Rato Khyongla Rinpoche has left us
He was attended through stages of death
as Rato and Gyuto monks said prayers
Tormas were prepared
to remove obstacles
Ritual bathing was performed
Rinpoche was wrapped in the vajra position
ornamented
and taken from our hotel
down to the vehicle
sent by Gyuto where Rinpoche served as Disciplinarian in the 40’s
We pray that Rinpoche will soon return
the flames spew out
rising straight up auspiciously!
A prayer for a Swift Return
composed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama
1)
Exalted wisdom of all victors gathered in a drop,
Sole refuge manifest in the form of the one wearing saffron robes,
Guru Lobsang Thubwang Dorje Chang,
Please bear witness here today that our prayers may be fulfilled.
2)
We beseech the great torch of doctrine,
Accomplishing from long ago the vast waves of aspirational prayers,
Lord of Speech of the Victor Lobsang’s teachings,
Spreading them to the ends of the earth by means of explanation and practice.
3)
Though holding the commitment:
‘I will invite all beings to be my guests in unsurpassed, great awakening’,
Yet you have withdrawn the activities of the Form Body that serves the welfare of others.
Is that worthy of the supreme among beings, the bodhisattvas?
4)
Though impossible for you ‘til cyclic existence’s end,
To abandon your commitment to liberate all beings,
We beseech the new sun of Nirmanakaya to swiftly return from the realm of Dharmakaya,
Brought forth by bodhicitta drawn by seven steeds.
5)
Having reached the far limits of scholarship, religious life and goodness,
Please come swiftly as an unrivaled supreme emanation—full holder of the Sage’s teachings,
And wish-fulfilling jewel—
Return as the glory of Lobsang Tenpai.
6)
Magnificent truth of the Three Precious Jewels,
Mahākāla, Karmayama, and Śrīmatidevī, and the ocean of Dharma Protectors,
May you spontaneously fulfill our wish:
The swift blossoming of the reincarnation’s fresh moon-like face.
On the passing into peace of Rato Khyongla Rinpoche, Ngawang Lobsang Shedrub Tenpai Dronme, I have been entreated by the abbot of Rato Monastery, Tenzin Chodrak (Nicholas Vreeland) who lived with Rinpoche, by Rato Monastery, by Nyare Khangtsen, and by the American Dharma Center Kunkhyab Thardo Ling (The Tibet Center), imploring: “We need a prayer for the swift return of the incarnation of our Guru.” Furthermore, I myself summoned Rinpoche to accompany me when I was invited to celebrate the (two thousand five hundredth) anniversary of the Parinirvana of Lord Buddha in India. Also, when I sat for my debate examination on completing my monastic education, he was among those called on to debate with me. Later, when we came to India, as he was the heart son of Yongdzin Rinpoche Ling Dorje Chang, I asked him in the nineteen-sixties to go to teach in Western countries such as America, and during the time he was living there I had him carry out in various ways my vision. For those and other reasons, he became a trusted person with whom I could discuss inner matters. Now, since the one who passed away was rich in empowerments and transmissions and possessed vast knowledge of both Sutra and Tantra, not only do I mourn the loss of the senior student of my teacher Yongzin Rinpoche Ling Dorje Chang, but it is a great tragedy for the Geluk tradition in general, a cause for consternation. However, due to his pure motivation towards the Dharma, and his love for sentient beings, it is definite that Rinpoche will return. On this 28th day of the third month of the water tiger year of the sixteenth Tibetan cycle, which is the 27th day of May, 2022 of the western calendar, I—his Dharma friend, the Shakya Bhikshu and Propounder of Dharma, the Dalai Lama—have composed this prayer for Rinpoche’s swift return.
A video made by Guyto https://youtu.be/KpomJllsmB0