Compassion is the supreme practice, says Rangshikhar Rimpoche.

“Oh! It is my ancient jindhas (patron),” Rimpoche exclaims as soon as he gets closer to me and sees me properly. I prostrate three times as customary.

Rimpoche’s eye sight has been troubling him for a while now. He is 88 too but other than his eyes he looks well and healthy, which I point it out to him.

“Well, I have been around for a while and so, I think it is time that I linger among the clouds now. I have been living off people for far too long and I may get too indebted to you all. Karmically, that’s not good,” he jokes.

In between my life of travels and work – and work and travels, I try to make time to visit my family Lama in Gelephu – two or three times a year.

Popularly known as Rangshikhar Rimpoche (his full name is Togden Jigme Chogyal Rimpoche) he was born in Dremetse-Aja Nye region and comes from a bloodline of some of the greatest yogis and Buddhist masters. He was trained under his father, which included some 21 years of solitary retreats.

My family, from my father’s side, has been servant-supporters of his religious lineage. My great grand father served his grandfather. My grandfather served his father – Dekiling Rimpoche. My father served him to establish the seat in Rangshikhar. And mine is the fourth generation, and serving his son – the current Sey Gabu Rimpoche.

Because of this relation going back to several generations, he is always happy to have us, as much as we feel blessed to see him.

“Where are you coming from today? And take a seat,” he offers me a seat closer to him and at same level.

”Maybe in my next life if I am reborn as a lama I will take that seat,” I tell him.

“For this life, I am fine on the floor. But you know, I am trying my best to be reborn as a trulku”.

We both laugh. Regardless of how learned he is, he loves to crack jokes and laughs when he hears one. So, I always share my lighter side of life with him.

Tea arrives and as I am taking my first sip, Rimpoche continues the topic.

”You know, you don’t have to wait for your next life to do some serious spiritual practice. It is never late either to start getting deeper. For instance, Mipham Rimpoche was a common man till the age of 30. You can start now if you want,” Rimpoche makes a serious proposition.

”However,” he continues, “the most important practice is the practice of compassion and loving kindness. This is the best and quickest way towards attaining realisation. It is the supreme and the final target of all practices.”

🙏🙏🙏

(In the picture Rimpoche is blessing my prayer beads and my gaw, which I carry everywhere.)