To Robin Kornman

You were one of my first teachers, at an eight-week program in Stowe, VT, in 1975. I asked you if karma has an end, and you responded, "We can't say yet"--still one of the most profound Dharma answers I have ever gotten. Later, I asked about Vajrayogini practice, and you knew every pertinent detail. You were younger than me, and you called me, "My boy!" with a big grin and that gleeful laugh and hugged me. You walked to the microphone to ask the Vidyadhara questions with such delight. He began to smile, you began to ask an impudent thing, that turned into an impish thing, where the victim of the joke always turned out to be yourself. Your infectious joy and intelligent questions brought him out, and made us all worthy of his vast enlightenment. You knew the Gesar myth/reality better than anyone in our sangha by far. You proclaimed that the Shambhala teachings were meant for the world, for the millions. You knew the world needs windhorse, authentic presence and all the rest. When your life's main toil is finally in print, what you understood will be better known. You magnetized the sangha. Your students are lucky ones. We met this January in Chicago--you came down from Milwaukee--and we went to the opera, Turandot. You dressed in formal attire, including a new cashmere coat, copious, of exquisite hand. We skipped the last act, which you knew by heart, summarized for me and said wasn't important to stay for; and so we went to your hotel, and whiled away the evening into the wee hours, talking through all things Shambhala, a conversation you later said was "important for both our work," a confirmation of Dharma. I loved you so much, when I heard the news of your heart attack, I started sobbing uncontrollably. You are riding with Gesar now, there is no doubt in my mind. You are riding the breeze of delight. You are laughing that high laugh. You are beamed along the brilliant rays of the Golden Sun of the Great East. You are following the Vidyadhara imperturbably, outrageously, faithfully, meticulously to Shambhala, through the power of your well-lived vow. 31 July 2007 Boulder