On 8 October 2013, it was reported that Akong Tulku Rinpoche had been murdered in a dispute over money in Chengdu, China, along with two other monks, including Rinpoche's nephew. Stabbed to death.
Rinpoche introduced Western people to Tibetan religion and culture. In addition, he helped found ROKPA International, an international humanitarian organisation that works principally in Tibet and Nepal. The charitable aims of ROKPA are: "To promote Buddhism and to foster non-sectarian inter-religious dialogue and understanding. To provide medical care and therapy. To provide education. To relieve poverty." Samyé Ling has a separate charitable foundation called ROKPA Trust that performs fund-raising for and contributes considerable funds to ROKPA International.
In 1992, Akong Rinpoche was one of the main people to discover one of the two claimed reincarnations of the 16th Karmapa, Urgyen Drodul Trinley Dorje, and took him to two of the regents, Their Eminences Tai Situ Rinpoche and Goshir Gyaltsab Rinpoche responsible for locating the reincarnation.
Rinpoche had thousands of followers, for 40 years he was my friend, teacher and guide and along with all of us he will be remembered for his kindness, understanding and compassion. It's one thing for an eminent being to pass away through natural causes, another to be assassinated over an alleged dispute over money.
The three perpetrators have been arrested, it remains to see the outcome.
May all beings be happy and free of the causes of suffering. OM MANI PADME HUNG.
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