On the passing of Luding Khenchen Rinpoche

January 4, 2023

Thaye Dorje, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, shares the following message on the passing of His Eminence Luding Khenchen Rinpoche.

Letter in Tibetan:

Letter in English:

A transcript of the letter follows:

Dear Dharma friends,

The supreme Luding Khenchen of Ngor, Dorje Chang Jamyang Tenpei Nyima, has entered Parinirvana.

As is the case with great Bodhisattvas, this departure-like display of the resorption of their Nirmanakaya into the Dharmadhatu is a skilful method applied for our sake, and stemming from none other than their Bodhicitta or Bodhi heart.

The feeling of sorrow we experience due to this Parinirvana is natural and in no way wrong. The blessings of such great Bodhisattvas have the power to wake us up from our delusion of permanence, and push us to seek the path of the Bodhisattvas – the practice of the Buddha Dharma.

Therefore, we must not hinder ourselves from this experience of sorrow. Yet, we should also not let this sorrow be tainted by our afflictive emotions, such as feeling lost and alone in this world. Instead, we must allow this sorrow to open our heart to realise that there is nothing to hold on to in this cyclic world.

Nevertheless, from my humble recollection of the life example of this glorious and precious teacher, I meditate his enlightened presence at the centre of the mandala of my prayers, and in this way draw his blessings into each of our hearts.

All of our monastic communities are performing prayers and rituals and trying to live their spiritual lives to the best of their abilities, so as to fulfil the intent of the aspirations of the teacher.

It is our fortune to have had the opportunity to be able to receive teachings, initiations, and instructions from a being like him – a spiritual master who is in essence an enlightened being but in presence displays the form of a Bodhisattva.

May we, in one way or another, be able to follow in his footsteps.

With prayers,
Thaye Dorje, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa