Farewell, Farewell

I thought Baltimore Shambhala Center director Julie Heegaard said it best, so I am quoting her email verabtum:

"It is with a sad heart that I share with you that Lucinda Peach, a
member of both the Washington DC Shambhala Community and the Lotus
Garden community, died today. Those of you who have known her are
aware that she survived cancer a few years ago, but it came back in
full force this year, having spread throughout her body. She was a
fighter but it was obvious it would be a very difficult battle.
Yesterday she was hospitalized with a systemic infection, fell into
unconciousness and was put on a respirator. Around 3:00 pm today, her
family had the respirator removed and she died peacefully shortly
thereafter.

May Lucinda's death serve as a powerful reminder of the unpredictable
length of our precious impermanent lives and the precious impermanent
lives of all those we encounter. And may this reminder immeasurably
increase our gratitude, our kindness, and our determination to live
wisely."

This was our beautiful Lucinda. She seemed to embody the Lojong slogan
"Always have a joyful mind".

Three of us were practicing the full Vajrasattva sadhana (the crown jewel of
the practices of the Mindrolling Lineage, which we belong to through
Jetsun Khandro Rinpoche)for her last night and had an extra vajra and ghanta set out.

This was supposed to be for anybody else who was able to show up,
but it seemed by the end of the practice that it was set up as a
tribute to Lucinda (who more often than not would have -been- the
other person who showed up on short notice for such practice.)

It kind of made it seem more real that she's gone. :(

The Sukavati (Buddhist funeral) is tomorrow.
-LWWD



"Energy never dies. It just changes form."-Single Gun Theory