Excerpted from the biography of Gomo Vajradhara, based on a translation by Dhawa Dhondup.

Gomo Rinpoche was enthroned on the seat of the former incarnation and entered Sera Monastery at Je Hangdhong. He also studied on the path of the Vajra Vehicle in the Tantric Monastic Academy of Lower Lhasa. Principally, he received the blessed instructions of Ear Lineage of the Virtuous Traditions. Rinpoche received the entire cycle of Gadhen teachings. This extensive learning was put into practice and resulted in a high state of accomplishment.

After Chinese occupation of Tibet, Rinpoche kept a low profile. When Mussoorie residents were repeatedly told by Kyabje Ling Rinpoche and Kyabje Trijang Rin­poche to receive teachings and empowerments from Gomo Tulku Rinpoche, they began to realize him as an outstanding lama. After, Rinpoche started bestowing numerous empowerments and anuja blessings of both the higher and lower tantras such as the threefold Guyasamaja, Heruka and Vajrabhairava. Particularly, Rin­poche maintained the cycle of Vajrayogini and Cittamani teachings.

While in Switzerland, Rinpoche showed an aspect of sickness. Although requested, Rinpoche denied medical attention. His decision was to return to India, saying, “I wish to see my family members.” Initially, he was to spend a few days resting in India and then go on with the tour to Australia, but after arriving, Rinpoche wanted to stay in India and insisted on going to Mussoorie, where the illness was diagnosed as overly neglected cancer for which there was no cure.

During the month in Mussoorie, Rinpoche’s health was weak. With immeasurable compassion, His Holi­ness the Dalai Lama sent a special Tibetan doctor with advice regarding Rinpoche’s diet. When Rinpoche’s health wearied further, hosts of disciples offered repeated requests for a long, stable life, but Rinpoche did not accept these requests. Rinpoche kept quiet, not ans­wering and looking into space with folded hands and smiling and advised, “Pray to the three jewels.” Undoubtedly, this is a sublime indication advising to pray to meet in the Pure Land.

On the 26th (Western date) when Foster Father Wangchug went to see Rinpoche and requested him to remain long, Rinpoche showed five fingers on his hand with a delight. On the 28th when Jamyang requested to remain stable, Rinpoche showed three fingers. On the 29th, Rinpoche showed two fingers. Upon examination, these actions seemed to indicate that Rinpoche would definitely pass to the Dakini Realm within these days. On the Tibetan 14th, Rinpoche summoned Gen Thogme, Konchog Gyaltsen, and Jamyang. He advised them to prepare for offerings in the gompa on the following day. To his wife and daughter, he requested them to bring to him the small old Thangka of Desire Realm Owner (Shri Devi) which was at the back of the altar. Referring to the new Amitayus Thangka earlier commissioned, Rinpoche told them, “Wherever you two go, do not lose this – which is my birth sign – and thangka of Glorious Devi.” Rinpoche advised to build an appropriate reliquary repository which should be placed in Gadhen Chokor Monastery of Phenpo area in Tibet.

While in India, Rinpoche was in no pain. There was the aspect of passive tiredness and decline in physical strength owing to not eating well. Sometimes Rinpoche held the manner of not being able to speak, yet during important situations where there was definite need, Rinpoche would issue direct advice and directions. In aspect of weak body lacking mobility, Rinpoche would suddenly stand, open the door and would conduct the taking and replacing back the necessary articles. Although unable to eat much, at times Rinpoche, for the purpose of implanting dependent link connection, would gulp down huge bowls of soup in three sips.

In the evening of the Tibetan 14th, Rinpoche repeat­edly asked for the time. At three o’clock he asked to be set in upright position where he remained for two hours in meditative sublimity practice. At five o’clock, Rinpoche reclined in the “lion sleep pose.” In that position, Rin­poche displayed the mode of withdrawing the form body into dharmakaya. That day was also the special day that Shakyamuni entered into the mother’s womb and also a day of star and planetary harmony.

It was a period of incessant rainfall day and night. Yet on this day, the sky was clear while clouds appeared in masses in the shapes of offering substances. The two geshes performing the necessary rites saw an extremely red colored cloud in the nature of light and in the form of tsog or fruit right above the chamber. Many people saw rainbows striking the home.

Until 11:00 a.m. of the Tibetan 18th, Rinpoche remained in meditative sublimity. The luster of Rin­poche’s complexion remained unfaded until this time when the white and red bodhichitta fluids came out. At 1:00 p.m. a bath was offered to the reliquary at which time everybody saw rainbows from the north striking at the chamber.

The following day, the 19th at 8 a.m., empowerment substances were offered to the reliquary and then car­ried in long ceremonial parade of disciples down to Rajpur Hills. The assembly offered the burn offering. At the time of lighting the fire, right through the bright sunshine there was a slow and soothing drizzle referred to as “shower of flowers.” After four hours of intensely hot fire, only the precious head could be seen standing, upright on a thin neck bone. Suddenly there was a sound of fire burst. Flashing rays were seen emitting from the right cheek and when observed closely, an image of Buddha was seen upon those rays. Everyone rushed in to see, and some saw a red Vajrayogini; some saw in the aspect of the Lama; others saw in the aspects of Tara and syllables. On the Tibetan 20th, when the chamber was opened, there was a clear footprint of a small child pointing toward Mussoorie or the north.

THE STUPA

Gomo Tulku’s stupa was completed in July 1989. There were a number of small but time-consuming obstacles that prolonged the work, from finding a big enough piece of juniper wood for the basic structure, which had to be carried across the border from Tibet, to hunting down special copper nails in Old Delhi.

The stupa is 2.5 feet [.7 meters] high, made of copper which has been gold-plated, and is decorated with tur­quoise, coral and pearls. It is currently at Kopan Monastery being filled by Geshe Lama Konchog according to Tibetan tradition with special man­tras, incense, jewels, etc. and should be consecrated before the end of the year. The stupa will be housed in Gomo Tulku’s monastery in Tibet. We hope it can be transported there in 1990.

Deepest thanks to Massimo Andrani, Jeff Starrs and Dorli Schriever for coordinating collections towards the stupa and to Tenpa Choden and Pemba Sherpa for invaluable help.