A FRIEND of the murdered Tibetan lama who founded a world-famous Buddhist monastery in Scotland has spoken of the "great loss" and how the spiritual community has responded to the religious leader’s killing ahead of a special screening of a new film about his life.

Buddhists across the world were shocked when Choje Akong Tulku Rinpoche, who founded the influential Kagyu Samye Ling monastery in Eskdalemuir, Dumfries and Galloway, was killed along with his nephew Loga and his assistant Chime Wangya.

The 73-year-old lama, who helped thousands of people in need through his charity ROKPA International which is still ongoing, was stabbed to death in the Chinese city of Chengdu in October, 2013, while carrying out humanitarian work.

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Now a film celebrating his life has been created by film-maker Chico Dall’Inha with the premiere in Scotland at the monastery this week.

Nicholas Jennings, a friend of the lama for more than 40 years, said the documentary captures the character of the man who “led by example”.

He said: “It was a great shock to hear of his murder and a great loss, because he still had a huge contribution to make in Scotland and with projects around the world.

“We are bereft but at the same time with Buddhists part of our whole practice if you like is the understanding and acceptance of death, and he always taught us about how central that was to Buddhism.

"His students' approach is to have taken him at his word, and acknowledging that everybody and everything is impermanent, but we have I suppose the fortunate understanding or belief in reincarnation and people feel we will have the opportunity to meet again."

Born in Tibet in 1939, Akong fled following a failed uprising against Chinese rule in 1959, taking British citizenship.

The Samye Ling centre was the first Buddhist monastery to be founded in Europe and students included David Bowie and Leonard Cohen.

He went on: "His legacy and his contribution on a human level is amazing."

"He came the UK at a time when the world was ready and interested to hear more about that and he made the teachings of Buddhism available to a real diverse group of people, the whole strata of the community from intellectuals to regular dudes like myself."

Mr Jennings, 66, said: “He engaged with the world with a practical application of the belief.

"In the post-Thatcher days when homelessness was on the rise and people were sleeping rough in Glasgow he would have been doing a soup a kitchen.

"When we built the temple he was always the first one on the building site in the morning.

"He led by example and was accorded huge respect.

"I think this comes across very clearly in the film."

Mr Jennings added: “This is the world premiere in Eskdalemuir, at the Samye Ling centre on Thursday, and it is available for organisations and projects.

"We have an interest in getting it out in the community cinema network and that should cascade out.

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“I’m keen that as many people as possible have the opportunity to see this film."

Thubten Kunsal, who had been an artist at the Scottish monastery, and another man, Tsering Paljor, were sentenced to death for stabbing of the three men over wages that Thubten Kunsal claimed he was owed.

The third man involved in the attack was given a prison sentence.

Akong Rinpoche's brother, Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche, who is the abbot of Kagyu Samye Ling, earlier expressed the wish that the death penalty not be imposed.

The lama's oldest son Jigme Tarap, director of the Edinburgh-based Akong Rinpoche Foundation, also called for clemency.

Mr Jennings said: "It (the legal case) seems to be in due process.

“Buddhists don’t support the notion of taking life.”

Akong: A Remarkable Life is also due for showing at a number of film festivals.