Dear sangha,
As many of you have heard, at the age of 100 my root lama, His Eminence Yongdzin Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche, passed into parinirvana on June 12th. After spending eight days in tukdam, a profound state of meditation following death in which the body remains supple and the heart center warm, on June 21st, his body was brought from his mountain residence back to Triten Norbutse Monastery. I am so moved and beyond grateful that I could come to Nepal, see my precious teacher in his final meditation, and be with the monks and lamas of the monastery.
Throughout his remarkable life, His Eminence Yongdzin Rinpoche embodied selfless service in every action, every breath, every silence, and every word. He faced unimaginable hardships—losing his homeland, his monastery, and many beloved companions during his escape into exile. Yet, through it all, he remained a beacon of compassion and simplicity, never deviating from his unwavering path of devotion. In his presence, you didn’t just feel peace—you remembered your own innate goodness.
His Eminence Yongdzin Rinpoche always emphasized the importance of invoking Tapihritsa. Even in his final days he continued to recite the Invocation of Tapihritsa. And with unwavering clarity, he said: “I am inseparable from Rangjung Yeshe—Self-Arising Wisdom.” He was not just practicing—he had become the practice. He was not just pointing to awareness—he had become awareness.
On the occasion of his passing there are two changes to our summer retreat this year at Serenity Ridge. First, His Holiness Dawa Dhargyal Rinpoche, the 34th Menri Trizin, will not be able to attend because of his many responsibilities at this time. Second, honoring Yongdzin Rinpoche’s teachings—and the long, peaceful life he lived grounded in self-arising wisdom (Rangjung Yeshe)—we will dedicate part of our sessions to remembering him. His life and final teachings offer deep inspiration for our theme of longevity and vitality through self-realization. I look forward to sharing insights and weaving in the Invocation of Tapihritsa as a living connection to what he embodied. Inspired by my experiences during these past weeks, I will also offer an initiation during the retreat. This will be the first time I am offering a formal initiation. More information will be on our website. I invite you all to join me.
There is still space to attend either or both weeks of this retreat. For those of us with a direct connection to Yongdzin Rinpoche, this is a beautiful opportunity to practice together and share memories of his life and teachings. For those who did not have the opportunity to meet with him in this life, this is a chance to connect to a realized master whose living presence is still fully here with us. I hope many of you will join for this unique opportunity, in person or online.
With my love and blessings,
Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche