A period of coming together in celebration and grief
The past couple of months have been a wonderful expression of unity in the AHS dharma world, that I wanted to share a little of with you.
Lama Shenpen has written her own version, which is a much more detailed account of events - I encourage you to read that on this site here
In August myself and Lama Shenpen, along with Jonathan, Norbu and Gendun travelled to Nepal for the cremation rituals of Khenpo Tsultrim Gyampsto Rinpoche, Lama Shenpen's main Guru.
In the days leading up to the actual cremation, students of Khenpo Rinpoche from all over the world gathered to practice together. We sang alternately in English and Chinese, Guru Yogas written for him by masters of the tradition, as well as the songs he was so famous for composing.
It was an incredibly powerful symbol of his influence and Dharma. He intuited that singing has a connecting quality. And the chinese tunes were so beautiful!
If you haven't done so already, please read Lama Shenpen's inspiring stories of meeting him and being so expertly guided by him over the decades, and the biography written by Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche.
I have collected some of the photos I took from the occasion on this site here.
When we returned to the UK, we were immediately into a world of activity, planning for the consecration of Rigdzin Shikpo Rinpoche's stupa at Tyn-y-Gors, his retreat centre about twenty minutes drive from the Hermitage.
The preparations for the event had been in process for months and things suddenly sped up as the site went from being completely unprepared, to ready and welcoming in a few days. Thanks to the extremely hard work of Jonathan, Sudhana and their team of willing volunteers.
Lama Phuntsok Rinpoche arrived from Kathmandu with his attendant and two Khenpos from his monastery. Lama Phuntsok built the stupa at the Hermitage in 2011, so we have a very good connection with him. Shortly after, Tulku Sherdor and Tashi Mannox arrived, which was indispensable for helping to translate and make decisions about the rituals and all the materials we would need for the days ahead.
A week of preparation was followed by three days of intense practice at Tyn-y-Gors. This was another major moment, the coming together of Rigdzin Shikpo Rinpoche's students. Lama Shenpen was joined by Longchen Foundation Mandala Mother, Sally, who shared Rinpoche's life for the past 30 years. Students from both sanghas sat and worked side-by-side, meditating together, singing and chanting along with the rituals. This empowered the sacred place as well as both our communities.
The final procession was such an amazing thing to be part of, and my personal highlight of the whole event. After the rituals were complete, and the Monks had left the room, students of Rigdzin Shikpo Rinpoche recited some of the liturgy written by him and sang the seven line prayer of Guru Rinpoche. The stupa was placed on a palanquin and carried on the shoulders of four of Rinpoche's students. The monks led the way, creating the continual stream of jaling sound, a pitch of trumpet-like music that pierces the very space before it, purifying the way with incense and mantras, followed by Lama Shenpen and Mandala Mother. Behind the stupa, the assembly followed singing the Guru Rinpoche mantra.
The stupa was placed on the island, on a special base made by Mebar's husband, Mike, and Sudhana. Lama Phuntsok led the final prayers and offerings on the island, while the rest of the assembly watched from the banks of the lake. Finally tossing blessed rice into the air, like confetti, celebrating and marking the auspiciousness of this remarkable occasion.
We finished with a smoke offering, written by Rigdzin Shikpo Rinpoche, everyone taking part in offering to the beings of all realms.
What struck me most was the sense of real 'presence' created by our practice and care. The sacredness of the place seemed, somehow, more sacred than before. This moment was the fulfilment of Rigdzin Shikpo's wishes, for his ashes to be placed on the island, as well as His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche's instructions to Lama Shenpen and Rigdzin Shikpo, to find a place in North Wales with a lake and an island and to build a stupa there.
It seems like an important moment in time, a point of coming together of so many connections - East and West, Awakened Heart Sangha and the Longchen Foundation, past and future. Aspirations made and fulfilled, new aspirations expressed. It seems to me that the event was a living expression of the truth of Dharma. It shows how we create the way reality manifests through our heart's intention and pranidhanas.
The whole month felt like an important demonstration of the power of togetherness, the unity that seems sadly missing in the wider world right now.
May these sacred pranidhanas and actions be of benefit to all beings.
To see the photos and videos from both events, you can click here - and come back often because more are being added.
If you have photos or videos from the event and would like to share them with others, please email [email protected]ku.gro.sha@rabem who will send you a link for you to add them to the collection.
European Buddhist Teachers news:
In a further example of wider connections and togetherness, Five Cram wants to share something of his recent time with the European Buddhist teachers:
Five says:
I have just returned from the Buddhist Teachers in Europe meeting in Croatia, where nineteen of us gathered to strengthen bonds between ourselves and our various traditions. I have been attending these since 2013 when Lama Shenpen invited me to join - she was one of the founding members in the nineties when those with Asian teachers were beginning to teach European students.
Meeting most years, we have built friendships which allow us to share openly and appreciate the Dharma in the practices which others follow. This time we focussed upon the Japanese Soka Gakkai and the Pure Land traditions which deepened my understanding of those forms. We were hosted by an impressive Chan retreat centre in the mountains and we shared their morning practice which included some beautiful melodic chants.
I have found that listening with an open heart to other lineages, and speaking from my own, has given me a confidence and a wider context for our tradition. Having good Dharma friends in other sanghas and countries is wonderful too, especially as, being one of the organising team, we meet on Zoom throughout the year.
You can find out more about the European Buddhist Teachers here: