So often on this board and elsewhere we hear bad news about Western "lamas" or self-appointed gurus.
This is the story of a quiet, unassuming but brilliant and determined man who saved a vast corpus of Tibetan literature. Non-sectarian, humble and deeply committed, Gene Smith is one of the true Western bodhisattvas.
http://digitaldharma.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Gene Smith Tribute film- a Western Bodhisattva IMO
Re: Gene Smith Tribute film- a Western Bodhisattva IMO
I loved Gene.
He was a wonderful man.
He was a wonderful man.
"All phenomena of samsara depend on the mind, so when the essence of mind is purified, samsara is purified. Since the phenomena of nirvana depend on the pristine consciousness of vidyā, because one remains in the immediacy of vidyā, buddhahood arises on its own. All critical points are summarized with those two." - Longchenpa
Re: Gene Smith Tribute film- a Western Bodhisattva IMO
Rabjam Rinpoche on Gene Smith:
I met Gene for the first time in Delhi in the 1970s and later became an admirer of his work. Over the years I was fortunate to get to know him personally and we had such a strong connection in our common interests, goals and lineage teachings. I learned a lot from his example, Gene was one of my great American friends and heroes.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche on Gene Smith:
When I would see rare texts of great, realized lamas, I would ask Gene if he had them and if so, could he please send them immediately. If he didn’t have a particular text he would ask His Holiness the Dalai Lama or other great, realized lamas who have much knowledge that others don’t have.
Whenever I wrote to him I always addressed him as “My Dear Great Wish-fulfilling Jewel Gene Smith.” That was how he lived, helping many great lamas, professors and the like. He was like a wish-fulfilling treasure storeroom, house and vase. Whatever you asked for you would get. And because of that, he didn’t die from a heavy, prolonged illness lasting for many months or years. He just passed away quietly, not wanting to cause any problem to anyone.
Chogyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche:
It is with deep sadness that I heard that Gene Smith passed away. Gene has been an unpretentious and altruistic man, a true scholar whose extraordinary work in favor of the Buddha Dharma and of Tibetan culture represents an invaluable gift to future generations. His generous effort in preserving one the world’s great literary heritages is worthy of the gratitude of all humankind.We are offering our heartfelt prayers that his activity for the benefit of all will continue to unfold without interruption.
I met Gene for the first time in Delhi in the 1970s and later became an admirer of his work. Over the years I was fortunate to get to know him personally and we had such a strong connection in our common interests, goals and lineage teachings. I learned a lot from his example, Gene was one of my great American friends and heroes.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche on Gene Smith:
When I would see rare texts of great, realized lamas, I would ask Gene if he had them and if so, could he please send them immediately. If he didn’t have a particular text he would ask His Holiness the Dalai Lama or other great, realized lamas who have much knowledge that others don’t have.
Whenever I wrote to him I always addressed him as “My Dear Great Wish-fulfilling Jewel Gene Smith.” That was how he lived, helping many great lamas, professors and the like. He was like a wish-fulfilling treasure storeroom, house and vase. Whatever you asked for you would get. And because of that, he didn’t die from a heavy, prolonged illness lasting for many months or years. He just passed away quietly, not wanting to cause any problem to anyone.
Chogyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche:
It is with deep sadness that I heard that Gene Smith passed away. Gene has been an unpretentious and altruistic man, a true scholar whose extraordinary work in favor of the Buddha Dharma and of Tibetan culture represents an invaluable gift to future generations. His generous effort in preserving one the world’s great literary heritages is worthy of the gratitude of all humankind.We are offering our heartfelt prayers that his activity for the benefit of all will continue to unfold without interruption.
Re: Gene Smith Tribute film- a Western Bodhisattva IMO
Thank you for the link, JKhedrup. Enjoyed learning about this documentary. A great man, by any measure...
If they can sever like and dislike, along with greed, anger, and delusion, regardless of their difference in nature, they will all accomplish the Buddha Path.. ~ Sutra of Complete Enlightenment
- kalden yungdrung
- Posts: 4606
- Joined: Sun Aug 01, 2010 10:40 pm
Re: Gene Smith Tribute film- a Western Bodhisattva IMO
Tashi delek,
Gene Smith did made many efforts for the preservation of the Tibetan culture, no doubt about it.
That was also the conclusion of H.H. the 33rd Menri Trizin Rinpoche.
All in all a great human and sure a Bodhisattva / Yungdrung Sempa.
Mutsug Marro
KY
From Lungtok Tenpai Nyima, 33rd Abbot of Menri
Posted on December 22, 2010 by Jeff Wallman
The following was received today from Menri Trizin 33rd in Dolanji:
Deepest condolences…
Dear Jeff Wallman, Board Members and Staff of TBRC,
Please accept my deepest condolences for the loss of Gene Smith.
It was a shock for me to receive the news of Gene passing away.
He was a dear friend to me for these past forty years.
We have met long ago in Delhi, when Gene so generously helped us Tibetans to organize the reproduction and publishing of some important texts that we had carried with us on our backs and on horses, all the way from Tibet.
Gene was a special person who worked with an extraordinary energy to preserve the Tibetan culture. He had a deep commitment to retrieve our lost and threatened literary legacy. What he has done in this regard is immense.
We shall always remember him with great gratitude.
Since our first meeting, Gene has helped us also by providing Menri Monastery monks with a good training in modern technology and by securing grants for scanning and publishing projects that will greatly help to preserve and distribute our Bon religion literature and culture, in a way that no other method could succeed in doing.
It is with deep feeling that I send my thanks for what Gene has done to help us, and my best wishes to you all who are working so well to carry out his vision.
We pray for Gene to have a good and peaceful journey and be rewarded for his great contribution in preserving the Tibetan literary heritage, for the benefit of all.
Yours sincerely,
Lungtok Tenpai Nyima, 33rd Abbot of Menri.
Gene Smith did made many efforts for the preservation of the Tibetan culture, no doubt about it.
That was also the conclusion of H.H. the 33rd Menri Trizin Rinpoche.
All in all a great human and sure a Bodhisattva / Yungdrung Sempa.
Mutsug Marro
KY
From Lungtok Tenpai Nyima, 33rd Abbot of Menri
Posted on December 22, 2010 by Jeff Wallman
The following was received today from Menri Trizin 33rd in Dolanji:
Deepest condolences…
Dear Jeff Wallman, Board Members and Staff of TBRC,
Please accept my deepest condolences for the loss of Gene Smith.
It was a shock for me to receive the news of Gene passing away.
He was a dear friend to me for these past forty years.
We have met long ago in Delhi, when Gene so generously helped us Tibetans to organize the reproduction and publishing of some important texts that we had carried with us on our backs and on horses, all the way from Tibet.
Gene was a special person who worked with an extraordinary energy to preserve the Tibetan culture. He had a deep commitment to retrieve our lost and threatened literary legacy. What he has done in this regard is immense.
We shall always remember him with great gratitude.
Since our first meeting, Gene has helped us also by providing Menri Monastery monks with a good training in modern technology and by securing grants for scanning and publishing projects that will greatly help to preserve and distribute our Bon religion literature and culture, in a way that no other method could succeed in doing.
It is with deep feeling that I send my thanks for what Gene has done to help us, and my best wishes to you all who are working so well to carry out his vision.
We pray for Gene to have a good and peaceful journey and be rewarded for his great contribution in preserving the Tibetan literary heritage, for the benefit of all.
Yours sincerely,
Lungtok Tenpai Nyima, 33rd Abbot of Menri.
The best meditation is no meditation
Re: Gene Smith Tribute film- a Western Bodhisattva IMO
A couple of months ago I was reading Guru Rinpoche (can't remeber which book) saying in the five hundred year span of worsening degenerate era instead of practicing, old people will be consumed with making money thinking falsely they will live for very long times yet, which is not true. I see many such people who never think about similar others dropping all around them while zealously chasing worldly aims they will leave, with decreasing little time remaining for practice. Gene Smith was one of the main figures alongside HHDL, Dudjom Rinpoche, Karmapa 16, HHST & other great lamas who brought out & saved a good deal of Tibetan cultural & spiritual texts when much of Tibet & China's heritage was being destroyed for ever in the zeal of Cultural Revolution. A life well spent. What Gene left behind is priceless.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PACXqSxi7Dw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PACXqSxi7Dw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Dzogchen masters I know say: 1)Buddhist religion essence is Dzogchen 2)Religions are positive by intent/fruit 3)Any method's OK unless: breaking Dzogchen vows, mixed as syncretic (Milanese Soup) 4)Don't join mandalas of opponents of Dalai Lama/Padmasambhava: False Deity inventors by encouraging victims 5)Don't debate Ati with others 6)Don't discuss Ati practices online 7) A master told his old disciple: no one's to discuss his teaching with some others on a former forum nor mention him. Publicity's OK, questions are asked from masters/set teachers in person/email/non-public forums~Best wishes
- kalden yungdrung
- Posts: 4606
- Joined: Sun Aug 01, 2010 10:40 pm
Re: Gene Smith Tribute film- a Western Bodhisattva IMO
kalden yungdrung wrote:Tashi delek,
Gene Smith did made many efforts for the preservation of the Tibetan culture, no doubt about it.
That was also the conclusion of H.H. the 33rd Menri Trizin Rinpoche.
All in all a great human and sure a Bodhisattva / Yungdrung Sempa.
Mutsug Marro
KY
From Lungtok Tenpai Nyima, 33rd Abbot of Menri
Posted on December 22, 2010 by Jeff Wallman
The following was received today from Menri Trizin 33rd in Dolanji:
Deepest condolences…
Dear Jeff Wallman, Board Members and Staff of TBRC,
Please accept my deepest condolences for the loss of Gene Smith.
It was a shock for me to receive the news of Gene passing away.
He was a dear friend to me for these past forty years.
We have met long ago in Delhi, when Gene so generously helped us Tibetans to organize the reproduction and publishing of some important texts that we had carried with us on our backs and on horses, all the way from Tibet.
Gene was a special person who worked with an extraordinary energy to preserve the Tibetan culture. He had a deep commitment to retrieve our lost and threatened literary legacy. What he has done in this regard is immense.
We shall always remember him with great gratitude.
Since our first meeting, Gene has helped us also by providing Menri Monastery monks with a good training in modern technology and by securing grants for scanning and publishing projects that will greatly help to preserve and distribute our Bon religion literature and culture, in a way that no other method could succeed in doing.
It is with deep feeling that I send my thanks for what Gene has done to help us, and my best wishes to you all who are working so well to carry out his vision.
We pray for Gene to have a good and peaceful journey and be rewarded for his great contribution in preserving the Tibetan literary heritage, for the benefit of all.
Yours sincerely,
Lungtok Tenpai Nyima, 33rd Abbot of Menri.
Tashi delek,
Here some more about Gene Smith and H.H. the 33rd Menri Trizin Rinpoche, where His Holiness shows an USB stick.
http://player.vimeo.com/video/28817192" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Yes Gene Smith did a lot of work for Bon namely the set up of a digital library where all Bon literature is in contained.
Mutsug Marro
KY
The best meditation is no meditation