So we are all gathered here in Renchen Ulm, to inaugurate Rinpoche’s Stupa, to commemorate and revel in the wondrous life he lived, all the lives he touched, and to make some new happy memories in the process. While the passing of Rinpoche affected us all deeply, the faces I see here before me today are all happy ones, those full of glowing hearted memories and extremely good natured hellos and greetings, sharing food, laughter and great stories - today we are celebrating more than we are missing.
The energy is growing by the minute, the center is already full, and Lama Jigmé Rinpoché’s teaching in the local town hall is a bustling affair as every chair is full, we are numbering well over four hundred in attendance. Rinpoche is radiant and wonderful, as usual his humor and genuine presence are like a blanket warming you to the core, outside it may be splitting cold, but inside we are all plenty warm and fully enjoying his talk - at one point Rinpoche’s story had the entire room bursting out into wave after wave of roaring laughter.
Jigme Rinpoche also spoke in depth about the importance of Shamar Rinpoche’s projects and wishes for the future, his great compassionate deeds in life that seem to be carrying on well after he has passed away. With great humor also comes great respect; while the room was full of humor, the feeling that Shamarpa was somehow with us was undeniable in my heart. I have no doubt that there isn’t a single person in this room who does not dearly miss Rinpoche, that doesn’t wish he were here with us still, especially on a day such as this. His stupa unveiling is tomorrow morning and this is the reason we have all come, from all over the world, to pay our deepest respects and to honor him with everything we have in our hearts. The outside terrace is beautiful, everything is ready and prepared, the stupa sits for the moment covered and waiting, for tomorrow it will be finally unveiled to the world.
For Dhagpo Kagyu Ling and Bodhi Path, Renchen-Ulm
