Bodhgaya, India — January 28, 2012

From Ven. Roger:

Elephan practicing Dharma with Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Can elephants create virtue? Of course they can. Rinpoche was offered an elephant here in Bodhgaya. He accepted to keep it for 10 minutes and then return it to its owner. During those 10 minutes (which did get extended a little) Rinpoche had the elephant circumambulate the large Maitreya statue a few times, then with others he fed the elephant a lot of food while reciting mantras. After the great blessing, Rinpoche asked the owner to bring the elephant from time to time to Root Institute to do korwa (circumambulations). Since then a few friendly camels have come to do korwa.

When we first arrived in Bodhgaya for the Kalachakra Initiation, Sera Je Monastery requested Rinpoche to accept a long life puja. This was done on the Maitreya land in front of the 24 foot high Maitreya statue. 4,000 monks and nuns attended as well as many lay people. It was a really busy time in Bodhgaya with the Gelug Monlam happening alongside the Kalachakra Initiation and teachings, so the long life puja was done early before the Monlam started and was followed by the rituals for Kalachakra. The puja went very well and at the end Rinpoche gave advice to all the sangha.

Osel, MaÏ (Osel’s girlfriend) and Kunkyen (Osel’s brother) attended the Kalachakra Initiation and regularly used my computer for Facebook and other relaxing activities. Then they often slipped into have a late night bowl of thukpa with Rinpoche along with chat and debate.  

It was difficult sometimes getting to the Kalachakra Initiation site with the huge crowds, especially with Rinpoche needing physical support and since Richard Gere was always with us that caused more of a stir. From the time Richard arrived in Bodhgaya he had a police escort everywhere he went. The police insisted on this, he is very popular in India and movie stars are a really big deal here. And he did need an escort otherwise he was mobbed. When the teachings finished it was a real (exciting) ordeal getting out to the transport. Once we couldn’t get to the car because of the crowds so police had to force their way  through the crowds to get to Richard and Rinpoche, then they forcefully took over another police car and with a police escort , sirens blazing and crowds going crazy we drove back to Root. The crowds were sometimes dangerous … so easy to get trampled. Now, if you are very small like Phuntsok Rinpoche you have to go on someone’s back! He said it was “scary!” Richard was always saying how Root Institute is like an oasis, so quiet and peaceful to come back to.

And what can one say about His Holiness’s Lam-rim teachings? Amazing!

At the end, the heads of the four traditions  of Tibetan Buddhism (Kagyu, Nyingma, Sakya and Gelug) as well as other organizations from all over the world requested His Holiness to be the Supreme Head of Tibetan Buddhism.

After the Kalachakra Initiation was finished, over about eight days, Lama Zopa Rinpoche received a set of initiations from Dhakpa Rinpoche here at Root. Rinpoche insisted on leading all the prayers and pujas as well as the long life puja offered to Dhakpa Rinpoche. Rinpoche fearlessly takes on all these things regardless of concerns about health, etc.

A really cool recent quote from Rinpoche is:

Practicing Dharma is protecting yourself,

Cherishing others is loving yourself,

Put all the blame on one!    

Bodhgaya, India — January 8, 2012

From Ven. Roger:

They are saying that 400,000 or more people are at the Kalachakra Initiation, among them thousands of monks and nuns. It’s a spectacular sea of red when you look out over the crowd.

Some Tibetans start lining up at 1 a.m. in the morning, 12 hours before His Holiness the Dalai Lama starts at midday. The teachings have been lasting four to six hours. People are crammed in tight. I have Tenzin Phuntsok Rinpoche (the eight year old incarnation of Geshe Lama Konchog) sitting beside me. He listens on my headphones to the English and the other ear is free to hear His Holiness in Tibetan. Both his hands are busy drawing, using toilet paper delicately balanced on the top of his small thermos. He creates amazing little sketches of the eight auspicious signs and then passes them over to me. I put them carefully in my bag.

Bread and tea are being handed out, young monks come racing into the teaching area real fast! Some monks start skillfully, some not so skillfully, surfing the sea of red, delivering paper cups, bread and tea. It’s hot and stuffy with Tibetan bread everywhere. There are plenty of TVs for people who can’t see His Holiness directly. Outside this massive tent there are thousands of people sitting on the roads. The police have blocked all traffic and rickshaw walas from going anywhere near the teaching site.

When the teaching is over the crowd surge is massive. The likes of a tsunami! We try to form a circle around Rinpoche so he is not knocked over or swept away! It is a real struggle and reminds me of a rough game of rugby.

At the beginning of the teaching, His Holiness recites a prayer giving permission to all the celestial beings to listen to the teachings. So you have more than 400,000 sweating humans sitting crossed legged and happily squeezed together and I guess countless celestial beings comfortable in space all around us.

Richard Gere is staying with us and comes with us in the car. The police are more than happy to provide an escort for him, so we are escorted back and forth to the teachings. Richard is really enjoying his stay at Root Institute — “an island of peace” he calls it, at this time in Bodhgaya.

His Holiness’s teachings are excellent and His Holiness seems to hardly pause during the four to six hours of teachings/initiation. The monk in front has a strange white sweat salt design on the back of his dongka.

At the end of the last session today, when the kusha grass etc., was handed out … it was crazy. You’ve got to have a good imagination to know what it might be like handing out the initiation materials to over 400,000 people! If everyone stayed seated in their place it wouldn’t be so bad … but they don’t!

Leaving the initiation site with such huge crowds is dangerous. We had to use another escape route.

India — December 26, 2011

From Ven. Roger:

Well, we were late to the airport, but so was the plane! So we made the flight to Delhi OK. Today we had to rush to the airport again. I don’t know why this always happens! Actually, it wasn’t too bad until we arrived and then had to rearrange luggage and then negotiate with the airline about excess baggage. Then run for the flight after explaining to security about the two prayer wheels and other interesting items we carry. The airline guy pushing Rinpoche’s wheel chair was able to keep up a steady run with all of us jogging along. Nice bit of exercise! Last on the flight … and we will be last off as well. Then drive to Bodhgaya.

Dharamsala, India — December 25, 2011

From Ven. Roger:

Time to go to the airport! We are all packed. Many suit cases are loaded. Where is Rinpoche? Now it is getting late. Rinpoche is still doing the last session of retreat. I keep reminding Rinpoche of the time but get no response!

The retreat, in some way, signifies another aspect of Rinpoche’s style. Back to normal. Sessions at night have been going until 5 am and can last up to 7 hours long.

Trying to get Rinpoche to finish the retreat and get to the airport.

McLeod Ganj, India — December 1, 2011

From Ven. Roger:

His Holiness the Dalai Lama walked through the door. Rinpoche went forward to greet him (not being able to prostrate) and they embraced (this was the first time Rinpoche had met His Holiness since his stroke earlier in the year). The room was very silent and still. They remained embracing each other for what seemed like a long time. His Holiness then sat down and asked Rinpoche to sit close. His Holiness then held Rinpoche’s right hand and kept massaging and stroking it throughout their meeting and asking about how the stroke had started and all that had happened. During the meeting, for some who were in the small group with Rinpoche, it was hard to hold back the tears. Some were not holding them back at all. read more »

Kopan Monastery, Nepal — September 12, 2011

From Ven. Roger:

Photo courtesy of Ven. Roger Kunsang.

On September 5, Rinpoche leaned very close to Lama Lhundrup to better hear his voice, it was very soft, a very soft whisper. “Even the very smallest pleasure is in the nature of suffering,” said Lama Lhundrup. “If I have to go to the hell realms may I be able to take on all their suffering, may it ripen on me.”  The atmosphere was very, very still and calm. The conversation felt so intimate between too old close friends. There was no emotion, it was just a close and intimate exchange. read more »

Kopan Monastery, Nepal — September 6, 2011

From Ven. Roger:

Lama Zopa Rinpoche (third from right), blesses the rescued goat. Photo courtesy of Ven. Holly Ansett.

A goat is standing by a shop, tied on a very short leash. It is waiting to be killed by the butcher. I am not sure if it is aware it will be killed very soon. Rinpoche asks the jeep to stop as soon as he sees the goat. It is a nice looking, strong and young goat, brown colored with spots all over it. The negotiations start immediately with the shopkeeper. How much does he want for the goat? He discusses it with his friend in the shop and we settle on 8,500 rupees (about US$ 119), the cost of a cheap cell phone. The man explains that now they will get another goat because they have a commitment to get meat for the weekend. Rinpoche immediately starts negotiating for the second goat. I wonder to myself how long is this going to go on! We settle on the price for the second goat. Then we drive off to Kopan Nunnery and the two goats are brought there soon after. Rinpoche blesses both the goats. They look happy! read more »

Kopan Monastery, Nepal — August 14, 2011

From Ven. Roger:

It was dark, maybe 9 p.m., and there was something wriggling on the path going around Bouddha Stupa. It was a baby jet black snake! We got it onto an open piece of cardboard with a little difficulty. Rinpoche wanted it to come with us around the stupa. Rinpoche gave it the name, “Thubten Tharpkye.” For the next 10 circumambulations of the stupa (he /she) got some really good karma. At the end, after dedications (ending around midnight — almost no one is around at that time), we had to say good bye to Thubten Tharpkye. We placed him safely in the drainage system from where he must have come and will spend the rest of his life.

A few days later we were circumambulating Swayambhu Stupa around the base where there are so many stupas, some are very large. It is quite amazing. We usually go after dark when it is quieter and people have finished doing kora. But we walk on the road and so you have to be really careful of the Nepali cars and trucks racing along with horns blaring. Rinpoche walks slow and you have to take care to balance him as the road has holes and cars and trucks try to  pass as close as they can to you. Sometimes you have to move quickly out of their way! We do one circumambulation (3 km). The last time this took nearly four hours with the stops to make offerings and prayers. We always stop at the large (about 20 ft high), very beautiful Guru Rinpoche statue and Rinpoche chants prayers.

One night Rinpoche was just finishing prayers to Guru Rinpoche when there were sounds from the dark behind us. They say there are a lot thieves and drunks around after it gets dark. I looked around and could see someone lying on the ground in the dark and moving. It sounded like a woman but the noise coming from her was strange and not words that could be understood. Then to her left was a man in rags looking in really bad shape, really out of it. The old woman started to come towards us wailing strangely, the man was keeping his distance. Rinpoche asked me to offer them 100 rupees each. I only had 50 rupees (in change) for each and gave that. Then Rinpoche, in a very gentle ceremonious way, offered to each of them long beautiful khatas. To the man he offered a long blue khata and to the woman he offered a long green one. Then Rinpoche offered a long red one to the Guru Rinpoche statue. We then moved on slowly to complete the kora.

Vous pouvez lire ce blog en français, traduit par le Bureau de la traduction de la FPMT – France.

Kopan Monastery, Nepal — July 17, 2011

From Ven. Roger:

Osel arrived at Kopan on Monday morning to see Lama Lhundrup and stayed one week. It had been 12 years since Osel was last at Kopan. Osel recognized a lot of the older monks immediately and there was a really good connection. It didn’t seem to matter in the least that he was now a lay person and dressed cool!

Osel is on the floor, flat on his back beside my desk, thinking about Rinpoche’s request to give a talk to all the Kopan monks and wearing a chuba (Rinpoche had one made for him). He says he doesn’t like to be pushed or pressured into doing things but it seems he is in the process of coming to terms with Rinpoche’s request although it appears hard. In the end he does give the talk. All the monks are present as well as Lama Lhundrup (a huge effort to come to this, his cancer is quite advanced) and Rinpoche. Rinpoche gave a short talk  first, and then asked Osel to speak. Osel gave the talk in Tibetan (very good Tibetan). He gave “modern” advice and the monks gave a very warm response. They seem to want more! Osel said he was more than happy with his visit to Kopan. It was, “More than perfect,” he said!

Osel had discussions with Rinpoche about Essential Education (formerly Universal Education). He is quite involved, very interested and will be making a video of the upcoming Essential Education event in France. Rinpoche wanted the name changed to Essential Wisdom, Osel wanted “education” in the name. Lots of discussion. The next day Osel said, “How about Universal Wisdom Education and we can call it, ‘U WE.’  ‘U’ and ‘WE,’ get it!?” Alison Murdoch, director of Essential Education, was very happy with the news.

It was an inspiring visit and made a lot of people happy.

Vous pouvez lire ce blog en français, traduit par le Bureau de la traduction de la FPMT – France.

Kopan Monastery, Nepal — July 7, 2011

From Ven. Roger:

Tenzin Phuntsok Rinpoche with Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, July 2011. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche asks Tenzin Phuntsok Rinpoche, “Why did you come?”

With the cutest shy smile and deep, beautiful dimples he says, “To say hello.” (The incarnation of Geshe Lama Konchog is 8 years old and small for his age, but smart as the ace of spades!)

Lama Zopa Rinpoche says quietly to me, “I think he is a little worried about me and just coming to check.”

They chatted between themselves for an hour and looked at a short video of Maratika, the cave where Guru Rinpoche achieved immortality. The big rinpoche and the small rinpoche (did I mention who is as smart as the ace of spades?)

A few days later Phuntsok Rinpoche came to see Lama Zopa Rinpoche again. He replied this time, “No reason, just want to see.” He just wanted to say hello and make an offering. Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave the khata back with one hand carefully over the head of the smiling little rinpoche and then asked me to double the money in the offering envelope and give it back to Phuntsok Rinpoche.

The little rinpoche, smiling, asked if his friend can come in and make an offering. Rinpoche said OK. Then, this little monk – even smaller and so close to the ground! – came in and offered a khata and offering to big rinpoche. Rinpoche asked me to double the offering and he gave it back to the very small monk. The two children both smiled and left after a little conversation.

Lama Lhundrup with Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, July 2011. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

Last night Rinpoche was doing a lot of prayers, slowly as his mouth has difficulty pronouncing the words. Rinpoche wanted to go down to spend some time with Lama Lhundrup to do prayers together and give a lung. Lama Lhundrup does not move much these days and is very quiet. I asked Kunkyen if Lama Lhundrup was OK as Rinpoche wanted to come down.

Kunkyen checked and said, “OK.”

I went up and explained to Rinpoche, “OK.”

Rinpoche started to do some preparation and then in the next minute Lama Lhundrup had come upstairs and was waiting outside, respectfully saying, “Rinpoche can’t come down, I must come up.” (Keep in mind that Lama Lhundrup’s cancer is quite advanced.)

Then proceeded a beautiful dance – the movement between two gracious lamas: one having advanced cancer, the other having had a stroke not long ago, the right side still not working. They both acted humbly, graciously and quietly; the feeling was very calm and peaceful. Awkwardly, Rinpoche tried moving his text and with slurred speech gave the lung with Lama Lhundrup sitting opposite slightly bent over, very still and quiet. It didn’t take long. And then they both parted.