2: “Song Remembering Impermanence.” There are two versions of this famous poem. First appeared in 1980 in Tethong Thubten Choedar, history of Gendun Chophel (Dharamsala: Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, 1980)
5 Poems by Gendun Chophel that Everyone should read
1: “Alphabetical Poem Sent to Labrang.”In 1927, He left the monastery of Labrang, there was a rumor that his expulsion had been ordered by Nechung, the wrathful protector deity. He was clearly incensed by this rumor and wrote this poem.
3: “Song of the Realization of the Futility of Meeting and Parting.” When Gendun Chophel departed for Lhasa in 1927, he was accompanied by an uncle and his son. The three parted ways in Lhasa, Several years later the cousin was killed in an accident thus he wrote this poem.
4: “Alphabetical Poem Offered to Babu Tharchin.” This poem was written for Dorje Tharchin (1819–1976), founder and editor of Me-long, the Tibetan– language newspaper, published in Kalimpong.
5: “Listen to the Lute of the Cool Realm.” Filled with astrological symbolism concerning the period of the death of the 13th Dalai Lama and the discovery of the 14th Dalai Lama. It alludes specifically to Reting Rinpoche, the regent at that time.
