Funeral service for Tendar-la held in Madison, Wisconsin

Monday, 18 June 2007, 9:58 a.m

New York: The funeral service for the late First Secretary of the New York based Office of Tibet, Mr. Tendar, was held on 15 June in Madison, Wisconsin in the presence of his wife, Lhakpa Dolma, daughter, Kelsang Dolkar, family members, relatives, and Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Kasur Tashi Wangdi.

Geshe Lhundup Sopa, Director of the Deer Park Tibetan Buddhist Center, led the prayer service and was assisted by seven other monks from the Center. While the monks said prayers, the family members and relatives lighted lamps.

Following the prayers, Kasur Tashi Wangdi read the Kashag’s condolence message followed by his own remarks highlighting the unique qualities of the deceased and his contributions to the service of the Central Tibetan Administration.

In his remarks, Kasur Tashi Wangdi said that Tendar-la’s self-less service to the community and his wholehearted devotion and dedication to the works of the CTA set a good example for many who are currently serving in the CTA and also to others who are aspiring to join the CTA service.

Around 200 people, mainly the members of the Wisconsin Tibetan Association, attended the funeral service. Those present included Kasur Dhongag Tenzin, Mr. Phurbu Tsering, who represented the Tibetan Association of New York and New Jersey, Mr. Namgyal Shastri, who represented the deceased’s close friends in India, Europe and North America, and several former staff members of the Central Tibetan Administration. They all laid Khatas over the casket containing the body before it was cremated.

The family members also received condolence message from colleagues and well-wishers of the deceased from the different part of the world. Among them included Special Envoy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Washington DC, Kalon Tempa Tsering and staff members of the Bureau of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in New Delhi, staff members of the Department of Information and International Relations in DharamsHala, staff members of the Office of Tibet, Kasur TC Tethong, the International Campaign for Tibet, and various Tibetan Associations in
North America.

Several Tibetan Associations in North America are holding special prayer ceremony coinciding with the first Dhuntsig (week). For instance, in Washington, D.C. the Capital Area Tibetan Association is holding a prayer session on Friday. In New York, the Tibetan Association of New York and New Jersey is arranging a prayer ceremony at the Tibet House on Saturday afternoon.

Tendar la had served the Department of Information and International Relations from 1986 to 2003 in various capacities, particularly in its translation and publication works. In late 2003, he was transferred to the Office of Tibet in New York and since then he had been working in
this office.

–Report filed by The Office of Tibet, New York