Shamar Rinpoche passes away

HE WAS AND CONTINUES TO BE OUT TEACHER: KARMAPA

GANGTOK, 11 June: The 14^th Shamarpa, Mipham Chokyi Lodro, one of the Regents of the Karmapa, passed away on Wednesday morning. He was 62.

His passing away will be deeply felt by the Buddhist world at large and followers of the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism in particular given that he is considered second only in the Karmapa in the Karma Kagyu hierarchy. Significantly, the Shamarpa lineage was established by the third Karmapa and is the second line of reincarnate lamas in Tibetan Buddhism, Karmapa being the first.

Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje, in his message released late this evening to fellow believers on the passing away of the Shamarpa, writes, “His Holiness Shamar Rinpoche passed away this morning. Sadly, his physical manifestation has left our material world. Yet he was and continues to be our teacher, and his aspirations and blessings will remain with us always”.

The Karmapa offers these words in consolation: “Even the greatest beings, including Lord Buddha himself, pass away. The impermanence of life is among the core techings and messages of the Buddha dharma”.

He has further called on fellow practitioners to “dedicate our merits and practice to him, and do the practice of Amitabha, since he himself is the emanation of Amitabha”.

“So we must ask for his return, in order to benefit and guide us all towards enlightenment,” he adds, while expressing his compassion for the Shamar Rinpoche’s brother, Jigme Rinpoche, as well as the rest of his family and his students.