The passing away of Chu Nyima Rimpoche was a big loss for many of us at the Nyingma lineage ('Chu Nyima is gone but we are still here', #290). He was a an inspiring teacher and good disciple of the legendary Jadral Rimpoche and Do Drupchen Rimpoche in Sikkim. Before departing for Kathmandu last month he visited both these teachers in Sikkim and Silliguri. Chokyi Nyima was travelling with another Khenpo from Sikkim to initiate teaching in Gorkha Monastery. Now the 100 monks and nuns at the monastery are feeling the pain and loss. One of his cousins when he heard the news ran from the monastery to the nearest roadhead in Gorkha a journey of seven days which he did in two. Here in Sikkim we are still trying to come to terms with the loss. We were calling Kakrbhitta and friends in Kathmandu. When we heard that the prayer books of the Nyingma lineage (Longchenpa) were found that we feared the worst and then when his body rose from the submerged bus, that it was confirmed. Chokyi Nyima is the second teacher we lost in a year. Last year, we lost the Kabhre Rimpoche who had over 300 students and was himself a student of the Dudjom Rimpoche and Khentse Rimpoche. The task now is to continue with their work. Our root teachers like Jatral Rimpoche and Do Drupchen in Sikkim will visit the Gorkha monastery to initiate the teachings.

Gyrume Dondup,
Gangtok