The Consecration & Blessing of Ato Rinpoche’s Ashes, August 2025

This summer our family travelled to Nezang Monastery in Kham, Tibet. In accordance with Ato Rinpoche’s wishes, his ashes were placed at Minzu Dzong, his old retreat house, perched on a peninsula overlooking the Dri Chu (Yangtze) River. This place held happy memories for Rinpoche: as a young Lama he would spend time in retreat, away from his duties, enjoying the peace and watching the wildlife, especially the baby vultures in their nests.

The ashes were consecrated in a small, traditionally carved white marble Chörten, with a beautiful figure of Guru Rinpoche created by Fiona Boyd of the Cardozo Kindersley Workshop in Cambridge.

Monks, family, and friends cleared space in the ruins of Rinpoche’s practice room, leaving one tree, knowing that ‘Ama’ (Alethea) likes trees. They created a foundation on which to put the Chörten and carried the heavy marble pieces up the steep, almost inaccessible, mountainside. The consecration was completed with prayers and blessings. As they descended, vultures circled above, as if to welcome him back.

We are deeply grateful to the family, friends and students who helped with or generously donated to this important task, making it possible to carry out everything as Rinpoche would have wished.

Later, a friend shared a Chinese proverb with us: “A tree may grow a thousand feet tall, but its fallen leaves return to its roots.”

ཨོཾ་མ་ཎི་པདྨེ་ཧཱུྃ

Anniversary prayers, May 2025

On Guru Rinpoche Day 2025, the 10th day of the 4th month in Saga Dawa, prayers were held at Jamgon Kongtrul Labrang, Damkar Ani Gonpa & Nezang Monastery and butter lights were lit to commemorate the anniversary of Ato Rinpoche’s passing. Sponsored by his family and generous donations from his students, the monks and nuns gathered to honour his life and death.

In Memory of Ato Rinpoche

Excerpts from teachings on compassion and mindfulness in everyday life.

Celebration of the life & Work of Ato Rinpoche, September 2024

ACCEPTANCE OF THIS EVENT IS NOW AT CAPACITY

We are holding a simple event to celebrate the life and work of Ato Rinpoche.

As there is limited capacity at the venue we have created an invitation which is personal and records replies. If you wish to attend and haven’t received this message or know of someone else who hasn't, please send your/their email address to a.ato@ntlworld.com.

MORE DETAILS OF THE EVENT & VENUE WILL BE SENT NEARER THE TIME IF YOU LET US KNOW YOU PLAN TO COME.

A tribute by his holiness the Karmapa

Supplication for the swift return, written by his eminence Tai Situpa

We would like to share the supplication for the swift return of the Tenzin Tulku, written by His Holiness Tai Situpa’s and express our gratitude to him.

We are so grateful for the support that the nurses at the Arthur Rank Hospice Charity gave to us in the last week of Ato Rinpoche's life. Rather than flowers, if you wish to make a donation in his name you can do so here.

ALL MEETINGS AND APPOINTMENTS SUSPENDED

In view of the Corona Virus pandemic and Govt. advice Rinpoche has decided to cancel all meetings for the time being. Below is a message from him.