In Memoriam
In Memoriam
His Holiness Grandmaster Professor Thomas Lin Yun Rinpoche
It is with a heavy heart that I write these words. My beloved Feng Shui teacher passed away yesterday, August 11th 2010 @ 3:30p.
It was not sudden news. He had been challenged with health issues this last year – however, whenever a loved one leaves, it is nonetheless bittersweet.
I wanted to share with you, the Sacred Interiors™ tribe, a few of my fond memories of Professor (as we affectionately called him) and what he’s meant to me over the years.
First, I would not be where I am today without his guidance and support. My Feng Shui practice was built on the generosity of his knowledge, wisdom and love. My life would not be where it is today without his Feng Shui wisdom as I’ve utilized the cures and remedies and continue to do so.
I remember coming into the Master Lin Yun’s ‘family’ and finding it very odd; unique. The way of looking at the world through BTB tradition was completely new and refreshing to me. The thing that most drew me into his style of Feng Shui was the fact that massive importance is placed on the ‘invisible’ aspect of life. And how it’s crucial to utilize our 6th sense. This resonated with me at a deep level.
Of course, one of the best things about Prof. was his humor. Even though he spoke no English – or as he always joked “Chinglish,” you knew when he was getting into comedian mode. He was always cracking jokes, making fun of disciples and finding the light chi in the room. He knew exactly how to shift someone’s chi – even if they didn’t understand it at the time it was happening, it was exactly what they needed.
I officially became a disciple over 11 years ago and it was a pivotal moment in my life. Prof. offered a ‘chi-transmission’ as part of the ceremony. I remember feeling nervous, excited and slightly weirded out. I’ve never been much of a guru follower, so when Prof. told us in the “becoming a disciple ceremony process” that we can study, learn and follow other teachers – again, I knew I’d found the right lineage of Feng Shui. He respected all traditions and constantly reminded us of that.
When I attended workshops and lectures, I realized how lucky we (the English speakers) were to have a translator there. Not only to be able to have access to the information, but because there was so much of it that with the translation time, I had more time to take notes!
Dinners with Prof. were always a hoot. He loved to have people sing for him. And sing they did. All sorts of older tunes. Traditional Chinese and American ones too. A personal fave of his was Elvis. If the singing went on long enough – and it usually went until well past midnight – Prof. would gift us with a tune too.
I had the pleasure of working on a project many years ago with some colleagues, Herb and Elaine Wright that brought Prof. to Los Angeles. We toured numerous tourist spots with Prof. and had him give an analysis of them. Fascinating, educational and a real treat. The bonus was when we got to observe him in private homes while he made cure recommendations.
Celebrating Prof. each year for his birthday was always a wild, surreal experience. I would attend the event in San Francisco (there were other events each year in New York and Taipei too). The mood was festive, of course. However, it was the entertainment that wowed me each year. From opera singers to belly dancers to a prima ballerina to Elvis impersonators to Chinese karaoke to acrobats. There was something unusual each time. A huge table would be wheeled out with a cake the size of it on top alit with candles. Prof. and friends would blow them out and then dancing began. The wondrous thing to look at was the 10 or more wall sized calligraphies Prof. would make to be raffled off. They were huge, stunning and quite powerful. I had the good fortune of winning one a few years back and I love looking at it in my home now.
The community built around Prof. is special.
I have met so many wonderful people over these 11 plus years of knowing him.
I am grateful for the karma that brought us all together.
I am grateful for the memories of times spent together.
I am grateful to have had a chance to know and learn from this ‘living Buddha.”
I will be attending the first of the Seven Sevens Memorial Services for Prof. in Berkeley at the temple on August 17th @ 11am. If anyone in the LA area is inclined to pay their respects and would like to join me, please do get in touch. Either via email: deborah@sacredinteriors.com or phone: 323-650-4433.
I’ve included the official email sent out from the temple below.
Thank you for being a part of this community. If I have shared this Feng Shui tradition with you in any way – I appreciate you giving me the opportunity to do so. It is through the transmission of the information that the lineage continues on.
Much love and many blessings,
Deborah Kagan
8/12/10
August 12, 2010
Dear Temple friends,
With deepest sorrow, I am very reluctant to let you know that the saddest thing has finally came upon us. Our beloved great teacher, His Holiness Grandmaster Professor Lin Yun left us yesterday around 3:30pm due to multi-systems failure. He had fever since he came out of ICU, and the infection was not only in the lung, but also found in the blood again. As most of you know, he had diabetes and heart disease for almost twenty years, followed with anemia and kidneys disease in the last decade. He had gone through a lot; each health problem that happened in the past four months had further weakened his heart, kidneys, lung, and immune system. He was gone in his sleep peacefully with no pain. Some of us chanted Na Mo Ah Mi To Fo at his bedside in the hospital for eight hours, to pray that his Ch’i would be received by Amitaba Buddha and myriad Buddhas in the Pure Land. That’s why I am writing this email almost twelve hours later.
Please join me to chant Na Mo Ah Mi To Fo and visualize our beloved teacher, His Holiness Grandmaster Lin Yun is beside Amitaba Buddha in the Pure Land, and that he has become a new Buddha. His Ch’i had abandoned his mundane human form and is now in peace and contented with ultimate bliss. During the eight hours of chanting right upon his departure, I saw many times that he stands beside Amitaba Buddha with a peaceful smiling face; one of the messages that came to my mind was that he had completed his mission in this world and gone back to where he came from.
I will announce when and where His Holiness’s funeral is going to be in a couple of days. For sure it will be in California. Everyone is welcomed to attend. According to Chinese tradition, we will also hold a Seven Sevens memorial services at Yun Lin Temple in Berkeley. That means on each seventh day after August 11, there will be a memorial service for His Holiness. So the first seventh day will be on August 17, the service will be held between 11:00am – 1:oopm.
It’s hard for me to believe this is true, and I trust many of you would have the same feeling as mine. One of the messages I had during the chanting was from His Holiness, and he said: “I had taught you more than enough, now is time for you to go on by yourself”. I would like to share this with you all, besides the grief in my heart.
In the dharma,
Crystal Chu, CEO
Yun Lin Temple
