Ato Rinpoche: A Brief Homage from the Rigpa Sangha
Rigpa
A few days ago, we heard the sad news that on 18th May the Venerable Ato Rinpoche had passed away, and dissolved his wisdom mind into the dharmadhatu. The Rigpa Sangha has offered our deepest sympathies and fondest wishes to Rinpoche’s wife Alethea, his daughter Rinchen and the whole family, and to all of Rinpoche’s students and friends. So many people all over the world were moved and transformed by his teachings, and were touched indelibly by his presence and way of being.
Ringu Tulku Rinpoche and Ato Rinpoche at Rigpa’s retreat centre, Dzogchen Beara in Ireland
Right from the early days of our community, when the London centre was called Dzogchen Orgyen Chöling, Rinpoche would regularly come to teach, and by so doing, gave enormous support to Sogyal Rinpoche and each and every one of us as we were finding our way on the Buddhist path. Actually, Rinpoche was related to Sogyal Rinpoche, whose father belonged to Ato Rinpoche’s family, the Dilgo family. Ato Rinpoche went on to teach at Rigpa’s centres in St. Paul’s Crescent and Caledonian Road in London, and then in Dzogchen Beara, France and other places, joining us once on retreat in Cornwall. Each time his uncle Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche visited the UK, Ato Rinpoche would be there as well, helping us adjust to the presence of such a great master, and to see them together was to be enchanted by the striking family resemblance. (Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche’s elder sister was Ato Rinpoche’s mother.) Later, when His Holiness the Dalai Lama taught at Lerab Ling and inaugurated the temple, Rinpoche was there with us once again. In fact, Rinpoche was, over the decades and with his constant, reassuring presence, one of the greatest friends ever to Sogyal Rinpoche and to our sangha in their endeavours to create a vehicle for the Buddhadharma in the west.
Born in 1933, Ato Rinpoche was recognized by the 11th Tai Situ Rinpoche as the incarnation of Tenzin Tulku of the Kagyu monastery of Nezang in Kham. He entered the monastery at the age of seven, and was trained by, and studied with, many teachers, including the 2nd Jamgon Kongtrul, and his uncles Kyabje Dilgo Kyentse Rinpoche and the 9th Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche. He pursued his studies at a number of monasteries, including Tsurphu in Central Tibet, where he became an attendant to the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa. In 1959 he went into exile in India, and was appointed by the Karmapa as the Kagyu representative in the Religious Office of HH the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala, before being placed in charge of the Young Lamas’ Home School in Dalhousie, which cared for educating young lamas of all four Tibetan traditions. It was in 1967 that Rinpoche married and moved to Cambridge in the UK, where he worked as a nurse at Fulbourn Psychiatric Hospital, about five miles from the city. He retired in 1981, after which he taught widely in the UK and other countries, and set about rebuilding and reinvigorating the Nezang monastery, and bestowing all the necessary teachings and empowerments there and in other monasteries.
Ato Rinpoche teaching at Rigpa London in 2010
We always recognized that Rinpoche was one of that great generation of lamas born and trained in Tibet by the most eminent teachers. He had mastered the teachings and practice of the Kagyu lineage such as the six yogas and Mahamudra, and Maha Ati as well. What we also discovered—quite rapidly—was that Rinpoche possessed a unique and totally endearing personality. Whether it was a profound teaching on meditation practice or an explanation of The Songs of Milarepa, his deep understanding and realisation of the Dharma could not help but shine through. As a teacher, he was one of a kind; he had about him a sublime gentleness and down-to-earth kindness that disarmed all sorts of hesitations and doubts, and just simply put our minds at rest. Somehow, he was able to transmit a deep confidence and encouragement, showing—and this was so important—how very possible it is to live a spiritual life in this ordinary world. He was such an extraordinary example of a true practitioner. Many sangha members will have treasured memories of Rinpoche—of his profound wisdom or his ready humour, his simplicity, his deeply compassionate and approachable demeanour… How fortunate we were to have met him or heard him teach!
Rinpoche passed away peacefully at home with his family and close ones around him. We remember his deep devotion to Guru Padmasambhava and that he would love to recite the Great Guru’s concise life story. And so how moving that it was in the morning light of Guru Rinpoche’s day—the 10th day—of the ‘holy month’ of Saga Dawa that Rinpoche chose to leave this world!
Ato Rinpoche during the inauguration of Rigpa’s temple by H.H. Dalai Lama in Lerab Ling, 2008
Ato Rinpoche was one of those destined to bring the light and inspiration of the Buddhadharma to western minds and western lands. In fact, it appears that before he was even born, a monk arrived at his parents’ home to inform his mother she was carrying the eighth incarnation of a great master. And undoubtedly, during his life Rinpoche changed the lives of countless people, steering them on their way towards awakening; undoubtedly, the impact of his teachings, his prayers and his presence among us will have a real impact that continues long, long into the future.
Thinking of Ato Rinpoche, we cannot but feel an immeasurable sense of gratitude and appreciation. May all of his students thrive in their practice and realization of his teachings. May his monastery, Nezang Gonpa, go from strength to strength. May all of his wishes and dreams for the Dharma and for living beings be effortlessly fulfilled. And may his blessings continue onwards, to guide and inspire anyone who made a connection with him, and anyone who will.