receiving that title. They do not marry or have children.
Is the Togden with the thick dreads and long beard Indian or Nepali? Now I'm curious to know how many Indians/Nepalis have reached high status and achievement in TB since the exile.
"I have never encountered a person who committed bad deeds." ― Ven. Jìngkōng
Norwegian
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Re: Drikung monks with long hair

Post by Norwegian »

Varis wrote: Fri Jan 26, 2018 4:03 pm
Norwegian wrote: Thu Jan 25, 2018 11:20 pm Just to add, it's not at all the case that only Drikung Kagyus have long hair in the Kagyu school. There is also the Togdens of the Drukpa Kagyu school. In short, these are fully ordained monks who through qualified study and practice have received permission to do long-term strict solitary retreat (often several decades long), and they cease cutting their hair upon entering retreat. Their hair tend to be in the form of either dreadlocks or mats. When they emerge from retreat, they may receive the title of "Togden", which means that they have realization. There are not many of them, as there are very strict qualifications for receiving that title. They do not marry or have children.
Is the Togden with the thick dreads and long beard Indian or Nepali? Now I'm curious to know how many Indians/Nepalis have reached high status and achievement in TB since the exile.
That would be Togden Trinle Kunkhyab, and I am not sure about his ethnicity. He has spent 20 years in retreat.

Perhaps the best example of a non-Tibetan master in modern history, would be Khunu Lama, who was born in a village in Kinnaur Valley, Himachal Pradesh. He really was a master of masters, and truly embodied the Rime ideal:

http://rywiki.tsadra.org/index.php/Khun ... n_Gyaltsen
http://www.rigpawiki.org/index.php?titl ... n_Gyaltsen
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khunu_Lam ... n_Gyaltsen

I don't know of a specific number of Indians or Nepalis, but I am sure there are some.
Varis
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Re: Drikung monks with long hair

Post by Varis »

Norwegian wrote: Fri Jan 26, 2018 4:29 pm That would be Togden Trinle Kunkhyab, and I am not sure about his ethnicity. He has spent 20 years in retreat.

Perhaps the best example of a non-Tibetan master in modern history, would be Khunu Lama, who was born in a village in Kinnaur Valley, Himachal Pradesh. He really was a master of masters, and truly embodied the Rime ideal:

http://rywiki.tsadra.org/index.php/Khun ... n_Gyaltsen
http://www.rigpawiki.org/index.php?titl ... n_Gyaltsen
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khunu_Lam ... n_Gyaltsen

I don't know of a specific number of Indians or Nepalis, but I am sure there are some.

Woah, I was aware of Tibetan Buddhism among the Tamangs in Himachal Pradesh, but I had no idea ethnic Indians were also practicing the Dharma in northern India. What an awe-inspiring man, I'm sure he went through a lot to study the Dharma in Tibet. Thank you!
"I have never encountered a person who committed bad deeds." ― Ven. Jìngkōng
KoolAid900
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Re: Drikung monks with long hair

Post by KoolAid900 »

I've heard that sometimes the praticioners have been advised not to cut the hair after retreat until they have accomplished the practice. Not sure how reliable that is or how it is measured. But it does seem common for Drikungpas to keep their top knots for a while after retreat
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