Dear Khyentse Foundation Friends and Supporters,
As some of you may know, our dear advisor, colleague and mentor, E. Gene Smith, passed away in New York on Dec.16. Words cannot express our sadness at the passing of such a great man.
Below are two statements from Jeff Wallman, Executive Director of Gene’s Tibetan Buddhist Resource Center:
December 17, 2010
Dear Friends,
On behalf of Tibetan Buddhist Resource Center, it is with profound regret and sadness that we announce the passing of E. Gene Smith,our friend, source of inspiration, and founder.
A pioneer in Tibetan Studies, Gene dedicated his life to preserving the rich literary heritage of Tibet. Gene passed away at his home on December 16. He is survived by his three sisters and countless friends and colleagues around the world.
A public memorial service is planned for early February and interested parties can contact [email protected] for further information.
As ever,
Jeff Wallman
Executive Director
In an earlier letter Jeff also wrote:
Dear Friends,
It is with deep sadness that I write to inform you that our beloved E. Gene Smith passed away on Thursday December 16, 2010, the year of the Iron Tiger, at around 4:00 PM. He had not been well since returning from India on Tuesday. The exact cause of death is not known.
It was very fortunate that Alak Zenkar Rinpoche was present with him for several hours after his passing. We were fortunate to be with him during this time.
In keeping with Gene’s wishes, I am now in the process of making funeral arrangements with a nearby funeral home that is familiar with the particularities of the Buddhist tradition. I’ll be in touch with more details as timings and arrangements are made.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Gene, for a peaceful journey. May his immaculate benefit to this world remain for a very long time.
With best wishes,
Jeff Wallman
Tibetan Buddhist Resource Center
New York, NY
What We Can Do
Many people have asked Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche what we can do during this sad time to honor the memory of Gene Smith. From his retreat in Parphang, Nepal, Rinpoche sends the following advice:
- Offer butter lamps
- Recite auspicious prayers, such as Samantabadra’s Prayer or any others
- Most importantly, generate Bodhicitta.