Allow Shamar Rinpoche’s remains into Nepal, urge Western Buddhist organisations

GANGTOK, 17 July: In an effort to fulfill the wishes of tens of thousands of Buddhists in Europe, the Americas and Asia, three Western organizations representing Buddhism have asked the Nepal Government to permit the remains of the 14th Shamar Rinpoche Mipham Chokyi Lodro to enter Nepal, where foreign and local devotees want to pay their last respects.
A press release from the Diamond Way Buddhism Foundation informs that originally, the Nepal Embassy in India had issued a “no objection letter” allowing for the remains of the Shamar Rinpoche to be taken to Nepal from India for the last rites but the Nepal government later retracted its permission.
Bodhi Path Buddhist Centers [Germany], Dhagpo Kagyu Ling [France] and Diamond Way Buddhism Foundation [Germany] have written to the Nepal government asking for the Rinpoche’s mortal remains to be allowed into Nepal.
The release informs that numerous followers of the Karma Kagyu lineage from the Western world have already organized their trips and bought tickets to fly to Kathmandu from as far as Europe and America. Retracting the permission would deny devotees from Nepal, as well as many international followers and benefactors, the opportunity to meet their teacher for the last time.
“Spirituality is beyond nationality. Shamar Rinpoche was a great example of that, devoting his life to work for the benefit of others in the whole world – be it Nepal, Europe or America—without discriminating who comes from where. His last wish to rest after his passing in Kathmandu should be respected. His resting place will become an international pilgrimage place important not only to Rinpoches’s followers but to all Buddhists. Thus everybody, including Nepal, will benefit. It is actually an honor for the country”, said Caty Hartung of the Board of Directors of the Diamond Way Buddhism Foundation.