Dudjom Minling Surpoe Incense

Dudjom Natural Organic Tibetan Incense from Dakpa Tamdin

As a monk, Dakpa Tamdin learned the art of incense making from lamas in his monastery in Tibet. In the 1980’s, he fled to India and started producing incense in Kalimpong, under the instruction and guidance of His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche Jigdral Yeshe Dorje (1904-1987), the supreme head of the Nyingma sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Dakpa Tamdin, being one of Rinpoche’s favorite disciples, was given the Thamdze Nyewa Kuensel - a pill to mix with the initial ingredients. With Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche’s usage of Dakpa Tamdin incense for his personal daily practice, demand increased in major Buddhist centers in Asia, Europe and America and Dakpa Tamdin incense flourished.

Dakpa Tamdin continued to produce incense well into his late seventies. He has now passed down his secrets and technical expertise to his daughter and granddaughters in Nepal but still keeps a watchful eye on his method of production and ensures that the finest quality is maintained. Dudjom Rinpoche's 'Jinlab Phabta', the initial mother substance given to Dakpa Tamdin to be mixed with the initial ingredients, has been passed down and is included in every batch of incense made to this day, imbuing these incenses with Dudjom Rinpoche’s blessings.

The incense is handmade and contains highly fragrant, natural organic medicinal herbs and spices from different regions of Nepal and India. It is 100% vegan, and lasts longer than most other incense available in the market due to its superior ingredients and lack of paper, sawdust or any other cheap fillers that are quick to burn.

Burning this incense provides an aromatic environment to purify thoughts and conflicting emotions, calm the body and mind, and provide peaceful conditions at your home or business.  As a meditation aid, this incense brings vitality and inner peace, sharpens the senses, helps focus and concentration, and is a comforting companion in your solitude. It is the supreme offering during pujas and as a gift to revered lamas or special companions.

Minling Surpoe

This was among the first kinds of incense to be produced by Dakpa Tamdin in Kathmandu. The Minling word is taken from Mindrolling, which means 'place of perfect liberation’, and is one of the six major Nyingmapa monasteries in Tibet. This incense contains all the ingredients of the old Surpoe of Mindrolling.

Mindrolling monastery made their incense (Tib. Poe) with a dent (Tib. Sur), hence the name Surpoe. This incense is mainly used for mandalas, as it contains all the substances and herbs permitted in mandalas, but can also be used for personal practice. It is very calming and soothing to the mind. Sur incense is also used to benefit beings in the Bardo.

The incense contains medicinal herbs and spices from different regions of Nepal and India, including juniper, sunpati, saldhoop, gokul dhoop, rutha, aru, black cardamom, and more.

Size: 9.5 inch
Quantity: 25-30 pcs approx.

“This incense was made by a man named Dakpo Tamdin. He was a follower of the Sakya lineage mainly. When he came to India from Tibet he met HH Dudjom Rinpoche and he asked Dudjom Rinpoche what he should do to make a living in India. Dudjom Rinpoche told him to make incense. Dudjom Rinpoche gave him the mother yeast substance to start making incense with and also taught him how to make incense. In Nepal there is not much of this available in stores. Because there is this history to it, it is very special. I think it has great blessings.” [Tulku Thadral Rinpoche, April 7, 2024]