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Geshe Dadul Namgyal
Tribute
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Dear friends and members of Drepung Loseling Atlanta,
It is with both sorrow and hope that I’m writing to you today. Our dear friend and teacher Geshe Dadul Namgyal la was cremated on Friday, January 26 near his residence at Sravasti Abbey in Washington state. His disappearance over two months ago and the lack of information about his whereabouts have been difficult for his brother, Professor Tsepak Rigzin la, and his family, for the friends like myself who cherished him for many years, and for those of you who came to know, love, and respect him over the years.
Along with the sadness we feel at losing his immediate presence in our lives, it’s been gratifying to see the outpouring of heartfelt concern and prayers from around the globe that accompanied first the news of his disappearance, and then the confirmation of his death. It is not an overstatement to say that he has left an indelible mark through his teaching of the Buddha Dharma and through his many years of work with the Emory-Tibet Science Initiative, a historic project realizing the vision of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for the integration of comprehensive science education into the Tibetan Buddhist monastic curriculum. Prior to his time in Atlanta both at Emory University and as a senior resident teacher at Drepung Loseling Monastery, Inc., and his more recent move to Sravasti Abbey, Geshe Dadul la served as a teacher and mentor to young monastic students at Drepung Losel Ling in India as the school principal, as a scholar-educator at the Central University of Higher Tibetan Studies in Sarnath, and as the founder of Losel Shedrup Ling dharma center in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Concurrent with the cremation and ceremonies in Washington, carried out by the monastics of Sravasti Abbey and Drepung Loseling Monastery, Atlanta, there was a full monastic assembly held at Drepung Losel Ling in India. It was my good fortune to be at the monastery in India, and prior to that, in Bodhgaya, where I was able to support Geshe Dadul la’s family by helping to arrange various pujas and offerings. During the entire monastic community gathering at the Drepung Losel Ling Monastery in India, the monks recited three works at the request of Professor Rigzin la and his family. I am happy to share with you three short video clips that illustrate the recitation of these extensive prayers:
- “Ornament of Clear Realization”
- “Entry to the Middle Way”
- “Praise of 21 Taras”
I am honored to also share that Drepung Loseling Monastery in Atlanta was able to join with Geshe Dadul la’s family in sponsoring this prayer service and other offerings by the monastery. It is our fervent wish that this will help bring a sense of closure to Geshe la’s family and many friends.
May we all pray for Geshe Dadul la to meet with every conducive and auspicious condition in his next rebirth so that he may continue his own spiritual journey and where—as in this life—he can continue to benefit countless beings through his profound and gentle wisdom and compassion.
For now it is time for us to pay our farewell and to pray that we reconnect again and again in our future lives until we partake the ultimate ambrosia of enlightenment.
Lobsang Tenzin Negi
Spiritual Director, Drepung Loseling Atlanta
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