Anniversary of Longchen Rabjam
“My delight in death is far, far greater than
The delight of traders at making vast fortunes at sea,
Or the lords of the gods who vaunt their victory in battle;
Or of those sages who have entered the rapture of perfect absorption.
So just as a traveller who sets out on the road when it is time,
I, Pema Ledrel Tsal, will not remain in this world any longer,
But will go to dwell in the stronghold of the great bliss of deathlessness.”
Today is the anniversary of the great Dzogchen master Longchen Rabjam. (This year also marks the 700th anniversary of his birth in 130 
Click here to listen to mp3 recordings of his inspiring last testament, The Immaculate Radiance, published by Dharma Publishing as Now That I Come to Die.
Tags: Longchenpa, mp3
January 25, 2008 at 3:30 pm
“Today is the anniversary of the great Dzogchen master Longchen Rabjam. (This year also marks the 700th anniversary of his birth in 1308)”
Sorry, could you clarify this a little? It is his birthday and the anniversary of what?
January 25, 2008 at 4:32 pm
Most wonderful!
January 25, 2008 at 7:59 pm
Hi GZA,
Today (January 25th) is the anniversary of his death or parinirvana, according to the Tibetan calendar (18th day of the 12th lunar month). In Tibetan Buddhism, it is the anniversary of a lama’s passing away that is celebrated, more than the annversary of their birth. As Sogyal Rinpoche wrote:
“However consummate our spiritual mastery may be, we are still limited by the body and its karma. But with the physical release of death comes the most marvelous opportunity to fulfil everything we have been striving for in our practice and our life. Even in the case of a supreme master who has reached the highest realization, the ultimate release, called parinirvana, dawns only at death. That is why in the Tibetan tradition we do not celebrate the birthdays of masters; we celebrate their death, their moment of final illumination.”
This year, 2008, marks the 700th anniversary of Longchen Rabjam’s birth in 1308.
February 26, 2008 at 12:02 pm
What is the title of the Tibetan text of Longchenpas last testament or “Now That I Come to Die”?
Where can I find the Tibetan text?
February 26, 2008 at 8:54 pm
Hi Wolfgang,
This is known as the Immaculate Radiance (dri med ‘od gsal). It appears in Longchenpa’s biography, written by Lala Sonam Chodrup (glag bla bsod nams mchog ‘grub), also written as bsod nams chos grub. There is a a paperback version of the this printed by si khron mi rigs dpe skrun khang. On the TBRC site it is: W20468.