One of the most revered monks of the
Buddhist community, the 13th Tshona Gontse Rimpoche, passed away Friday
night at the AIIMS in New Delhi following a massive heart attack. The
Kalchini unit of the Akhil Bharatiya Tamang Boudha Sangh expressed
profound sorrow saying the Buddhist community has lost one of its most
respected gurus.
“Tshona Gontse Rimpoche’s passing away
is a huge loss to the Buddhist community across the world,” said ABTBS
conveners Asim Pakhrin and Nirmal Dumzon. He was one of the most loved
Buddhist Dharma gurus because of his humility and relentless work to
spread peace across the globe, they added.
Expressing sorrow after hearing the
news, Akhil Bharatiya Mahayan Boudha Mahanipa Sangh maha-guru Aacharya
Sangay Lhudo spoke over the phone from Jaigaon and said "a great soul
has left the world to be among the gods in heaven".
He said the Ghyangchub Choying Philing
Gumba in Bhatpara held Mahani Menlam recitals and lit 108 lamps in the
Rimpoche’s memory today. Prayer meetings will also be held in
monasteries across Sikkim, Darjeeling and the Dooars.
Tshona Gontse Rimpoche was a reincarnate
and belonged to the Monpa community of Buddhist monks and was renowned
globally for his teachings and social works. He used to visit Tamang
monasteries spread across Darjeeling, the Dooars and Sikkim to teach the
Buddhist way.
The Rimpoche was born on August 19, 1967
in a place called Nawang Mon in Arunachal Pradesh. He has held the
portfolio of a cabinet minister in the Arunachal Pradesh government and
remained chairman for tourism and various hydel projects in the state.(EOIC)