My Royal Great Aunt
Mar 12, 2010 | Views: 1,221
![](https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/archive/6a01310f7b9b6a970c0120a9288908970b-500wi)
This is my Great Grand Aunt, Princess Nirgidma. She married a French diplomat and lived in France. I have never met her.
Tsem Rinpoche
For more interesting information:
Copyright Disclaimer: Under Section 13 of the Malaysian Copyright Act 1987, allowance is made for “fair dealing” for purposes such as non-profit research, private study, criticism, review or the reporting of current events. The Operator and author(s) of TsemRinpoche.com, a not-for-profit blog, do not claim ownership on the intellectual property rights of the contents, images and/or videos reproduced in this article. Any subsisting intellectual property rights shall belong to the legal owner of the contents, images and/or videos.
Please support us so that we can continue to bring you more Dharma:
If you are in the United States, please note that your offerings and contributions are tax deductible. ~ the tsemrinpoche.com blog team
The great Protector Manjushri Dorje Shugden depicted in the beautiful Mongolian style. I hope many Mongolians will print out this image and place in their houses to create an affinity with Dorje Shugden for greater blessings. To download a high resolution file: https://bit.ly/2Nt3FHz
The powerful Mongolian nation has a long history and connection with Manjushri Dorje Shugden, as expressed in the life of Venerable Choijin Lama, a State Oracle of Mongolia who took trance of Dorje Shugden among other Dharma Protectors. Read more about Choijin Lama: https://bit.ly/2GCyOUZ
1984 Los Angeles-Left to right: Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen, His Holiness Kyabje Zong Rinpoche, monk assistant to Zong Rinpoche and the 18-year-old Tsem Rinpoche prior to ordination. Read more- https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/category/me
View
A poem inspired by seeing a picture of my teacher, Kyabje Zong Rinpoche…
In the sport of correct views,
all that is correct is just a view,
without permanence or substance.
As long as we hold onto views,
our sufferings are gathered
to be experienced without end.
Without the strong methods of emptiness
and compassion, bereft of merit,
we sink deeper without respite.
To arise from this samsara is but
a dreamscape on the deluded mind.
Therefore seek the guru, who confers the yidam,
hold your vows and fixate on liberation
free of new creations. Free of new experiences as
there are none.
~ Tsem Rinpoche
Composed in Tsem Ladrang, Kuala Lumpur on July 7, 2014
I was walking past a second hand shop on Western Ave selling old things. They had a Japanese-style clay Buddha which was beige in colour on the floor, holding the door open. I thought the shopkeeper would collect a lot of negative karma without knowing if he kept such a holy item on the floor as a doorstop. So I went in to talk to him, but he didn’t look like he wanted to talk or that he even cared. So I asked him the price and he said US$5. I purchased it so he did not collect more negative karma. I was 17 years old and that was in 1982.
I escorted my new Buddha home and washed it lightly and wiped it. I placed it on my altar and was happy with the Buddha. I would do my meditations, prayers, sadhanas, mantras and prostrations in front of this shrine daily. When I left for India in 1987, I could not bring this Buddha along and gave it to a friend. It was a nice size and I made offerings to this Buddha for many years in Los Angeles. In front of the Buddha I placed His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s photo. I remember I was so relieved that the price was affordable. But US$5 that time was still expensive for me but worth it I thought. But I was happy to have brought the Buddha home. Tsem Rinpoche
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com
Tsem Rinpoche at Kechara Forest Retreat, Bentong, Malaysia
Princess Nirgidma was a Mongolian princess of the Toughut nomadic people , descendant of Genghis Khan , she was Prince Mingyur Wang’s sister also the great aunt of Tsem Tulku Rinpoche . Amazing She could speaks four languages: French , English , Chinese and Russian .She has spent her early youth in the encampments of the nomadic Torghut people in Central Asia, one of the largest tribes of the Oirat-Mongols. She has an extraordinary personality and her interesting life story.
We are fortunate able to see these picture of a great and special lady . Thank you Rinpoche for sharing with us.
H.E. the 25th Tsem Rinpoche is very devoted to his root guru, H.H. Zong Rinpoche.
[…] https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/me/my-royal-great-aunt.html […]
Dear Tsem Tulku Rinpoche ,
I read article written in Mongolian about your great aunt .
http://www.dayarmongol.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6535:2011-12-09-16-03-45&catid=24&Itemid=300061
Rinpoche had such an amazing great Aunt, Princess Nirgidma who was the wife of a Kalmyk nobleman and then later the wife of a French counsel, she spoke many languages and also studied political science, literature and music. She was a renaissance woman in her own right which was so so rare for women in those days. She was the daughter of Prince Palta who was one the administrative rulers of Xinjiang. Prince Palta was highly educated and knowledgeable, and like the Chinese he valued knowledge a lot and he wanted all his children to have western and oriental education. Like all great spiritual masters of the past from Buddha Shakyamuni to Lama Atisha masters like Rinpoche came from very eminent families that have much influence and power. However being born in such families they do not become complacent, despondent or decadent they rise up as inspirational human beings that can benefit so many.
It is really fascinating to see Rinpoche’s grand aunts pictures. It is amazing for Rinpoche to share his photos of his family and I think he must have been born into this family for a reason. It is just amazing that he has all these fantastic pictures of his family and on himself. I have personally seen some of his pictures and I am amazed that happened to be kept so well and Rinpoche is so kind to share these with people.
I think it is Rinpoche’s way of opening up to us and to show who he is and what is all about. As a Rinpoche, a monk and a spiritual guide to many, there is a big illusory gap between ordinary people and him so I think Rinpoche is trying to breach this gap. He is doing that so he can inspire and reach out to even more people to practice the Dharma and commit to his vision of spirituality with Kechara House. Once again, I am amazed at Rinpoche’s vision and his willingness to use anything he has to benefit others.
Rinpoche had a colourful and interesting royal great aunt as the rest of his forefathers and Rinpoche himself. She was Prince Palta elder daughter named Shartso. After her marriage she was called Nirdjima. Princess Nirdjima was born in 1907 in Japan when Prince Palta was studying there.
Princess Nirdjima was a prominent social activist and had stayed in Western Europe for a period of time . During that time she study medicine in Belgium . She mostly lived in France with her Kalmyk nobleman husband and had 2 sons. After her first husband’s passing, she married a French Counsel in Peking and later returned to Paris. Princess Nirdjima passed away in Paris at the age of 76.