HIS EMINENCE CHOGYE TRICHEN RINPOCHE

A PRECIOUS STAR IN THE DAY
	– A TRIBUTE TO A GREAT TIBETAN MASTER OF OUR TIME

Through your perfect wisdom, you see things as they are,
Through your great compassion, you embrace all beings as your children,
Through your omniscient power, you uphold the precious Dharma,
Through your boundless kindness, you reveal the path to liberation

Perfect and precious root guru and heart father, Ngawang Khyenrab Lekshe Gyatso, all the sugatas in one, I bow to your lotus feet.

I write with grave sadness that His Eminence Chogye Trichen Rinpoche has entered into Parinirvana on the morning of 22 January 2007 in Kathmandu, Nepal. Perhaps no words would be able to describe the sadness and regret in our hearts to hear such news. It must be auspicious karma connection in the past coupled with His Eminence's great kindness that we are graced with his great presence, teachings and blessings in this lifetime. However, perhaps the time has come for our transient physical meeting to end in this lifetime. Just as His Eminence has taught:-

“That which rises will fall,
that which comes together will part,
that which has been accumulated will be consumed
and that which is born will die”.

This is the teaching of impermanence and the nature of composite things as they are.

When His Eminence Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche heard this news, he praised His Eminence as follows:-

“Outwardly, His Eminence is a Theravadin Arhat, inwardly he is a great Mahayana Bodhisattva, and secretly he is a mahasiddha/Vajradhara. It is truly rare to have encountered such a precious master, it is as rare as seeing a star in the day”

His Eminence's heart and breathing stopped on 22 January, 2007. At that time Rinpoche entered into the "Thuk-Dam" state known as "Inexpressible secret - the great wisdom of bliss and emptiness". Rinpoche rested in that inconceivable state for fifteen days until 6 February, 2007. Rinpoche's holy body was carried to Boudhanath on Friday, 9 February, in a long procession. At that time a full rainbow appeared in a circle around the sun. A half rainbow remained above the sun for the rest of the day. This was seen by all present.

His Eminence's holy body remained in seclusion for three days in his quarters in Jamchen Lhakhang. After that time Rinpoche's "kudong" was moved to a special room in the building behind the Lhakhang where the public may visit to pay their last respects to Rinpoche.

The Fire Puja Cremation is scheduled for 3rd March and will be presided over by His Holiness Sakya Trizin. 3rd March is the 15th day of the Tibetan New Year and Chökhor Düchen, the anniversary of the first turning of the Wheel of Dharma.