Attentdant to Dakpa Rinpoche

He believes that he has received a great blessing in this life to have met Rinpoche and to have been able to serve him. He sees it as small thing to do for such a great master, but I think we would all agree that Losang’s dedication to Rinpoche is a remarkable thing to see. We are extremely grateful to him for taking such excellent care of Rinpoche.

Over time, the monks and tulkus of Sera Mey asked Rinpoche to come and give them teachings and as a result Rinpoche started traveling to South India on an annual basis, specifically to Bylakuppe. When His Holiness the Dalai Lama heard of this he invited Rinpoche to meet with him and he personally thanked Rinpoche for agreeing to share his vast knowledge. Losang was at this meeting and His Holiness asked him about his family and his relationship with Rinpoche. A few years later Rinpoche was invited to Italy and went to see His Holiness again, to get his opinion. His Holiness supported Rinpoche’s traveling to Italy and gave Rinpoche the gift of a watch. As a result Losang had another audience with His Holiness.

Traveling in India can be very difficult and an example of this is that when Rinpoche attended or went to give teachings, all of his possessions had to go with him. His bed, his robes, his text books, all his cooking supplies, utensils and his Dharma items all had to be packed to go with him. These were all bundled up and pushed onto the train as well as possible – and then they had to find seats! No one would give up their seat to an old Tibetan lama. One time, when Rinpoche was on a pilgrimage, Losang’s father put a wooden box in the middle of a carriage and Rinpoche sat on that for five hours inside of a tight crowd of travelers. Losang did not see Rinpoche for the entire five hour trip and just prayed that Rinpoche was okay, which of course he was!

This is why Losang says his job has become easier. He never has these problems any more, especially in the West.

Losang says he notices the difference in Rinpoche’s teaching techniques in the monasteries and in the West. Rinpoche assumes that the monks have a deep knowledge of the Dharma and teaches them with great sophistication. In the West, concerned that students will not be able to follow teachings at this level, he teaches in much greater detail to ensure that students can get a clearer view of what he is trying to explain.

Losang does not see himself as a serious student or monk. He says he is too easygoing to study hard and that he still cannot really understand Rinpoche. He has been to seven Kalachakras by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and is still trying to understand the teaching.

Losang’s new hobby since he has been in America has been learning to drive and now he even has a driving license! As a result he can take Rinpoche on short trips through the local hills, to parks and even to the malls for window shopping.

The ideal of total devotion and of dedicating oneself to caring for another – even a great scholar or religious figure – is almost unknown in the West. It is especially true when the attendant is modest, self-effacing and seeks no praise or appearance of importance. Losang continually shows us these qualities by his humble example and of course with his great sense of humor!