Chotso was a nomad who had a deep love for livestock animals since childhood. She accumulated immense virtues while working in the pastures. Before her passing, she said, “The entire house is filled with the fragrance of incense. I am not in a confused state. All of us should feel happy! Amitabha Buddha has come to take me.” She passed away right after.
Born in the Tibetan 16th Rabjung Water Ox Year (1973), Chotso came from Jang-ri-tang town in Banma County, Golok Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province. Despite her unfulfilled wish to become a nun due to her mother's refusal, she diligently recited more than 20 million times of Amitabha Buddha's name while working in the pastures. She also completed the 500,000 Ngondro more than three times.
Known for her deep affection for animals, Chotso would shed tears upon witnessing others mistreat animals by throwing stones. When her family slaughtered or sold livestock for butchering, she would remain silent and stony-faced for several days. Every evening, regardless of the season, she would kiss each livestock before returning home. Even if it was late and others urged her to come home, she would not leave until she had kissed every animal. She would also address the little calves endearingly, saying, “darling,” and caressed their heads. When an animal died, she would vow to recite 10 thousand Mani mantras for them.
If a male calf or bull died, she would express her relief, saying, “This is very good, otherwise you will be slaughtered by my brother when you grow up.” She felt that the male animals that died were very lucky to not have to go under the knife. One winter, when Karma Gyal intended to slaughter a bull he had bought for 3,000 yuan, Chotso pleaded with him in tears, “Brother, I will recite a million times of Amitabha's name for you and give my earrings to you to sell for some money, please do not kill this bull.” Eventually, her brother couldn’t help but relent. He released the bull. Even the way she named the animals was unique, she gave them auspicious names such as “Merits”, “Fortune”, “Deva” etc. Everyone saw in her an exemplary kindness for animals.
About the age of 36, Chotso contracted tuberculosis and later passed away at the age of 40. On the morning of her death, she told her brother Karma Gyal that she no longer needed the money and medicine he provided, returning them to him.
She also said, “I have been ill for four or five years already. I have been to the hospital, taken medicine and nothing works. If I die, this is also a natural cycle of life and death that everyone goes through in samsara. You all should not grieve in your hearts. I vow to you that I have not the slightest fear in me. I believe that I have the provisions and merits for future lives. After I die, you need not arrange any merits for me. Our old mother is a sick patient, perform some pujas for her instead.” After saying these touching words, her mother wept and so Chotso stopped speaking.
In the afternoon at around 4pm, she suddenly instructed Sangtso, “Go and milk the cows right away, if you delay, I am not sure if you will still have the chance to milk the cows. No matter what, go right now!” Sangtso went to milk the cows immediately.
Later, while drinking tea with her mother and Sogyal, Chotso told Sogyal, “Burn some pine cypress incense in the house. I do not think I am confused. In my entire life till now, although I have not created any great virtues, I have also not committed any serious non-virtue. If I am not confused, then this news will make us all happy. Protector Amitabha has come for me now.” Sogyal replied, “That’s wonderful! If Amitabha comes for you, you should be happy. This is something that also fills us with joy.” Saying this, Sogyal rose and lifted the fabric covering the thangka and said that he had already lighted the pine cypress incense. Right then, Chotso gave two long exhalations and passed on without the slightest suffering or pain.
(On August 28, 2020, we, the editors, visited Jang-ri-tang town in Banma County, Golok Prefecture, Qinghai Province. We conducted interviews with the deceased's brother, Karma Gyal, his younger brother, Sogyal, daughter-in-law Sangtso, relatives Laykyi, and Sang Agong, among others. At that time, their statements were corroborated by their Gurus, Osel and Kater, who were also their relatives. After compiling the written account based on their accounts, we presented it to them for review, and they confirmed the accuracy of the information. We did not just rely on this; rigorous verification was conducted from various sources before recording this here.)
Record 5
Dudjom of Ganzi County (Nun, 1921-2014)
Summary
Despite her sharp tongue, the elderly Dudjom was a practitioner who frequently recited Amitabha Buddha’s name and the Mani mantra. As she approached the end of her life, there were continuous manifestations of pure appearances such as light radiating from the heart of Amitabha Buddha to her body. When she reached the moment of death, protector Amitabha said, "Now come to Sukhavati." She responded, "Tonight, I'm coming." With folded hands, she said, "May Amitabha take care of me!" and passed away peacefully.
Life Experiences
Born in the Tibetan 15th Rabjung Iron Bird Year (1921), Dudjom originated from Shari village in Ganzi County, Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province. She was outspoken with everyone, not being one to speak sweet words. Every morning and evening, she performed 100 prostrations without interruption until her passing. Normally, she focused on reciting Amitabha’s name and the Mani mantra. However, as the saying goes, "Speaking of one’s own faults purifies karmas, speaking of one’s own virtues subtracts from merits," so she never disclosed the specific quantity of her recitations.
Final Moments
(1) White Lotus Flowers Blooming Everywhere
In the last month leading up to her passing, she kept seeing four-petaled white lotus flowers, a sight unseen in this world. Also, rainbows coming from the western direction with white and blue colored clouds appeared, these clouds drifted down in front of her. She saw HH Jigme Phuntsok and Amitabha within. It wasn't just them but various holy beings. She saw this everyday frequently. Sometimes, she would comment, "That was a very beautiful sound, did you hear it too?"
Her nephew Puga recounted, "We were having a meal together once when she suddenly grabbed her apron and smiled, saying, 'There is a very beautiful flower here; I wanted to catch it but couldn’t.' Just like this, for many days, she always felt that her bed, everywhere inside and outside the house, and even the ground beneath her feet were filled with lotus flowers."
(2) Encountering a Young Monk Wearing a Khenpo Hat
Her niece Tashi Lhamo, who was a nun, told us, "One day, she said to me, 'Child, there is a young monk wearing a Khenpo hat who has come now. He glanced at me, smiled, and walked away. Can you see where he went?' Since then, she would occasionally say, 'That young monk wearing a Khenpo hat has come to my side, he is often beside my pillow, always smiling. At night, he doesn't sleep but stays around as if protecting me.'"
Once, the two nieces supported Dudjom to walk to a corner of the backyard where she could get some sun. Then the two of them went home for a while. Later when they returned, they could not find Dudjom in the place where they left her. They searched everywhere but couldn't find her. It turned out that she had returned to her own house. Her nieces asked, "You are not able to walk on your own without the support of two people, how did you manage to come back on your own?"
Dudjom replied, "That young monk wearing a Khenpo hat supported me." The truth was that there was no such young monk. However, Dudjom told the nun Acha, "That young monk is an emanation of HH Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche." Since she said so, it must have been the case.
(3) Rainbows Day and Night
Once, Dudjom said, "A rainbow radiated from the hearts of HH Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche, the Protector Amitabha, and the first Adzom Drukpa Drodul Pawo Dorje to my lap. The dirt on my apron stained the rainbow, so I must get a new apron made." Following that, Dudjom really got a new apron made.
Dudjom, who was blind in one eye, also said, "The rainbow came both in the day and night, when I cover the eye that can see and look with the blind eye, I can still see the rainbow clearly. So I said to the rainbow, “Please don't appear like this, sometimes with white light, sometimes with red light, it disturbs me. After I die, I will go to Sukhavati immediately.' Since then, the rainbow has never appeared that way again, so I can also chat with the rainbow."
(4) Insomnia Due to the Descent of Relics
Dudjom also once said, "My bed is covered with relics so I can't sleep." When she refused to sleep, Dawa Lhamo quietly brought a handful of rice and hid it under her blanket, then she pretended it was relics while taking it out, coaxing Dudjom, "Now, go to sleep. I've taken out all the relics." However, Dudjom retorted, "You're deceiving me. I know what is rice and what are relics." For two nights, Dudjom claimed that relics had descended onto her bed and adamantly refused to sleep on it.
(5) Pure visions of Sandalwood tree etc
For a period, Dudjom would experience various pure visions. Once, she had a vision of branches of a sandalwood tree, not of this world, emerging from her bed, adorned with a variety of blooming flowers at the top. The branches were teeming with various birds who would sing melodiously. Another time, Dudjom had a vision of a Ganachakra puja of such a vast scale not found in this world, she also received her share of offerings. In another vision, she received empowerment from Machig Labdron etc.
(6) Amitabha Buddha Everywhere
On one night, her nun nieces, Dawa Lhamo and Tashi Lhamo were relaxing with her. Suddenly, Dudjom took the blanket from behind her and covered the heads of three of them, saying as she laughed, "Right here, we have so many holy beings such as HH Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche, Protector Amitabha, Guru Rinpoche, Chenrezig and many others. Aren't we incredibly fortunate now?" She continued, "The room is filled with Amitabha Buddhas everywhere! Oh my! You tell me to sleep, but I don't know where to rest my head. Amitabha Buddhas are everywhere, and I can't find a place to lay my head down." For two nights, Dudjom refused to sleep.
(7) Dharma Protectors Delaying Entry into the Pureland
On the 20th day of the fourth Tibetan month, at a certain time, Dudjom decisively declared, "Drodul Pawo Dorje, HH Jigme Phuntsok and Protector Amitabha have said, 'Come tonight.' So I will leave tonight." That night, after her niece Tashi Lhamo had finished dinner and came to her side, Dudjom said, "Where did you go? I wanted to take you with me and waited for a long time, but you still didn't come. So I went on my own. On a vast plain, Buddhas and Dakinis as numerous as snowfall descended. As I walked towards the grassland, I heard cries of distress from somewhere. When I looked, I found my Dharma protectors kneeling with their foreheads touching the ground, calling out, 'Can you not go? We won't let you suffer.' My present body is like a lump of dough, I cannot move around without help. So I am not sure what use it is (to stay) with my body in this state. But there was no choice, so I had to come back. The holy beings were amazing. Some of them, like Amitabha, said that I should go to Sukhavati while the Dharma protectors insisted that I shouldn't. If I don't die tomorrow, it means that the Dharma protectors won't allow it, and I need to make offerings to them."
That night, she also said, "Relics have descended, and all the Gurus have come." She refused to sleep the entire night. The next morning, she made offerings to the Dharma protectors. At that moment, her hands were so feeble that she couldn't even hold the prayer beads. Nonetheless, she continued to count the beads and sometimes joined palms, gazing at the sky, saying, "Protector Amitabha, care for me! Protector Amitabha, care for me!" At one point, Dudjom suddenly showed the joy a child would have when seeing her mother coming. She forcefully pushed herself up from the chair, laughing heartily, clapping her hands, and repeatedly chanted, "Amitabha... Amitabha..." She did not say anything else. Later, she gradually passed away.
Post-Death Appearances
On the morning Dudjom passed away, a rainbow appeared above the corner of the backyard where Dudjom often basked in the sun. This was witnessed by two nuns, Khandro Lhamo and Chime Drolma from Tashi valley.
(On December 18, 2022 and January 6, 2023, we, the editors, conducted interviews with nuns Dawa Lhamo and Norwo Wangmo from Larung Gar Monastery, the nun Tashi Lhamo from Yarchen Monastery, as well as Jigga and others who personally witnessed or heard of the situation at the time. We documented their accounts as per their statements, then had them review the written records. For the convenience of readers, we made slight adjustments to the wording and phrases, and asked them to carefully verify the information. Based on these, they confirmed that the accounts were accurate. We conducted a rigorous investigation into whether these individuals were truthful, considering various perspectives. After determining their credibility, we included the story of Dudjom’s passing in this record.)
Record 6
Gonpo of Chindu County (Householder, 1963-2018)
In the earlier part of his life, Gonpo was a butcher who slaughtered fishes, frogs, and livestock. However, in the later part of his life, he became a genuine Dharma practitioner. At the time of his passing, light emanated from the heart of Amitabha Buddha on the thangka, filling the entire house with a brilliant glow. More than ten people present witnessed this phenomenon. Gonpo said, "There is no need to set up deliverance tablets for me (these are name tablets for the deceased in rituals for deliverance). I can go to Sukhavati entirely on my own." In a joyful state, he passed away.
Life Experiences
(1) Wandering in a Foreign Land
Originally from Ping'an area in Xining City of Qinghai Province, Gonpo was born into a Chinese family in 1963 with the name Wei Yuye. He was the fifth among six siblings. He was a local government official, earning a monthly salary of about 300 yuan. One day, while he was riding his bicycle to work, he accidentally knocked down an elderly woman. Although she was not seriously injured, the son of the old woman had a violent nature and often demanded compensation from Gonpo endlessly. As a result, his monthly salary of 300 yuan was often taken away by force. For a period of time, he couldn't survive in his hometown and had to wander to various places. After roaming through many places, he eventually settled in the third renewed pastoral district, Zhado Town, Chindu County, Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province.
(2) Practicing Dharma
In the third renewed pastoral district, Gonpo spent his days herding livestock for the local nomads. As Gonpo was from a different family, some nomads paid him for his services, while others did not. The nomads even said, "He is a Chinese, so he doesn't believe in cause-and-effect." Consequently, they asked him to slaughter many livestock. As usual, only some people paid him while others did not. Gonpo kept written records of all the details such as which family asked him to perform the slaughter, what animals were killed and all the fishes, frogs etc that he had killed in his hometown in the past.
Later, he married a Tibetan girl named Khandro in the village and had three children. A Dharma teacher advised him, "Now you are a Tibetan, you should take a Tibetan name." Hence, he took the name "Gonpo". Since then, people started calling him "Chinese Gonpo".
It is said that for some time, he stayed in Zhado town tending to sheeps. One day, when HH Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche and his entourage passed by on the road, Gonpo was brewing tea and cooking. (HH Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche was on his way to Dokham during the period of the Chushi Gangdruk, Tibetan Resistance, in 1995) At that time, Gonpo only had 60 yuan on him, which he offered for releasing lives to HH Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche. He also vowed to recite one million times of Amitabha Buddha’s name. From then on, he also refrained from killing.
Subsequently, he recited the Amitabha’s name in strict retreat and also completed the 500,000 ngondro he had promised Che-ngak Rinpoche. During his retreat, besides meals delivered through the window by his children, he had no contact with anyone else. In this way he completed the 500,000 ngondro twice and recited 3 million Amitabha’s name.
Sonam Tashi also said, "Usually, the two of us will do circumambulations together. Once, while circumambulating, Gonpo said to me, 'Have you seen the Buddha? I have seen Amitabha.' At one point, during a liver surgery, he also said, 'I see Amitabha now.'"
(Sonam Tashi is the husband of Gonpo’s eldest daughter. He is also the first person to see light radiating from Amitabha’s heart.)
A cadre from Gersi Village also mentioned, "Once, when Gonpo and I went together to circumambulate the Gyana Mani-stone heap, he said, 'I can see Amitabha now. Can you see him?'" There were many other instances. In any case, Gonpo saw the Protector Amitabha many times while he was alive.
Occurrences at the Time of Passing
Gonpo had a very cherished thangka depicting the pureland of Amitabha, which he acquired at the suggestion of Che-ngak Tulku in the course of asking questions about deliverance plaques. If he needed to go somewhere else for a longer period, he would take this thangka with him and place it by his pillow. When he was bedridden due to liver disease, his primary object of faith was this Sukhavati thangka.
Sonam Tashi said, "After he became bedridden and believed that he would die, he invited a Tulku from Yongja Monastery to perform phowa (transference of consciousness). About eleven family members, including children and his wife, were present. Everyone gathered around the patient, folded their hands, knelt down, and listened attentively to the phowa practice. Suddenly, a beam of light appeared, similar to lamp-light. I looked up, and from the heart of the Amitabha Buddha in the Sukhavati thangka placed by the patient's pillow, a small circular shaft of radiant white light issued forth. I instantly pulled at Pugya’s (Gonpo’s brother-in-law) monk's robe, signaling him to look towards the source of the light. I felt a mixture of joy and sorrow, quickly stood up and made three prostrations towards the thangka. Then the light circle gradually expanded. On the left side of the bed, there was a thangka of the 35 Buddhas, and the light, streaking like comets, merged into the hearts of each Buddha on this thangka. The entire room was then filled with brilliant white light."
Kongtrul Tashi told us, "At that time, my uncle Pugya touched my shoulder and pointed in the direction of the Sukhavati thangka. I looked there and light circles began to appear on the thangka of the 35 Buddhas. The light circles became larger and larger, sometimes beaming in this direction as if touching my old father, sometimes seeming to return in the direction of the many Buddhas. I thought to myself: in the past, my father said he received the so-called “blessings from Buddha”, now this must be the Buddha bestowing blessings upon my father. Then I folded my hands again and watched intently. After a while, those lights disappeared."
The entire room being filled with white light was witnessed by 11 people who were present at that time. During our personal interviews, it was easy to see from their expressions and words what an extraordinary experience the light had been. When the entire room was filled with white light, Gonpo said, "Now, please do not cry in my presence where I can see or know about it. For 15 minutes after my death, please do not cry around me or touch me. After that, my body will become just like a stone. There is no need to make a deliverance name plaque for me. I can go to Sukhavati on my own." Without any signs of pain, Gonpo passed on at the same time as the phowa practice concluded.
Post-death Appearances
In the "Aspiration Prayer for Sukhavati" authored by Chakme Rinpoche, it is written: "May I clearly see with divine eyes my relatives and disciples, protecting and blessing them, finally guiding them to Sukhavati at death." As is stated in this prayer, many miraculous happenings took place after Gonpo’s death giving some family members predictions and protecting them, but as they are very lengthy and may provoke wrong views from fault-finding critical readers, they will not be recorded here.
Gyaltsen Drolma also stated, "When my old father passed away, I also saw the entire room filled with white light just like the others did. Moreover, after my father's death, on the morning when his body was taken to the charnel ground, I clearly saw a rainbow appearing above the house."
(Regarding the story of Chinese Gonpo, we, the editors, made enquiries with Khenpo Mangya of Drukgyu Temple. On January 24, 2021, we personally visited the vicinity of the Gyana Mani-stone heap near Kyegudo. Through Khenpo's contacts, we interviewed more than thirty individuals related to the deceased, including the son-in-law Sonam Tashi, Doha, Gyaltsen Drolma, Jangchub Tsomo, Chonyid Gya, Khandro, Lodro Samten, Nyendrak, Kalsang Lhamo, Choje Lhaji, Tenzin, Tsewang Drolma, and others. After compiling the information into a written record, the account is included here.)
