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Dear Friends of the Ripa Sangha,

When I found these photos in my closet, I committed to the Chagdud Gonpa Foundation that I would send them for their history files regarding the construction of their temple in Brazil in1998. Colleen and I attended this retreat in Brazil with His Eminence Namkha Rinpoche where he transmitted the entire Tagsham terma to Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche, his lamas, students and to all of us who were there. This is very important in our history at Ripa Ladrang Foundation since it was during this Brazil retreat that the initial framework and organization were being formed for the foundation. When we returned to the U.S., as you may recall, Colleen called over one hundred of our Buddhist colleagues together and it was then that Namkha Drimed Rinpoche and Jigme Rinpoche agreed to launch Ripa Ladrang Foundation. It seems Colleen and I were fated to attend this Brazil event as it led to our coming together as a sangha . . . how wonderful it all has been!

As I go through all of my photos and documents, I am writing more original history since there are several other events and times not yet documented. I will forward more information for everyone’s history files sometime later this year.
In July 1998, Marcella (Iris) Anderson and Colleen Wallace, who had been attending U.S. teachings by H.E. Namkha Drimed Rinpoche, went to the Chagdud Gonpa center in Brazil.

They were there to attend the Tagsham Terma transmissions that the Terton Namkha Drimed Rinpoche, was scheduled to give to Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche, his lamas and students. Both Iris and Colleen had previously attended some teachings and empowerments by Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche in Junction City and when Chagdud Tulku sponsored Namkha Drimed Rinpoche to come to the U.S., they attended these events. This led to their attendance at the Brazil retreat in 1998. And eventually they became the founders of Ripa Ladrang Foundation, the U.S. organization for Namkha Drimed Rinpoche. These photos are being sent to Chagdud Gonpa Foundation as they are historical documents regarding the building of the temple as well as the Tagsham transmission to Chagdud in 1998.
July of 1998 was wintertime in Brazil, although some days were sunny, it was usually quite cool and many days were wet winter weather.

It was very cold in the temple during the Tagsham transmissions. The Tagsham termas were transmitted by Namkha Drimed Rinpoche from morning to night, while attendees sat on the floor often with very cool winds, the windows had not yet been installed. And the front doorway area was covered by large door curtains, not doors. It was reported that Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche wanted the full Tagsham termas transmission to occur while the temple was under construction so that the power of the terma would permeate the structure.
H.E. Namkha Drimed Rinpoche, Terton, at the Brazil temple in July 1998.

Constantly in front of him was a large stack of Tagsham texts as he transmitted the terma to Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche, his lamas, students, and others in attendance for this historic event. Throughout the retreat event, the huge stack of Tagsham terma texts sat alongside Rinpoche. And after the month long event was fulfilled, Namkha Drimed Rinpoche delivered the entire mound of texts to Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche. In a previous lifetime when the Tagsham termas were revealed, Namkha Drimed Rinpoche was that being, Tagsham Nuden Dorje (or Samten Lingpa as he is also known).
Dedication of the large GURU RINPOCHE statue that was located on the grounds outside of the temple in July 1998.

Seated at the table for the dedication ceremony—Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche and Namkha Drimed Rinpoche. Although the statue was not 100% complete as far as final painting etc., that Chagdud Tulku wanted to have it dedicated while Namkha Drimed Rinpoche was there for the Tagsham terma transmission. To the last minute before the dedication, workers were making final adjustments to the statue to meet Chagdud Tulku’s specifications as he had some minor dissatisfaction with the statue’s appearance so it was fixed. As we recall, then the dedication occurred. All of us there had an opportunity to circumambulate the statue during the ceremony.
Before the eye opening and dedication ceremony for the Guru Rinpoche statue, the eyes of Guru Rinpoche were covered. The statue was structurally complete at this time but the painting had not been finished.

With Love and Gratitude,
Iris, Colleen and The Ripa Ladrang Foundation
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