Following is an account of events leading up to passing away of HH Penor Rinpoche:
28th February till 6th March 2009 (4th day to 10th day of the first Tibetan month)
The monks of Namdroling Monastery assembled at the main temple to perform the Khandro Sundog (Ritual of Reversing the Invitation of the Dakinis), on the last day of which the auspicious tenth day fell and tenshug- long life prayer was offered to His Holiness Penor Rinpoche by tulkus, khenpos and other monks.
4th March till 11th March 2009 (8th day to the 16th day of the first Tibetan month)
According to the wishes of HH Penor Rinpoche, Ratling Tsedrup - the sadhana practice of long life based on Ratna Lingpa’s treasure teaching was carried out at the annual drupchen (great accomplishment ceremony) by the tulkus, khenpos, monks and nuns of Namdroling Monastery.
13th March till 21st March th day to the 25th day of the first Tibetan month)
Nine days were devoted to the performance of the Khandro Sundog practice by the monks and nuns of Namdroling Monastery. HH Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche was invited from Dehradun (Uttaranchal, North India) to offer tenshug to HH Penor Rinpoche during this time. Tsetrul Rinpoche participated in the Khandro Sundog practice for a few days before offering tenshug to Penor Rinpoche on the auspicious Dakini day (25th day). Even though Penor Rinpoche was very ill, he came in person to accept the prayer. Among those who offered long life offerings were representatives of governmental and non-governmental organizations, monasteries of Bylakuppe Tibetan Settlement, and different sections of Namdroling Monastery including the nunnery, institute, dratsang, and so forth. On the next day, Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche was in turn offered tenshug by Namdroling Monastery which was followed by the conferring of long life empowerment by Tsetrul Rinpoche onto both the ordained and laypeople. On that day, a very unusual and beautiful rainbow completely encircled the temple where the empowerment was taking place.
24th March till 27th March th day of first Tibetan month to 1st day of the second Tibetan month)
Many great Nyingma masters including Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche, Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, Dzogchen Rinpoche, Minling Khenchen Rinpoche, Ogyen Topgyal Rinpoche, Dzikar Kongtrul Rinpoche, Dzogchen Ganor Rinpoche, Shalpa Rinpoche, Hephug Tulku, Tsike Chogling Rinpoche, Khokhyim Rinpoche, Rigo Tulku Rinpoche, Tulku Pema Wangyal Rinpoche, Shakya Lama and the Minister for Religion and Culture, Tibetan Government in Exile, Venerable Acharya Tsering Phuntsok, Venerable Sonam Tenphel, Member of ATPD, CTA, Bhutan Ambassador to India and so forth visited Namdroling monastery to offer tenshug to His Holiness Penor Rinpoche. A three-day puja based on Ratna Lingpa’s treasure teaching, Tsedrup Sangdue (Long Life Sadhana as the Gathering of All Secrets) was performed, and on the fourth day (27th March), the great masters offered tenshug before Penor Rinpoche’s throne. As soon as they finished the tenshug at the main temple at 7 am, they left for ColumbiaAsia Hospital in Yeshwantpur, Bangalore, and received blessings from HH Penor Rinpoche who had been admitted in the intensive care unit. At 3.30 pm on the same day, as his condition deteriorated, he was transferred from ColumbiaAsia Hospital back to Namdroling with the help of the Bhutanese Government, who arranged the police escort. He arrived at Palyul Namdroling at 6.40 pm and was seated on the bed in his residence. Tulkus, Khenpos and lamas did aspiration prayers in His presence until 8.20 pm, when Rinpoche looked around, smiled, closed his eyes and entered thugdam meditation state.
Prayers continued for a short time and after a brief moment of silence, His Holiness was left alone in thugdam (meditation).
For a week after His Holiness entered thugdam, his face wore a radiant expression and his body produced the scent of sandalwood which pervaded the whole room and its surroundings. The sweet fragance symbolizes the highest level of pure morality that he perfected.
Penor Rinpoche's thugdam ended at 8 am on Friday, 3rd April 2009 and the public display of His Holiness' body will commence on 9th April 2009 (the full moon day of the 2nd Tibetan month) on the ground floor of Zangdog Palri Temple so that devotees can pay respects and receive blessings from his holy body. The display will continue for at least a month keeping in view of the needs of all his devotees and well wishers around the globe.
A brief biography of HH Penor Rinpoche
Kyabjé Drubwang Pema Norbu Rinpoche was born in 1932 in the Powo region of Kham, Eastern Tibet. His Holiness settled in South India where he built, with his own hands and the help of only a few monks, the Palyul Namdroling Monastery. The monastery has grown into one of the largest Tibetan Buddhist Dharma centers in the world, housing over 6000 monks and nuns in the complex, which also includes a hospital, and a hospice.
His Holiness also built temples and established Dharma Centers around the world - in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Australia, United Kingdom, Greece, Canada and the United States - among others. His Holiness frequently traveled to teach and give empowerments at all of them. He was appointed as the Supreme Head of the Nyingma Lineage by His Holiness the Dalai Lama as requested by all the great Nyingma Lamas and Nyingma sangha members, and He served the post for more than ten years.
Worldwide, His Holiness is revered for his loving kindness and compassion, pure upholding of the Vinaya with ceaseless dedication to the welfare of all beings. He brought and nourished the Buddha-Dharma everywhere he went.
