Lisa Yogini

A year ago,
when we spoke of conventional things,
you wondered whether you should get a job
that could help provide a pension for your old age
or serve the dharma and live in poverty.
How obvious that choice seems now.

Though wounded by the knives of samsara
you were healed by the dharma.

You gave up everything unimportant for practice
and nourished everything important with practice.

I wanted to kiss you passionately;
you kissed me like a sister.

In April, when you taught us chandali practice
you apologized for your slight cough.
How poignant that apology seems now.

Last night sitting with your body lying cold
packed in ice
in an air-conditioned room

I touched your emptiness mind
one more time.

Oh sweet dharma sister,
oh yogini,
you always knew more than I do
and were always generous in sharing your prajna.
Now your experience is beyond concept.

Ah ha, All Joyful Enlightenment,
your life was free of frivolity.
Ah ho, it’s time to fly
in the expanse of sky
of spacious mother.

Jim Lowrey
August 11, 2008