Prayers for the late Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Yesterday evening, our kind resident teacher, Geshe Lama Konchok, led the recitation of Samantabhadra’s Aspiration of Noble Deeds – the King of Prayers. Many Dharma friends of the Centre devoted to our precious guru, Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche, attended the event – yesterday marked the end of the first week following Rinpoche’s entry into parinirvana and into clear light meditation. Concurrently, at Geshe la’s alma mater, Sera Jey Monastic University, prayers were also conducted yesterday evening, all dedicated towards auspicious conditions for Rinpoche’s swift return to this world system. Both events received the attention and generous offerings from many Dharma friends, for which we thank you and rejoice.

Before yesterday evening’s recitation, Geshe la gave a short teaching about his teacher Lama Zopa Rinpoche who had in turn, been a student of Lama Yeshe, both being the epitome of living bodhisattvas.

Rinpoche never boasted of his attainments but was always humble and focused on service to humanity. It may be known to few but Rinpoche, like many other great masters, hardly ever reclined to sleep. Geshe la revealed that whilst Rinpoche founded many Centres of the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (“FPMT”) and in each Centre, there would be a room specially for Rinpoche, beds are conspicuously missing from these rooms – the rooms only have normal seating areas. Geshe la explained that Rinpoche was one whose mind would always be conscious and in a meditative state even when “asleep”.

Rinpoche’s dedication to the Buddha Dharma was also second to none. Before any partaking in

any meal, Rinpoche would enter into deep prayer, offering the meal to the lineage gurus. Sometimes the prayers would take so long that the food would turn cold, and they would have to be re-heated before Rinpoche himself would partake in the meal.

Rinpoche was also one to seize every opportunity to rejoice in virtuous acts, and confess downfalls, similar to the Kadampa master, Lama Atisha. Rinpoche’s commitment to these practices sometimes resulted in him missing flights – rather similar to Lama Atisha who would dismount from his horse to confess any smallest downfalls (even those of the mind), which led to his journeys taking far longer than the usual.

Geshe la also told a story of how Rinpoche showed the perfection of Generosity. Once, Rinpoche was waiting at an airport whilst his attendant had gone to attend to certain flight logistics. He encountered a monk who who was starved of funds and mentioned that it would be nice if Rinpoche would be so kind as to help him with buying a new lower robe (shemtab). Rinpoche replied that he had no cash in his bag, but was about to leave for an overseas trip, and was coincidentally wearing a news shemtab, and asked if the monk would be happy with it. The monk was happy with it and without thinking, Rinpoche removed his shemtab and gifted it to the monk. When Rinpoche’s attendant returned, he was shocked to find Rinpoche sitting there without his shemtab! He managed to locate the monk and offered some money to the monk repurchase the shemtab back for Rinpoche. Many similar instances have occurred, demonstrating how Rinpoche was never attached to anything, and had transcended the inherent sense of a “self” or what was “mine”/ one’s own.

Recounting his journey of how he subsequently went to study for his Geshe degree in Sera Jey having first studied at Kopan, Geshe la explained that it was common for many monks from the Himalayan and Tibetan regions to take this route. Conditions were so harsh then and due to shortage of funds and food, many monks simply could not afford to continue their education, in spite of the fact that many were promising students who would otherwise have gone on to become outstanding Geshes. The problem plagued all the 3 main Gelugpa Monasteries in India, namely Sera, Ganden and Drepung. The then abbot of Kopan, Khen Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup Rigsel, together with Lama Zopa Rinpoche, decided to start the Sera Jey Food Fund. Lama Zopa Rinpoche successfully garnered funds from the devoted from all over the developed world. It was only through this that thousands of monks like Geshe la himself, were able to complete their education, and Geshe la explained how he will forever be grateful for this kindness. Geshe la further explained that in order for the Buddhist teachings to continue to survive in its pure and unadulterated form, monks must receive the best education.

Geshe la also recounted how Rinpoche would always donate towards temples, debate halls, medical facilities etc in the region and beyond – so many of them carry Rinpoche’s works of Dharma in terms of fund raising, and his generosity was not confined to just Gelugpa temples. Without discrimination he laboured tirelessly to help the entire community.

On that note, Geshe la emphasised that for us to be acquainted with such a great master who has now entered paranirvana is a wonderful thing, and it would give great merit to all to come together and devote our hearts to praying for his swift return. Geshe la had chosen dedicate Samantabhara’s King of Prayers, to pray for our root guru’s swift return to continue his works of Dharma and example as a living bodhisattva.

Geshe la updated everyone that Rinpoche’s body will be embalmed and will be housed at Kopan and the devoted will have the chance to revere Rinpoche’s holy body in due course. Geshe la explained that it is very helpful to us if we can continue to reflect on the virtues of Rinpoche and keep rejoicing in them, because as the sutras say, we get half of the merits when we rejoice in the deeds of those more accomplished than ourselves in spiritual practice. Geshe la reminded everyone that there are immense benefits from having a reverent attitude to our masters such as Rinpoche and to rejoice in his merits and virtues because that will go a long way to propelling us on the fast track to accumulate merit.

May there be well-being and peace, and may Rinpoche swiftly descend to be with us once again.

The Maha Tare Team