I can think of no better way to celebrate Rinpoche’s life, and all that he meant to us, than by being together, practicing together, and rejoicing together, with Karmapa leading the way. Rinpoche meant the world to me. He changed my life, re-arranging me to the core. He turned me inside out, and in his unique and most skillful way, shook me until the good stuff started rising to the surface. I miss him dearly, and he is in my mind often. But as Karmapa himself said right after Rinpoche’s passing - we have nothing to fear for the future, we are in good hands. Good hands indeed! Rinpoche left us in the most capable, loving, and compassionate care imaginable. And I for one I have never been closer to Rinpoche’s mind than now, ever since he passed in fact. He has grown and grown in me, like a lotus blooming in my heart. It’s hard to believe it’s already been ten years, so much has changed for me. For all of us. The fact that we are all together still, all following the path in our own way, this is really a miracle. I can’t think of anywhere I would rather be.
And so, to celebrate his life, we come back to where he passed away. Renchen Ulm, where his first golden stupa resides, sitting in the garden he loved so much. Karmapa arrived for the final day of the Drouptcheu of Gyalwa Gyatso, leading the puja over a wonderful day of majesty and power. Karmapa’s monks, as well a many from Kundreul Ling were there, and it was just beautiful. I sat in the shrine room simply being enveloped in the sound, thumping drums and horns, the beautiful melodies and intricate chanting. Puja has always moved me, but especially so on that day. There’s a big statue and painting of Shamar Rinpoche on the back wall, I definitely stared into that for a good part of the afternoon as well. Afterwards in the evening, Karmapa requested everyone to go to the big tent for a public blessing, but instead he ended up giving this incredible spontaneous teaching about practice that just moved everyone to tears. He just stood there, a mic in his hand, gently gazing on the 500 or so gathered. It was so simple, but so touching and powerful for us, he opened his heart, and for these few minutes it felt like the world had stopped, and we were the only beings on the planet. Then Karmapa did a very short Chenrezig practice with some mantras, and told everyone that this had been the blessing, and it was all over. But then, with a quick smirk and a big smile, he began moving through the crowd giving every single person a blessing anyway, gleaming all the while. He was in such high spirits, so joyful, people’s faces were so lit up it felt like the whole place was glowing.
I for one felt this last piece of the day to be the most special. The unscripted, totally spontaneous act, which brought such joy and happiness to everyone, on a day marking the passing of our great teacher. The blessing the felt like we were all at home, comfortable and cosy, this was extremely powerful for me. For all of us. Good hands indeed - the best of hands. We were so blessed to have Rinpoche in our lives, but have no fear, Karmapa is here! And we are surely the most lucky of all to have him leading the way.
Bodhi Path, Renchen-Ulm
