Studying Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö : ii

             Tashiding Monastery: A sacred Guru Rimpoche blessed –III

 

Studying Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö:  ii

Volker Dencks, a Frenchman, contacted me from my blog ‘Proud to be a Sikkimese’ and shared with me about the great Tibetan teacher in Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö. He said various biographies were floating on the internet, but they don't mention Jamyang Khyentse Lodro's time in Sikkim. He further added that he was sending me some information about Jamyang Khyentse, where he needed my help.

The blog ‘Remembering the Masters’ on Jamyang Khyentse writes that in 1955/56, Crown Prince Thondup Namgyal traveled to Lhasa with a special mission on behalf of India's Prime Minister Pandit Nehru: An invitation for His Holiness the Dalai Lama to join the celebrations for the 2,500 year anniversary of the birth of Buddha, which would enable him to forge international alliances, drawing attention to the threats his people were facing. At the same time, Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö and his party arrived on their pilgrimage and secret flight from Kham, lodging at the Samdrup family home, right across from the Jokhang temple. Coincidentally the prince's first wife, Sangey Deki, was a member of the Samdrup family. So Thondup Namgyal met Jamyang Khyentse at Samdrup Podrang, inviting him to join in the great Buddha Jayanti via Sikkim.

According to the information sent by Volker, Jamyang Khyentse arrived from Tibet in 1956, apparently through Lachen via the Sebu Pass. He had been invited by the Chogyal (here he assumes it could be Chogyal Palden Thondup Namgyal, who was then the crown prince) to stay at the Royal Chapel, but since this was being prepared for the arrival of HH Dalai Lama, he stayed at the Maharani’s home, also named Takste Palace. 

Jamyang Khyentse and his party left shortly after their arrival to go on a pilgrimage for Buddha's Jayanti in India and Nepal. They took a Dakota Cargo Plane from a place called Rakso (or similar) to fly to Kathmandu. The plane was extremely simple, and the passengers had to tie themselves down with ropes during the flight. They returned from their pilgrimage shortly after HH Dalai Lama had left around Losar 1957. After that, they stayed at the Royal Chapel. From 1957 until 1959, he moved frequently between Gangtok, Darjeeling, and Kalimpong to accommodate his deteriorating physical condition. He stayed at Cooch Bihar House (the Maharaja's Palace at Darjeeling), at Arunachal House, and at Panorama Cottage, and gave teachings at the Bhutanese Gompa and the Tamang Gompa in Darjeeling.

During this time, he taught and empowered Tibetans and many foreign students. Among them was a French man who was the Chairman of the “Sikkim Relief and Rehabilitation Committee for Tibetan Refugees." His name was Robert Godet. He had traveled to Sikkim from France in a small two-seater aircraft called 'La Peniche' [that means little boat in French]. Shortly after Jamyang Khyentse passed away in 1959, he crashed his plane and died somewhere in Sikkim. In Sikkim, Apa Pant, the Indian Ambassador, became a student of Jamyang Khyentse. 

 Khenpo Appey carrying stones for the 

stupa of Jamyang Khyentse at Tashiding

Sometime in 1958 or early 1959, All India Radio interviewed Khyentse Rinpoche and recorded a puja. This could be the only audio recording that exists. Also, when Nehru came to Sikkim in September 1958, he was accompanied by an Indian Television crew, and some claim that there was a 10-second filmed segment featuring JKCL. I never knew whether his arrival in Sikkim had ever been reported in any newspapers then. I even found it very difficult to answer about any video footage Volker had requested. But with the information provided by Volker, I wish there was an audio recording about the great leader available at Gangtok AIR archives. It would be more of a help to share with the rest of the world. 

Jamyang Khyentse passed away in June 1959 in the Tsuklakhang - a few weeks short of 50 years ago. It was interesting to note that there was a gentle earthquake just before his death, and three days after his death, people had reported seeing a very strange incandescent light that illuminated all of Gangtok way past sunset. His body was kept in the heat of summer for over six months as lamas from all over Tibet and India came to pay their respects. During this time, the body showed no signs of decomposition. Towards the end of 1959, he was cremated at Tashiding. The ceremonies lasted several months, led by Dodrubchen Rimpoche of Deorali and Dilgo Kyentse Rimpoche. His stupa in Tashiding had been gilded entirely in 1990.

The narrative Volker sent was of immense importance to my study of understanding Sikkim, and I am sure that in the days to come, I shall return with vivid information about Jamyang Khyentse. I wish to thank Volker for trusting me so that I might help him and his foundation. 

Pic: WIKIPEDIA