When His Holiness first arrived in Renchen Ulm, and was, for the first time in the presence of Shamar Rinpoche's Kudung; this is a moment that I will never forget. Seeing, in person, how deeply he cared for and cherished his teacher was profoundly moving.
Arriving from the car he came straight in, prostrated in front of the Kudung and immediately entered a deep state of meditation which seemed to last for hours - there was no sound, no one moved, no one spoke, the few people in the room literally holding their breath.
Seeing His Holiness this way created in me a sense of admiration and respect that is difficult, if not impossible to put into words. A true living Buddha, a true human being, deeply saddened by the loss of their teacher, yet so uplifting and joyful to see and feel what an incredible and powerfully visible connection they had.
I managed to take one single photo - I could barely hold my camera still enough to take it as my hands were shaking and it was hard to breathe. Though many may remember the sadness, I feel this moment reflects His Holiness' amazing courage, and it has shown me that the power to continue, to carry on, is in all of us, even when things appear bleak and we feel lost. I miss Shamar Rinpoche terribly, and it’s hard to come to terms with everything I feel I have lost with his passing from this world. When I think of Karmapa, I think of how much he carries for us all, how much he has also lost, and yet he continues on regardless, always benefiting others. If I close my eyes I can picture him there, seated in meditation, in front of Rinpoche's Kudung - this will forever be with me as the most powerful moment of my life.
Arriving from the car he came straight in, prostrated in front of the Kudung and immediately entered a deep state of meditation which seemed to last for hours - there was no sound, no one moved, no one spoke, the few people in the room literally holding their breath.
Seeing His Holiness this way created in me a sense of admiration and respect that is difficult, if not impossible to put into words. A true living Buddha, a true human being, deeply saddened by the loss of their teacher, yet so uplifting and joyful to see and feel what an incredible and powerfully visible connection they had.
I managed to take one single photo - I could barely hold my camera still enough to take it as my hands were shaking and it was hard to breathe. Though many may remember the sadness, I feel this moment reflects His Holiness' amazing courage, and it has shown me that the power to continue, to carry on, is in all of us, even when things appear bleak and we feel lost. I miss Shamar Rinpoche terribly, and it’s hard to come to terms with everything I feel I have lost with his passing from this world. When I think of Karmapa, I think of how much he carries for us all, how much he has also lost, and yet he continues on regardless, always benefiting others. If I close my eyes I can picture him there, seated in meditation, in front of Rinpoche's Kudung - this will forever be with me as the most powerful moment of my life.