(This is a humble tribute to
a humble lay master. I know that, irrespective of what I try to write, it will
always be insignificant one. Despite that, this is all I can do to thank him.)
The ruins of Dungmanma village always used to be silent
and peaceful except for the sound of prayers and recitations of mantras an old
couple made all their lives. Today, it was buzzing with activities as a steady stream of people come and go
somberly, some with moist eyes and others visibly in anguish.
People from nearby and some
from far off villages flocked to this solitary peaceful place to pay their last
respects to one of the last known accomplished local lay master Lopen Shera
Wangdi of Pemagatshel Khar Dungkhar. The popular local lopen passed away at his
home following a brief illness recently. He was 77.
Late lopen Shera Wangdi was
known among the local population as an accomplished practitioner who spent all
his life amidst the ruins of what was probably a thriving ancient village of
Dungmanma with his wife. The couple’s eleven grown up children live scattered
in many dzongkhags but, the late lopen and his wife found peace away from human
settlements and refused to follow their children.
Despite his popularity, he
never kept any students with him nor did he preach people. He just lived a
simple low profile life, dedicating his time to prayers and meditations. He
only taught to few people who he thought possesses genuine qualities to uphold
what he taught or instructed. Those who have been closely associated with the
late lopen, today feels lucky to have met him.
The late lopen knew of his
impending death. Just a week prior to his passing away, he was admitted to the
local hospital and shortly afterwards decided to return back to his home where
he began preparing for his final journey. When his illness relapsed shortly
afterwards, he instructed his family members not to take him to hospital as his
time has finally come to leave.
Later he made a briefly recovery
for a day. Without further delay, he asked his wife to accompany him to visit
the nearby Dungkhar Lhakhang for the last time. It took almost an entire day to
reach the lhakhang which was actually a mere half an hour’s walking distance. Taking
rest every few steps, he made it to the lhakhang.
Once at the lhakhang he said
his prayers and met the two Khenpos who are teaching at the shedra. He told the
Khenpos of his impending death and he entrusted the two khenpos with the task
of performing all the weekly rituals for 21 days following his demise.
He then called all his
children home for the last get-together. All his children reached home in time
before his passing away. He was well aware of what was happening to him even as
his bodily elements began dissolving and was able to recount them to his loved
ones. His last wish was that nobody at home must mourn openly and that his body
be left untouched for three days before cremation. He finally breathed his last
peacefully.
The late lopen may not have
lived his life surrounded by followers and patrons as he kept a low profile and
chose to live almost like a hermit all his life. This is exactly, how Buddhist
masters live. They only exhibit their accomplishments at the time of death. For
them death is not something tragic and painful, it is a smooth transition to a
higher realm.
Although it was a huge loss to
the community, I have the comfort of having been in close touch with the lopen
over the last few years and receive some valuable instructions. I am indebted to him and can only pray for his
soul to rest in peace in the blissful copper colored abode (zangdogpelri) among
those enlightened beings for one last time.
Gyembo Namgyal
Pemagatshel June 21, 2016
N.B. It has been ages since I
last updated my blog. The less I write the more difficult and clumsier it is
becoming to write. Bear with me, if this
bores you to sleep in the middle of your reading.
Kadrinche dear readers.
