Discovering Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup's Holy Relics

12 Sept 2011 was the cremation of Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup Rigsel's holy body. The former abbot of Kopan Monastery received a warm sent off by all the monks of the monastery and students all over the world, paying their final respect to their beloved teacher and guru.   This series of photos was taken by Geshe Tenzin Zopa, resident teacher in LDC, FPMT centre in Malaysia. Thanks to Geshe-la's kindness as well as a Dharma sister's generosity in sharing all the photos from the cremation ceremony. I will try to load the video clips when they are ready.

Before the cremation, light rain drizzled on the holy grounds of Kopan Monastery and rainbow was sighted.

Fire was lit on the cremation stupa with Rinpoche's holy body inside.
(Photo credits: Geshe Tenzin Zopa)

Fire burning fiercely. Notice the mystical orbs?
(Photo credits: Geshe Tenzin Zopa)

More mystical orbs from the burning stupa.  No editing on the photos.
(Photo credits: Geshe Tenzin Zopa)

High lamas conducted puja prior opening of cremation stupa.
(Photo credits: Geshe Tenzin Zopa) 

18 Sept, high lamas conducted a special puja prior the opening of cremation stupa. From left, Tenzin Phuntsok Rinpoche, Kyabje Dagri Rinpoche, Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche peering into the opened cremation stupa.
(Photo credits: Geshe Tenzin Zopa)

(Photo credits: Geshe Tenzin Zopa)

Many wonderful holy relics were discovered inside the cremation stupa.  Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche was leading a long procession of monks each carrying Lama Lhundrup's holy relics to the gompa. Many relics of different shapes and sizes filled the gompa, in front of Khensur Rinpoche's throne seat. Although FPMT has not officially announced the details of the findings of the different types of relics, below is a glimpse of some of the holy relics that had emanated from Khensur Rinpoche's holy body.

(Photo credits: Geshe Tenzin Zopa)

(Photo credits: Geshe Tenzin Zopa)

(Photo credits: Geshe Tenzin Zopa)

(Photo credits: Geshe Tenzin Zopa)

(Photo credits: Geshe Tenzin Zopa)

(Photo credits: Geshe Tenzin Zopa)

(Photo credits: Geshe Tenzin Zopa)

(Photo credits: Geshe Tenzin Zopa)

May all my readers be blessed and arise great faith in the Triple Gem through these holy relics. I am totally amazed by this last photo of a huge piece of whitish relic which looked like a coral. A normal human body when cremated would have turned into ashes. For a highly realised practitioner like Khensur Rinpoche who has achieved the pinnacle of the enlightened state, the holy relics are living proof for us to strive for the ultimate awakening.  I am very touched, proud and motivated by my guru's realisations, evidence of a great practitioner.  If his relics multiply (relics are the holy body of a yogi), it will be an indication of the strength of Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup's realizations. 

(Photo credits: Geshe Tenzin Zopa)

This was a photo of Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup taken in 2006 in Tsum outside a cave.  Wonder why Rinpoche was in a pose similar to the great saint Milarepa's famous pose?

Geshe Tenzin Zopa with his guru, Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup
 (Photo credits: Geshe Tenzin Zopa)

Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup was a simple, normal monk. He was not a reincarnate lama or tulku born from a famous past life. He was born in 1941 to a poor peasant family. In 1972 he was called to Kopan by the late Lama Yeshe to teach philosophy to the Kopan monks and he has been abbot of Kopan since then, taking care of the hundreds of monks and nuns. He was always available to his disciples, students, and devotees from all over the world.  However he became a great teacher and healer who has attained the enlightened state of liberation within one lifetime, just like Milarepa. He is proof of what we too can achieve in this brief lifetime if we start practice immediately and fervently.

His faithful devotion to his gurus, his compassion for humanity, his boundless zeal, immense kindness, monumental forbearance, super human perseverance, and ultimate final attainment are a great inspiration today for all of us in worldly existence.  Om mani padme hum! 

My other blog posts on Lama Lhundrup:

29 Sept 2011 - Project Swift Return

25 Sept 2011 -  A closer look at the growing relics of Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup, an amazing blessing!

20 Sept 2011 - Discovering Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup's Holy Relics 

18 Sept 2011 - Devoting to a guru

13 Sept 2011 - My dream of Lama Lhundrup just after his cremation  

12 Sept 2011 - Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup's last days and cremation  

9 Sept 2011 - Beautiful memories of Lama Lhundrup  

8 Sept 2011 - Passing into Parinirvana - Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup Rigsel  

22 Feb 2011 - Dream of Khen Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup  

28 Jan 2011 -  Khen Rinpoche back in Kopan Monastery

19 Jan 2011 - Update on Khen Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup's health

14 Jan 2011 - Prayers for Khen Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup

20 Sept 2010 -  Healing in a matter of time, but it sometimes also a matter of opportunity