30/07/2026
Dear Sangha
A few days ago, we all got word that Rinpoche is going through a viral infection and is ill.
Rinpoche is a very powerful being. he has gone through a lot of hardships in this life and has crossed them all to the other side.
But this life is not foreverโฆ
we all know that.
We come here, we are born, we live, we get old and sick, we die.
This is not news for anyone here (I assume)
This moment, when a very powerful being might be leaving here is very hard for a lot of us, and for the world who does not even know it happened but is still being affected by this leaving of great power.
For me, Rinpoche has changed my life completely without me even knowing or understanding what has happened.
Our very first meeting in this life was a miraculous one and I had no idea that this one small occasional meeting would lead to a lifetime of crafting holy objects, the prayer wheels.
In this life, we have no clue as to what would happen next. We live in our minds, always thinking, always "knowing" what is going on but in actual reality, this is not true.
We have no clue what is happening and where things are going, how one little moment in time can blossom to a life of holy activity and precious "doing"โฆ
It seems that Rinpoche has collected us under his loving wing and helped us do good for others in this short and meaningless life we are now going throughโฆ
It seems that Rinpoche always knew and guided us along the way, pushing us here, nudging us there, making sure we know he loves us and is praying for us, always asking the correct questions to show us that even though he has hundreds of thousands of students, he thinks of us and makes sure we know that. We always felt loved (and still are!) by Rinpoche and felt like we had a tiny roll to play in his view, in his life, in his loveโฆ we were just small tiny parts of a much bigger thing and Rinpoche with his huge heart always made sure we know that.
We had the unfathomable fortune to be very close to Rinpoche at different times in our life, places we arrived to where Rinpoche was, special meetings of guidance, being drivers for Rinpoche when he came to visit and teach in Israel (and an almost horrific car crash that never happened thanks to Rinpoche!) eating with Rinpoche in restaurants, crafting special made prayer wheels for Rinpoche, the birth of the world peace prayer wheel that Rinpoche agreed to and cherished, the fact Rinpoche built a world peace prayer wheel at the Garchen Buddhist Institute speaks volumes on Rinpoche's vision for the future of human kindโฆ
so many meetings over the past 20 yearsโฆ
In this life, it seems that I was ready to meet him, that we (me and Ayelet) are here to be of service to Rinpoche in ways we could not understand in the early beginning back in 2008 when we first saw Rinpoche in this life.
We could not understand where this is all going and where we would be 20 years in the future thanks to Rinpoche and his love.
How could we?
We are just two simple little human beings; we are not a powerhouse of consciousness like Rinpocheโฆ
we are not awake like him.
We are just two little humans who had tremendous fortune and very good karma to meet Rinpoche in this life and be of service to him and the world by crafting prayer wheels.
When we first saw Rinpoche, it was a fluke.
We were not meant to be there at that retreat, but my late older brother Lior (to whom I owe it all) called me up and told me and Ayelet we must make an effort and come to see Rinpoche, even if only for a second, to create a karmic connection with himโฆ that is all, no need to come for the entire retreat if we cannot.
We did as told and arrived to the very last day, to the final closing ceremony of the 6-day teaching retreat Rinpoche was conducting. We sat on the floor at the far corner of the hall with our backs to the wall, looking at Rinpoche who was sitting on his thrown spinning his wooden prayer wheel and with a loving gaze and a smile going over the entire room full of people.
I was captivated and mesmerized to Rinpoche's prayer wheel in his handโฆ
I turned to Ayelet with fire in my eyes and said the following sentence:
"I have to make a prayer wheel!"
Ayelet, with the same look in her eyes answered: "yes! And I will do all the artwork on it!"
That, just that.
What was that?!
You know, most humans when they see something they like they say: "I want a prayer wheel!" not "I have to MAKE a prayer wheel"โฆ
That tiny moment in time back in November of 2008 has started the rolling of much bigger wheelsโฆ everything since that one moment in time changed both of our lives forever.
All thanks to one tiny short moment in time meeting Rinpoche for the first time in this lifetime.
What a moment!
Now, Rinpoche is ill, he is fighting for his health and we are all praying, all around the world, all of us who have been touched by this light of love and kindness that has no boundaries, this enlightened being who came to earth in human form to touch so many of us and change the direction our lives has taken, to change it in a way that would now lead to a much more meaningful lifeโฆ to help us all see others, to soften our own strong ego, to think of others with love and compassionโฆ this is pricelessโฆ and we owe it all to Rinpoche.
We love you sweet dear Rinpoche and pray for your health, for your long and meaningful life to continue, for you to stay with us just a little longer so we can all bask in your warm glow of loving kindness that is free from judgmentโฆ
May you live long and spread the Dharma!
We love you so muchโฆ
So so muchโฆ
The Garchen Buddhist Institute has requested that all of us in the worldwide sangha accumulate the Amitayus longevity mantra and/or engage in Vajrasattva practice, dedicating the merit for Rinpoche's long life and good health. Please visit garchen.net to find the practices and post your mantra accumulations.
For the benefit of all beings
Micha & Ayelet
