Tag: Sangharakshita death

Voices from the Buddhist world 9: Lama Shenpen Hookham

Continuing our series of messages from Buddhists beyond Triratna, a message from Lama Shenpen of the Awakened Heart Sangha in north Wales. Lama Shenpen attended the meeting of the Buddhist Teachers in Europe recently hosted at Adhisthana, where she met Bhante again after many years. They have known each other since the 1960s when she attended classes and retreats with him.

“I’ve just returned from Adhisthana where I spent half an hour meditating beside Bhante’s body feeling the powerful and strangely joyful...

Sangharakshita obituary in The Times

Today in The Times you can read an obituary for Bhante, which finishes with this little story.

When a doctor gave him a long and convoluted explanation as to why he was going to stop treating him for sepsis, the monk interrupted him: “You mean I’m dying?” The doctor nodded. Sangharakshita looked thoughtfully at the pile of audiobooks that had just been stacked by his bed. He smiled and said: “You had better put those back.”

Voices from the Buddhist world 6: Mahabodhi Temple, Bodhgaya

We bring you another in our series of responses to Bhante’s death, this time from Nangzey Dorjee, General Secretary of the Mahabodhi Temple at Bodhgaya. A nephew of Sangharakshita’s teacher Kachu Rinpoche, he and his younger brother stayed with Sangharakshita for two or three years in Kalimpong in the 1950s.

“Very sad to hear about the demise of Most Ven. Bhante Sangharakshita and offered prayers at Mahabodhi Temple, Bodhgaya. It is a great loss for all of us in...

Voices from the Buddhist world 4 - Kurt Krammer of the Salzburg Buddhist Association, Austria

Continuing our series messages of condolence from Buddhists beyond Triratna, here is a message from Zen teacher Kurt Krammer of the Salzburg Buddhist Association, Austria (Buddhistische Gemeinschaft Salzburg), who convened the meeting of Buddhist Teachers in Europe at Adhisthana in October and was invited to Bhante’s funeral.

“Dear Munisha,

Thank you for the invitation! I will not be able to attend as we have arranged a contemplation morning on that day. We shall, however, seize the opportunity to commemorate a great...