Remembering Master Tam Shek-wing: A Message of Wisdom

Editor’s Note: Master Tam Shek-wing, founder of the Sino-Tibetan Buddhist Studies Association in North America (STBSA), is a renowned Buddhist scholar and Dzogchen master. His insightful writings, moral integrity, and unparalleled contributions to the spread of Buddhism make him a truly remarkable figure of our times. His encounter with Master Xue Mo in North America ignited the shared passion and deep camaraderie between these two distinguished spiritual leaders. Below is the English translation of a reflective essay by Master Tam, originally published in May 2015. The original Chinese text is included for reference.

Joyfully Meeting Master Xue Mo

By Master Tam Shek-wing (Dorje Jigdral, 1935–2024)

Acclaimed author Xue Mo began his North American journey with a visit to meet me in Toronto.

Xue Mo is widely known for his novels, which have garnered great popularity and a devoted readership. However, his true accomplishments lie in his mastery of Tibetan Buddhism. As a lineage holder of the Shangpa Kagyu tradition, he is perhaps the sole Shangpa Kagyu master actively teaching in mainland China today.

The Kagyu lineage is divided into two branches: the Dagpo Kagyu, which encompasses many sub-lineages such as the Karma Kagyu, led by the Karmapa, and the Shangpa Kagyu, a single, unbroken lineage that flourished during the Yuan and Ming dynasties. During the Hongwu era, the great Nyingma master Thang Tong Gyalpo took refuge under Lama Khedrub Dorje Shönu, a Shangpa Kagyu master, and studied the Shangpa teachings. As a result, the Nyingma tradition integrated elements of the Shangpa teachings, including the “Five Tantric Deity Sadhana” and the “Six Yogas of Niguma.” One of Thang Tong Gyalpo’s disciples transmitted these teachings to Riwoche, where the Shangpa influence remains evident in the meditation practices of the local Nyingma community.

After spending 20 years in retreat, Xue Mo moved from Liangzhou to Zhangmutou in Dongguan, where he has continued his practice and writing in solitude. During this time, he read some of my works, which inspired his desire to meet me. Through the kind introduction of Professor Shen Weirong, our meeting was arranged. Given the historical ties between the Nyingma and Shangpa Kagyu lineages, I was delighted to welcome him. Upon meeting Xue Mo, I immediately recognized the disciplined demeanor of a dedicated yogi—a clear reflection of his spiritual accomplishment. His presence reminded me of my own lapses in recent years, as I have devoted less time to formal meditation.

Accompanying Xue Mo was one of his disciples, Huang Wentao, who shared details of his teacher’s simple lifestyle. Xue Mo lives alone on the seventh floor of an old building in Zhangmutou, only returning to his wife and son’s home for lunch before resuming his solitary practice. Sometimes, his dinner consists only of fruit or a handful of rice crackers. For this trip to North America, he even brought along a bag of rice crackers, exemplifying his ascetic way of living. It is not due to financial constraints—he is a respected author, a member of the Chinese Writers’ Association, and Vice Chairman of the Gansu Writers’ Association. Rather, his minimalist lifestyle reflects the spirit of the Shangpa Kagyu tradition, which emphasizes austerity. This is likely rooted in the lineage’s cultural base in Gansu, a region that contrasts sharply with the material affluence of cities like Beijing, Shanghai, or Guangzhou.

For dinner that evening, I reserved a table at the Best Fortune Restaurant, one of the few in Toronto that still serves authentic soups made with fish bones or oxtail stock. Since Xue Mo comes from Liangzhou, I ordered fresh Alaskan crab and geoduck to offer him a taste of coastal cuisine. Initially worried that he might abstain from seafood, I was relieved when he graciously accepted. Otherwise, I had planned to order Mongolian roasted lamb instead.

Our conversation was both lively and enriching. When discussing meditative practices, just a few brief exchanges were enough to establish mutual understanding. Our shared meditation foundation lies in the Tathagatagarbha, or “Buddha-Within,” focusing on the clear light, and both of us have actualized Buddha-nature. With this shared basis, even a glance or handshake conveyed an immediate heart-to-heart connection.

Xue Mo stayed for only half a day before continuing his North American tour. I expressed my hope that he would establish a center here to spread the Dharma and encouraged him to translate his major tantric works, such as the Luminous Mahamudra series, into English. With a growing number of Western disciples under my guidance, I see few books that adequately address their needs. The Luminous Mahamudra series would be a valuable resource for them, and I am confident that its English translation would attract many sincere practitioners. Xue Mo wholeheartedly agreed, and we discussed potential collaborations with a publisher I know well.

The Shangpa teachings, which have been shrouded in secrecy for centuries, deserve to be revealed to the world. As prophesied by Guru Rinpoche, certain teachings once deemed esoteric should now be made accessible. Xue Mo shares this view, recognizing the responsibility of our generation to bring these hidden treasures to light.

Meeting such a genuine and accomplished master as Xue Mo in my later years indicates a profound karmic bond with him. Still relatively young, he has a long road ahead in transmitting the Dharma. I wish him every success in guiding spiritual seekers worldwide on the path to enlightenment.