Many of you have asked where I have been the last two weeks. I was in Augusta, Georgia, at the bedside of this extraordinary woman whom I was honored to know as a dear friend and heart sister. Deb and I used to joke that we were bookends - she midwifed babies coming in, I midwifed hearts headed out. There was more than a grain of truth to that, and we shared many wonderful conversations recognizing the essential sameness of what is true and real - birthlessness, deathlessness, the HeartEssence of pure, unconditional love. Ten years ago now, when Deb was first diagnosed with breast cancer and I helped her get through it to live many more years before it returned with a vengeance, she asked me to please be present at her passing if I could - whenever that might be. I promised that I would. It is one of the best promises I ever made, and I am so thankful I was able to keep it. Deb and I shared so much laughter over the years - often at the most seemingly inappropriate or incongruous moments. And during her final weeks, I shared a lot of laughter with her dear daughter Layla, who rose to an incredibly difficult situation with grace, courage, selflessness, tenderness, and yes - even joy. I am honored to have known Deb as a heart sister, and am now equally honored to call her daughter a HeartSister, too. May Debs journey through the bardo be smooth, and may she swiftly attain a precious human rebirth with causes and conditions to practice Holy Dharma for the benefit of all beings.
Posted on: Tue, 24 Jun 2014 18:48:28 +0000
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