Condolence message on the late Bawa Phuntsok Wangyal, by Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche

(This message of condolence was given at the request of some Tibetans, within a day of Bawa Phuntsok Wangyal passing away [on March 30, 2014].)

I was saddened when I heard Bawa Phuntsok Wangyal has passed away.  In general, by age, he was not very old, I had a hope that if he still lived for several more years it would have been beneficial—but he has died suddenly.

In terms of education, ability and altruistic dedication, Bawa Phuntsok Wangyal was an outstanding personality amongst Tibetans. In the Tibetan society he was a person who embraced the path of reforms, and in particular, not only amongst Tibetans but even in China and Russia (former Soviet Union), as a specialist in Marxism it would be rare to find someone who stood equal to him as a perfected expert in the field of Marxism, rational materialism. Besides, he had an inconceivable and inexpressible nationalistic feelings for his people (the Tibetans), because of which he was in prison for many years of his life.

When he accompanied His Holiness the Dalai Lama to China (1954) as the Translator to His Holiness, he served so well, and as a person he turned out to be someone on whom His Holiness could place full trust. Bawa Phunsok Wangyal had an incredibly strong fondness for His Holiness, whenever he discussed about His Holiness tears formed in his eyes—he was such a person.

Personally for me, we two had remained trusted friends for a long time. We met in person only once or twice but when we met we talked, for long duration—from day well into night—discussing many things.

Even when not meeting in person we discussed through various medium of communications; especially, when formulating the details of the mutually beneficial The Middle Way Policy we used to consult him, and implement, on many things which we did not understand: the understanding of the Constitution of The People’s Republic of China, and likewise on the ways of thinking of the Chinese leaders—many things of that kind.

He was a person who always wanted the issue of Tibetans as a race resolved and for His Holiness the Dalai Lama to be able to return to Tibet; he had a great determination and altruistic dedication as regards them. He was a member of Tibet-China Negotiations, from its initial stages in 1980’s. During his life he had a comprehensive consideration for racial rights, from the viewpoints of Marxism and Science in general, more so from the perspective of Marxism.

There are many opinions, in general, in the Tibetan society, as regards Phuntsok Wangyal. Such diversity of views as regards a person can occur and does occur with anyone. But in actuality, as for the ways he carried out his works throughout his life, one can understand them if one looks meticulously into his life-account, the Autobiography.

I am saddened today by his passing away. I pray that his negativities and transgressional downfalls done and accumulated are purified and that  he is reborn as a genuine Tibetan, able to serve the Tibetan people.