Dear Dharma Friends,
Lama Kalsang is traveling to New York City for a short retreat and will be returning on December 1st. Our center’s regular Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday practices for this week and Thursday Evening Tea Break are paused. We wish for all a very Happy Thanksgiving with family and friends.
In some sad news, H.E. Lho Ontul Rinpoche passed into parinirvana early in the morning on Sunday, November 20th at the age of 72. He had most recently visited our center in April of 2019, and granted the empowerment and teachings for the Ruby Garland Buddha Amitabha at that time.
Rinpoche was born in 1950 in Eastern Tibet, and had received Mahamudra and Dzogchen teachings from many great masters and yogis: H.H. Dalai Lama, H.H. Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche, H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche, H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Yogi Pachung Rinpoche, Polu Khenchen Dorje, Ven. Khunu Lama Tenzin Gyaltsen, Kyabje Kalu Rinpoche, Khenpo Khedrup Rinpoche and others. Rinpoche’s great strength as a dharma teacher was described by H.H. Chetsang Rinpoche as being “like a mountain in the ocean.”
In sharing the news of Rinpoche’s passing, Lama Mark Weber of the Namgyal Yangzab Buddhist Community of Canada offered this:
This morning a great, wondrous being, our beloved Lama Lho Ontul Rinpoche passed away into the clear light of mind for all.
Lho Ratna Rinpoche has let us know that Rinpoche is presently in Thukdam, abiding in a deep meditative quality with auspicious signs. All his family is with him. Our deep condolences.
For those with a connection to Ontul Rinpoche, now is an important time to meditate and allow our minds to merge with our Lama’s mind. Let’s all take time to meditate together in his energy of luminous awakeness.
This most amazing being has brought so many gifts, both temporal and absolute, such great love to so many of us. No words can express my deep sorrow for his passing on and simultaneously great joy as we experience this extraordinary release into the light of awakeness. He will always be in our hearts, leading us on to liberation.
I am sure that soon Ratna Rinpoche and Lho Bongtrul Rinpoche at Lho Lungkar monastery will make an official announcement and that all matters will be auspiciously and beatifically directed by these wise teachers.
With deep love and an ocean of gratitude for Rinpoche’s love for us all.
May the illumination of wisdom teachings shine through all obscurations of our mind, and may our practices be beneficial to all beings!