Geshe Jampa Gyatso Update

Geshe Jampa Gyatso is still meditating on Clear light almost a week after he stopped breathing. Below is a message from one of his students in Italy and a couple of photos.

Update from Venerable Joan in Italy

In an extraordinarily exceptional event for Italian law regarding the handling of the deceased, Geshe Jampa Gyatso arrived at the Institute in an unsealed casket on Tuesday, 27 November, at about 2:00 PM, less than 12 hours after he had passed away at 3:40 AM in hospital in the nearby town of Cecina. Prior to his arrival the Tibetan lamas and monks present at the Institute had begun to recite the sadhana of Yamantaka in preparation for performing the self-initiation upon his arrival. Geshe-la was welcomed by a silent group of about 60 or 70 monks, nuns, and lay people, all holding katas. The casket was brought into Geshe-la’s room, which had been cleaned and prepared for his arrival, and set on the bed. It was opened to reveal Geshe-la entirely covered in his namjar (the monk’s saffron shawl). The Tibetan lamas and monks returned to their recitation, while slowly his disciples entered the house to pay their respects, pausing briefly with folded hands at the door to his room. Upstairs in the main gompa his disciples continued the recitation of the prayer Calling the Lama from Afar, interspersed with the chanting of Tara’s mantra, others performed the Yamantaka self-initiation. Everywhere people embraced each other, sharing their sorrow but also giving each other strength and encouragement in a moment that united us all as a family that had lost their spiritual father. At 18.00 Gomo Tulku and Geshe Tenzin Tenphel joined us in the gompa to recite the Lama Chopa and offer tsog. Extensive offerings had been made of water bowls, lights, and food and the gompa was extremely beautiful. At the end the lamas were asked whether they had extensive advice. Geshe Tenphel asked Gomo Tulku to speak and he proceeded with much “American” charm, but also with much clarity and forcefulness, to give us a scolding regarding our lack of respect for each other and the need to develop this respect as, without it, there is not the slightest chance of our developing compassion or bodhichitta. 
The next days, Wednesday and Thursday, were much the same. Tulku Gyatso verified that Geshe-la continued to remain in meditation on the Clear Light, the Tibetan lamas and monks performed the Vajrayogini and Yamantaka self-initiations in Geshe-la’s house and recited many other texts, while his Western disciples performed the self-initiations in the Institute. Other disciples continued the recitation of prayers and mantras in the gompa, while circumambulating or prostrating to the altar that had been set up in the center of the gompa for the 24-hour recitation of the Long Life Sutra some days previous. Statues of Buddha Shakyamuni and his two disciples in the center are surrounded by the texts of the Kangyur (the teachings of Buddha Shakyamuni), beautiful offerings, and many photos of Geshe-la.