On the passing of Lama Donzang

October 8, 2023

Thaye Dorje, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, shares the following message on the passing of Lama Donzang.

A transcript of the letter follows:

Dear Dharma friends,

Our beloved Lama Donzang left his body yesterday morning after a long, severe illness, and it is only natural for all of us to grieve and miss his physical presence.

However, I would like to encourage all of his friends and students to remind themselves of the tremendous courage he expressed for our lineage till his last breath and take comfort and inspiration from this example.

In English grammar, we are compelled to use the past tense when referring to our dearest Lama Donzang. Nevertheless, to me he was – and is, and always will be – an outstanding model of devotion and great courage.

That golden generation of ours that he was such a unique representative of is dissolving, and this is a reminder for all of us to realise their example of virtue.

I pray that his living and dying example will distil something meritorious from within our heart.

May we be able to honour him and his legacy by developing undivided, single-focused courage equal to his.

May his Thugdam be of great peace for his realisation.

With prayers

Thaye Dorje, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa