This is written to honour His Eminence Kyabje Lati Rinpoche
Life is Precious
Once in a lifetime i meet a sage
humble, wise, in simple robes, perhaps like i imagined
being around your presence was humbling, forgiving, a blanketing warmth
alike an unconditional open heart waiting for me to come home
since the day we met, the trust was well-founded
your presence moved me, silently, subtlely, absolutely
when the last prayers were done, i could sense
your Eminence's committment to Great Compassion
life is fragile, life is precious
every moment every second
i can only try to do my best
and never give up
this is my promise
for having the greatest loss deep within
if there is a wish I know for sure, it is
to be in your presence to be blessed by you again, my dearest teacher.
I reverently prostrate with my body, speech and mind,
to the Buddha, Dharma and the Supreme Assembly.
May I quickly attain the state of Enlightenment,
for the sake of all sentient beings.
I am deeply grateful that I have the good fortune to have met His Holiness Lati Rinpoche within this lifetime, to receive his teachings and blessings. May this connection and affinity with Lati Rinpoche, a great practitioner, continue for many more future lifetimes.
His Holiness Kyabje Lati Rinpoche went into Nirvana (passed away) at the age of 88 years old on 12/04/2010 in the morning at 5:25am(india time), in Dharamsala India. His Holiness Kyabje Lati Rinpoche was full of Dharma Wisdom and a very Compassionate Greatest Highest Lamas of Gaden. He had benefited the Monastery and all sentient beings during his existence.
Rinpoche’s contribution towards teaching and spreading the Dharma was widely recognized by all, and was deeply respected by many devotees all over the world.
Lati Rinpoche was recognized as a reincarnation of a great practitioner and became a monk at the age of 10. He was the Abbot Emeritus of Gaden Shartse Monastery in Mundgod, South India. Belonging to a very rare class of scholar, saint and high practitioner who completed his training in an independent Tibet, Rinpoche continued to spread the Dharma by teachings at various monasteries and schools, after he followed His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama into exile in 1959. In 1964, Rinpoche arrived in Dharamsala, and was subsequently appointed as Spiritual Advisor to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. Rinpoche served His Holiness faithfully till today. Rinpoche’s contribution towards teaching and spreading the Dharma was widely recognized by all, and was deeply respected by many devotees all over the world.
Rinpoche passed away peacefully in his residence unexpectedly. He was not hospitalized. This morning when Rinpoche woke up, he did his usual prayers and told his personal assistant, Sopon-la, he wanted to take his bath. This was unusual as Rinpoche normally had his breakfast before his bath each morning. Prior to that, he had also circumambulated His Holiness the Dalai Lama's temple.
After his bath, Lati Rinpoche instructed Sopon-la to leave his room, and said: "it is time for me to go". With that, Rinpoche entered into clear light meditation. Rinpoche's body is currently still warm and in the meditative state. This is a sign of an Enlightened being. We do not know how long Rinpoche will be in this state, can be 3 days, 7 days, 21 days etc... As and when his consciousness leaves him, Rinpoche's body will then be brought back to Mundgod, his monastery, for the fire puja (cremation). Arrangements are in the process to construct Rinpoche's stupa which is expected to house his relics when the time comes. Rinpoche's monastery, Gaden Shartse, will be making offerings to the 3 great monasteries on behalf of Lati Rinpoche's name, which will be to Gaden, Sera and Drepung monasteries. The number of Sangha in these 3 monasteries alone totals 10,000 monks. Lati Rinpoche was a great, deeply respected Gelug master and one of the most senior Buddhist teacher in these 3 monasteries. All the Sangha will be conducting prayers for Rinpoche in their respective monasteries and many more are expected to attend his fire puja as well as to pay their last respect to Rinpoche.
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May Thy love shine forever from the sanctuary of my devotion and may I be able to awaken Thy love in all hearts ~ Paramahansa Yogananda.
Prayer for the Quick Return of Kyabje Lati Rinpoche,
specially composed by HIS HOLINESS 14TH DALAI LAMA
by Gaden Shartse Dro-Phen Ling on Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 10:57pm
Dear Dharma Brothers & Sisters,
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama has specially composed the below QUICK RETURN Prayer for us all to recite and pray for our precious teacher's swift return. Please continue to unite in prayers and make strong dedications.
Here is a note (attached with the prayer) from His Holiness:
"The students of Lati Labrang, the assembly of Gaden Shartse monastery, Trijang Labrang, Zong Labrang, Dro-Phen Ling Center Singapore, Phende Lekshe Ling Center Malaysia, Buddhist Center Taiwan, Gaden Shartse Education Committee, Phukhang Khangtsen, as well as Thepo Khangtsen approached me with a request to compose a prayer for the quick return of the late Lati Rinpoche. As I have had close association with this authentic spiritual teacher for over fifty years and have enjoyed a bond of pure faith and commitment, I have written this aspiration prayer. May the aims of this aspiration be fulfilled as prayed for.
This was composed by the Buddhist monk, the Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, on the 5th day of the 3rd month in the seventeenth Rabjung cycle of the Tibetan calendar, namely, on 19, April, 2010."
PRAYER FOR THE QUICK RETURN OF KYABJE LATI RINPOCHE
O peerless savior and supreme Teacher, Shuddhodhana’s son,
O the seventeen masters and adepts, Nagarjuna and Asanga, and so on,
O Dipamkara as well as sovereign father Tsongkhapa,
Gloriously appear here today to grant auspiciousness.
On the great path leading to the heart of Enlightenment,
You’ve traversed by means of the perfect threefold discipline,
And have enhanced ever higher the realizations of enlightened qualities –
O glorious Guru, we offer our supplications at your feet.
Pray return gloriously to propagate the teaching of Lobsang,
By tying well the sash of monastic disciplinary precepts,
And, generating the altruistic intention to free all beings,
Engage in the tantric yogas of the two stages.
Think of the unbearable pain of the sentient beings
Who’re enveloped in the forces of five degenerations;
And to open wide the lotus grove of the Buddha’s teaching,
May your reincarnation appear soon as a source of merit for us.
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Translated by Thupten Jinpa, student of the late Kyabje Lati Rinpoché.
May the sun of H.E Lati Rinpoché’s reincarnation shine soon.
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Om Mane Padme Hum
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