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Obituaries
Lama Zopa Rinpoche requested that “students who read these obituaries pray that the person mentioned finds a perfect human body, meets a Mahayana guru, and becomes enlightened quickly, or be born in a pure land where the teachings exist and they can become enlightened.” Reading these obituaries also gives us an opportunity to reflect on death and impermanence and to make the determination to live life in the most meaningful way. Rinpoche continuously reminded us to meditate on death and impermanence in order to motivate ourselves to practice Dharma right now! If we put off Dharma practice for when we are older or less busy, we assume that we will wake up tomorrow morning, and there is no promise of this.
More advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche on death and dying is available, see Death and Dying: Practices and Resources. To submit an obituary for an FPMT student, please see our obituary submission guidelines.
Rejoicing in the Life of Eléa Redel Who Benefited Others by Mere Sight
Eléa Redel, 74, died of rheumatoid polyarthritis, on January 7, 2022, in Lavaur, France By Christian Charrier Eléa Redel was finally released from her long-term physical suffering on January 7, 2022, at Institut Vajra Yogini, France. Geshe Loden, our resident ... Read more »
The FPMT Community Celebrates the Life of Thich Nhat Hanh
Buddhist monk, Vietnamese Zen Master, engaged-buddhism proponent, and peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh passed away on January 22, 2022, at the age of 95. Spiritual leaders as well as FPMT students and centers around the world have been sharing the ... Read more »
Ladakhi Lama Passes Away
We are saddened to share the news that Ven. Thupten Tsewang (also known as Ladakhi Lama and Baling Lama), born in Ladakh, India, passed away at the age of 92, at Kalpataru Buddha Vihar, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India, on April 25, ... Read more »
Chandramani Kumar Passes Away
Chandramani Kumar, 55, died in Patna, Bihar, India, on May 17, 2021, of COVID By Root Institute for Wisdom Culture former director Ven. Tenzin Paldron and former volunteer Ven. Tashi Choedup Chandramani Kumar, fondly known as Chunnu ji, was one ... Read more »
Determined, Persistent, and Hard-working Friend of the Maitreya Project Atul Chopra Passes Away
Atul Chopra, 61, died in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India, on May 7, 2021, of COVID-19 By Marcel Bertels, director of FPMT project Maitreya Buddha Kushinagar I met Atul in 2001. After deciding to relocate the Maitreya Project from Bihar, India, ... Read more »
Naresh Sahai Mathur Passes Away
We are saddened to share the news that Naresh Sahai Mathur passed away at the age of 67, in New Delhi, India, on April 25, 2021, of COVID-19. Naresh was an early student of FPMT founders Lama Thubten Yeshe and ... Read more »
Arvind Kumar Singh, Who Offered More Than 20 Years of Service at Root Institute, Passes Away
Arvind Kumar Singh, 55, died in Gaya District, Bihar, India, on April 25, 2021, of COVID-related complications By Ven. Tenzin Paldron, Root Institute for Wisdom Culture former director, and former volunteer Ven. Tashi Choedup Mr. Arvind Kumar Singh, affectionately known ... Read more »
Geshe Losang Tengye Passes Away at Institut Vajra Yogini
Geshe Losang Tengye, who played an important role in helping establish Tibetan Buddhism in the West, stopped breathing in his room at Institut Vajra Yogini in France on Friday, October 19. Geshe Tengye stayed in clear light meditation for five ... Read more »
Paying Tribute to Geshe Pema Tsering
On February 11, 2017, Geshe Pema Tsering, who served as resident teacher at Buddha House in Adelaide, Australia, for nine years entered into clear light meditation after passing away. Mandala received this tribute to Geshe-la from Buddha House director Gabe ... Read more »
Gelek Rinpoche: A Personal Reflection from Nicholas Ribush
It was with great sadness that we at FPMT International Office learned of the passing of Gelek Rinpoche (often spelled Gelek Rimpoche), founder of the Jewel Heart centers, on February 15, 2017. Rinpoche was a close friend of FPMT founder ... Read more »
Khen Rinpoche Geshe Gendun Choephel Passes Away
We are sad to announce that on July 31, 2016, Sera Je abbot Khen Rinpoche Geshe Gendun Choephel suddenly passed away. Among Khen Rinpoche’s many students is Tenzin Ösel Hita, the recognized reincarnation of FPMT founder Lama Yeshe. Khen Rinpoche ... Read more »