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| Dear Friends, I am sure you are anxious for news of Rinpoche's passing. I will be brief as many things are still happening and we are carrying on meditation vigils for his rebirth. Rinpoche has had some long standing health problems which resulted in a crisis 3 years ago. At that time he underwent a very thorough battery of test which determined that he had a number of major problems that could not be rectified. It was strongly recommended by the physicians that he cease all teaching and travel for at least one year, which after many supplications by the few of us he allowed to learn the full story, he agreed to fulfill. To give up his two great loves, teaching and travel was a great hardship for him. During this time we managed to restore his health considerably but the underlying problems were beyond repair. Gradually he started to teach more and more and inevitably to travel again. This was his conscious decision. He felt the spread of the dharma to be much more important than his own life and so began a whole new era of incredible profound teachings. Many of us had asked him to reserve his energies but his answer was that we all must die some time. Events finally caught up with him at the end of a Dzogchen teaching tour in Europe. This was his third and final course of this most glorious teaching and after he had read the final stanza exhorting the students not to let these teachings dissipate, he ended with these words” "That is all there is to say, nothing more need be said". After lunch he complained of an intense pain and faintness. We urged him to go to the doctor but he refused. Over the next few days he recovered his strength somewhat and seemed to be on the mend. He even went for a small ride in the car. I prepared him his dinner then served it at about 6:30pm. He seemed in good spirits. When I returned to pick up the tray 20 minutes later he was sitting up in bed very faint saying he had had another attack. I immediately called for the doctor and an ambulance, then stayed with him. He became progressively weaker and complained of difficulty breathing. I did all I could to comfort him and as he became weaker and weaker I began to do heart massage which I kept up till the doctor arrived. We continued with resuscitation techniques for 30 minutes but could not revive him. When the ambulance arrived he was pronounced dead. The doctors assured me that there was nothing that could have been done to save him. Even if we had got him to the hospital he would have died on the table. All the dharma students I could contact were notified immediately and prayer vigils were set up around the world. Rinpoche chose to pass over at one of his favorite places, a small private cottage on a lake in Switzerland, where he has stayed and taught many times over the last 20 years. I was fortunate to have been with him throughout his passing and he seemed to navigate the bardo with confidence and assurance. I saw him progress through the bardo figures then finally pass with a beatific smile on his face. He was the greatest of teachers to the very end and continues to be so! Three of us stayed with him during the night praying and meditating and always felt his warm presence. I thank you for your support and prayers in this difficult time. I must deal with a lot of details in the next few days and want to preserve as much time and energy as I can for prayers. Yours in Dharma Terry |