5 April 2005 – Yesterday, 4 April 2006, Lakpa Lama passed away. He was 77 years old. The Lama had been sick. Last saturday he was urgently admitted into the BPKHS hospital in Nepal, where he passed away yesterday.
Since his placement in Dharan around 40 years ago, Lakpa Lama has continued to work for underprivileged children and orphans. He did this by generously taking them into his own home and looking after them. In addition he was an important Buddhist spiritualist in the Nyingmapa tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. He was an example to many, not only in Dharan but throughout East-Nepal he was known as an exceptional teacher.
He loved life and had a great sense of humour. His house was always open to visitors and he was always willing to help those who had problems or asked him for advice.
Lakpa Lama Sherpa surrounded by young monks
For a number of years, the Foundation has supported an educational project in which the children of the Gomba receive English-, mathematics- and computer lessons in addition to their training as monks. It was the express wish of the Lakpa Lama that the children would later be able to choose whether to become monks or to follow a commercial career. The Lakpa Lama asked the Foundation to continue the same kind of support for the children when he was no longer able to.
That is now the case. To his wife Ani La, all monks and members of the Hamalayan Dechen Gomba, we wish strength and inspiration to carry on his work in the same spirit.
On behalf of the Foundation,
Henk Hooghuis and Bimala Shrestha
