By Tenzin Choephel,
Phayul Correspondent
Kathmandu, March 3 – His Eminence Chogye Trichen Rinpoche who passed away on 22nd January was cremated here at the premises of Jamchen Monastery, Boudha, Kathmandu today according to traditional Buddhist ritual under the direction of His Eminence Sakya Trizin Rinpoche after 40 days of his demise. He passed away at the age of 87 at his Drubkhang residence in Narayansthan, Kathmandu. He stayed on thukdam (a stage of life after death where the body lies in meditative state without decomposing) for 16 days, after his thukdam was over he was brought to Jamchen Monastery with a grand parade on the 21st day and three days later general public was allowed for audience and to offer their condolences and butter lamps.
Chogye Rinpoche was very famous among the Dharma community in Nepal for his mantra water. Over years, people regularly brought bottles of water for the Rinpoche to blow Mantras on and put in sacred blessed medicines. His Eminence Chogye Trichen Rinpoche, Ngawang Khyenrab Thupten Lekshe Gyatso was born in Shigatse, Tibet in 1920. His Eminence was officially enthroned at the age of 12 at the Phenpo Nalendra Monastery in Central Tibet from where he completed his studies and mastered the monastic scriptural rituals, the rituals of Mandala, and the musical accompaniment of the rituals. His Eminence is a master in both Sutrayana and Mantrayana teachings. His Eminence is also a great scholar of literature, poetry, history and Buddhist metaphysics and a highly accomplished poet. In 1959, after Chinese occupation of Tibet, His Eminence left Tibet for Mustang, where his sister was married to the King of Mustang. For several years from 1962, in accordance with the wishes of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, His Eminence acted as the Secretary General of the Council for Religious and Cultural Affairs of the Tibetan Government in Exile in Dharamsala, India. In 1969, His Eminence took leave from the Tibetan government and returned to Nepal to rebuild the Nalendra monastery and the Seat of the Tsharpa school in exile. His Eminence has founded two monasteries in Nepal, the Tashi Rabten Ling Monastery in Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha and the Jamchen Lhakhang Monastery in Katmandu. His Eminence has also founded a Tsharpa retreat center at Lo Gekar in Mustang. He was the head of Tsharpa branch of the Sakya Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. He also had many students in different countries and had traveled to many countries like USA, Canada, Spain, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Australia etc.
