FPMT News Around the World

Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup memorial stupa (left) nearing completion, Geshe Lama Konchog stupa (right), Kopan Monastery, March 31, 2013. Photo by Daryl Dunigan.

“The main method to achieve enlightenment is bodhichitta, the altruistic aspiration towards enlightenment generated out of the mind of compassion,” Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup, former abbot of Kopan Monastery, taught on the 18 root bodhisattva vows in 1987. “Bodhichitta, the altruistic mind seeking solely the welfare of others, needs to be enhanced limitlessly. It is not enough just to habituate our mind, and generate or cultivate the altruistic mind in our meditation – besides generating the altruistic mind, we also need to actually venture into the deeds of such a mind.”

In late March 2013, the Lama Lhundrup memorial stupa was almost complete, Kopan Monastery, March 31, 2013. Photo by Daryl Dunigan.

In May 2013, Kopan Monastery hosts a special program in conjunction with the consecration of the recently completed memorial stupa for Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup, who passed away in September 2011. Lama Zopa Rinpoche will perform the opening ceremony of the stupa on May 3. The program is scheduled to run May 1-5 at Kopan Monastery. Contact Kopan Monastery for booking information during the stupa consecration events. 

You can read Lama Lhundrup’s short teaching on the 18 bodhisattva vows, given during the twentieth Kopan Course in December 1987, on the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive. 

If you like what you read on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work. Friends of FPMT at the Basic level and higher receive the print magazine Mandala, delivered quarterly to their homes.

FPMT News Around the World

Five dakinis in front of Lama Zopa Rinpoche during long life puja, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, December 2012. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

A long life puja was offered to Lama Zopa Rinpoche, FPMT spiritual director, on behalf of the centers, projects, services and students of FPMT on Sunday, December 29, 2012, at Kopan Monastery in Nepal. 

The long life puja purifies the relationship between teacher and disciple, and creates the merit for the teacher to remain and guide students and all sentient beings.

“To understand why a long life puja is essential, we must understand the value of the Guru. He is our guide in this life, the bardo and future lives. He is immensely important. It is not a case where if we ask him to live he will, and vice-versa, but that to offer such a ceremony purifies our own broken samayas,” Geshe Lama Konchog instructed.

FPMT’s Long Life Puja Fund supports annual long life pujas for Lama Zopa Rinpoche and for His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Visit the Long Life Puja Fund page to learn more.

To see more photographs from the recent long life puja for Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Kopan Monastery, visit Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s page on Facebook.

Gyatso offering mandala to Lama Zopa Rinpoche during long life puja, Kopan Monastery, December 2012

With more than 160 centers, projects and services around the globe, there is always news on FPMT activities, teachers and events. Mandala hopes to share as many of these timely stories as possible. If you have news you would like to share, please let us know.

If you like what you read on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.

YOUR COMMUNITY

October-December 2012

Tony Vickery-Howe and the nuns fire team, Khachoe Ghakyil Nunnery, Kathmandu, Nepal, May 2012

By Tony Vickery-Howe

In May 2012, I spent one month offering training to the monks and nuns of Kopan Monastery and Khachoe Ghakyil Nunnery in Kathmandu, Nepal, in fire prevention and suppression, and in offering first aid to the injured. This was my second trip to Kopan to train “fire teams.”  

My first trip was for two weeks in May 2011. It resulted from hearing about a small fire in Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s suite at Kopan, which took place in early 2011. As a volunteer firefighter instructor, when I learned of it, I asked my wife Ingrid (who is also the Buddhist in our family), “I wonder how they put it out and if anyone was hurt?” We communicated with Ven. Fran [Mohoupt] at Kopan, and my two trips resulted from those conversations. 

Rinpoche inspects the damage after a small fire in Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s suite at Kopan, which took place in early 2011.

 The fire prevention trainings I offer cover the following points:

• keep lighted candles away from curtains
• maintain good house-keeping; dispose of paper and rubbish
• don’t play with matches
• in the event of a fire scream out “Fire, Fire, Fire!”
• if in smoke, stay down low and go, go, go (to an exit)
• if robes catch alight, stop/cover face/drop and roll

Since I don’t speak the language of most of the monks and nuns, I overcome the language barrier by doing a lot of show-and-tell type training. I also receive assistance from the English-speaking monks and nuns who interpret for me. (At the monastery, I think all of the young monks think my name is “Fire, Fire, Fire!” as they say it whenever I go past.)

At both locations, I have also trained the monks and nuns fire teams in basic fire fighting and in offering first aid to the injured. On both trips, the members of the fire teams were keen to participate and learn the knowledge and skills being taught.

Tony demonstrates what to do when there is smoke: stay down low and go, go, go; May 2011

Live fire training at Kopan, May 2011

Ven. Tenzin demonstrate how to use an extinguisher during live fire training at Kopan, May 2011

First aid and CPR training, May 2011

First aid and CPR training, onlookers learn by observation, May 2011

 Before leaving Kopan, I had a meeting with the managers of the monastery and the nunnery and they showed their commitment and support for the fire teams by agreeing to purchase some knapsacks, more gloves and torches, and boots and socks as it is dangerous to fight fires in sandals and so forth. They also agreed to provide secure areas for “fire stations,” where equipment can be stored, and have a dedicated area for on-going training.

Tony with monks fire team, Kopan, May 2012

Many companies in the Perth-area of Western Australia provided training equipment, personal protective clothing and freight subsidies to support the trainings at Kopan:

• St. John Ambulance donated resuscitation dolls for CPR; first aid manuals and triangular bandages.
• Wormold Tyco Fire Equipment contributed some fire blankets and smoke detectors.
• Bunnings at Port Kennedy donated safety helmets and leather gloves.
• Accidental First Aid donated a large amount of first aid dressings and bandages which were given to the medical center at Kopan Monastery and an orphanage in Kathmandu.
• Safety Bay Chemist donated a large amount of Panamax tablets (analgesics) which were left for the monks and nuns.
• Stewart & Heaton donated Probane (fire resistant) overalls that have been issued to the fire teams at the monastery and nunnery.
• Staff at Singapore Airlines have been most generous in allowing me to have free excess luggage, allowing me to take the training and fire equipment to Kopan with minimal expense and to bring my personal fire gear home.

Since arriving home, I have provided Kopan with a report of my visits and an on-going monthly training program for the fire teams. In addition to maintaining skills and knowledge for the fire teams, this will provide a basis for a risk management process.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche offering Tony a thangka

I feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to go to Kopan to promote the health and safety of the monks and nuns and to receive the blessings from the rinpoches. Please include fire fighters in your prayers that they may have the strength and courage to save life and property.

Anthony (Tony) Vickery-Howe is a volunteer fire fighter instructor in the FESA Bushfire Service of Western Australia. He has recently received the Third Clasp for a National Medal which recognizes 45 years of volunteer fire and St. John Ambulance service.

Tony lives in Rockingham, Western Australian, with his wife of 45 years, Ingrid, who is a dedicated Buddhist and who introduced Tony to Kopan in 2000. Tony describes himself as a “little bit Buddhist” and considers his teacher to be Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup, who told him to “learn compassion.” He reports he is “still learning.”

Tony and Ingrid have both retired from their careers in safety and mental health and are returning to Kopan in September 2012.

FPMT News Around the World

Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup Rigsel, Kopan Monastery, March 2011. Photo by Jo Hathaway.

On September 7, 2011, the beloved abbot of Kopan Monastery Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup Rigsel showed the aspect of passing away. On Sunday, August 26, in accordance with the Tibetan calendar, Kopan Monastery is commemorating the first anniversary of Lama Lhundrup’s passing with a day of pujas and practices. Kopan is inviting all FPMT centers and students to join in prayers on that day and to make strong requests for his incarnation to return soon.

You can read Mandala’s tribute to Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup, an account of his last days, photos, videos and reminiscences from students on our page dedicated to Lama Lhundrup. This page includes the prayer for his quick return, which is auspicious to recite many times on this occasion.

During the morning of August 26 at Kopan, the monks and nuns will perform extensive Medicine Buddha puja, with many additional prayers such as the eight Monlam prayers. During the day, the tantric monks will do Yamantaka self-initiation and senior nuns will do Vajrayogini self-initiation. In the late afternoon, an extensive Heruka Lama Chöpa tsog will be held with extensive offerings.

Stupa for Lama Lhundrup, Kopan Monastery, April 2012. Photo by Ven. Thubten Kukhen.

Based on Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s advice, several stupas will be built to commemorate Lama Lhundrup. The first one, built quickly to make it auspicious for the incarnation to return soon, will be finished by Losar 2013. It is on the grounds of Kopan Monastery and Lama Zopa Rinpoche has been invited for the consecration after the Tibetan New Year. In addition, a large stupa will be built in front of the new gompa at Khachoe Ghakyil, the Kopan nunnery. Offering for the anniversary puja and/or the stupa being built at the nunnery can be made through Kopan Monastery. (Click this link and mention in the comment box what the offering is for.)

With 158 centers, projects and services around the globe, there is always news on FPMT activities, teachers and events. Mandala hopes to share as many of these timely stories as possible. If you have news you would like to share, please let us know.

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.

On the evening of September 6, Lama Lhundrup asked for Kunkhen (his attendant) to help clean and wash his body. He even asked for Kunkhen to clean his tongue, and then asked for help to lie in the Buddha’s position (for passing away). He gave instructions to Kunkhen that he’d like not to be disturbed, and  also said that he did not want to take any more medication or food. After that Kunkhen left Lama Lhundrup’s room.

In the morning, Kunkhen again checked on Lama Lhundrup and after seeing his leg move, he went closer. Lama Lhundrup seemed a bit restless and started to move around. Kunkhen thought Lama Lhundrup might have been in some pain so he called Jo (Lama Lhundrup’s nurse). She came and thought to give him a small shot of morphine which they have never done before. Prior to this Lama Lhundrup had been careful to take the minimum amount of pain medication, in order to keep his mind clear for doing prayers and meditating. Rinpoche came to see Lama Lhundrup. Immediately Lama Lhundrup said in English, “I don’t exist.” Then there was a short Dharma conversation. Later Rinpoche explained that he thought Lama Lhundrup had been meditating strongly on emptiness and so the words he said probably were his experience in meditation. Rinpoche said, “Lama Lhundrup did not manifest any ‘ordinary’ signs near death. Rinpoche said good practitioners would not have any fear of death but see it as a path, something to travel through, something you pass through. You use the death experience. Death isn’t to be feared and you shouldn’t think it is a big thing.” As Rinpoche was leaving the room Lama Lhundrup kept repeating, with his hands in the mudra of prostration, “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”

Lama Lhundrup thanking Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Photo courtesy of Ven. Roger Kunsang.

Later that morning Jo was called up to Rinpoche’s room. Rinpoche asked what was happening. Jo explained that Lama Lhundrup was refusing medication and food. Rinpoche sent a message to Lama Lhundrup saying, “Regardless of what you do: take medicine or not take medicine, take food or not take food; death will come regardless, so please accept the medicine and food and be relaxed.” As soon as Lama Lhundrup got this message he immediately accepted, took the food and medication and seemed to be much more relaxed.

Lama Lhundrup in his last days

That evening, September 7 (Tibetan 10), just after 11 p.m., while the whole monastery was doing Heruka Lama Chopa, dedicated to Lama Lhundrup, Sangpo and Geshe Jangchub went to Lama Lhundrup’s room to make a money offering from the puja. When they went in the room it appeared that Lama Lhundrup had passed away, as he was not breathing. They immediately left to let Rinpoche know. Straight away Kunkhen went in quietly. On closer investigation, and at that very moment, he saw Lama Lhundrup take his last breath.

Lama Lhundrup’s meditation finished on Friday, September 9, and the next day all of the Kopan monks and nuns were able to offer khatas to the holy body. After that the general public came to offer khatas.

On Sunday, September 11, several of the monks prepared the body for the cremation, and dressed the body in the deity’s dress.

For many days prior to Lama Lhundrup’s passing away all the Sangha of Kopan Monastery and Nunnery were doing many prayers, pujas and offering thousands of light offerings continuously. The Sangha did Yamantaka and Vajrayogini self initiation many times.

Immediately after Lama Lhundrup’s passing away, the prayers and pujas have been done continuously, all day and night.

The day of Lama Lhundrup's cremation

The cremation was today, Monday September 12 at 3.30 p.m.

Now, 8 p.m., the cremation has just finished. The fire is still burning and there will be pujas going throughout the  night.

Offering fire to Lama Lhundrup's holy body

Starting from tomorrow, according to Rinpoche’s advice, the Lama Gyupa monks and geshes will do Yamantaka self initiation every morning, the nuns will do Vajrayogini self initiation every day, and the main part of the monastery will do extensive Medicine Buddha puja. This will happen daily for the next 49 days with many other prayers as well.

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

Mandala has collected stories and reflections on Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup’s life and accomplishments here.

September 8, 2011

Dear Friends,

Our beloved Guru, and spiritual friend, Khensur Rinpoche Geshe Lama Lhundrup, passed away last night 11:10 p.m., on the auspicious 10th day of the Tibetan calendar and has entered into meditation.

He will be missed by all of us here at Kopan Monastery and Nunnery, and by his numerous students all over the world that received his untiring advice and guidance over the past 40 years.

Last night the monks performed extensive Medicine Buddha puja after Lama Chöpa. Extensive Medicine Buddha puja will be performed daily at the monastery. At the nunnery, the Golden Light Sutra will be recited three times every day. Yamantaka and Vajrayogini self initiation will be performed daily.

Additionally Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche advised to do the Guru Shakyamuni prayer seven times every day, and to recite 100,000 Shakyamuni mantras. FPMT centers, projects and services have been advised to perform extensive Medicine Buddha puja. All students are invited to join these prayers as much as they can.

At the moment we do not know how long Lama Lhundrup will be in meditation. (Please note that it is not possible to offer khata as long as Lama Lhundrup is in meditation.)

A time for the cremation will be set as soon as the meditation has finished and we will inform you of the date and time as soon as we know.

Please pray for holy wishes of Lama Lhundrup to be fulfilled without obstacles, and for the unmistaken incarnation to return soon and continue the beneficial work for all sentient beings.

Kopan Office

October-December 2011

KHENSUR RINPOCHE LAMA LHUNDRUP RIGSEL

Ani Jangsem (left) at animal blessing, Nepal, 2011

Ani Tenzin Jangsem, manager of Khachoe Ghakyil Nunnery in Nepal, was interviewed by Frances Howland in July 2011 about her experiences coming to Kopan Monastery, meeting Lama Lhundrup and his work with the nuns at Khachoe Ghakyil Nunnery.

I first met Lama Thubten Yeshe and Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche at Lawudo, Solu Khumbu in 1981. Ani Tenzin Shedrup and I had escaped from Tibet and came to Solu Khumbu to stay at the Khare Nunnery with my aunt who was a nun there. During Saka Dawa, Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche came to Lawudo to do nyung nä retreat. At that time, some of the nuns from Khare were also taking part in the nyung nä with Lama Zopa Rinpoche while Lama Yeshe wasn’t participating. I wasn’t a nun, but I followed the other nuns to Lawudo anyway.

While I was working in the kitchen, Lama Yeshe came in: this is when I first met him. I was quite young and had just come from Tibet so he asked me what my name was, which regions of Tibet I was from, why I had come. I told him I had come from Tibet to learn Dharma. Actually, my parents wanted me to go to India and join a school in Dharamsala where my uncle was living. They had asked my aunt to send me to India, but I did not want to go.

Lama Yeshe told me that it is very good to join the Dharma community to learn Dharma and asked me whether I had any relatives among the nuns. I told him that the umze at the nyung nä was my aunt. That afternoon at lunch time, he called my aunt and asked her to let me and Ani Shedrup become nuns. He told her that our whole life would be spent in the monastery and that he would look after our needs – she had no need to worry about us, everything would be taken care of. He said that that very day was auspicious, so he asked us to go to Lama Zopa Rinpoche and do the hair cutting ceremony. Since then, Lama Zopa Rinpoche has been my precious root guru.

At that time I did not have much understanding of Dharma as in Tibet I did not get an opportunity, but maybe because of a karmic relationship or whatever, I had a very strong devotion spontaneously arise towards Rinpoche within me and felt very blissful. Just before Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche were leaving Solu Khumbu, Lama Yeshe asked my aunt to send me and Ani Shedrup to Kopan Monastery. He said he may or may not be at Kopan when we arrived, but assured her that he would arrange everything with Lama Lhundrup and that everything would be taken care of.

When we were coming down to Kathmandu to join Kopan Monastery, my aunt and uncle said at Kopan there were only monks and that we’d be the only two nuns. It would be difficult staying with them, they warned, but I had this strong devotion to Rinpoche, so we went to Kopan anyway.

We first went to see Lama Lhundrup and he immediately asked if we were the two nuns who had come to join Kopan Monastery. I felt then that I had met a very precious teacher who is kinder then anybody and able to practice the Dharma. All of this is due to the kindness of Lama Yeshe, so I always remember his kindness and see it as very precious.

When we first arrived at Kopan Monastery, we didn’t leave the grounds for six months. One day, one of senior monks (now Geshe Thubten Yonten) took us to Bouddhanath and in the evening when we were returning, Lama Yeshe, who was returning from an overseas trip, coincidently met us on the way. There was no one who could go to airport to receive him, so he had come by himself. When we met, he asked us how we were, how everything was. I told him everything and then told him we do not have enough clothes. The next morning he called the tailor to take measurements for our robes.

Lama Yeshe was always concerned about us and constantly gave advice. He told us that the two of us were the foundation for the future nunnery. He also advised that whether or not we were able study well, it was important to be a good nun living in pure morality and to have a good heart. Try to help others as much as possible; this is the essence of real Dharma. I still remember all his advice very clearly.

At Kopan we learned how to read, memorization and philosophy under the care Lama Lhundrup. He put in much effort because we learned very slowly. Ani Tsen-la was already at Kopan before we joined. After two years some other nuns joined Kopan, so slowly our numbers increased. Since the number of nuns was increasing, Lama Zopa Rinpoche planned to build a separate nunnery. Rinpoche checked many sites for the building and finally decided on the present place. We started to build the new nunnery and finally moved to the new nunnery. We are very fortunate that things worked well; it was because of the kindness and blessing of Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

In the new nunnery there were about 30 nuns and Lama Lhundrup taught us philosophy and memorization. At weekends he taught us lam-rim. Sometimes he taught the general practice of Dharma, giving a lot of advice on how to do individual practice and at the same time how to help and be kind to others. When we started to build the new nunnery, we had to start everything from scratch. Every day we would go down to the construction site to work, returning in the evenings. We did not have good facilities to return to and we were very short of money. Lama Lhundrup also did not have much money, but whatever he had he would give to us to pay for our labor.

The kindness of Lama Lhundrup cannot be compared or measured. Even with his busy schedule, he would come down to the nunnery to teach us. At the weekend he would come to the nunnery and give advice to the young nuns, tell them about the 10 non-virtues, how to be kind to others, how to have a good heart, etc. Other times he would teach the senior nuns how to chant. The nuns came from remote places such as Tibet and other parts of the Himalayas. We lack experience, but under the guidance of Lama Lhundrup we nuns are progressing. Whatever the nuns are currently enjoying – the nunnery being well known around the world, for example – this is all due to the kindness and blessing of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and hard work and guidance of Lama Lhundrup.

Lama Lhundrup’s kindness and contribution is not only to the nunnery, but to all the Gelug monasteries in the Kathmandu area. All the Gelug monasteries know of his kindness; they all respect and have faith in him. Kopan Monastery and Kopan Nunnery are well known and people respect and rejoice in them very much because of Lama Lhundrup, because he always follows the advice of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to provide whatever help others need.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche appointed me as the manager of Kopan Nunnery around 1989 and since then I have taken up this responsibility. From my side I do not have enough knowledge, ability and experience for this job, but due to the blessing of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s, precious advice from Lama Lhundrup and much help from Kopan Monastery – especially, manager Gen Tenpa Choden – I am able to carry the responsibility. Lama Lhundrup is very kind to me personally. Whenever difficulties arise, whether it’s related with work or personal, I consult with Lama Lhundrup and his advice and guidance always keep me going. Even though I do not have the knowledge, by meeting with all the precious teachers and following their guidance, it motivates and encourages me to work hard for the nunnery. Lama Lhundrup always says to be good hearted and work always for the benefit of others so that you will create great merit.

October-December 2011

KHENSUR RINPOCHE LAMA LHUNDRUP RIGSEL

Tulku at Kopan Monastery, July 26, 2005. Photo by Daniel N. Reid.

Geshe Tashi Dondrup, school principal at Kopan Monastery, contributed this reflection for an article on Lama Lhundrup, published in Mandala July-September 2010.

Lama Lhundrup is really a bodhisattva. He is never too tired to look after the monks and nuns here, just as a mother would. His special quality is real compassion. He doesn’t want to make anyone unhappy. Whether senior or junior student, whatever permission is requested, he will never reject it directly but instead give gentle advice.

Without Lama Lhundrup, the nuns wouldn’t want to stay in the monastery. He shows a special and great kindness to the monks and nuns, both in relation to Dharma and to material things. Whatever is given to him, everything, he shares with the monks and nuns.

He tells the monks and nuns to study philosophy well and to become good monks and nuns, and that he will look after them with whatever they need.

He is never physically or mentally tired, attending all sessions and spending Saturday holiday in the nunnery teaching. Geshe Chokley related how from even 20 years before, Lama Lhundrup really looked after all the small monks as a mother would: wiping noses, dressing them, etc.

Whenever anyone goes to his room, they always go away with something like sweets or fruit. Whatever else he has, he will give to the shop or the kitchen. He shows no favoritism to friends or relatives from Solo Khumbu or elsewhere. There is nothing special for them because he does the same for everyone. Before his mother’s passing in Tibet some years ago, one nun who had recently met his mother in Lhasa asked him why he wasn’t visiting her. He answered that for him it was better to look after his sons and daughters here in Kopan – “my monks and nuns.”

October-December 2011

KHENSUR RINPOCHE LAMA LHUNDRUP RIGSEL

The following reflection was written as an anonymous submission to an article on Lama Lhundrup that was published in Mandala July-September 2010.

Though it is a pleasure to try, it’s not easy to describe suitably the character and qualities of someone who is not ordinary.

Khenrinpoche Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup Rigsel, affectionately known as simply Lama Lhundrup, came to Kopan in 1972 at the request of his guru Lama Yeshe to “teach the monks.”

He came from Sera Monastery in south India, where the abbot had given him permission to leave for just three months, as he was the best student, and has been in Kopan ever since. Initially, he began as headmaster of the youngest monks, and then was director of Kopan while Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche spent more time abroad. Now as Khenrinpoche, “Precious Abbot,” a title bestowed by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama in 2000, Lama Lhundrup continues to only fulfill his gurus’ wishes.

After Lama Yeshe’s passing in 1984, when asked who else would be suitable to lead the FPMT in Rinpoche’s absence, one of Rinpoche’s recommendations was Lama Lhundrup. Why? “Because he has perfect guru devotion.” A number of times over the years Lama Lhundrup has been invited to centers in the West, but generally Lama Lhundrup doesn’t accept. “My job is here in Kopan,” he replies. Lama Yeshe gave him this responsibility. These days Khenrinpoche travels once a year to Singapore and to Malaysia for short periods only or occasionally, at Rinpoche’s beset, to Taiwan, but no further. Khenrinpoche is otherwise always here at Kopan.

In Kopan, Khenrinpoche takes care of everything for everyone: for the monks in residence, for the nuns at the nearby nunnery and for the Westerners who live here or visit. From the monks and nuns’ first permission to join the monastic life through their years of study and practice to their responsibilities within and later outside of Kopan, Lama Lhundrup oversees everything: resources housing, food, clothes, medicine and education. He leads not in an autocratic or controlling way, however. Rather, he directs, guides and inspires, encouraging those around him to always be harmonious, the main single factor for success. The tremendous development of Kopan over the past 40 years, both materially and as a place for study and practice of Buddha’s teachings, could not have happened without his visionary leadership.

Recently, one student of Rinpoche’s, on her first visit to Kopan, commented that on seeing and experiencing what Kopan had become from its humble beginnings, she now had great faith and confidence that Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Maitreya Project could also become a reality.

It is definite that Lama Lhundrup understands the minds of us all! Whether young or old, resident or visitor, monk, nun or layperson, from the East or the West, his advice and guidance is always pertinent and meaningful, able to dissolve our traumas, turn us in directions we had never thought of previously and inspire us to action. Some of the now older monks would remember their early experiences of being in Kopan and sneaking off behind the hill for some unauthorized recess (play!), always in the back of their minds knowing Lama Lhundrup knew. Or returning from unauthorized soccer games to be met at the back gate by a senior monk noting their return and knowing it wasn’t a pair of binoculars that caught them.

For myself, on several different occasions when I received some news or the like that I had difficulty accepting or felt uncomfortable with, Lama Lhundrup would just turn up saying, “You have news?” And after relating it, I would receive some advice on how to use it or think of it meaningfully. It was unsolicited and perfect. Many people have related receiving advice and inspiration in a similar fashion, simply according to need and always touching the right point.

As abbot of the monastery Lama Lhundrup is exemplary as a role model, showing how to follow the disciplines of and participate in monastic life fully. He is at every Lama Chöpa and leads every sojong (monk’s confession ceremony) unless he is out of Nepal. He attends many morning pujas, evening debate sessions and every ceremony, session of teachings, and prayer festivals, often while orchestrating every aspect from his seat. Simply the way Khenrinpoche wears his robes is something that Lama Zopa Rinpoche has sent me back to observe.

Khenrinpoche shows extraordinary enthusiasm for inspiring others to engage in listening, reflecting and meditating on the teachings of the Buddha. He gives beginner memorization classes to the new monks (it is a treat to see a file of six to seven year olds walking towards Khenrinpoche’s room led by the likes of Tenzin Phuntsok Rinpoche, looking all solemn and demure with hands held in front at their waists) and for years has taught philosophy classes and lam-rim classes to the monks and nuns not yet following a philosophy-debate class. Khenrinpoche would teach the nuns on Saturday mornings, their only spare time and everyone else’s day off, and then return to meet with whoever was waiting to seek his advice.

For many years Khenrinpoche also taught the five great texts to the older nuns, who previously didn’t have the opportunity to receive these classes because they had been involved in the actual beginnings and building of the nunnery itself. Khenrinpoche always encouraged them, saying that if thinking about the subject was difficult and gave their neck or shoulders pain, then they should just relax, but to please keep coming to the teachings for the imprints!

Perhaps Khenrinpoche’s favorite activity is debate. It seems he is always having the last and best laugh in the debate courtyard and has been known to quickly leave after one of his guru’s teachings and, noting that debate is not yet over, rush downstairs to join the action with the monks. After completion of his geshe exam in Sera Je Monastery in 1990, the monks who witnessed it all related that it would be something they would never forget. They said it was the best geshe exam because it was the funniest, with Khenrinpoche using examples like rice and dahl to prove profound philosophical points. I once went to Khenrinpoche to explain why I couldn’t accomplish something due to the external conditions not being complete and his reply became a debate, whereby the fault came back to me as a compliment. I remember leaving quite perplexed, wondering how the situation had gotten all turned around. He was laughing!

Like every other aspect of Kopan life, Khenrinpoche takes care of the Western students by offering question and answer, occasional teachings for courses and by meeting and inspiring visiting groups with his sharp wisdom and open heart. He becomes everything needed for fulfilling everyone’s wishes.

Khenrinpoche is the day-to-day heart of Kopan monastery and nunnery, for both the residents and guests, and will remain in our hearts forever. As Rinpoche offered in praise some years ago, Khenrinpoche is “one lama you can completely trust.”

October-December 2011

KHENSUR RINPOCHE LAMA LHUNDRUP RIGSEL

By Lobsang Drolkar

Lobsang Drolkar, a student at Amitabha Buddhist Centre in Singapore, submitted this reflection on Lama Lhundrup to Mandala in 2010.

My love affair with Kopan Monastery began in March 1996. I was a Dharma newbie then. Although the conditions were less deluxe than they are now – and I am a thoroughly spoiled Singaporean traveler – there was something about Kopan that made me go back every single year since then.

That first visit was significant in a very special way. I had been hesitating about taking refuge, not fully sure of all its ramifications for this spiritual path I had chosen. I was introduced to Khenrinpoche Lama Lhundrup who advised me basically, to go for it. So he is my refuge master and someone very dear to my heart. Even then, he told me about the importance of developing renunciation. Not that I understood what that really meant but in hindsight, he probably knew that I was going to be waylaid many, many times from my Dharma practice by my worldly, samsaric distractions.

What makes Kopan so special of course is the hard work Lama Lhundrup has tirelessly, without complaint, put into fulfilling Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s vision. Lama Lhundrup has made Kopan into a place where many students have had the experience of truly coming home. I know I certainly did. I now consider Kopan as my first home, Singapore my second. It is welcoming, warm, accepting, nurturing and filled with a strong blissful Dharma energy. And Lama Lhundrup is the quintessential mother, father and grandparent we all wish we had.

Over the years, I had many opportunities to observe the way Lama Lhundrup works his magic on visitors and students alike. His all-embracing openness and kindness, the way he breaks out into peals of laughter, the paternal way he would grasp one’s hand as he listens so attentively to what one has to say (even when it’s gibberish!).

His demeanor is so unassuming and his attitude so humble that many newcomers to Kopan often had no idea that he was the abbot and sometimes they would even order him about. But I am totally convinced that Lama Lhundrup does not have a single self-important bone in his holy body.

I had the great good fortune to follow him once on pilgrimage to Wutaishan (Manjushri Mountain in China). There were encounters at various temples where he was treated quite dismissively by very junior monks. But he always remained unperturbed and would return their disrespect with even greater humility and offer apologies for troubling them.

And then there is the story of the time when one monk-driver drove off to the airport to receive Lama Zopa Rinpoche forgetting completely that Lama Lhundrup was not in the car! The monk was called back and understandably mortified by his oversight, but Lama Lhundrup apparently just laughed.

It took me many years but, finally, once when Lama Lhundrup was bustling about, as is his custom, ensuring that everyone was comfortably seated in the main gompa for Rinpoche’s long life puja – always doing this himself instead of delegating this task to one of the monks – it finally hit me. Lama Lhundrup is a buddha who personifies that verse in the Eight Verses of Thought Transformation which says:

Whenever I am in the company of others,
I shall always consider myself the lowest of all
And from the depths of my heart hold others dear and supreme.

I am amazed by his love and compassion for others. Often, I had seen him sitting speechless with exhaustion but still mustering up one last milligram of energy to see a benefactor, meet a visitor, advise a student. And he always says, no matter how tired he may be, “I am OK … as long as everyone is happy.”

I am awed by his wisdom and insight. I remember once, when I was going through a rough patch, when Mara and negative thoughts were having a Mardi Gras in my head, I went crying to Khenrinpoche and he told me five magic words in regard to my battle with delusions: “One day you will win!” Those words cut a swathe through my despair and gave me the hope to carry on.

I am grateful for his patience. Although he half-jokingly called me once his “object of patience” when my behavior was particularly trying, I knew that this again was a display of his own self-effacing attitude – that he is still “practicing” – when it must be apparent to all that Lama Lhundrup has attained the six perfections.

I am deeply touched by the depth of his guru devotion. I remember once at a CPMT meeting that he reminded all present to “cherish Rinpoche like one would cherish one’s own heart.” That was a rare glimpse into Lama Lhundrup’s own devotion towards Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

But nothing moves me more than to realize Lama Lhundrup’s great unconditional love for his monks and nuns. He works unbelievably hard to raise funds for projects at the monastery and nunnery, providing for the Sangha’s every need, often at great detriment to his own health and well-being.

I think nothing pleases him more than when his monks and nuns study well or a young monk decides to take gelong ordination. And there is no more beautiful sight than seeing Lama Lhundrup in the main gompa or sitting under the bodhi tree in the courtyard surrounded by the young little monks, teaching them the Buddhadharma he has dedicated his life to.

I remember a quotation from Pabongka Rinpoche: “You’d better choose your gurus very carefully, because you’re going to end up like them!” To even entertain the thought that there is the remotest possibility that I could one day – albeit many eons from now – become like Lama Lhundrup is simply, to borrow one of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s favorite expressions, “mind-blowing.”