Palpung means mound of excellence: all that is good, and sacred and meaningful in every aspect and field developed by humanity through knowledge and wisdom, and of course derived from the Buddha’s teaching as well. Put it all together, preserve it and make it available for generations and generations to come. That is what Palpung means. For example, with Buddhism: it is the excellence of Theravada, the excellence of Mahayana and the excellence of Vajrayana, all put together. If we take the example of Vajrayana Buddhism itself, it is the excellence of Ngagyur, the excellence of Kadam, the excellence of Lamdre, the excellence of Marpa Kagyu, the excellence of Shangpa Kagyu, the excellence of Shije, the excellence of Jordrug, the excellence of Nyendrub, all the major eight lineages of Vajrayana Buddhism, all put together. If we take the example of knowledge, such as art, philosophy, literature, science, all of these aspects of great knowledge that humanity developed for many, many hundreds of generations all brought together. That is what Palpung is. It was founded almost 300 years ago and became my responsibility, your responsibility, the responsibility of all of us to first of all make it alive and preserve it. And after being preserved, make it available for all the others, regardless of which religion, which lineage, which school others might follow: make it available for all of them. This is our durty. In this aspect of our lineage we are non-sectarian. Of course: nobody should be sectarian, but in action, the definition of Palpung had no meaning if it were just one thing. It is everything put together without getting it all mixed up, but purely preserved as it is. And through my karma, through your karma, through the karma of all of us, we are in it and so I made this introduction, more like a reminder.

excerpted and slightly edited from an address of The 12^th Chamgon Dorje Chang Kuanding Tai Situ Rinpoche to all Palpung centers worldwide at the occasion of His 58th birthday, 2011