Anniversary of Chagzola Emi Drupten

Emi Drupten was the lifelong attendant of Khandro Rinpoche’s father, Kyabje Apho Rinpoche.

The anniversary of Chagzola Emi Drupten occurs each year on the 2nd day of the 7th Tibetan month.

My heart treasure Emi-la

You are as deep as the sea and as vast as the sky.

In your humility you called yourself our barking dog, our servant.

Tending the flowers and water bowls while administering the smallest details in our sacred home,

You held my family in the arms of love even after our deepest losses.

You protected our dharma innocence.

Your devotion cut all boundaries

And you gracefully entered the sky-like Dzogchen mind of Togden Shakya Shri.

Now you are resting blissfully in the Pureland of Akshobya.

We love you and miss you.

• poem by Khandro Thrinlay Chodon, New Year 2008, while in retreat in Kerala, “a time that imprinted the vastness of Emi-la’s mind in my being”.