A Tribute to Dhan Pat Singh – Serving Rigpa in the East for over 30 years

May 20, 2021Mauro De March

Since the inception of ZAM and Rigpa House in Delhi in the late 1980s Dhan Pat Singh was crucial to all that was accomplished there. Sadly, Dhan Pat passed away suddenly on 24 March. Mauro de March shares some stories and memories of his dear friend.

Whether it was hosting lamas, coordinating sculptors and artists creating art works for Rigpa, arranging the printing of Rigpa publications like the annual Rigpa calendar, working with manufacturers to develop dharma items, obtaining visas for large groups of lamas and monks such as those coming to lead drupchens in Lerab Ling, or picking up sangha members or guests from the airport at all hours of day and night, Dhan Pat did it all. For over 30 years, he was available any time, day or night to do whatever was needed.

The early days

“In 1989 when I was just starting to establish ZAM, I would travel to India and Nepal a few times each year to source dharma items to bring back to London to sell at markets. But I needed help in the East. It is a tough place for a westerner to do business! I had been told that when you are in front of the Boudanath stupa you make aspiration prayers, so when I was in Nepal and in front of the great stupa at Boudanath I made strong prayers to find someone who could help me with ZAM.

“Soon after when I was back in Delhi, I met Dhanpat. At that time he was working at the hotel where I stayed, so I would ask his advice on where to source specific items that we could sell through ZAM.

“Immediately I saw how reliable, honest and kind he was and he helped me in so many ways in those early days.

“A year later I moved to Delhi when Sogyal Rinpoche asked me to be his representative in the East, and Rigpa House was purchased as a base for Rigpa’s activities there. In 1995 Dhan Pat started working full time for Rigpa House.”

Loading the roof ornaments for the Dzogchen Beara temple, 2020

“In India you have to be very patient and persistent to get things done. Dhan Pat was like a protector. With his broad physical build, as a native Hindi speaker and a tough bargainer we could get almost anything done. ‘Dhan Pat’ means ‘wealth gatherer’ another name for Ganapati.

“For many years, Rigpa House hosted lamas who were passing through, staying in Delhi or conducting their own business there. Dhan Pat would assist them with different aspects of their work, and host them including driving, cooking and serving them. Over the years, he met and took great care of many lamas—Dodrupchen Rinpoche was especially fond of him. When Dhan Pat was alone in Rigpa House in the months when I was in Lerab Ling in the summers, his wife would support him attending the lamas and guests.

“Due to his close contact with many different lamas, Dhan Pat was even selected by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche to feature in his movie ‘The Cup’ as the satellite man.

“Jacki, who traveled many times to India with Sogyal Rinpoche, remembers Dhan Pat fondly. She said: ‘When I think of India, I think of Dhanpat. He was always there when we arrived in Delhi – smiling, ready to greet Rinpoche and take care of us.’”

Drying Zung for the Lerab Ling Buddha statue, Bir, India

Dhan Pat had a part to play in every aspect of the Lerab Ling temple

“When the work of building the Lerab Ling temple began, it was together with Dhan Pat that we arranged the workers, the supplies, the work space that allowed them to create almost all of the sculptures and art work. When I sit in the temple in Lerab Ling and look around, it is amazing to think that in some way or another Dhan Pat had a part to play in almost everything – the 1000 Buddha statues, the Tara, Manjushri, Guru Rinpoche and other statues, the thrones, the Looks Like Me busts of Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodro and Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, the cushions, thangka brocades and so much more. Dhan Pat helped make sure each item was made to the specifications, supervising and chasing the companies relentlessly, shipping containers full of statues, zung and all kinds of other items that make the Lerab Ling temple what it is today. The zung for the main Buddha statue and other statues was made in Rigpa House in Delhi and at one point every room in the bottom floor of Rigpa house was full to the ceiling with zung. It was printed in Delhi then taken to Bir to be prepared by Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche’s monks, placed in cylinders to then be shipped to France to be placed in the statues.”

Dhan Pat worked for Rigpa House until 2019. Sadly on Wednesday 24 March Dhanpat suddenly passed away from a heart attack in his home at the age of 57.

“As soon as I heard from Dhan Pat’s son that he had passed, I notified Dodrupchen Rinpoche, Dzogchen Rinpoche, Tsoknyi Rinpoche, Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche, Mingyur Rinpoche, Khenchen Namdrol Rinpoche and others who did phowa and made prayers for him. Khenpo Tashi Tseten who was at Rigpa House at the time teaching the Rigpa Shedra, also went to Dhan Pat’s home to do practices in the presence in the body, and he joined the cremation ceremony that took place the morning after.”