Death Can Happen at Any Time
Rinpoche sent this letter to center staff after the sudden death of a co-worker.
My dear brothers and sisters,
This student's sudden death is a great teaching for all of us. This is the real teaching, instead of just reading a text or having someone tell us. This is actually showing us that death can happen to all of us any time, all of a sudden.
This is very important to understand, as it helps our development, that we may have missed out on because of the concept of permanence, thinking that I will live for many years. Thinking like this, we didn’t get time to practice or develop the mind on the path to enlightenment, due to the concept of permanence, and based on the self-cherishing thought and clinging to this life.
The most important thing in this life is Dharma, and what makes the whole life most meaningful is to live one’s life with bodhicitta. So, please continue to live your life with a bodhicitta motivation.
With thanks from my heart for all the work and service you all do for the teachings of our kind and compassionate Buddha Shakyamuni, for sentient beings, for Lama Yeshe, and for myself.
With much love and prayers...