The ashes of Dhardo Rinpoche

Object location: Living room

The red, hand-painted box sitting on top of the bookshelves contains important relics given to the Triratna Buddhist Order after the death of Dhardo Rinpoche (1917–1990), Sangharakshita’s friend and teacher and one whom Sangharakshita regarded as a living bodhisattva.

Following the traditional ritual cremation in Kalimpong, Dhardo Rinpoche’s ashes were moulded into clay figurines (Tibetan: tsa-tsa) and stamped with the image of the renowned Tibetan teacher Je Tsongkhapa (1357–1419). 

Most of the ashes were interred in the Yiga Choeling monastery in Ghoom (near Darjeeling, India), where Dhardo Rinpoche had been abbot. Some ashes were also interred in stupas at Triratna retreat centres including Aryaloka (USA), Bhaja (India), Guhyaloka (Spain), Padmaloka (UK), Sudarshanaloka (New Zealand), Tiratanaloka (UK) and Vimaladhatu (Germany). 

Dhardo Rinpoche's motto was ‘Cherish the Doctrine. Live United. Radiate Love’. This was the motto of the school he founded, initially for Tibetan orphans, which was supported by the Triratna Community for many years.