MiddleWay

The intersection of Andrew Windsor, Peter Mandelson, and the CCP

2026-02-28T12:23:32.093+00:00

The intersection of Andrew Windsor, Peter Mandelson, and the CCP is most vividly documented in the failed venture known as "The Witan Group" [3, 4]. Investigative infographics and DOJ email trails show that Andrew Windsor, Epstein, and a mutual liaison named David Stern were in deep negotiations to launch this joint business in China [3]. Stern, an aide to Andrew Windsor whose own credentials have since been exposed as falsified, acted as a primary coordinator [5].

This investigative long-form report explores the intersecting networks of Peter Mandelson, Andrew Windsor the disgraced prince, and the late Jeffrey Epstein, with a specific focus on their deep-rooted connections to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Disclaimer: As of February 2026, both Andrew Windsor the disgraced prince and Peter Mandelson have been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office; both men categorically deny any wrongdoing.

The Web of Influence: Mandelson, Epstein, and the CCP

The arrest of two titans of the British establishment in February 2026 has exposed a decades-long matrix of power that blurred the lines between private profit and public duty. For years, the public was told that the special relationships between senior politicians, royalty, and foreign financiers were essential for the UK’s global prosperity. However, the release of over 3.5 million pages from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Epstein files—the so-called "Epstein Receipts"—has painted a darker picture of transnational brokerage that prioritized the interests of Wall Street and the CCP over national security ``.

The Architecture of the Network

At the center of this scandal sit two men who acted as the primary bridges between Western power centers and the Chinese business world: Peter Mandelson and Andrew Windsor the disgraced prince [Image 1]. While their motivations may have differed, their operational conduit was often the same: Jeffrey Epstein.

As illustrated in The Wire China’s definitive infographic [Image 1], Mandelson and Andrew Windsor the disgraced prince were the two pillars of Epstein’s "China Project." Mandelson utilized his policy consultancy, Global Counsel, and his position as Honorary President of the Great Britain-China Centre (GBCC) to interface with high-level CCP officials and state-owned enterprises [1]. Simultaneously, Andrew Windsor the disgraced prince leveraged his role as the UK’s special representative for international trade to open doors for Epstein’s network under the guise of royal diplomacy ``.

Peter Mandelson: The "God-Like" Broker

Peter Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein was long-standing and intimate, characterized by Mandelson's own 2003 handwritten note calling Epstein his "best pal" . However, the criminal investigation launched by the Metropolitan Police focuses on a more sinister exchange: the alleged leaking of market-sensitive information during Mandelson's tenure as Business Secretary .

Documents suggest that in June 2009, Mandelson leaked a high-level Downing Street memo to Epstein—a document authored by special adviser Nick Butler that proposed £20 billion in asset sales and outlined the Labour government’s internal tax strategies . Epstein, in turn, acted as a "fixer" for JPMorgan, passing this information to executives like Jes Staley to help the bank gain a competitive edge in its global expansion .

Nowhere was this expansion more aggressive than in China. In May 2010, Mandelson reportedly forwarded an invitation to the Lujiazui Forum—China’s premier banking conference—to Epstein, noting that "the entire Chinese banking fraternity is attending" and suggesting that JPMorgan "should be represented... if they want to spread their wings in China" ``. This brokering of market access through a convicted sex offender is the cornerstone of the misconduct allegations currently facing Mandelson.

Mandelson’s own emails from this period reveal a man enamored with his influence in Beijing. After a breakfast with the Chinese Ambassador in 2010, he boasted to Epstein: "They seem to accord me almost god-like status and want me to extend my stay... to meet more people in aerospace and railways" ``.

The CCP Connection: Global Counsel and Princeling Finance

Mandelson’s influence was not merely social; it was institutionalized through Global Counsel, the firm he co-founded in 2010. While Mandelson advocated for closer UK-China ties in public, Global Counsel was quietly working for major Chinese state-linked firms.

Recent disclosures confirmed that Global Counsel’s clients have included:

* China International Capital Corp (CICC): A major state-owned investment bank that Mandelson failed to declare in the House of Lords register ``.

* Shein: The controversial Chinese fast-fashion giant ``.

* TikTok: Owned by the Chinese company ByteDance ``.

Perhaps most concerning was Global Counsel’s work for the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), which experts categorize as a front for Communist Party influence operations [Image 3].

This web of influence led to the compilation of a dossier by the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) . The dossier, which detailed Mandelson’s meetings with senior CCP figures as recently as 2023, was handed to the FBI by U.S. Senators in early 2025, raising questions about whether his appointment as U.K. Ambassador to Washington posed a risk to the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance .

Andrew Windsor the Disgraced Prince: Royal Access for Sale

Four days before Mandelson’s arrest, on February 19, 2026, Andrew Windsor the disgraced prince was taken into custody at the Sandringham Estate on his 66th birthday ``. Thames Valley Police are investigating whether Andrew Windsor the disgraced prince shared confidential trade reports with Epstein during his decade-long tenure as a trade envoy.

The allegations are corroborated by DOJ emails appearing to show that Andrew Windsor the disgraced prince forwarded copies of his official reports from a 2010 tour of Southeast Asia—covering Hanoi, Saigon, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Hong Kong—to Epstein just minutes after receiving them . Another email reportedly showed him sending Epstein a confidential brief on investment opportunities in the reconstruction of Helmand Province, Afghanistan .

As with Mandelson, the motive appears to have been the creation of a private, high-level business vehicle in the Far East. Documents reveal that Andrew Windsor the disgraced prince, Epstein, and a German associate named David Stern were in deep negotiations to launch a venture known as The Witan Group [2, 3].

The Witan Group and David Stern: The Missing Link

David Stern acted as a vital node in this network, serving as a director for Andrew Windsor the disgraced prince’s Pitch@Palace business while simultaneously acting as Epstein's "man in the palace" [4, 5]. Stern’s role was to coordinate the "aura and access" of the monarchy to facilitate business for Epstein’s circle.

As shown in Image 1, Stern pitched Epstein on proposed investments involving several high-ranking "Chinese Princelings" and CCP elites:

* Alvin Jiang: Grandson of former leader Jiang Zemin [Image 1].

* Winston Wen: Son of former Premier Wen Jiabao [Image 1].

* Xu Jiayin: The disgraced former chairman of Evergrande [Image 1].

Stern even proposed using the Qatari monarchy to "align" with Andrew Windsor the disgraced prince to attempt a buyout of Deutsche Bank for Epstein [6]. The fact that Stern’s curriculum vitae was later found to be falsified—with both Deutsche Bank and Siemens confirming he was never an employee—highlights the catastrophic failure of due diligence at the heart of the British establishment [6].

The 2025-2026 Vetting Scandal

The fallout from these arrests has focused intense pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the Cabinet Office. It is now known that the Cabinet Office propriety and ethics team had raised "serious concerns" about Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein and Global Counsel's Chinese clients before his appointment to Washington was confirmed ``.

A propriety and ethics report from late 2024 reportedly contained warnings that Mandelson had stayed overnight at Epstein’s house after his conviction and had maintained a friendship with him while the financier was in prison . Furthermore, the Prime Minister was made aware of the IPAC dossier regarding Mandelson's China links in January 2024 . Despite these warnings, the "Developed Vetting" (DV) process—the highest level of security clearance—gave Mandelson a "green light," a decision currently being reviewed by the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) ``.

Starmer eventually fired Mandelson in September 2025, stating that new information showed the "depth and darkness" of his relationship with Epstein was "materially different" from what was previously known . Mandelson has since resigned from the Labour Party and the House of Lords, as the government moves to introduce legislation that would allow for the permanent removal of his peerage .

Summary: A Systemic Rot

The arrests of Mandelson and Andrew Windsor the disgraced prince mark the end of an era of unaccountable establishment influence. The "Epstein Receipts" have provided a glimpse into how senior figures utilized the privileges of public office—from trade envoy missions to ministerial briefs—to cater to a transnational elite that included a convicted child predator and the upper echelons of the CCP.

As illustrated in Image 4, these men sought a "Seat at the Table" with Xi Jinping and the CCP’s most powerful figures, often bypassing the formal transparency channels required by UK law [7]. The resulting investigation into Misconduct in Public Office will determine if their actions were merely a failure of judgment or a criminal betrayal of the British public.

Timeline of Key Events:

* June 2009: Mandelson allegedly leaks asset sales and tax policy memo to Epstein ``.

* May 2010: Mandelson brokers China market access for JPMorgan via Epstein ``.

* July 2010: David Stern and Andrew Windsor the disgraced prince plan the "Witan Group" business for China [3].

* Sept 2025: Mandelson fired as Ambassador to the US after emails reveal continued contact with Epstein post-conviction ``.

* Feb 19, 2026: Andrew Windsor the disgraced prince arrested at Sandringham on his 66th birthday ``.

* Feb 23, 2026: Peter Mandelson arrested in Camden; legal team calls flight risk claims "complete fiction" ``.

Check the receipts for yourself:

* DOJ Epstein Files Search: epstein.dugganusa.com

* UK Parliament Transparency Logs: hansard.parliament.uk

***

## The Witan Group and the China Connection

Disclaimer: As of February 2026, both Andrew Windsor, the disgraced former prince, and Peter Mandelson have been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. Both men categorically deny any wrongdoing and have not been convicted of any offence.

The simultaneous collapse of two pillars of the British establishment has laid bare something more than individual scandal. It has exposed a system in which royal prestige and ministerial office were repurposed as assets in a private, transnational marketplace – a marketplace in which the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) was one of the most important customers.

At the centre of this story is a venture that never quite came to life: a proposed London–Beijing investment platform that would eventually be branded “The Witan Group”. The surviving emails and corporate paperwork make clear what it was meant to be – a discreet family‑office‑style vehicle marketing royal “aura and access” to Chinese princelings and state‑linked capital, with Jeffrey Epstein in the shadows and a German fixer named David Stern doing the leg‑work.[1][2][3][4]

### The web of influence

The Witan saga cannot be understood in isolation. It sits within a wider network that links three figures:

1. Peter Mandelson, former Business Secretary and later co‑founder of Global Counsel.

2. Andrew Windsor, the disgraced prince, who spent a decade as the United Kingdom’s special representative for international trade and investment.

3. Jeffrey Epstein, whose “Epstein files” – 3.5 million pages of emails, flight logs and bank documents – now provide the primary evidential backbone of this story.[1][5][6][7]

The Wire China’s infographic on “Epstein and China” captures the basic geometry.[1] One axis runs from Epstein to Mandelson, who used his consultancy and his honorary presidency of the Great Britain–China Centre to cultivate CCP officials and state‑owned enterprises. Another runs from Epstein to Andrew Windsor, who used his official trade role to open doors in Asia and the Gulf. Bridging those axes is Stern: aide to Andrew, self‑styled China expert, and co‑architect of Witan.[1][2][3]

Behind them all stands the CCP, represented not by a single institution but by a constellation of princeling funds, state‑owned giants and party families – Boyu Capital, CICC, Ping An, Evergrande, Great Ocean, and the networks around Jiang Zemin, Wen Jiabao and Jia Qinglin.[1]

### Peter Mandelson: “god‑like” in Beijing

Mandelson’s association with Epstein stretches back at least to the mid‑2000s. A handwritten note surfaced in the US material in which he referred to Epstein as his “best pal”; a later JPMorgan internal report recorded Epstein calling him “Petie”, noting that he had stayed at Epstein’s New York townhouse while Epstein was serving a sentence for sex offences, and that they had celebrated together in Paris.[8][9][10]

The criminal investigation now focuses on what this friendship meant for Mandelson’s conduct in office. Reporting based on the Epstein files suggests that in June 2009, while Business Secretary, he forwarded a Downing Street memo on £20 billion of proposed asset sales and internal tax options to Epstein – material that was plainly market‑sensitive.[8][9] Epstein, in turn, appears to have used this access to burnish his value to Jes Staley and other JPMorgan executives.[8][9][10][11]

China quickly became a key theatre for this collaboration. In May 2010, Mandelson sent Epstein an invitation to Shanghai’s Lujiazui Forum, describing it as the occasion when “the entire Chinese banking fraternity is attending” and suggesting it was precisely the sort of event JPMorgan should attend “if they want to spread their wings in China”. Epstein forwarded the note and attachments to Staley.[1]

The same year, Mandelson emailed Epstein after a meeting with the Chinese ambassador in London: “They seem to accord me almost god‑like status and want me to extend my stay next week to Saturday in order to meet more people – aerospace and railways – and a lunch at foreign ministry etc.”[1]

Those emails sit alongside a separate line of reporting about Global Counsel’s client roster. Political blogs and the Inter‑Parliamentary Alliance on China have identified Chinese state‑linked entities including CICC, TikTok’s parent ByteDance and the fast‑fashion giant Shein among the firm’s customers, as well as work for the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT).[12][13][14][15][11] IPAC’s dossier on Mandelson’s China connections – including meetings with senior CCP figures into the 2020s – was reportedly passed to the FBI by US senators in early 2025.[13][15]

When Mandelson was appointed ambassador to Washington later that year, the propriety and ethics advice, the developed‑vetting process, and the handling of the IPAC dossier were already controversial. His dismissal in September 2025, following further revelations from the Epstein files, and his arrest in February 2026 have turned that controversy into a full‑blown vetting scandal.[8][9][11]

### Andrew Windsor: trade envoy turned deal scout

If Mandelson offered the policy intelligence and Beijing relationships, Andrew Windsor supplied the royal imprimatur. As special representative for international trade and investment between 2001 and 2011, he was supposed to promote UK exports and inward investment on behalf of the government.[2][3][5][6]

The newly‑released Epstein material suggests that he also used the privileges of that role to feed confidential information into Epstein’s network. BBC and Yahoo reporting summarises emails in which Andrew forwarded official reports from a 2010 tour of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong to Epstein within minutes of receiving them, and another where he sent Epstein a sensitive brief on reconstruction opportunities in Helmand Province.[5][6][7] Thames Valley Police are investigating whether this amounted to misconduct in public office.[5][6]

These were not abstract exchanges. The same tranche of emails shows Andrew, Epstein and David Stern discussing a new business vehicle during 2010–2011: initially Serpentine Group, later Asia Gateway, and finally Witan Holdings.[2][3]

### The Witan Group: royal aura for Chinese capital

The Witan concept is spelled out most clearly in emails published by ITV News and other outlets. Stern proposes “a small investment, highly private office in London with small outpost in Beijing, for high net worth individuals – targeting Chinese (but not exclusively) that works like an extended family office”.[2][3][4]

Epstein would “decide on the investments”, Stern would run operations, and Andrew’s role is captured in one sentence: “We very discreetly make PA part of it and use his ‘aura and access’.”[2][3] The shorthand “PA” – Prince Andrew – appears repeatedly in the correspondence.

This was not merely a branding exercise. At the very moment Stern was drafting Witan’s structure, Andrew was meeting Chinese banks and sovereign funds in his official capacity, and flight records show him travelling frequently to the Gulf and East Asia.[2][3][16][7]

Stern’s own value proposition centred on his contacts with Chinese princelings and elite families. The Wire China’s reconstruction of his role shows him touting:

1. Alvin Jiang, grandson of Jiang Zemin and co‑founder of Boyu Capital.

2. Winston Wen, son of former premier Wen Jiabao and a key player in structures holding the Wen family’s Ping An stakes.

3. Xu Jiayin, Evergrande’s now disgraced founder.

4. Li Botan, son‑in‑law of former Politburo Standing Committee member Jia Qinglin, with whom Stern later invested in electric vehicle start‑up Evelozcity (Canoo).[1]

On paper Witan would sit at the convergence of these networks: princeling capital out of Beijing, royal and political access out of London, and American billionaire money and banking connections via Epstein.

### David Stern: “man in the palace” with a shaky CV

Stern’s LinkedIn‑style biography claimed serious stints at Deutsche Bank and Siemens in China. After the Witan emails emerged, both companies told journalists that he had never held the roles implied and that elements of his CV were at best exaggerated.[17][2]

Despite this, he embedded himself deep in Andrew’s commercial world. He became a director of Pitch@Palace Global, the start‑up mentoring vehicle linked to Andrew’s public work, and appears in photographs and social‑media posts as a key figure in that ecosystem.[1][2][18]

For Epstein, Stern was both a translator and a doorman: someone who could read a Chinese pitch deck and also present Epstein to Middle Eastern and Chinese investors as a man already “inside” royal and political circles. For Andrew, Stern was a route into Chinese deals with a veneer of technocratic expertise.

One of the most audacious schemes discussed in the emails involves using Qatari backing and Andrew’s presence to mount a bid for Deutsche Bank, whose shareholder base included both Middle Eastern funds and Chinese conglomerates.[2][3] Nothing came of it, but the very fact it was tabled illustrates the scale of their ambitions.

### The 2025–2026 vetting scandal

The arrests of Andrew and Mandelson have thrown a harsh light on Whitehall’s own performance. How did a man now accused of leaking trade documents to a convicted felon remain the UK’s trade envoy for so long? Why was a former minister with an undisclosed advisory role for a Chinese state bank, and a long‑documented friendship with Epstein, cleared as ambassador to Washington?

Euronews reports that the Cabinet Office has agreed to release files on Andrew’s trade envoy appointment after MPs complained of stonewalling, and that officials are preparing to defend their handling of Mandelson’s Developed Vetting before the Intelligence and Security Committee.[16][11] Political blogs have already published extracts from a propriety and ethics report said to warn about Mandelson’s overnight stays at Epstein’s properties and his Chinese commercial clients.[13][14][15]

Starmer ultimately dismissed Mandelson in September 2025, admitting that the “depth and darkness” of his relationship with Epstein had not been fully understood earlier.[8][9][11] By then, however, Global Counsel was deeply entwined with Chinese and other foreign clients, and the IPAC dossier had been circulating in Washington for months.[12][13][15]

### Systemic rot, not isolated lapses

Witan Group never launched. Epstein was arrested in 2019 and died in custody. China’s financial system hit turbulence that made some of Stern’s grander schemes less feasible. Andrew was forced to step back from public roles following civil litigation over sexual assault allegations in the United States. Mandelson’s consultancy has now entered administration following the reputational damage of his arrest.[11]

It would be comforting to see this as the end of a sordid but self‑contained chapter. Yet the materials tell a more unsettling story.

They show that:

1. Senior British figures were willing to route contact with major banks and Chinese regulators through a convicted sex offender.

2. A royal envoy and a cabinet minister treated confidential official documents as tradable assets within that private network.

3. A web of CCP‑linked capital – from Boyu and Great Ocean to Evergrande and CICC – sat on the other side of the table, courted as partners or clients.[1][5][6][7]

In other words, what was at stake was not simply reputational embarrassment but a potential channel for foreign influence into the heart of British policymaking.

The misconduct in public office prosecutions will determine whether the behaviour of Andrew Windsor and Peter Mandelson crosses the criminal threshold. The deeper constitutional question is whether the United Kingdom is prepared to acknowledge how vulnerable parts of its establishment have become to the lure of Chinese money and transnational glamour.

The Witan Group remains a set of emails and abandoned company registrations. It is also a warning.

Citations:

[1] Eliot Chen's Post - LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/posts/eliotcxchen_new-epstein-and-china-jeffrey-epstein-activity-7428191840568426496-iVrU

[2] Police assessing emails suggesting Andrew planned business with ... https://www.itv.com/news/2026-02-12/uncovered-emails-suggest-andrew-planned-business-with-epstein-while-trade-envoy

[3] Uncovered emails suggest Andrew planned business with Epstein ... https://uk.news.yahoo.com/uncovered-emails-suggest-andrew-planned-212306774.html

[4] UK police are assessing newly released emails suggesting Andrew ... https://www.instagram.com/p/DUv_ki3DTm_/

[5] The emails that show Andrew leaked trade secrets to Epstein - Yahoo https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/emails-show-andrew-leaked-trade-120912001.html

[6] Andrew shared confidential information with Epstein as trade envoy ... https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c99j01p1yjro

[7] Here's what's in the Epstein files about former Prince Andrew https://www.cbsnews.com/news/epstein-files-former-prince-andrew-arrested/

[8] Peter Mandelson arrested amid Epstein files fallout as emails ... https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/news/story/lord-peter-mandelson-arrested-suspicion-misconduct-public-office-130417766

[9] Mandelson emails cause unease over Epstein's access to UK and ... https://www.euronews.com/business/2026/02/03/mandelson-emails-cause-unease-over-epsteins-access-to-uk-and-eu-policy

[10] What do emails between Mandelson and Epstein say? - BBC https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz9vz8d0n85o

[11] Mandelson's consultancy firm set to enter administration ... - Reuters https://www.reuters.com/world/mandelsons-consultancy-firm-set-enter-administration-after-epstein-links-2026-02-19/

[12] The Emails We Haven't Seen: Mandelson and Beijing - LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/emails-we-havent-seen-mandelson-beijing-lyndon-li-scmue

[13] Reports Say Dossier on Mandelson's China Connections Handed to ... https://order-order.com/2025/01/28/reports-say-dossier-on-mandelsons-china-connections-handed-to-fbi/

[14] I have decided to make public the key information we sent ... - Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/ukpolitics/comments/1qxhlre/i_have_decided_to_make_public_the_key_information/

[15] FBI 'handed dossier' on Lord Mandelson's alleged China links - Yahoo https://www.yahoo.com/news/fbi-handed-dossier-peter-mandelson-172335311.html

[16] UK to release Mountbatten-Windsor trade envoy files after arrest https://www.euronews.com/2026/02/25/uk-government-to-release-confidential-documents-on-former-prince-andrews-appointment-as-tr

[17] Inside the Investigation Into Whether Ex-Prince Andrew Shared U.K. ... https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/inside-investigation-whether-ex-prince-173640893.html

[18] (ABC NEWS)Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the now former Prince ... https://www.instagram.com/p/DU76zs5DSX8/

Dying and the after-death experience was not a taboo for Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche

2025-03-29T12:24:00.001+00:00

... THE BARDO OF REALITY....

"Dying and the after-death experience was not a taboo or off-topic for my teacher Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche. On the contrary, he would often speak for hours on how to use that transition between this life and the next as an opportunity for total freedom, how to use the bardo of dharmata for realization and how to make ready for that right now. Reality here doesn't mean the superficial reality we experience from day to day, but ultimate reality, dharmata, and it has other types of phenomena taking place.

At the onset, these phenomena have no structure and no recognizable features whatsoever, but are a tremendous display, the ultimate acid trip. It's unlike wide open space on a cloudless day: something happens within that space, called sounds, colors and lights. The sounds are, Tulku Urgyen said, like 100.000 simultaneous thunder cracks, from all directions, above, below, everywhere. The colors are all colors of the rainbow, but much more intense than we normally see in this life. The rays of light are like sharp needles or swords, piercing through everything. The bardo of reality is transparent, completely pure and infinite.

This bardo of reality is the time for mastering the crucial point: to be unafraid and instead recognize the nature of mind, which is manifest as self-radiance of knowing.

This radiance has three forms, sounds, colors and lights, and as they manifest don't be afraid of these peaceful and wrathful displays, they are your own display.

For most people such a groundless, centerless and boundless display is unfamiliar and therefore very scary; there are no handles on anything, nothing to relate to as being here and there. Recognize that it is just the play of the bardo, Tulku Urgyen said, don't give into fear, dread or panic, which means fearing the colors, dreading the sounds and panicking before the intensity of the light rays. So give up fear, it's just the play of dharmata.

Dharmata means the nature of your mind, buddha nature. In other words, the display is buddha nature's own play, your essence coming out to play. The unprepared mind becomes terrified of it own nature, like wild donkeys are frightened by wind rustling tall dry grass, and pointlessly try to escape. Here in the bardo of reality, there is nobody else, not at all. Nobody is chasing you; it's your own shadow and the shadow is the play of dharmata.

That's the most important point of dharmata: to recognize that everything you experience is yourself, not something or someone else. Just like your hand will cast a shadow when placed before a light, don't be scared of the shadow, know that it is you own hand. This understanding is not necessarily easy, especially when these displays come from everywhere, and the earth, the sky, everything is the self-radiance of knowing. Acknowledge this, letting be in it, remain steady and liberation is guaranteed in the bardo of dharmata.

How do we prepare ourselves for the after-death experience's amazing and overwhelming display?

First and foremost, become familiar with a steady awareness that is calm, kind and clear. Then become familiar with it's open and groundless reality.

Especially, train just when falling asleep, and after falling asleep, when waking up in the dreamstate. Visualisation practice can help in the bardo of dharmata, manifesting out of the three samadhis as a tantric deity. There is also something known as tögal practice, in both daylight and darkness.

For instance, sit in total dark room or outside on a moonless rainy night and notice that the structures in perception, the recognizable features, are all created by your own thoughts.

But there is more, and liberation during the bardo of reality depends on being familiar with your own display. This understanding alone will help to be free of terror, relax into your nature and gain lasting freedom. By all means, gain familiarity while alive.

Explanation:

The concept of dharmata within the context of the "Bardo of Reality" as described by Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, refers to the ultimate nature of reality, the essence of mind, or Buddha nature. It is not the everyday, superficial reality we perceive, but a deeper, fundamental truth. Here's a breakdown of the key points:

Dharmata: The Nature of Mind

* Ultimate Reality: Dharmata represents the true nature of our mind, the ground of being, which is inherently pure and luminous.

* Buddha Nature: It is synonymous with Buddha nature, the potential for enlightenment that resides within all beings.

* Self-Radiance of Knowing: Dharmata manifests as a self-radiant awareness, a clear and knowing presence that is the essence of our being.

The Bardo of Dharmata: A Profound Transition

The Bardo of Dharmata is a phase within the after-death experience where this ultimate reality is directly encountered. It is characterized by:

* Intense Sensory Phenomena:

* Sounds: Described as incredibly loud and overwhelming, like "100,000 simultaneous thunder cracks."

* Colors: Vivid and intense, far beyond the range of ordinary perception.

* Lights: Sharp and piercing, like rays of swords or needles.

* Lack of Structure: This experience is described as groundless, centerless, and boundless, without any familiar points of reference.

* The Play of Dharmata: The intense sensory phenomena are understood as the "play" or manifestation of one's own Buddha nature. They are not external entities but the expression of one's own mind.

* Overcoming Fear: The key to liberation during this bardo is to recognize these phenomena as the self-radiance of one's own mind and to remain fearless.

* Recognition and Liberation: By recognizing the nature of these displays, one can achieve liberation and break free from the cycle of rebirth.

Preparation for the Bardo of Dharmata

Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche emphasized the importance of preparing for this experience during one's lifetime. Key practices include:

* Cultivating Steady Awareness: Developing a calm, clear, and kind awareness through meditation and mindfulness.

* Familiarizing with Openness: Becoming familiar with the open and groundless nature of reality.

* Dream Yoga: Practicing awareness during the dream state, as this mirrors the bardo experience.

* Visualization Practices: Using visualization techniques, particularly of tantric deities, as a means of training the mind.

* Tögal Practice: Engaging in practices in darkness, to become familiar with the minds ability to create perceived structure.

* Recognizing Self Display: The most important point, to understand all that is experienced is the minds own display.

In essence, the Bardo of Dharmata is a crucial opportunity for liberation, but it requires prior preparation and a deep understanding of the nature of mind.

Karmapa & Tulku Urgyen

2025-02-25T18:30:00.004+00:00

The Unbreakable Bond of the Karmapa and Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche

There was a unique and profound connection between the 16th Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, and Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, two towering figures of Tibetan Buddhism. Their relationship transcended the traditional student-teacher dynamic, revealing a deep spiritual connection and mutual respect that played a crucial role in preserving and transmitting the precious teachings of Tibetan Buddhism.

A Teacher's Unique Approach

The 16th Karmapa's early education was entrusted to Lama Samten Gyatso, a renowned master who had also taught the previous Karmapa. Samten Gyatso's teaching style was unique, particularly his method of discipline. Instead of punishing the young Karmapa directly, he would reprimand his own attendant, Lama Dudul. This unconventional approach proved effective, as the compassionate Karmapa, unwilling to see others suffer, would quickly refocus on his studies. This anecdote reveals not only the Karmapa's compassionate nature but also the creative and insightful methods employed by his teachers.

The Bird That Stood in Samadhi

The 16th Karmapa was renowned for his deep love for animals, particularly birds. He kept hundreds of birds wherever he resided, and in his later years, he maintained an aviary filled with rare species. He would meticulously care for them, healing them when they were sick and performing *phowa*, the transference of consciousness, for those nearing death.

Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, who spent considerable time with the Karmapa in the 1940s and 1950s, recounts a remarkable story about a bird gifted to the Karmapa by Samten Gyatso's brother, Tersey Tulku. This bird, particularly dear to the Karmapa, fell ill and was on the verge of death. As the Karmapa placed the bird in Tulku Urgyen's hand, it died but then miraculously stood up again, remaining in this state of *samadhi* for three hours. The Karmapa's attendants explained that this was a common occurrence; birds that died in his presence would routinely stand in *samadhi* after death. This extraordinary tale highlights the Karmapa's spiritual power and his profound connection with all beings.

The Transmission of the Three Sections of Dzogchen

The Karmapa's commitment to receiving and transmitting authentic teachings is evident in his pursuit of the complete transmission of Chokgyur Lingpa's *Three Sections of Dzogchen*. Despite having received the majority of Chokgyur Lingpa's treasure revelations, the Karmapa discovered that his transmission of the *Three Sections of Dzogchen* was incomplete. He insisted that Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, one of the few lamas possessing the full transmission, bestow it upon him. Tulku Urgyen was initially hesitant, but eventually relented, and the Karmapa received the complete transmission. This event underscores the Karmapa's dedication to preserving the integrity of the teachings and his trust in Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche as a lineage holder.

A Recognition Beyond Formality

One of the most striking demonstrations of the profound recognition between these two masters occurred during empowerments. When Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche offered empowerments to the Karmapa, he would traditionally proffer the ritual objects to the Karmapa’s shoulder rather than place his hand on the Karmapa’s head—a gesture of deference to his supreme realization. However, the Karmapa would always move Tulku Urgyen’s hand to the top of his head, signifying an extraordinary acknowledgment of his enlightened state.

Moreover, it was said that during empowerments, the Karmapa witnessed Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche actually transform into the deity, further confirming his depth of realization.

In Vajrayana Buddhism, empowerment is not simply a ritual but a direct transmission of awakened mind. Such occurrences reinforce the idea that these great masters were not merely teachers but living embodiments of the wisdom they transmitted.

The Passing of a Beloved Teacher

The close bond between the Karmapa and Tulku Urgyen is further illuminated in the poignant account of Lama Samten Gyatso's passing. When Samten Gyatso died, the Karmapa's attendants were hesitant to convey the news, fearing his reaction. It was Tulku Urgyen who finally informed the Karmapa, after threatening the attendants. Upon hearing the news, the Karmapa wept openly, lamenting that "beings of this time do not have the merit to keep such a great master alive." This heartfelt expression of grief reveals the depth of the Karmapa's connection with his teacher and his profound appreciation for Samten Gyatso's qualities.

Conclusion

The stories presented here offer a glimpse into the multifaceted relationship between the 16th Karmapa and Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche. Their connection was characterized by mutual respect, trust, and a shared commitment to upholding the integrity of the Tibetan Buddhist teachings. The Karmapa's compassion, his love for animals, and his dedication to authentic transmission are evident throughout these accounts. Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche's role as a trusted confidante, a lineage holder, and a source of support for the Karmapa further underscores the significance of their bond.

Their relationship serves as an inspiring example of how spiritual connections can transcend traditional roles and contribute to the preservation and flourishing of the Dharma. The stories of the 16th Karmapa and Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche continue to inspire and guide practitioners today, reminding us of the power of compassion, the importance of authentic transmission, and the transformative potential of spiritual friendship.

Tibetan Buddhism,

School,

Kagyu,

Nyingma, Karmapa, Tulku Urgyen

Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche

Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche (1920 – February 13, 1996[1]) (Tibetan: སྤྲུལ་སྐུ་ཨོ་རྒྱན་རིན་པོ་ཆེ་, Wylie: sprul-sku o-rgyan rin-po-che) (Nepali: टुल्कु उर्ग्येन् रिन्पोचे) was a Buddhist master of the Kagyü and Nyingma lineages who lived at Nagi Gompa hermitage in Nepal. Urgyen Rinpoche was considered one of the greatest Dzogchen masters of his time.

16th Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje

The 16th Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje (Tibetan: རང་འབྱུང་རིག་པའི་རྡོ་རྗེ་, Wylie: Rang 'byung rig pa'i rdo rje; August 14, 1924 – November 5, 1981) is the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa and the spiritual leader of the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism

Shangpa Kagyü School

2025-01-18T07:12:00.002+00:00

Teachings of Shangpa Kagyü School, with the Six Yogas (the root), Mahamudra (the trunk), the three methods of “carrying on the path” (the branches), and the “deathless state” (the fruition)
#Tibetan #Buddhism #Tantra #Shangpa

https://dnz.tsadra.org/index.php/Shangpa_Kagy%C3%BC_Text_Collections

Kongtrul describes the texts he included in these two volumes of The Treasury of Precious Instructions:

In the section concerning the fifth system, that of the Shangpa Kagyü School, the primary sources are the vajra verses, and their commentaries, concerning the Six Yogas (the root), Mahamudra (the trunk), the three methods of “carrying on the path” (the branches), and the “deathless state” (the fruition), as well as the fundamental texts concerning the forms of the goddess Khechari (the flowers)

The flowers: the White and Red Forms of the Khecari (me tog mkha' spyod dkar dmar)

By means of particularly exalted supplication and meditational topics one arouses the sun- and moon-coloured forms of the "Victoriously Transcendent Vajra-Lady" (bcom ldan ‘das ma rdo rje btsun mo) and the "Inner Heat" of the unity of bliss and emptiness, which is based on both passion and its dissolution in the four centres, blazes up. Supported by that, one comes to voyage in the space of surpreme unity.

མེ་ཏོག་མཁའ་སྤྱོད་དཀར་དམར

the flowers are the red and white khecari GD [IW]

red and white Khecari flowers [RY]

The Circle of the Sun, Tsele Natsok Rangdrol

2024-12-19T04:51:00.000+00:00

Adopting the conduct of pigs and dogs, you should be content with whatever happens and take whatever is experienced as your companion, without pure and impure concepts concerning food, clothing, dwelling and sitting place.

The Circle of the Sun

Tsele Natsok Rangdrol,

#Dzogchen

On the fifteenth day of the month the moon sets simultane-

ously with the sun's rising -- there is no intermission. A garuda

bird can fly instantaneously on hatching from the egg, its wing

power is fully perfected. In the same way, a Dzogchen practi-

tioner attains complete enlightenment simultaneously with the

death of his physical body. At the moment of death an experi-

enced yogi does not lose consciousness but reaches enlighten-

ment.

Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche

Nagi Gompa, 1989

Historical Dictionary of Tibet, John Powers, David Templeman

2024-12-17T15:48:00.001+00:00

Historical Dictionary of Tibet, John Powers, David Templeman

Historical Dictionary of Tibet, Second Edition is a comprehensive resource for Tibetan history, politics, religion, major figures, prehistory and paleontology, with a primary emphasis on the modern period. It also covers the surrounding areas influenced by Tibetan religion and culture, including India, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Central Asia, and Russia. It contains a chronology, a glossary, an introduction, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has over 500 cross-referenced entries on important personalities as well as aspects of the country’s politics, economy, foreign relations, religion, and culture. This book is an excellent resource for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about Tibet.

Categories:

History

Year:

2020

Edition:

Second

Publisher:

Rowman & Littlefield

Language:

english

Pages:

881

ISBN 10:

153813022X

ISBN 13:

9781538130223

Series:

Historical dictionaries of Asia

SHANGS PA BKA' BRGYUD (SHANGBA GAGYU) (CH. XIANGBA GAJU 香巴噶举). A lineage founded by Khyung po rnal 'byor (ca. 10th- 11th centuries) that is not counted among either the four greater or eight lesser bKa' brgyud orders. He founded Zhang zhong dgon pa in Shangs, and this is the origin of the name Shangs pa. He received monastic ordination from the bKa' gdams pa master gLang ri thang pa rDo rje seng ge, and at age 13 he was given Bon teachings by g. Yung drung rgyal ba. 'Byung gnas seng ge instructed him in "great perfection" (rdzogs pa chen po). He traveled to Nepal and later to India, where he studied with sByin pa tshul khrims (Skt. Dānaśīla), a student of Na ro pa (1016-1100). He then studied with Ni gu ma (Niguma, b. 10th century), who taught him about illusory body (sgyu lus) and dream yoga (rmi lam) in accordance with her system, the "six dharmas of Niguma" (ni gu chos drug). These formed the main source of his own tradition. Khyung po rnal 'byor's main disciples were g. Yor po rgya mo che ba (b. ca. 11th century), rNgul ston rin dbang (b. 11th century), La stod pa dKon mchog mkhar (b. 11th century), and rMog Icog pa Rin chen brtson 'grus (1110-1170).

The Shangs pa is particularly known for the "Five Golden Shangs pa Doc- trines" (Shangs pa gser chos Inga): (1) the roots: the six doctrines of Ni gu ma (rtsa ba ni gu chos drug) (2) the trunk: the great seal and the Amulet Box (sdong po phyag chen ga'u ma)' (3) the branches: the three ways of carrying (realization) onto the path (yal ga lam khyer rnam gsum) (4) the flowers: white and red dākinī practices (me tog mkha' 'gro spyod dkar dmar)' and (5) the fruits: the deathless and unmistaken ('bras bu 'chi med 'chugs med). Other important Shangs pa lineages include: (1) the six doctrines of Sukha- siddhi (su kha siddhi chos drug), (2) combined means accomplishment of the four deities (lha bzhi dril grub), (3) inseparable master and protector (bla ma mgon po dbyer med), and (4) five tantra classes (rgyud sde Inga).

616 SHES RAB 'BYUNG GNAS, LCE BTSUN

The lineage was systematized by Sangs rgyas ston pa brTson 'grus seng ge (1207-1278), whose two principal students were mKhas grub gTsang ma shangs ston (1234-1309) and mKhas btsun gZhon nu grub (b. 13th century). The Shangs pa lineage is divided into four main traditions: Jo nang, Thang lugs, 'Jag pa, and Nyang smad bsam sding. The first three trace themselves back to gTsang ma shangs ston, and the fourth to mKhas btsun gZhon nu grub.

The Shangs pa tradition has avoided the political entanglements of other Tibetan Buddhist orders and conceives itself mainly as a practice lineage that eschews large-scale institutionalization. As a result, its fortunes have waxed and waned, and it has been in danger of disappearing altogether at times. It was revived by 'Jam mgon kong sprul bLo gros mtha' yas (1813-1899), who received Shangs pa transmissions of the Thang lugs branch from 'Jam dbyangs mkhyen brtse'i dbang po (1820-1892). Kong sprul also collected other Shangs pa lineages, including that of the Jo nang branch, which he received from Karma gZhan phan 'od zer (alt. bLa ma Karma nor bu, b. 19th century). A number of prominent lamas have belonged to this lineage, including Ka lu Rin po che (1905-1989) and Bo dkar Rin po che (1940-2004). Members of other bKa' brgyud lin- eages also maintain Shangs pa traditions, including Ta'i si tu Padma don yod nyin byed (1954-).

Being and Time

2024-12-02T17:07:00.001+00:00

Being and Time p.5

The 'ontological difference'

"The being of being "is" itself not a being."

What is Metaphysics in Pathmarks p.89

The nothing unveils itself in anxiety. Anxiety is no kind of grasping of the nothing. ... the nothing becomes manifest in and through anxiety...

This edition contains his last introduction to the third edition Heidegger published a Foreword consisting of his letter Ernst Jünger on his sixtieth birthday (where he muses on What is Metaphysics decades later) and his Afterword and Epilogue, which he published years after the original

PHILOSOPHY (AS WE CALL IT) MEANS SIMPLY ENACTING THE METAPHYSICS IN WHICH PHILOSOPHY COMES TO ITSELF AND TO ITS EXPLICIT TASKS. PHILOSOPHY BEGINS ONLY WHEN OUR OWN EXISTENCE UNDERTAKES A PERSONAL COMMITMENT TO THE BASIC POSSIBILITIES OF BEING-OPEN AS A WHOLE. WHAT MOST MATTERS IN THIS COMMITMENT IS THAT WE FIRST OPEN THE SPACE FOR BEINGS IN TERMS OF A WHOLE; THEN LIBERATE OURSELVES FOR THE NOTHING, I.E., FREE OURSELVES FROM THE IDOLS THAT EACH OF US HAS AND GOES CRINGING TO; AND FINALLY, AS WE ARE LEFT HANGING, LET OURSELVES BE SWEPT BACK INTO THAT BASIC QUESTION OF METAPHYSICS, THE QUESTION THAT THE NOTHING ITSELF IMPOSES:

Why are there beings at all instead of nothing?

MiddleWay

​The intersection of Andrew Windsor, Peter Mandelson, and the CCP

Dying and the after-death experience was not a taboo for Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche

Karmapa & Tulku Urgyen

Shangpa Kagyü School

The Circle of the Sun, Tsele Natsok Rangdrol

Historical Dictionary of Tibet, John Powers, David Templeman

Being and Time

The intersection of Andrew Windsor, Peter Mandelson, and the CCP