OBITUARIES

The death of Henry Lau I have, may it ripen on sentient beings." This is Nagarjuna's teaching of thought transformation: Please keep reciting this. Also it is very good if [your wife] Catherine can recite to you to remind you, but best thing is if you can chant it yourself. 7. Also if you can chant this verse from the Guru Puja, this meditation and tong-len prayer:

Tong-len: Meditation on

Left: Henry Lau with Lama Zopa Rinpoche in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, circa 2002. taking and giving

Right: Henry and Catherine Lau and their sons with Lama Zopa Rinpoche, some thirteen years ago at "And thus, venerable, compassionate Kopan Monastery. The elder boy on Henry's right is Feng-Yuan, and on Catherine's left is the younger son, gurus, Howie. Yuan is now working, and Howie is in his final year at law school in the UK. I seek your blessings that all karmic In November 2007 Lama Zopa Rinpoche 3. Also listen to and play the debts, obstacles, and sufferings of mother wrote to long-time student Henry Lau who Golden Light Sutra ... beings was seriously ill and who has now passed. 4. ... and the Diamond Cutter May without exception ripen upon Rinpoche has asked that we all read this, sutra, these could be one recited by me right now, especially those who are suffering a myself or Kirti Tsenshab Rinpoche: And that I may give my happiness serious illness: www.fpmt.org/golden_light_sutra/defa and virtue to others ult. asp#audio and vvww. fp m t. org/ And, thereby, invest all beings in My very dear Henry, shop/product1.aspx?SID= 1 &Product_ bliss." Even non-Buddhists should pre- ID=1583&Category_ID=25&AFID=17 Actually, this is the best Dharma pare for death every day, and especially 5. Also you can listen to the "Namo gift, the best protection from delusion, as practitioners we should all prepare Amitabha" recording. The way the best protection from the terrifying like this — "Death is definitely going to Taiwanese chant this (that is, in a lower realms, where there is so much happen" — rather than to think that I small box that plays continuously) is unbelievable suffering. Doing this med- will have a longer life through opera- very good to uplift the mind. Listening itation and in this way taking on all the tions. This doesn't mean not to have an to this fills the mind up, and you feel sufferings of all mother sentient beings, operation; I just mean how to think. that there is nothing else in the world, as well as all one's own sufferings on 1. For liberation from samsara and except the Buddhist path. It creates oneself. Then letting all sentient beings especially for enlightenment, as well as the cause to be reborn in Amitabha have the state of no death, enlighten- for all sentient beings, it is very good if Pure Land — maybe you will be the ment, the cessation of all sufferings. All you can read the "five powers at death first bank manager in Amitabha Pure the happiness, including enlighten- time," that I wrote recently. Land, HA HA!! Then from there you ment, all the merit I have, may this be 2. Then also it is very good if you can help all the suffering sentient ripened on all sentient beings can play and listen to the recitation of beings in this world, also all our proj- This practice should be entered the Arya Sangata Sutra if possible all ects, HA HA!! into the Olympics, and if you win, the time — best version is the one I have 6. So it is very good if you can chant then at death time you go to the Pure recorded: www.fpmt.org/media/podcast/ this mantra: "Whatever sufferings I have, Land, instead of being reborn in the teachers/lama_zopa.asp may they ripen on me; whatever happiness impure world, where we are now, or the

70 MANDALA April/May 2008 lower realms. This would be the best with some extra time of practice and Henry Lau Hwee Tiang, a banker, Olympic game. Dying with tong-len purification I can then qualify as 'first organizer, golfer, squash player, (bodhichitta) is best death, best banker' to enter Amitabha Pure Land. friend, son, brother, father, hus- Olympic game. Attachment still, ha ha ha! band and Buddhist, who never The other most challenging thing "Magnificent and precious root Guru stopped living until the end, is to pray to be born in the suffering Please abide on the lotus, sun and moon passed away peacefully on February world, in order to help another sentient seat at my heart 9, 2008, aged 61. being, even to pray to be reborn in the Guide me with your great kindness lower realms to help others. And please remain stable, without By Henry's elder son, Feng-Yuan Definitely, you can think that you separation from my body, speech and Henry passed away at an age which have nothing to be afraid of, including mind until I attain enlightenment." is fairly young by today's standards, but death or the lower realms, because Love, Henry he led a full life. It is as if he squeezed Buddha, Dharma and Sangha have all twice as much activity into the 61 years the power and qualities to save you, so Henry later reported that he had. Even throughout his illness think that you can rely on them. This is from his hospital bed: he would continue working, whether taking refuge and thinking in this way on Buddhist projects or making sure can give you great release or peace at "I first met Lama Zopa Rinpoche that certain business transactions the time of death. in Jakarta, Indonesia in 1986. He entrusted to him were completed. At Definitely, I am praying for you, stayed with us for about two weeks. first we tried to slow him down, but we also all your Dharma friends are pray- Somehow we lost touch, but later our realized that it was part of who he was, ing, as well as your business friends, we paths crossed again. I had met Tan and that he refused to live life with an are praying for you, everybody who has Hup Cheng, with whom Rinpoche idle moment. And when he decided not received help from you, is praying for was trying to set up an FPMT center to do any more chemotherapy, because you, OK, don't worry. in Singapore. This was during the late it made it difficult for him to live life to the fullest, we understood why. Since I have met you, you have 1980s when I was asked to re-orga- But my dad was also a very social and been thinking always how to help oth- nize a Private Banking Centre for a fun-loving person. He loved to be in the ers. You have not been mean, or bad, or local bank in Singapore. It was then company of friends and good food. He had harmful thoughts. Your life always that I started helping with the Sera was also a perpetual organizer: organizing went towards helping others, towards Food Fund and I used to go to Kopan lunches, golf games and golf trips for his supporting virtuous projects, my quite often to meet up with friends. He got himself onto the club projects, serving the Sangha, which has Rinpoche. From then on, with his green committees, management commit- inconceivable merits. guidance, I began helping with tees of our apartment and school advisory Rejoice! Thank you! Wisdom Publications and subse- boards. He loved his regular squash and With much love and prayers, quently the Lama Yeshe Wisdom golf games. My dad had this great ability Lama Zopa Archives. to make friends and he cherished his "Right now, I am involved with a friendships, whether they were old And here is Henry's reply: few projects, including Drati friends from his youth or new people he'd Khangtsen Building Project, Jade made a connection with. In the last few Dearest Guru Lama Zopa, Buddha and Lama Zopa Endowment days the number of people who have told Right now I think I have no issue Fund. I hope to fulfill this vision as us that they had been touched or helped with death. Also I will try as much as soon as possible and some of these are by my dad has moved us. Bank colleagues possible not to be attached to this body in their final stages." who have told us he helped them get so that I can overcome death easier and Mandala is also very grateful to started in their career or guided them die with the thought of bodhichitta. Henry Lau for his generous support of along, friends who have told us that he Rinpoche, you always reminded all this magazine. Vale, Henry. helped them when they were troubled, of us that death is certain but I want to Guru devotion and others who simply remember him as fight this sickness so that I will Is one's aspiration a kind person who always had a smile. have some extra time to fulfill your Which should not be loosened This idea of always trying to help wishes and benefit others. Hopefully Even in time of desperate dereliction others, or bodhichitta, was something

April/May 2008 MANDALA 71 OBITUARIES that my dad as a Buddhist tried to and all your well-wishes which kept Revolutionary New pursue. He was involved in many differ- Henry positive and filled with energy Technology puts you ent projects over his lifetime, contributing even as he was battling his cancer. to the Sera Food Fund and Lama Yeshe My father wrote a poem when he in deepest meditation Wisdom Archives and more recently, was ill, entitled "Fly Getwell Airline Train your mind with the Drati Khangtsen monastery project, 2007," which I think encapsulates a CD program that MEDITATES YOU, Lama Zopa Endowment Fund and the much of his beliefs and attitudes. perfectly every time. Jade Buddha project. And in each of You don't even have them his motivation was really to help as Fly Getwell Airline 2007 to try!!! many people as possible. His Dharma Imagine being able practice was very important in dealing There is only one airline Kyabje Zopa Rinpoche would to meditate with the kind of power that the masters do at the touch of a button. Gener- with his illness and death. In his final want you to fly ate intense love & compassion whilst the days we could see him getting rid of all Better than boarding SIA attachment to worldly objects and audio technology effortlessly takes you into (Singapore Airlines) the deepest brain wave states achievable. events. In the final moments, he was This airline is owned by you and me Sound too good to be true? There are gazing intently at the thangkas of various What bigger shareholdings 1000s of happy users and it is backed by a Buddhas by his bedside, and we could can you ever see mountain of scientific research. Even see he was doing his Dharma practice up Got it for free, yet fulfills your experienced meditators report stunning results. You get all the benefits of a perfect till the last moment before closing his guru's wishes eyes peacefully. meditation session like - profound insights, Bodhichitta Airways is one you want dramatic improvements in concentration My father was a wonderful son, hus- to board, no missing & learning abilities. Regular use purifies band and father. He was never very vocal For the sick like me, for all you long-standing coarse & extremely subtle in his affection, and taught us all to be obscurations that you did not even know sentient beings independent, but was always there to were there until you are free of them. Whilst Bodhichitta is both medicine in the deepest brain wave states, resem- support us and guide us in the decisions and panacea we chose to make. But he never hesitated bling non dual naked awareness, you are Removing all obstacles and desire also blessed with Gyuto monk harmonics, to tell us if he thought we were wrong. Unwanted habits and conditioning Tibetan chakra healing bowls and the pure I would also like to thank all the authentic chanting of the Mani. When you Practicing every day incessantly people who have helped my father and finish this program you are able to reach Easier than tong-len and these deepest levels, on your own, when- our family during these difficult self-cherishing ego times. There were many Buddhist ever you sit down to meditate. It's amazing! Zillion times one can freely let go What others are saying- groups and individuals who prayed for How powerful that can generate "I was skeptical at first but I am truly my father, chief among them was Why wait, now venerate amazed & enjoying your product Amithaba Buddhist Centre. My dad imensely. It has deepened my meditation Let us all fly fast was very fortunate to have the guidance practice substantially! It is so powerful No more calling the guru from afar energizing and exciting I want to tell the of many wonderful gurus: Lama Zopa He is onboard every day and no world! Blessings." Rinpoche, Lati Rinpoche, Khen flight delay - Dean M (New York) Rinpoche and Dagri Rinpoche prayed What better way than Bodhichitta "I am finally having the kind of expe- for him and sent much advice on coping Airways riences that I hoped for when starting with his illness. Geshe Chonyi, Geshe out on my path. Thank you. Thank you. Soon you renounce and all three Thank you." - Dane. W (Monti Carlo) Tenzin Zopa, Ven. Sean Price, Ven. harnessed "It has truly changed my life" Tenzin Palzang, Ven. Tenzin Gyumey, Attain wisdom, understanding, - Grant A (Toongabbie) Tan Hup Cheng, Fred Chong, David emptiness www. perfectmedita on.com Jian, Wee Sin Tho and Wee Geok Hwa, Realizing Arya Bodhisattva hovering [email protected] Clarence Khoo, Pang Mui Cheng and PO Box 555 Valerie Jacob were there to help provide above the clouds You do visualize from flight when TOORAK 3142 support during this difficult period for us. looking out AUSTRALIA To all his friends and former col- Your guru smiling leagues, who are too numerous to Donates to: Sera Je Your heart pitter pattering. * Monastery & FPMT name, thank you for your friendship MEDITATION

72 MANDALA April/May 2008