Lama Zopa Rinpoche News

Kopan Monastery, Nepal — July 7, 2011

From Ven. Roger:

Tenzin Phuntsok Rinpoche with Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, July 2011. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche asks Tenzin Phuntsok Rinpoche, “Why did you come?”

With the cutest shy smile and deep, beautiful dimples he says, “To say hello.” (The incarnation of Geshe Lama Konchog is 8 years old and small for his age, but smart as the ace of spades!)

Lama Zopa Rinpoche says quietly to me, “I think he is a little worried about me and just coming to check.”

They chatted between themselves for an hour and looked at a short video of Maratika, the cave where Guru Rinpoche achieved immortality. The big rinpoche and the small rinpoche (did I mention who is as smart as the ace of spades?)

A few days later Phuntsok Rinpoche came to see Lama Zopa Rinpoche again. He replied this time, “No reason, just want to see.” He just wanted to say hello and make an offering. Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave the khata back with one hand carefully over the head of the smiling little rinpoche and then asked me to double the money in the offering envelope and give it back to Phuntsok Rinpoche.

The little rinpoche, smiling, asked if his friend can come in and make an offering. Rinpoche said OK. Then, this little monk – even smaller and so close to the ground! – came in and offered a khata and offering to big rinpoche. Rinpoche asked me to double the offering and he gave it back to the very small monk. The two children both smiled and left after a little conversation.

Lama Lhundrup with Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, July 2011. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

Last night Rinpoche was doing a lot of prayers, slowly as his mouth has difficulty pronouncing the words. Rinpoche wanted to go down to spend some time with Lama Lhundrup to do prayers together and give a lung. Lama Lhundrup does not move much these days and is very quiet. I asked Kunkyen if Lama Lhundrup was OK as Rinpoche wanted to come down.

Kunkyen checked and said, “OK.”

I went up and explained to Rinpoche, “OK.”

Rinpoche started to do some preparation and then in the next minute Lama Lhundrup had come upstairs and was waiting outside, respectfully saying, “Rinpoche can’t come down, I must come up.” (Keep in mind that Lama Lhundrup’s cancer is quite advanced.)

Then proceeded a beautiful dance – the movement between two gracious lamas: one having advanced cancer, the other having had a stroke not long ago, the right side still not working. They both acted humbly, graciously and quietly; the feeling was very calm and peaceful. Awkwardly, Rinpoche tried moving his text and with slurred speech gave the lung with Lama Lhundrup sitting opposite slightly bent over, very still and quiet. It didn’t take long. And then they both parted.

Kopan Monastery, Nepal — June 29, 2011

From Ven. Roger:

“I can’t move,” says Rinpoche. “Why?” asks the physiotherapist. “Ants! I will tread on the ants.” So starts the debate between Rinpoche and Rinpoche’s Nepalese physiotherapist, Rajesh: Rajesh doesn’t understand why Rinpoche is so concerned about the ants and treading on one or two of them while he is doing his exercises. Rinpoche gives a brief explanation on compassion. Rajesh accepts. We gently remove the ants and Rinpoche continues to do his exercises.

Rajesh has been working with Rinpoche for about 10 days now and they are developing a good relationship. Rajesh is very good at what he does and has helped a number of Westerners here in Nepal. This morning (Rajesh comes every morning at 7:45 a.m. for one hour) after the physiotherapy session finished, Rinpoche answered Rajesh’s question about the main difference between Buddhism and Christianity. Rinpoche answered in 10 minutes. And then Rajesh had to go to his next client.

There is a lot of laughter during the session (Rajesh tells the jokes and Rinpoche keeps laughing) but at the same time Rajesh definitely keeps control of the session. It works very well.

Rinpoche is also spending time checking and seeing what can be done for Khenrinpoche Lama Lhundrup. Lama Lhundrup has good care here at the monastery with his attendants and Jo, a nurse and palliative care specialist who is a student of Lama Lhundrup from New Zealand. The Tibetan doctor visits him regularly and Rinpoche is attending to the spiritual aspects of the healing: blessing water, prayer sessions with the monks, pujas, etc.

Every now and again Rinpoche says about his own situation, “This will take time … have to wait for the karma to finish … it will take time.” Since the time in the hospital Rinpoche has been saying this. This morning I asked Rinpoche, “How long?” Rinpoche said, “Can’t say, maybe six months, maybe longer.”

Last night Rinpoche circumambulated Bouddha Stupa three times by himself and then about 10 times in the wheelchair. Rinpoche always stops at the two bigger prayer wheels and turns these with effort and difficulty with his right hand – it’s good exercise! Rinpoche said circumambulating Bouddha and Swayambhunath Stupas is very helpful for the mind. Rinpoche is really keen on circumambulating: the first night it was raining, so we did so in the rain. Most of the time we circumambulate late at night as it is quiet then.

Kopan Monastery, Nepal — June 11, 2011

From Ven. Roger:

Friday June 3, Bendigo, Australia: After discussion between Rinpoche, Khadro-la and myself, we decided that Khadro-la will leave tomorrow for Nepal.

After long and thorough discussions, it was decided that Rinpoche also should go to Nepal ASAP. (We had planned to be in Bendigo for sometime so Rinpoche could stabilize, continuing with the physiotherapy, etc.) After some quick checking, we saw that we could get a flight on June 6, but it meant a lot had to be organized, including discussion with the doctors and the hospital, getting clear on what it means for Rinpoche to travel, taking insulin, etc. After a lot of work we arrived at Melbourne airport. We rented a small 12-seater bus because Osel and Gomo Tulku Rinpoche were also departing. (They stayed a few days there and probably are now back in Europe.)

Lama Zopa Rinpoche presiding over long-life puja, Kopan Monastery, June 2011. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

At the airport we ran into trouble at the check-in, which is not unusual, except the additional issue that they wanted to weigh our hand luggage with a restriction of 7 kg (15 lb)! Our carry-ons are usually at least 20 kg (44 lb) each with texts, prayer wheels, etc., so that was very hard. Then we had too many bags and it was going to cost a fortune. Then they asked us for a letter from the doctor saying Rinpoche was OK to fly, which we didn’t have! We had letters for the needles, insulin, arrangements for wheelchair service, etc., but no letter to say Rinpoche was OK to fly. And the airline said we couldn’t fly without it! So there was a lot of last minute re-shuffling and re-organizing of luggage and calls to the doctor for a letter to be faxed through to the airline. It all was eventually worked out except that some luggage got left behind.

Lama Lhundrup, June 2011. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

So here we are now in Nepal. Yesterday, Rinpoche was offered a special two-day long life puja at Kopan, organized by Khadro-la and Pari (Dagri) Rinpoche. Serkong Dorje Chang also attended, spontaneously appearing that morning. Lama Lhundrup attended even though he’s not well. Lama Zopa Rinpoche managed to walk down the steps (and there are a lot of steps!) Rinpoche is very determined to walk unaided and he does it fearlessly. If someone is not with him, he can easily stumble as the right leg isn’t stable yet. Rinpoche just heads off whether I am around or not! The long life puja went very well, Rinpoche was very happy.

Today, Dakpa Rinpoche (ex-Abbot of Sera Mey Monastery) will begin the pujas for Rinpoche; these will go on for several days.

Another important reason Rinpoche said for being in Nepal was that he could circumambulate the Swayambhunath Stupa which kept coming out very good in his mo. We did that yesterday, circumambulating part of the time in a wheelchair and part of the time walking with help. The big korwa at the base where there many stupas must be a few kilometers. We’ll also circumambulate Bouddha Stupa … it’s physiotherapy with holy objects!